Chapter Thirty
The air in the hallway froze. Her breathing became ragged. “You’re lying.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.” I tilted my head.
“But does it matter? You’re going to think about my words over and over until you find out the truth.
Am I telling the truth, Shannon? Does the truth even matter to you?
” I smiled. “Actually, that is the question I want to know. If I was telling the truth and said Brandon chose me to be his mate…would it matter to you? Or would you still mindlessly chase after him and come up with reasons that he should leave me and choose you?”
Shannon snarled. “Brandon is mine.”
I sighed. “I think we both know that isn’t true in the slightest.” My mom opened the door wider than she should have. But she just smiled.
“I put all of your stuff away in your closet.” I nodded. As she slipped past me and headed down the stairs. “I’m going to get started on dinner.” Then she was gone.
I groaned as Shannon was still there, glaring at me. “I’m over this Shan. What do you want me to say?”
“Say that Brandon is mine.” She stomped her foot like a child.
I just shook my head. “I don’t know how else to say this to you, so I am just going to say it.
” I grabbed her arms, and I shook her. “Listen to me when I say this.” She glared back at me, so I took that as her yes.
“Brandon was rejected by his mate. He doesn’t want to wait for his second chance mate.
If he has one, he wants a mate of his own choice.
” I saw her eyes brighten, and I internally smirked.
“And the thing you need to take from that…is that even now, when he has his choice of mates. When he is the most open for anyone that might fit the bill, he has never, not once, ever thought of you.” I watched as the light that was just in her eyes slowly faded.
“Shut up.”
I shook her. “You have never been an option. Not to him, and not to Derek. Derek called you someone they used, like a tool, to be tossed away until you were needed again.”
She fought my grip, but I held on, holding her in place.
“Shannon, he was rejected almost three years ago. Do you understand that?” She froze, and I watched the realization creep into her eyes.
I nodded. “The first year we were in school he was rejected in the cafeteria. That means all of these years, all of this time, he pushed you away. He could have chosen you as his mate, as I am sure he whispered to you when you were in high school, but he didn’t. ”
Shannon’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s all your fault.” She ripped herself from my grip. “You did this.”
I sighed. There was really no way she was going to listen to me. “Blame me if you must, but it changes nothing. You were never going to be his Luna. And I’m not saying I will be either, just that he asked.” I turned to head back into my bedroom.
“Stay away from him.” She snarled and grabbed my arm.
“I would caution you.” I turned to look at my arm in her claws. “You are allowing your emotions to make stupid decisions for you, ones you can’t back up.” I shook off her arm. “I’ll let it go this time. But if you touch me again. I will kill you.”
She blanched. And Morgan chose that moment to walk up the stairs. He looked between me and Shannon before he sighed and walked over. “What is going on here?”
Shannon looked at her dad and burst into tears. “Amy said she was going to kill me.”
I rolled my eyes and settled against the door frame, crossing my arms. He turned to face me. “Amy, is that true?”
I think my brain short-circuited for the first time since living here. “What?”
Morgan leveled me with a look. “Is what Shan is saying the truth or did something else happen?” He was giving me a chance to explain. That was new.
“I told her I would kill her, but it was after she grabbed me and told me to stay away from Brandon. Which I can’t since Vince just gave me a job with the tech department.
” I looked down at my arm and her claw marks were still faintly there.
“I honestly don’t give a fuck how she feels about Brandon. I am just doing my job.”
Shannon screamed. “You just said Brandon asked you to be his Luna.” Morgan turned to me and I just shrugged.
“He asked. I haven’t said yes. But Shannon doesn’t care about that. Shannon only cares that she is the one that ends up with him.”
“You lied again!” Morgan screamed as he whirled on her.
He grabbed her and pulled her into her room, and slammed the door. I pretended to go into my room, closing the door loudly, but then I mumbled a spell that deadened my steps and I crept closer to Shannon’s door.
“Daddy, how could you ask her? Why are you doing this to me, over and over?” She cried as Morgan paced.
“Just stop Shannon.” He screamed, and I heard her whimper. His voice softened, and he walked closer to her. “I already told you.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “We have to play nice. We have to cater to Amy.”
“But why?” She whined, and I heard her hit his chest.
“Shannon!” He screamed. “Just stop. Honestly. Just fucking stop. You will not mate with Brandon.” The frustration filled his voice again. “I am tired of this,” Shannon howled, and his voice dropped to another whisper. “She owns this house, Shan. And Vince needs her close.”
“Why?” she cried, but I knew this was now more of a show than anything else.
“Because he’s the Alpha.” His voice boomed, but then he followed up with a whisper.
“Her dad left her money…a lot of money. And Vince wants to see how much. To see if it is worth agreeing to a mating with her. But don’t worry, he already said that even if Brandon mates her, you will still be first. Even if it is behind the scenes. ”
I heard Shannon sniffle. “But I don’t want to be his secret anymore. When I was his girlfriend, I had status. Now that we are hiding our relationship, no one listens to me.” She sat down on her bed. I heard the bed squeak.
“I know, but we need her resources.” Morgan settled next to her on the bed, and I leaned against the wall. “Gavin left her a ridiculous amount of money, and Vince needs access to it.”
“Why can’t he get into it another way?”
There was a sigh. “If there was another way, he would take it, but Amy doesn’t like Vince, and she is an Alpha. He can’t command her, or seize her assets. Believe me, he’s tried.”
That son of a bitch. Nix growled.
We knew he would do this bullshit. Our assets are safe. I sent her calming thoughts.
“Why can’t we just kill her?” Shannon whined, but she was muffled, like her face was in her hands.
Morgan snorted. “We thought of that too.”
Shannon shifted. “If she’s dead, everything goes to Ainsley, right?”
“Yeah, and if it was last year when she was in love with me, I would have already agreed. But she has pulled away since the night of Amy’s run.” He growled softly. “She hasn’t forgiven me.”
“Seriously?” Shannon sounded surprised. “But you are sleeping together again.”
His chuckle was dark. “Because I threatened her.” My fist clenched. “Or I should say I had Vince threaten her, and I came to her rescue.”
Shannon chuckled. “She is still believing your act?”
He chuckled softly. “Vince plays the villain so well. How could she not?” He sighed. “But just because she is back in my room, doesn’t mean she is allowing me in.” He groaned. “She doesn’t even allow me close. There is this stupid pillow wall between us.”
“The kudzu?” Shannon stood and walked towards the door. I needed to leave, but I wanted to hear this.
“Failed, the first time Lynn got in the way. So I made sure Vince and Derek dealt with her.” My fists clenched. He was a part of the reason.
He won’t be spared when we burn this place to the ground. Megan snarled as snapped her teeth.
Nix trailed out of the trees. No, he won’t.
I nodded once, but refocused on the people in the room. “The second time, she dumped it out. Like she doesn’t trust anything I give her.” I wanted to snort. It’s because she doesn’t.
“Do you have any more?” Shannon’s question had me freezing.
“Yes. Just one more dose. I need to figure out a way to get it into something that Amy hands her. That way, she won’t second guess it. But…” He trailed off.
“But what?” Shannon walked away from the door and I crept closer again.
“I need you prepared.” Morgan started.
“Prepared for what?”
“Brandon took the rest. He is planning on using it on Amy.”
“What!” Shannon shrieked.
Morgan must have grabbed her, because I heard a grunt. “Listen to me.” He fought against her. “Vince made some bad investments. They need to get Amy’s money.”
“He’s mine, daddy, you all promised.” Shannon started to cry.
“I know. And Brandon still cares about you. I told you he was going to push you away, so Amy thinks he is done with you. We needed the space for her to warm up and get close to him.” He sighed. “I promise he misses you and that once she is pregnant, he will come back to you.”
“Why does she have to be pregnant?” I heard a few sniffles. “Why can’t they just mate and then have him kill her?”
My blood ran cold when I heard her words. My mind flashed back to my first life. Strapped to a table while my child was ripped out of me.
That will never happen. Nix growled out.
Megan ran her side down the barrier. We are smarter and more prepared than they are. We will not fail in our mission.
Their calm, matter-of-fact voices helped me shake myself from that life, that nightmare I lived before.
“Amy isn’t stupid. She would ensure most of her wealth would go to her mother.”
“You are married to Ainsley.” Shannon was confused, and Morgan sighed.
“Yes, but if she inherited billions and Amy was dead, she would disappear. Especially now.”
“Why?”
Morgan sighed again and I had to stop my laugh from escaping.
“Because she doesn’t love me anymore. She might have stuck around before I fucked up, but not anymore.
She would have no reason to. Vince’s only bargaining chip is Amy.
It’s how he threatened her when she first came, and early this year.
If Ainsley doesn’t perform basic wifely duties, Amy can be taken as a slave.
Well, she could have been until she graduated and became a fully integrated member of society. ”
“And now?”
“Now he has threatened to kill her.” I felt my fist clench again, but a smile spread across my face.
“Do you think he would win? Vince, I mean. Amy is strong.” Morgan laughed.
“Vince killed her father, Gavin. He can kill Amy.” The world stopped.
Holy fucking shit. Nix’s words were soft.
Amy, go back to your room. Now. Megan’s words jolted me from my stupor.
I ran back to my room, and had just silently shut the door when Shannon’s door opened. I leaned against the door with my eyes closed. Holy Goddess, did that just happen? I was vibrating. This was the first actual admission that Vince was somehow involved with the rogues.
I needed to speak to my father. I grabbed the bags on the floor, the ones my mother left inside my room. I think she assumed she wouldn’t be able to cross, and I ran to my closet. I ran downstairs, bringing the bags with me and dropping them on to the table.
Toya came down the stairs, confused. “What’s going on?”
“One minute.” I ran upstairs for the last of the groceries and then came back. Wendy and Toya were already putting stuff away. “You will never fucking guess what just happened.” I was out of breath with excitement.
“What?” Wendy paused, putting something into the upper cupboard.
“Morgan just admitted that Vince was the reason my father died.” I jumped up and down.
Wendy looked at me, confused. “But he’s not dead…”
“I know that. You know that. But Vince and Morgan think he’s dead.”
Toya grabbed another bag, pulling the shirt from up top. “I was going to ask you about this.” waving the shirt around. “But how did Morgan admit Vince was behind their deaths in the first place?”
I pulled the last bag to me, pulling the groceries from it. “He was placating Shannon.”
“Why?” Toya lifted a brow.
I laughed. “Because I told her Brandon asked me to be his Luna.” I grinned.
“You poked the bear.” Wendy offered, and I nodded again.
“Yep. I poked the bear. And I’m happy I did.
” I leaned against the table. “It started just to piss her off. Which I love to do. Did I tell you she wanted me to buy her a car?” I shook my head at Wendy’s wide eyes.
“I know. And Morgan has been siding with me, which I found strange, but I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I knew he was trying to get back on my mother’s good grace. But that wasn’t it at all.”
Toya straightened. “What do you mean?”
“All this time, I thought he was trying to win her back because he loved her.” I shook my head.
“Until I graduated, they were still trying to control my mother by threatening me. They could still use the old laws to make me a slave if my mother didn’t,” I air quoted.
“Fulfill her wifely duties.” Both Wendy and Toya groaned.
“Seriously?” Wendy rolled her eyes.
I just nodded. “His exact words. But now they can’t. I graduated and I have officially inherited my father’s pack and lands. Even if I can’t move there.” I pulled out a chair. “Then Shannon asked why don’t they just mate me with Brandon and then just kill me off.”
Toya and Wendy both pulled out chairs, the food forgotten. “And?” Wendy leaned in.
“They discussed it! But Morgan said that all of my money would be inherited by my mom and she would disappear, as nothing would be holding her to the pack. And he is one hundred percent correct. They know they wouldn’t get shit.”
“So…” Toya furrowed her brow and leaned her head in her hands.