Page 51 of Into The Darkness

Rain laughed and ran a finger through his jet-black hair. “I was drunk, so I think you just stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time.”

I agreed, and we drove the rest of the way in silence until he parked a short distance from the large rock that the Alpha house sat atop, then I swung the door open.

“Hey, Ember?”

I turned to face him. “Yeah?”

“He really fucking likes you, even if he somehow fucks up.” He offered a tight-lipped smile.

I gave a strained smile in response. “Thanks for the ride, Rain.” Rain was comforting. He was the opposite of Ash in every way, but when we were together, the silence wasn’t filled with any awkwardness. It held space.

After slamming the car door, I gazed up at the grand residence that sheltered my brother. I wasn’t concerned about whether Ash had feelings for me. What bothered me was that I had spent the entire night with him, sharing what I believed to be a meaningful connection, only for him to react with anger and kick me out when I was trying to help. No, I deserved better treatment than that.

I could have sworn I saw the curtain in the front of the house peel back and a figure staring at us before it disappeared back into the house.

“Into the darkness I’ll go, and into the light I’ll be,” I whispered, repeating my mother’s words like a mantra. Perhaps they would somehow guide me toward the elusive answers I so desperately sought.

“Time to go try and put some of these puzzle pieces together.” I sighed as I walked up the path.

Chapter twenty-one

“Ember.” My brother’s booming voice echoed throughout the first floor of the Alpha house. It was the same in every way as the Den. There was dark furniture, marbled black flooring, and gold fixtures making the place seem like a palace of debauchery in every single way that the Den was.

“Hey, Walsh,” I said, walking over to him and giving him a kiss on his cheek. I had to take off Ash’s T-shirt before I got out of the car, so I was in the same dress and cardigan from yesterday, but he didn’t know that.

“I am so happy you are having lunch with me!” Walsh said.

“You don’t seem hungover from throwing a party yesterday.”

“The trick is that if you chug a water after every shot, then you’ll be hangover-free, but if Dad asks, I never told my sister that.” I laughed. “Come sit down.” He gestured to the kitchen table where there were two plates full of manicotti.

“Is this Mom’s recipe?” I asked, feeling teary at the fact that Walsh brought me our favorite comfort food.

“Yeah. I gave it to our chef, who made it for us. I also kicked everyone else out so we could hang out for a bit.” I suddenly felt so guilty for showing up here to confront him with the knowledge I’d learned from Ash when he just wanted to spend time with me.

My brother practically raised me with my dad. I hated that I was going to upset him.

He smiled at me. “I missed you.”

Sitting next to Walsh, I pushed my food around the plate, trying to figure out how I would talk to him about all of this.

“Why did you lie to me?” I muttered. The room seemed to hold its breath, the only sound being the clink of a fork as Walsh placed it back on his plate.

“You know?” He looked at me, seeking confirmation, and I nodded.

“I had a feeling that once you were here, you’d uncover the truth about Dad’s actions. We never meant to keep them a secret from you. We figured you’d piece it all together eventually.”

“It’s more intricate than that, Walsh. I’m aware of the tension between you and the Den due to our families’ histories. My entire life has been built on falsehoods.” My voice quivered as tears welled in my eyes. “I always knew there was something wrong and different about our family, but I was too naïve to question it. I wish you’d told me.” I paused. “Lying by omission is still lying, Walsh.”

“Mom wanted to shield you.” His voice broke as he spoke of her and her unwavering determination to safeguard me. “It was Mom’s idea not to involve you. She knew you were smart and you’d eventually start asking questions. I had to convince Dad that it was okay for you to come here. If you found out the truth, we would protect you.”

“That’s why Dad gave in.”

“Right, and because he knows Isles is the neutral territory. Anywhere else, you’d need a set of bodyguards around you at all times. We both agreed it was easier for you to come here.” I paused at Walsh’s words, ingesting what he said. I wouldn’t allow myself to cry, so I just stared at him as he continued.

“Grandpa had connections to the Mafia, and that’s why Mom was sent to Isles. Dad, on the other hand, arrived here on a poetry scholarship. When they met and fell in love, Mom was aware of her impending arranged marriage. For her to be with Dad, he had to immerse himself in the Alphas.”

Trembling, I reached for Walsh’s hands, gripping them as I recounted the painful truths. “After we graduate, the leadership of this place either earns their position in the family or they get kicked out. Dad earned his place as a trustworthy leader, but still wanted nothing to do with the family.”

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