He was the definition of a liar.
How could he lie to me like that? And something so important, something about me?
Maybe I just had to accept that Brandon and I would never be normal mates. There would always be secrets he would keep hidden from me.
What was it about me that made everyone lie to me? My own mother lied to me. She never told me that I was from the enemy pack.
Was it so hard to be honest for once? All I wanted was the truth. It saddened me to think I was someone no one trusted.
“Amy, what the hell are you doing here?” In the middle of all my frustrations, Angela shook me by the shoulders. Her pale hair was all over the place and her amethyst eyes were frightened from what she saw downstairs.
“I need to talk to Brandon.” I said in a serious voice and I felt my eyes ring amber. My wolf was awake and ready to tear him to shreds with the way he lied about my heritage.
“He’s a little busy.”
“Where is he?” I demanded hastily. Angela exhaled and her eyes drifted to the window.
“Outside, but I wouldn’t-” I didn’t stay around to hear the rest of her words.
I took off, like a tiny bird in flight. I flew down the steps and shoved the tall french doors open with my shoulder.
It was alarmingly warm for December.
What I saw chilled me, haunted me, and my breathing almost stopped. What I saw froze the blood circulating in my veins.
The ground was littered with tons and tons of dead bodies. I suppressed the urge to scream by slapping a hand over my mouth. I walked through the massacred bodies, my legs shaking uncontrollably. I tried not to focus on the dead around me, but on the ones that might still be able. I took a whiff of the air to track down Brandon’s scent. He smelled a little like me, his scent mingling with mine.
I walked further down, a mix of familiar scents hitting my nose. But something else was in the air. I sprinted, the scent of blood getting stronger with each passing step.
Leslie was shielding a wounded Julia from the bloodied Gamma Neil and there, in the center of everything, stood Brandon and Albert.
Neither were injured but both looked ready to pounce. They circled each other, waiting for the other to attack first. Albert was a gifted warrior whose trained longer, but Brandon was sly and quick with his movements. If push came to shove, I wouldn’t be able to predict which one would win. But Albert is set out to kill his opponent. Did Brandon want the same?
Brandon’s golden eyes stood out against the green pine in the background, and Albert looked one second away from phasing.
“Stop!” I screamed, meeting them in the center. I was on neither side.
“Shit.” Brandon audibly swore and Albert spun towards me.
“Amelia, get behind me! I can take him.” Albert told me but I was rooted in my spot. “I said get behind me!” He used his Alpha command on me but I was in no position to obey him. He wasn’t my Alpha anymore.
“She won’t listen to you, Alpha Albert,” Brandon spoke during the silence. Even so, he showed respect my acknowledging my brother as an Alpha.
Several more of my wolves began to surround us, watching their Alpha. Brandon remained still, a silent command not to interfere.
“And why is that?” Albert snarled, stepping towards Brandon. Albert’ wolves, including Hunk, were now closing in as well. Their rage stemmed from Brandon, he was the heart of all their hatred.
“She is my Luna now, she obeys me. There’s even proof, just look at her neck,” Brandon said calmly and I heard Leslie and a few others gasp, floored by this revelation.
My flowing hair had been swept over my right shoulder, revealing Brandon’s mark on me. That I was forever his.
“You forced a mark on her? I won’t show any mercy this time.” Albert bared his long canines. Brandon stood his ground, his hands in tight fists. He stood tall and proud.
“No,” I directed to Albert for the first time since I sided with Brandon, “He didn’t force me. I let him.”
Albert actually hesitated. “Why would you allow him to-?”
“I love him.” I blurted and there was a collective gasp among my past pack. They looked at each other in shock, like they’ve never heard someone say “I love you”.
“How can you love a killer?” His ice cold eyes narrowed.
“Did you forget to mention that Brandon’s my mate to the pack?” I shouted and the air went completely still. Not even a breeze.
“What do you mean by that?”
Damn him, he knew exactly what I meant.
“You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“It wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“It would have! We could have united the packs instead of this ridiculous feud!” I argued but it was obvious no one was on my side. They would all rather fight than make peace.
“Stop being so blind! Think of all the terrible crimes your Alpha has committed. He abducted you, sent a spy, threatened Harper’s life, killed our parents,” Albert sneered.
“Would it kill you to tell the truth?” I asked softly, trying to keep the anger from clouding my mind.
“What are you talking about? I’ve never-”
“I’m not your true sister. I’m the daughter of an affair, an affair between West’s dad and our mom.” I confessed and from the corner of my eye, I could see Brandon look down.
“How do you know that?” From the startled reaction on his face, I could tell it was true.
“Brandon told me.”
“You.” Albert roared, rounding on Brandon, who was protected by Neil. Neil snarled back, a vicious force he made sure no one dared mess with.
It worked, Albert stepped back but didn’t back off entirely.
“Brandon lied to you the whole time.” Albert accused. “Whatever he’s told you, it’s probably a lie.”
“You’re no better! All you people do is lie!” I cried.
Albert’ jaw clenched.
“You never really let me in, did you?” I whispered faintly, tears flooding my eyes.
“I was only protecting you.”
“From what?” I asked, willing myself to be strong. It was me against the world.
“If you believed you were truly my sister. . . maybe you might have stayed.” Albert said, his words getting lost in the wind.
I glared at him. “That’s not your decision.”
“Kill him already!” Neil snarled, interrupting everything. He came at my half-brother, but was stopped by my mate.
“No.” Brandon refused, looking at me. Actually looking at me. I smiled faintly, happy he wasn’t going to kill my brother.
Neil silently backed off, cooling down from the almost-fight.
Albert did the same. He nodded at Brandon, almost in agreement.
“Alpha?” Leslie and Hunk asked at the same time when Albert relaxed, his canines and claws retracting.
“Stand down. No more have to die.” Albert said and I kept the smile on my face. I walked to Albert so I could hug him one last time.
Thank you, Brandon, I mind-linked. I glanced at the man on the other side of the plain, turning around to leave.
Thank you, Ar-
I choked on my own blood, gasping for air. I dug my nails into the skin of my palm, so hard that they drew blood.
It felt like a hundred knives were piercing my heart all at once.
“Amy!” Brandon and Albert shouted at the same time.
Brandon reached me first, catching me as I collapsed onto the ground.
My vision blurred, but I could see the deep gash in my abdomen, bleeding sporadically onto the grass.
My eyes lifted to the man facing me. He stood tall with his eyebrows knitted together and glared at me without regret.
I wanted to say I knew my killer. But I didn’t.
“Die you filthy traitor.”