Page 89 of Alpha
I got up and left the dining room. I snuck as quietly as I could to the study so I would be able to overhear what they were saying. It was at times like this that I appreciated the fact that Blake didn't belong to our pack so they couldn't communicate through the mind-link. They had to talk to be able to communicate.
I strained my ears.
"...I have a bad feeling about this." It was Blake and he sounded stressed. For the short time I'd known Blake, he was always so laid back, but there was no doubt he was seriously stressed.
"I know," sighed Cade.
There was silence.
"The rogues aren't a coincidence," said Blake. It wasn't a question; it was a statement. “They were planted by Victor to capture Scarlett.”
It meant Victor knew about me.
"I know.” It was Cade, his tone resigned.
I felt a little bit betrayed that he hadn't shared his suspicions with me. Was it his way of trying to protect me?
"We have to join our packs," said Blake.
Wow!I hadn't expected that. I wondered how complicated that would be.
"We can, but I don't think that's going to help," said Cade.
"You're like a brother to me and I'll do everything I can to keep you and Scarlett safe," Blake told him.
My heart squeezed at his words. They were closer than best friends; they were non-blood-related brothers.
"I know, I just don't think we stand a chance," Cade admitted. The heaviness in his voice pulled at my heart. It was the responsibility of every life in our pack that weighed on his shoulders.
"Even with the help of Kyle's pack it isn't going to be enough to defeat Victor and I can't lead so many innocent lives into a slaughter," admitted Cade.
"Running isn't going to help," said Blake. He knew his friend well enough to know that that was going to be the next thing he'd contemplate.
"I know that."
There were no other options. No matter which option we chose, someone was going to die. The option to run would be a better one because it would at least save the pack, but I couldn't live with an option that would end Cade's life.
Fear and desperation filled me as I began to realize the full effect of the situation we were in.
Having heard enough, I snuck upstairs into our bedroom.
I began to pace up and down. It was a good thing I was protecting my thoughts, otherwise Cade would know I'd heard what they'd said.
I rubbed my forehead as I tried to come up with an alternative option where less lives were sacrificed to keep me safe. Any life other than my own was too much to sacrifice.
My own!
Then it struck me. I had a third option I hadn't thought of. I could give myself over to Victor.
If I gave myself willingly to Victor, I'd be able to keep Cade and our pack safe. I'd also be keeping my brother and his pack safe as well. It was the only option that didn't cost lives. I swallowed hard as I tried not to think about what that choice would cost me. It didn't matter. It was the only option. I wouldn't contemplate another one.
Now that I'd made up my mind, I had no idea how to put it into effect. Kyle had told me that Victor's territory bordered his and Cade's so I knew exactly where to go.
My mind began to set up scenarios of how I could get away without anyone stopping me. I knew that if Cade even suspected what I was going to do, he would lock me up to stop me.
I only had one chance to do this and I couldn't fail.
My failure would cost lives, and I wasn't prepared to live with that.
