Page 76 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
John tutted. “And what a waste that was. I had it on good authority that Reinhardt was growing restless. I had hoped to nurture something rebellious in him, have him take over. He has a claim to the throne, after all. It should have been his, by all rights.”
Rosalia stumbled backwards, “Is that…is that why you always asked about him? About what he thought of Felix? You…you were using me to see if he would turn on his pack?”
He sighed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Of course I was, stupid girl.”
The floor may as well have collapsed beneath her.
All this time.All this time.
Rick had been right. Her fatherhadused her as a spy. Against the Iron Walkers.
And she…
She had walked right into his trap.
“You told them,” she said, her voice strangled, “you told the Black Claws about Rick’s plan. You read my letters.”
Raph growled, “Insolent bastard. He was always far too clever for his own good. Who thought it would be easy pussy to get him to finally make a mistake.”
The alphas laughed, low and sleazy, disgust roiling in her stomach.
Her father didn’t even bat an eye.
Her heart thudded inside her chest, a dead drum. Acrid regret clawed her throat.
She had known. She hadknownwhat he was. All this time. But she had been too stupid, too blind to take the threat seriously.
Perhaps, deep down, she had just always hoped that one day he would treat her like his daughter.
“So what was your plan?” she asked, bitterness lacing every word. “Have Rick take control of the Iron Walkers, and then take control of him through me?”
“Until such a time as you had a son,” John said, inspecting his nails, “then I would have found a way to dispose ofReinhardt. I could have been patient. Without Felix at the helm, the Iron Walkers would have collapsed in on themselves. For all his cunning, Rick has no head for moderation.”
“He wouldneverbetray his pack,” Rosalia spat, fists shaking, “notever.You underestimated him. You thought he was some shriveled, angry,patheticcreature just like you, desperate for any measure of power. But you werewrong. He’snothinglike you. And the Iron Walkers arestrong.Heis strong.”
Her father didn’t react more than an eyebrow quirking, and his silence only drove her on. She strode forward, years of anger, of pain, of heartache finally surfacing. Finally breaking free.
“You think this pathetic alliance with the Black Claws will work? Everyone sees you for what you are,John. You’re a worm. A sad, tiny, husk of a male. I regret every moment I ever spent with you. I regret everfearinganyone as pathetic as you. You’renothing.”
His eyes glittered. “Like father, like daughter.”
She bared her teeth. “I am nothing like you.”
“Oh?” he asked, rising to his feet, knocking back his drink, “Are you so sure about that? Do you really think Rick will ever want anything to do with you after your betrayal?”
She reared back, eyes widening. Around her, the other alphas stood, their presences looming over her, crowding her in. “I didn’t betray him. I would never betray him. Ilovehim.”
John laughed then, low and mocking, “How very sweet. But you’re wrong. Youdidbetray him. And he’ll never forgive you.”
“He will,” Rosalia said, her voice resolute. “I’ll tell him everything. He’ll forgive me. He knows what a monster you are.”
He stepped forward, teeth gleaming, “How delightfully naive. Don’t worry, daughter. He won’t be alive to hate you much longer. Raph here is preparing the invasion as we speak.”
Her blood turned cold. “You…you’re not strong enough to face them. They’ll butcher you.”
“My son was a useless piece of shit,” Raph growled, “but I’ll have blood in vengeance regardless.”
“I’ll warn them,” Rosalia said, backing towards the door, “I’ll stop you!”
