Page 85 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
“Excuse me…”
The familiar female voice is hesitant, and I back out of our group embrace to look at Willow’s remorseful face.
“We’ll give you two a minute,” Aubrey declares before ushering Rai and Colt to one of the stairways.
“I’m so sorry,” she says in a rush. “I should have told you, but I knew your father would be angry with me if I did, and you might have been angry with him, too, and the mission—”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I throw one of my arms around her in an embrace, cradling the rabbit in my left as I hold Willow tight. Her body shakes, and I realize mine does, too, as her hand smooths the back of my hair and her lips press to my forehead.
When I look at her this time, tears are streaming down her face, and I wipe my thumb under her eye with a watery smile. “I understand. I understand why you didn’t tell me and why Colt didn’t, either. This isn’t on either of you.” I gesture to my father with my head. “He did things, made decisions that hurt me, hurt us all. I…” my voice trails, brows drawing together. “I idolized him,” I whisper. “The sun rose and set with my father. And now that I know he’s lied to me my whole life, I don’t know what to do with that.”
Willow’s hands rest on either side of my face, her smile small and sympathetic. “I would never tell you how to feel, Miranda,” she says. “I know your father loves you. He didn’t want to force you to live a life on the run if it wasn’t necessary. That may have been misguided, given what’s happened, but I know he had the best intentions in mind.”
I frown, part of me knowing she’s right, the rest of me wanting to stay angry.
She nudges me on the shoulder. “You’re entitled to take the time you need.” Her smile grows large then. “And maybe you’d be inclined to help me with something?”
I bite my lower lip, trying something I never thought I’d be able to say. “Sure...Aunt Willow.”
She clutches her chest, fresh tears springing from her blue eyes. “Ah,” she says on a sob, “you’ve got me going again.”
When we laugh, our Alphas all rejoin us, obviously feeling the emotional shift.
“Most the people here want to stay and fight,” Caius relays. “Some of them want to wait until they reunite with their siblings to decide.”
“Those who want to leave, we’ve guaranteed safe passage to the nearest rebellion outpost,” Jory adds. “The people there will help them figure out where they want to go and get them there.”
“We’ll be putting together a training plan for anyone who stays,” Willows says. “We’re going to help everyone hone their power as best we can, group them with like-abilities and instructors. Some of those without power are staying to help, too, like the doctor and Lieutenant Yarr.”
I nod at them and purse my lips. “I was surprised when you said that the leader of the rebellion was at the juvenile facility,” I tell Willow. “I thought you were the leader.”
She smiles at me. “I’m one of Rodrigo’s advisors, as are Jory, Vera, and a few others.”
“Rodrigo leads us, but everything is a joint effort. We all have a say.” Jory reaches out to pet the rabbit.
“Oh! Does this little guy have a name? And will he be safe outside?”
Jory smiles, something I’m starting to get used to. “He has a name, but it’s nothing we could ever pronounce.” His grin grows. “You should give him a name. And, as for his safety, why don’t you keep him inside with you tonight? Everything should be cleaned up tomorrow morning, and he can go back to his den. You can visit him any time.”
I look down at the fuzzy bundle in my arms, rub my finger gently between his black-tipped ears.
“Yuki,” Rai says, staring at him. “You should call him Yuki.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“Snow,” Rai replies. “Or happiness. It depends on how it’s written.”
“Fitting either way,” Jory chimes, his head tilting.
“Willow! Jory!”
A young man I don’t recognize rushes toward us, out of breath.
“Easy, son,” Jory tells him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Breathe.”
He catches his breath, barely, then says, “We just got word from Rodrigo. They interrogated some soldiers and found out that there’s a facility in the UNA where they’re holding prisoners. More experiments.”
Willow and Jory look at each other, and Caius lets out a low growl.
