Chapter 17 - Rosalia #2
She had walked right into his trap.
“You told them,” she said, her voice strangled, “you told the Black Claws about Rick’s plan. You read my letters.”
Raph growled, “Insolent bastard. He was always far too clever for his own good. Who thought it would be easy pussy to get him to finally make a mistake.”
The alphas laughed, low and sleazy, disgust roiling in her stomach.
Her father didn’t even bat an eye.
Her heart thudded inside her chest, a dead drum. Acrid regret clawed her throat.
She had known. She had known what he was. All this time. But she had been too stupid, too blind to take the threat seriously.
Perhaps, deep down, she had just always hoped that one day he would treat her like his daughter.
“So what was your plan?” she asked, bitterness lacing every word. “Have Rick take control of the Iron Walkers, and then take control of him through me?”
“Until such a time as you had a son,” John said, inspecting his nails, “then I would have found a way to dispose of Reinhardt. I could have been patient. Without Felix at the helm, the Iron Walkers would have collapsed in on themselves. For all his cunning, Rick has no head for moderation.”
“He would never betray his pack,” Rosalia spat, fists shaking, “not ever. You underestimated him. You thought he was some shriveled, angry, pathetic creature just like you, desperate for any measure of power. But you were wrong. He’s nothing like you. And the Iron Walkers are strong. He is strong.”
Her father didn’t react more than an eyebrow quirking, and his silence only drove her on. She strode forward, years of anger, of pain, of heartache finally surfacing. Finally breaking free.
“You think this pathetic alliance with the Black Claws will work? Everyone sees you for what you are, John. You’re a worm. A sad, tiny, husk of a male. I regret every moment I ever spent with you. I regret ever fearing anyone as pathetic as you. You’re nothing.”
His eyes glittered. “Like father, like daughter.”
She bared her teeth. “I am nothing like you.”
“Oh?” he asked, rising to his feet, knocking back his drink, “Are you so sure about that? Do you really think Rick will ever want anything to do with you after your betrayal?”
She reared back, eyes widening. Around her, the other alphas stood, their presences looming over her, crowding her in. “I didn’t betray him. I would never betray him. I love him.”
John laughed then, low and mocking, “How very sweet. But you’re wrong. You did betray him. And he’ll never forgive you.”
“He will,” Rosalia said, her voice resolute. “I’ll tell him everything. He’ll forgive me. He knows what a monster you are.”
He stepped forward, teeth gleaming, “How delightfully naive. Don’t worry, daughter. He won’t be alive to hate you much longer. Raph here is preparing the invasion as we speak.”
Her blood turned cold. “You…you’re not strong enough to face them. They’ll butcher you.”
“My son was a useless piece of shit,” Raph growled, “but I’ll have blood in vengeance regardless.”
“I’ll warn them,” Rosalia said, backing towards the door, “I’ll stop you!”
John gestured, and suddenly there were hands restraining her, forcing her arms behind her back. She cried out, trying to wrench free, but the alpha had her firm. She stopped, her hair falling loose about her shoulders, her eyes wild.
“No,” John said softly, “I don’t think you will. Even if you got free, they wouldn’t let you within ten miles of their territory. Not after what you did.”
“I didn’t do anything!”
John arched a brow, “You keep saying that. Perhaps you need a reminder. Katie?”
Rosalia stiffened, her heart dropping.
No. No, no, no.
The door opened with a soft creak. “Yes, Alpha?”
Rosalia wrenched around, her heart cracking in two as Katie shuffled into the room, her eyes downcast.
“Katie,” Rosalia breathed, her wolf howling within her. “Tell me it’s not true,” she begged. “Tell me you didn’t—”
Katie flinched, hands twisting together. “I’m so sorry. He promised—he promised if I did as he asked, he wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t what?” Rosalia demanded, voice sharp as glass.
Katie’s voice cracked. “He brokered a marriage. Between me and Raph.”
Silence slammed down.
Rosalia staggered back, nausea rising. “No…”
Katie’s tears spilled over. “I didn’t want to. But he said if I refused, he’d…he’d…” Her sobs cut off the rest.
Raph’s cold laughter chilled her to her core. “I need a new son, after all.”
Rosalia’s heart fractured. “You were all I had,” she whispered, voice breaking.
Katie wept openly, collapsing into a chair.
John clapped once, sharp. “Enough sentiment. Now is the time, Raph. The Iron Walkers are exposed. Reinhardt’s temper frayed, his plans ruined. We strike while the iron is hot.”
Rosalia’s head snapped up. “No—”
“Lock her away,” John barked, flicking his hand.
The alpha tugged her towards the door, and she fought hard, ignoring the sharp wrenches of pain in her joints. It was no use. His grip was iron.
“Father, don’t—please—”
John leaned close, his breath hot and sour. “You’ll stay put, little girl. I can’t have you running to Reinhardt, can I? No, you’ll sit and watch while we finally drag those bastards into the earth.”
Rosalia thrashed, her wolf snarling within, but the guard dragged her down the hall. Her boots scraped the floorboards, her breath came in ragged gasps.
Behind her, she heard Raph’s laughter, John’s smug voice, Katie’s muffled sobs.
The guards shoved her into a small room, slammed the door, and threw the bolt.
Darkness pressed in.
Rosalia stumbled to her knees, chest heaving, tears burning her eyes.
She pressed her forehead to the cold wall, trembling.
Her father had woven his trap. Katie had been the bait. And Rick…Rick thought her complicit.
Hopelessness pressed heavy against her ribs.
But beneath it, something fierce flickered. A spark her father had never managed to snuff out.
She would not break. Not again.
Not ever.