Chapter 52

Dominic

She had not gotten far before she was found.

Maybe if she had been less attached to her phone and her followers she would have been able to elude capture.

But, for all her wiles, Tessa did not think that her most precious accessory could be the tracking device that would lead her pursuers right to her.

It was barely twelve hours before she was discovered in an abandoned, half-charred house at the Brooks compound. Ward had the idea to hide her there until there was a better plan, and clearly they did not come up with one in time.

As a member of that Pack, Ward was left behind while Tessa was escorted kicking and screaming — literally— into the van.

I had sent Lucas to help, knowing the stoic Beta would take some pleasure in seeing Princess Tessa brought to justice.

“What did you think would happen, Tessa?” My father's voice was almost comforting, as if he didn’t expect Tessa to come up with any sort of sinister plan on her own.

“I don’t know,” Tessa said, tears on her cheeks, her voice ragged with emotion. “I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” I asked my step-sister, if she was even still considering that. “Were you helping your mother try to kill me?”

“No!” Tess looked honestly hurt that I would accuse her of something so gruesome. “Mother would never tell me anything she was up to, she didn’t think I was smart enough. None of you do!”

“That’s not true, Tessa,” my father said, soothing. “And either way, that does not seem a good enough reason to steal from us.”

“I didn’t,” she said looking down.

“You did,” the Alpha restated, showing slight irritation, “or at least you tried to. Luckily, my team was already surveilling Irene’s assets. Most of which will return to me.”

“And what do I get?” Tessa turned to him. “Just because my mother was a traitor doesn't mean I should end up with nothing!”

“Who said you would?!” my father yelled down at her. “Tessa, you act foolish like a child, lacking the patience to see things through. If you had shown patience and cooperation as we sifted through your mother’s lies, I would have been merciful towards you and your brother. The apple cannot be blamed for its proximity to a rotting tree.”

Tessa’s mouth was stuck open, as if she was trying to speak but the words would not form.

“But now,” the Alpha stepped back from the table and moved towards the wall, “I find it hard to find any familial affection for you, in spite of the years you lived under my roof.”

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake,” Tessa found enough to begin pleading with him. “Please, please, I will give it all back, all of it!”

“I know you will, Tessa,” my father said, leaning against the wall. His tone was softer. “We will take back the money you tried to embezzle, and we will take a bit more.”

Tessa’s eyes fell as he said this, unsure of what more could be taken from her. Even I was not fully sure what my father’s sentence would be for her crime.

“Due to my good grace,” he said, straightening up to his full height, “you will be allowed to remain within our Pack. I would not send you out into a dangerous wild where you are not likely to survive, especially in your condition.”

Tessa looked relieved, her hands unconsciously going to touch her swelling stomach.

“But,” he continued, “you are no longer a part of my family. You are to be stripped of your rights as Alpha member, and join the lowest rank of the Omega class.”

There was Tessa’s slack-jawed face again. I was frozen in my place, my eyes discreetly darting between Tessa and my father.

Finally, Tessa closed her mouth slowly, gulping down any retort she had. She nodded slowly, her hands folding into her lap.

“I understand,” she said, defeated. “My brother?”

“He may stay here if he wants, for now,” my father said, looking away from her. “As far as I can see, he has done no harm nor does he seem to have any information about the wrong-doings of you and your mother.”

“Okay,” Tessa said.

“I will have the guards escort you to your rooms,” he said, “you may have twenty-four hours to pack your things, and then you will be moved to your new quarters. Your movements will be monitored for the time being until we can be sure you are no longer a threat to Pack security.”

With that, my father turned and went out of the room.

I gave Tessa one last look. While I was furious with her, I could not help but feel a small amount of pity.

I caught my father in the hallway.

“Are you sure about Lucian? Keeping him around could be a mistake.”

My father sighed, then turned to face me. He looked older than he had while interrogating Tessa.

“Please, Dominic,” he said, “I do not need anymore sibling drama right now. Lucian has given me no reason not to trust him.”

“But he’s a worm!” I said, keeping my voice from getting too loud. “Father, you know he’s hated me since we were teenagers, even if he won’t say it. He’s always been jealous of me and tried to undermine me as his Alpha.”

My father cocked his head at me.

“It sounds like you are the only one jealous of anyone, Dominic,” he said, patronizing. “Now, please, I am tired.”

I stayed still, watching his back stoop over with worry as he walked away.

Mira

The knock on the door startled me. I didn’t remember hearing plans for anyone to stop by. I was even more surprised to open the door and see Ward’s panicked face in the hallway.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, checking to see if anyone else was around.

“I had to see you,” he said, his hands drawing together in front of him. “Please, Mira, I need your help.”

“Just get in here,” I said, pulling him inside. “Did anyone see you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” he said, looking guilty. “I was careful.”

“What do you want, Ward?” I said, closing the door and crossing my arms over my chest.

“I need you to keep me safe, now that Tessa…” he looked away, embarrassed.

“How would I possibly do that?”

“Put in a good word for me, let me see Tessa, the mother of my child!” he grabbed my arms, growing more desperate. “You owe me!”

“I owe you?” I shook him off violently. “You got yourself into this mess with Tessa. It is not my fault that you chose the wrong girl.”

“But she’s carrying my baby, Mira. I can’t just abandon her, at least not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“Yeah, after she has the baby, well,” he started slowly. “She’ll have no rights, I could claim it as my own… it could be ours.”

I almost slapped him.

“Are you serious?” I shouted at him. “You want me to just drop my life and raise another woman’s child? Have you lost your mind?”

“Okay, not that, but Mira I do need your help! And I love you!”

“Shut up!” I put my hands to my ears, not wanting to hear his desperate squawking anymore.

“Mira, don’t be stupid!” he was getting angry now. “What happens when the Alphas find out the truth about you? Did they take away your common sense in that laboratory along with your powers?!”

“Shut up, shut up!”

“What is going on?”

I hadn’t heard the door, or noticed that Dominic had entered the room. His face was turning red and sour as he took in the scene: Ward trying to grab me, my hands crushing my ears and my eyes shut tight to block him out.

“Dominic, we were just—“

“I was just leaving, don’t worry,” Ward said, stepping towards the door. “Good luck with your wolf less bride.”