Chapter 55
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
Rose's POV
I sat huddled in the bedroom Alistair had given me.
I couldn’t help but shudder at the lewd looks he’d given me, but he hadn’t tried touching me…
yet. The minute he'd thrown me into this room, I had wisely mind-linked Josie to take the kids and leave.
She needed to go wherever Lexia was taking Aiden.
He would need his family when he woke up.
Besides, I didn't trust Alistair to not try and torture the previous alpha's family.
They had to get out for their own safety.
In the meantime,I'd issued Dylan strict instructions to not rile up Alistair and to hold Tony back if he woke up.
Then I blocked off the pack mind-link so no one could argue with me.
If Alistair had beaten Aiden, the other wolves were no match for him.
And Alistair was thirsting for blood, denied the kill he'd been looking forward to.
The last thing I needed were dead pack members.
No...we had to bide our time. No more rushing headfirst. With time to reflect, I realized that the reason Alistair had been successful in this entire scheme was because he'd taken the time to plan things out and assess the entire situation.
We needed to do the same if we expected to defeat him.
The doorknob rattled and Lexia entered my room. It had been three days since we'd seen each other.
I scrambled to stand up, tying the sash of the bright red robe tighter around my body. Red lingerie and a red silk robe were all Alistair had given me.Lexia’s eyes flashed over me in disgust.
“You’re younger than I am,” Lexia hissed. “He’s gone crazy if he thinks—” But then she stopped, snapping her mouth shut.
“Lexia, how’s Aiden?”
Lexia let out a heavy sigh, eyes going to the manacles which still burned my wrist. Lexia reached for them, key in hand.
I gave a sigh of relief as the manacles fell away, revealing angry red welts on my wrists where the bracelets had once been.
“He’s got a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a broken leg.
Lots of internal bleeding. Possible brain damage.
He’s in the ER. We took him to the Rushing River Pack.
They aren't part of the alliance and Dad issued a threat that whoever gives Aiden asylum will be breaching the alliance. That was the only safe place Dylan could think up. I got the antidote for Dylan from Dad.” Lexiabreathed in deeply.
“Listen, Rose, Aiden is in a coma from severe head trauma. He needs time to get better. Just…just hold on, OK? He’s going to mark you.
My …my dad,” Lexiaspit the word out like bile.
I shuddered. This was going from bad to worse.
“He’s been at the Bloodfire Phoenix territory for days, scouting out the land,” Lexia assured. “Let's hope he stays busy with that awhile longer. Just…don’t fight him. Tell him you’re on your period or something if he tries anything.”
I swallowed the words that might have revealed my pregnancy. I couldn’t risk it. So instead, I spoke to seek confirmation for something else. “You really weren’t in on any part of this?”
Lexia took a step back like I had slapped her.
“You think I’d purposefully try and kill my boyfriend’s father?
I'm not that twisted, Rose,” Lexia said sharply.
“There is a huge difference between trying to get someone back because you think they’ve been manipulated into being in a relationship with someone else and committing murder.
” Lexia looked at me sadly. "I went about it the wrong way. I see that now. But my entire life, Dad has looked at me as if I was never good enough. It was only when I was with Aiden that he actually started to acknowledge me. Plus, Aiden was the only man who ever liked me for being me. He never thought I was any less for being female. So I thought I was doing the right thing, trying to get him back. I was in a really bad headspace thanks to Daddy’s attitude and Mom's sickness followed by her death.
" Lexia looked at me apologetically. "I mean you no harm, Rose. I'm on your side here."
I scrutinized Lexia for what seemed like an eternity before finally speaking.
“How can I be sure you’re telling the truth?”
“I’m helping you, aren’t I? I got Dylan the antidote after figuring out Dad had it. I took Aiden to get the emergency care he required. Why would I do any of that if I was helping my dad?”Lexia challenged.
“Because you’re hoping Aiden will wake up and want to be with you,” I pointed out quietly.
My hand reflexively grazed my stomach before falling to my side.
“Because you tried to get Jake to challenge Aiden so our mate bond would break and now that it’s broken thanks to your father,”Lexia winced.
“You’re hoping Aiden will take you back. ”
Lexia gave a bitter laugh. “I’d have to be an idiot to think Aiden would want to be with me, Rose, when he so clearly worships the ground you walk on. Besides…”Lexia's voice was rancorous. “No one wants to be with the daughter of a man who killed their father.”
I took a step back, eyes widening at her vehement straightforwardness.
“Listen to me, Rose.” Lexia began firmly. “Aiden will come for you. And when he does, be ready. He just needs time to regain his energy.”
I’d unconsciously splayed my hands over my stomach a little tighter than deemed normal. I realized it when I caught Lexia’s sharp eyes noticing the movement of my hand. I instantly forced my hand to fall away, but I didn't know ifLexia realized something. Even if she did, she didn’t give it away.
The next morning, Alistair entered the room he'd kept me locked up in. I'd been awake, huddled in a corner of the room as sleep evaded me.
"I need your vote and signature to make me the new CEO of Bloodfire Phoenix Inc,” he stated emotionlessly, not even glancing at me.
He threw a garment case onto the untouched bed. I had slept on the floor, because each time I looked towards the bed, a fear that Alistair would show up in it plagued me. "Get ready. I've called a board meeting."
I swallowed, glancing at the garment bag which probably held some clothes for me.
"Be ready in half an hour. If you're not, I'm coming in to drag you out dressed or not,” Alistair warned, turning on his heel to leave.
Once inside Alistair's car, it was a completely disconcerting feeling for me to sit in the front seat while Alistair drove us to the headquarters of Bloodfire Phoenix Inc.
I couldn't help but think back to the timesI'd gone down this very road with Aiden, in his car, both of us joking as he let a hand rest on my knee.
I let my head lean against the window as a wave of nausea rolled over me.
I missed Aiden, I missed the coffee he made me every morning. ...I missed his smile...
"I think I'm going to be sick,” I said faintly.
Alistair stopped the car on the roadside just in time for me to fall out of his sports car and throw up the meagre breakfast I'd managed to scarf down.
If it bothered Alistair, he didn't let on.
Patiently waiting for me to be done and get back in the car so we could resume our journey, he opened up his gym bag and offered me a bottle of water.
I drank weakly, eyes going to the open gym bag between us, and my eyes widened as they landed on vials of steroid injections.
So that's how he remained so fit for his age.
He was ripped even by werewolf standards and now I knew why.
Steroids made werewolves stronger, but their long-term effects were dangerous.
An injured Aiden never stood a chance against an alpha injecting himself with them.
Once we pulled up at the double-story officeAiden's father had constructed on a site owned by the company, we walked into the boardroom and I was suddenly engulfed in my father's hug.
"Rose!" he rasped out, holding me tightly against him. "We were so worried he'd done something to you! And you didn't reply to any of our mind-links!" Dad whispered furiously into my ear.
"I brought her, just like you made me promise,” Alistair bit out begrudgingly to the gathering which consisted of some Elders of the Council as well as other pack members who were part of the board.
Dylan was standing behind dad and he was clearly relieved to see that I was fine.
"Now, when are you going to vote me in as the new CEO?" Alistair queried as Dylan moved in to hug me next.
"We'll do it now,” I murmured, trying to hide the trembling in my voice. I looked squarely at everyone gathered, daring them to go against my decision. I was the luna. They had to trust me.
When no one said anything in protest, the voting commenced. I signed and stamped Alistair's papers myself. I was, after-all, the vice president of the company as well as Luna of the pack.
"When can I access the pack funds?" Alistair asked, looking at me.
It hadn't taken him long to figure out that I was the one calling the shots.
"That takes time," I improvised hastily. "We need to send your signatures to the bank and send them an updated copy of our company records. We need a few weeks to get everything in order."
Alistair nodded jerkily.
"I might have to come here almost daily to get things moving for you,” I added, trying to make it sound like an afterthought.
"You're not coming alone,” Alistair warned. "Either I or my beta will be accompanying you."
"Tony's the beta, he should be out of hospital in a few more days,” Dylan cut in.
"My beta. Beta of the Silver Creek Pack,” Alistair clarified. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How soon can we officially change the pack name? It's all one pack now."