Page 198 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

I looked at my dad for several moments. I said, “I’d do it at her expense too if it meant justice for our dad. I can’t fault her for that. I am not happy with the situation, and if this hurts Lexi I may never forgive her. That doesn’t mean I don’t understand, and that I wouldn’t make the same choices she is.”

Cameron argued, “You would’ve done it differently. You would’ve told her the score and used your allies quietly. She could’ve had this solved if she involved hers, and you know it.” I did know that, and everything he’d just said was right.

My dad said, “Oh to be young and dumb again.” Me, Matt, Cameron, and Derrick all yelled, “HEY!” My dad shrugged, “You just have to own it. You are young and dumb. It is what it is. We were all there once. Sophia isn’t a bad person. She is misguided, but she’s also, until very recently, felt alone. Even if you boys didn’t have me you had each other. She didn’t have that.”

Matt pointed out, “She has Alfred. He’s annoying to me but loyal to her.” My dad agreed, “Yes, she does. Wallace opened a can of worms though. She trusted that boy heart and soul, and he betrayed her. It’s a hard lesson to learn. I’m sure for a time she was that scared girl her pack wanted her to be. She was almost forcibly marked by her childhood friend. A man who was her Gamma, and who was meant to have her back.”

Matt said, “He’s maintained with Ted that he was protecting Sophia.” My dad nodded, “See? Young and dumb people. Young and dumb. You all think you know everything, but you forget you don’t have to know everything or have to have an answer for everything. There is strength in seeking council from those older than you. You don’t have to listen to it, but there is something to say for asking.” I knew that. I used my allies all the time.

If Noah got Lexi, I wouldn’t waste time proclaiming she was my Luna to bring them with me to get her back home. I would let the consequences come and deal with them once she was with me again. My dad continued, “Anyone could’ve told Sophia she should’ve stuck to the original agreement with Chase. If it gets out to anyone outside her allies, hell even her allies that she went back on their agreement, that’s not great.”

I winced, “Alpha Eric knows, and he’s not happy.” My dad said, “If he knows then Alpha Lucas knows as well. My point is if Sophia has simply asked for counsel outside her pack, we’d have told her that. If her witless Gamma hadn’t betrayed her; I’d like to believe she would’ve at least come to me. Or Nadine. That Wallace pup has made her pull into her shell more than ever before.”

I said, “He’s in the dungeons should you want to pay him a visit. Ted drops off his breakfast and they chat. He claims he’s in love with Sophia.” My dad snorted, “It’s not a claim. That boy has always been crazy obsessed with her. I’m pretty sure she rather liked him too for a time.”

I asked, “Are you serious? How did you know that?” My dad said, “Before his parents died, his dad told me that Wallace thought he could be her mate. Everyone was hoping for it actually.” I disagreed, “There’s no way Alpha Allister hoped for that.” My dad laughed, “He did not, no. I do believe he only said that to me, though.”

Matt said, “Why not?” My dad explained, “He didn’t want someone who the pack would look to instead of her. He wanted them to see her for the Alpha she was. If she was mated to Wallace, they would’ve looked at him to lead. He might have danced if her mate was an Omega who gardened or was a chef. He had a sweet tooth. He would’ve been happy with a warrior though.”

I huffed, “Could he not have done us all a favor and told her that?” My dad said, “At the end, Allister was talking about all kinds of weird things. I overheard some things he said to Sophia, and I got on him about it. I understand her more than she thinks.”

I asked, “What did he say to her?” My dad said, “He told her their pack was his legacy, and to never let it fall to another pack or another Alpha or she’d dishonor him. He told her to do whatever it took to keep him alive through their pack.”

My eyes widened, “He never talked to her like that.” My dad said, “I know. At the end though he wasn’t the same man. Now, knowing he had her avenging them while running the pack I know he wasn’t fully cognizant. Having her do it alone is dangerous. It’s not like whoever is behind this isn’t above murdering her. He should’ve told her to loop in a few trusted allies. Because she’s been lucky. There’s no way around that. She’s lucky that whoever has done this thinks they got away with it. If they were looking and watching their tracks, they’d have caught her snooping into it.”

I stood to pace. My dad asked, “Chase?” I talked through it, “They killed her father, but the plan wasn’t to kill her. It was to weaken her and have someone she trusted and who loved her to mark her as theirs. The plan isn’t to kill Sophia. I mean the bigger plan. Alpha Hammond obviously had other ideas, but the person behind the larger plot… No, that’s clearly not their goal. She recently found a half-brother.”

My dad cut in, “I’ve checked him out. He’s on the up and up. I talked to his Alpha and everything.” I stopped pacing asking, “Already?” Cameron shrugged, “I told him about it when we came to visit. He’s had a minute.” I admitted, “I told him too.”

My dad rolled his eyes, “I work fast.” I pointed out, “Tyson might not be the only long lost sibling Sophia has.” My dad agreed, “It does seem unlikely he is the only one.” I theorized, “What if it’s another one of his pups? Someone else from their pack could’ve had a pup with Alpha Allister. The she wolf’s family could be working to install that pup as the Alpha. If that pup, it would have to be a boy, is calling the shots then his anger at Allister makes sense. Sophia though, she is innocent.”

Matt pointed out, “She was raised by their dad, and he wasn’t.” I agreed, “Yes, but she doesn’t know about the sibling. We all know Allister didn’t either, but the sibling doesn’t, I’d bet. To punish her, they found someone to forcibly mark her. That’s the rub though they went to someone who actually cares for Sophia. I think this could be an older brother.” Bolt agreed, “That would make sense.”

I continued, “He knows Sophia would have to be submissive and out of his way. He doesn’t want to seriously injure her though. That’s why they used Wallace. He’s perfect. It would break Sophia’s will, but she would be loved. It’s messed up, but it makes sense.”

Matt agreed, “From a crazy person’s thought process yes it makes sense.” Cameron chimed in, “No, from an Alpha’s standpoint it makes sense. He would have to be older than Sophia and taught from a young age it was his birthright not hers. The connection to your siblings as an Alpha is strong. To be completely overlooked and not so much as thought of by your father would drive an Alpha crazy.”

My dad said, “I agree with Chase, Allister wouldn’t have known about the pup. Alpha’s want their pups in their pack. No matter if they are by their mate or not. It makes the pack stronger, and that mattered to Allister. He also wanted a big family. He hadn’t met his mate at that time, he would’ve kept a pup around.”

Cameron agreed, “We know that, but Chase is right again someone using that pup wouldn’t have told him that. They would’ve had to cultivate anger and hatred in the son.” Derrick questioned, “Why not anger for Sophia herself?” I jumped back in, “As I explained having someone forcibly marked does show anger and the need to punish someone. Having it done by someone who loves her and will ultimately protect her is a blow on both ends.”

Cameron nodded picking up my reasoning, “This makes so much sense. He was showing her that he can turn those loyal to her to him. Showing that he deserves to lead the pack, but also saying hey sis I had your back because I could’ve stuck you with an asshole. This guy at least loves you.” I agreed, “Exactly.”

My dad said, “I guess if Tyson’s mother had been like that…” I interrupted, “What is his last name?” My dad sighed, “I can’t tell you that because he doesn’t want it known. I swore to his Alpha on my honor not to share his last name.” I asked, “Does his mother have a rank?” My dad answered, “She was an Omega.” I nodded, “Tyson is strong though.”

My dad said, “He doesn’t want to lead. His mother raised him to respect authority. He wants to be a warrior. From what I understand he’s very good.” Matt chimed in, “He is. Tyson and Kincade impressed Liam Henderson.” I shared a look with Matt. Cameron asked, “What was that?” I replied, “Nothing.” Cameron snorted, “Chase…” I didn’t want to keep this secret anyway. I explained, “Lexi and Ted believe Carry Henderson is Kincade’s mate.”

My dad, Cameron, and Derrick stared blankly for a minute. Laughter filtered in from the kitchen. Nadine cackled “That’s too good.” Derrick frowned, “But you guys are bringing him to the meeting on January second.”

I ran with the subject change, “Speaking of, Dad and Cameron I need you at Alpha Eric on January second.” Derrick huffed, “They agree and we all know it. Can we go back to you bringing Kincade to the meeting?” My dad asked, “Why does that matter?” Matt shook his head, “You are such an Alpha, Frank. Link my dad.” My dad chuckled but appeared to be linking Isaac.

Cameron laughed, “My Beta said Carry Henderson’s birthday is January second.” We all looked at him. Cameron shrugged, “What? I was curious if he was near the file, and he was.” My dad said, “Are you looking to get Kincade into a fight, son?”

I shook my head, “No, neither Haley nor Alpha Eric would stand for that. It’s the safest place for them to find out if mine and Matt’s mates are right. If we waited, then she’d go into Lexi’s office and she’d go back to her parents’ house to collect her stuff because she was marked. He’d be in their territory with his marked mate. They’d jump him. Alpha Eric might not be there. If we are all together, they have to check their tempers. I’m sure Haley would threaten to turn them blue. Do we know why she turned Noah blue?”

Matt chuckled, “According to Ted it was to match his icy cold dead heart.” I pressed, “So, she wasn’t making a Smurf joke?” Matt said, “Haley doesn’t know what a Smurf is.” Nadine gasped, “That’s criminal. Her mother should be shot. She didn’t know anything aboutDisneyuntil she went to the Hackura realm according to Cassandra.”

My dad laughed, “If you want the Fairy Princess to like you don’t mention you talk to Cassandra.” Nadine joined us and explained, “I don’t really. We talk at parties. She’s very her way or the highway, and I don’t like it. I move to the beat of my own drum. That’s fine with Cassandra until your drum isn’t playing the same song as hers. It’s two faced, and I don’t like two faced people.”

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