Chapter Fifty-Six
Thoth was silent, but my father looked like he might puke. “So you’re saying you have three powerful lines-”
“Yeah. Lycan, witch and wolf. My size, my aura, my power, all from the Goddess herself.” I shrugged because I didn’t know what else to do, then nodded.
“That actually makes sense.” Thoth finally broke his silence. “I’ve always wondered why you were so large in wolf form.”
I lifted a brow. “You’ve never seen me before.”
My dad chuckled. “Yeah, he has.” I looked at him and he shrugged. “I sent pictures.” He lifted a shoulder. “I’m proud of you, so I boasted a little about how big Nix was. Thoth didn’t believe me.”
I shook my head. “Anyway, I only brought this up because of Brandon.”
“What?” Thoth sounded confused.
“Brandon was Megan’s mate. But she rejected him in the first year of college. But even with a broken bond, he can still scent me.”
“Wait a minute…how does he not already know?” Thoth asked. “And why did you reject him?”
I looked at my dad and he nodded. “Because. My father’s line has a gift.”
“A gift?”
I nodded. “We get a chance at another life.”
“What?”
“I’ve already lived until I was twenty-four.
I mated Brandon in my last life, and I was about to have his pup when Shannon convinced him I cheated.
That the pup inside of me was someone else’s.
So he chained me to a table and had the doctor cut our pup from me with silver.
My pup died on my chest, and then I bled out.
When I woke back up, it was my eighteenth birthday, the day I was going to scent him.
I ran instead and my dad helped me awaken my power, and I found my second wolf.
I became whole enough to shift this time around. ”
“You mated Brandon and had his pup…” Thoth sounded almost breathless.
“And I refuse to make the same mistake.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“Yes.”
Thoth grunted. “Seriously?”
I felt my eyes harden. “He killed my pup. I hate him. I’m going to do everything I can to take everything from him and then I’m going to kill him. Slowly.”
Thoth growled low. “While I find all of this interesting, why did you tell us?”
“Because it’s a part of my plan. My dad taught me how to change my scent, but I’ve already started to change it back slowly. He’s already losing his mind a little. I’m going to shift it back more and more as we get closer to the mating ceremony.”
“Why would you do that?” My dad cut in.
“Because it throws him off. He’s already dealing with Shannon, spreading rumors about the two of them.
The pack is noticing. So while Vince and Brandon deal with that bullshit, I’ll be using the diversion to hack into their system and steal all of their data.
I’ll be saving the kids that they have been draining.
I’ll move Rick and his family out, Alannah and Ternen too before their pup is found out. ”
“Why are you moving these people?” My dad cut in again. Clearly confused.
“Alannah is an Omega, as is her mate Ternen. They just found out that they were having a pup.”
“That’s great.” My dad smiled.
“Not here. Vince created a rule. Omega’s can’t have pups without permission. To get permission, they have to sleep with a ranked wolf. If they get pregnant from their mate before that, then the ranked wolves can abuse the female until they lose the child.”
Thoth growled, and there was a slam from his side. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I wish I was.” I wiped my face. “They need out. Rick’s being poisoned. His child is being drained, his mate’s life is being threatened.”
“Are you going to take them to the cabin?” Thoth asked.
I nodded. “Until everything is set up back at my dad’s pack.”
“You know we can’t go back until the rogues are found.” My dad sighed.
I felt stupid at that moment. “Um. Daddy…remember I love you.”
“What pup?”
“I found out where the rouges are…in my first year at school.”
My dad’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
Thoth sighed. “Why didn’t you tell either of us?”
“To be fair, I was dealing with a lot of bullshit. There was the issue with Nina and her sister. All the bullshit with Rowan. You died. Then I hit my heat.” I sighed. “I forgot okay.”
My father waved me off. “Where are they?”
“I’m not certain anymore, but Aurora had a base inside the dead caves with the rogues. Aurora, Amara, and her grandmother were working with the rogues. But there is something else.”
“What?” My dad looked a little dazed.
“Verity is their sister.” My dad snapped his head up and I nodded.
“The she-wolf that’s engaged to the king?” Thoth questioned.
“Yeah.” I nodded again. “She is the oldest sister of Aurora and Amara. She’s using magic to keep her place by the king’s side.” I sighed. “I just don’t know how to save him.”
“Save him?” Thoth’s voice was filled with confusion. “Why would you have to save him?”
I felt my face freeze for a second. “Because he is being controlled with magic, surrounded by people who want to see him dead, and we don’t know who else is in on the plot.”
Thoth grunted and my dad looked a little flustered. “Gavin?”
I looked at my dad with a furrowed brow. “Dad?”
He coughed. “Yeah?”
Thoth sounded confused. “Why is Amy thinking she has to save the king? Why doesn’t she know everything?”
My dad scratched behind his ear. “Okay, so don’t get mad.” Oh hell. What did he do? “But I thought it better to leave her out of it.”
“What did you just say?” Thoth growled. “Are you telling me she has no clue what the king has been doing? The letters? The explanation? She received none of it.” He growled again. “These last years, she has been in the dark?”
My father sucked in a breath. “Yes.” Thoth smashed something and my father winced. “In my defence, there was a reason for it.”
“What’s that?” Thoth growled out, sending shivers down my spine. “What could possibly have come from keeping your daughter in the dark? How does that help us?”
“Well, she has focused on herself, her magic, and her wolves. She has grown her own pack and grown into a pretty fantastic wolf, if I do say so myself.” He smiled at me.
“She would have done that, anyway.” Thoth growled out.
“She is the most selfless and amazing wolf I have ever met, Gav. You have ruined everything.” Thoth sounded hurt, but his words made my stomach flutter.
He really thinks that about me? The words made my face burn, and I had to turn away from the screen.
My dad sighed. “I know you wanted her looped in, but I wanted her focused. And Rowan was a distraction. Even you were iffy, but she needed someone to help her.” I watched as my dad’s eyes hardened. “You might not like my choice, but it was my choice.”
Thoth grumbled. “I seriously hate you some days.”
My dad just smiled. “I know. But I had your guard save everything.” He turned to me. “Tomorrow drive back to the school. Go to the guard at the apartment building and say the word ‘Tanka’. He will hand over everything.”
“Everything?” I leaned over. “What have you been keeping from me?” I felt my stomach quiver a bit.
Thoth snorted. “Everything.”
I looked between the dark screen and my father’s face, who looked a little guilty. “Why do I feel like there is a lot more to the story?”
“Because there is.” Thoth sighed. “But it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. Everything is already completely fucked now, anyway. You knowing now isn’t going to change a fucking thing.” Thoth was pissed. We could both hear it in his voice. What the hell did my dad keep from me?
My father winced. “I did what I thought was best for you.”
I sighed. “I’m an adult daddy. I can make that decision myself.
” I shook my head. “But we got off topic.” I rubbed at my face.
“I’ll go grab everything tomorrow and then we will have another call to go over everything.
But right this second. Let’s jump back to the rogues.
They are obviously being controlled by the twins, and by extension Verity.
Which brings me to the next topic. Verity was here. ”
“What do you mean?” Thoth sounded confused. “How is that even possible?”
“What do you mean? What do I mean?” I shot back. “She was here. I saw her before she took off. And then when Vince called her to knock me out, she told him she was already with ‘The Brotherhood of Bloodshed’, whoever they are. But they seem to be the ones in charge.”
My dad looked off to the side. “Are you sure they called themselves that?”
I nodded. “Completely sure.” I rolled my neck back. “I heard it a few times, and Brandon kept groaning about the brotherhood.” I leaned against my headboard.
“Wait, let’s jump back for a second. When and where did you see Verity?” Thoth interrupted.
“In the forest around Vince’s pack. I ran there from the airport, so I’m honestly not one hundred percent where I was in the woods.
But apparently she has this place locked down with draining traps.
” I rubbed my eyes. I was tired. “The day I sent mom to the cabin…so like six days I think, maybe seven days ago.”
Thoth hummed. “Are you sure?”
“About how many days ago, no. But between five and seven, for sure. About seeing Verity, yes. I am one hundred percent sure. She was flirting with Rick, which was pretty fucking gross, if you ask me.”
My dad snorted. “Why are you asking about Verity?”
“Because I have someone following her, and the guard reported that Verity was still in the capitol with the King.”
“Then they were lying.” I cut in.
Thoth was silent for a minute, then he groaned. “Fuck.”
My dad’s eyes tightened. “Was the one you have following Verity someone close?”
Thoth snorted. “I thought so.” He scoffed. “But I guess I was fucking wrong.”
My dad leaned on his desk, closer to the screen. “Did you give her the necklace?” He tried to sound aloof, but I could tell he was concerned by the way his forehead crinkled.
“No.” Thoth sighed. “I don’t trust anyone enough to give them the necklace.” I heard him crack his knuckles. I could almost picture him, but his face eluded me.