Page 66 of Knot my Alphas

The grief of losing my family crashes all over me again. A barrage of emotions explodes inside me as I hug him tightly.

Until now, I blamed Callahan for hurting Damon and killing countless innocents. I already hated him for everything he did. Now, he’s turned out to be the man who killed my parents as well.

Hate, rage, and grief burn my heart.

It’s a while before my tears stop flowing. Taking a deep breath, I clear my throat. “What happened to her?” I ask in a strained voice, glancing back at the computer screen. “Did she die in the attack?”

Julian averts his gaze from me. Looking at his knees, he gives a somber nod.

Without glancing at me, he turns his attention back to the screen and scrolls through the rest of the report.

This time, I’m presented with photographs that contain the aftermath of the attack on Captain Burton’s estate. Clouds of ash and smoke shroud the burning buildings. Bloodied corpses litter the grounds. Paramedics and firefighters are running in every corner, struggling to contain the damage.

“They mention about a month-old baby,” Julian says, turning back to me. “They say she died as well.”

“Callahan didn’t know I existed until he noticed me at the mayor’s mansion,” I say. “My resemblance to my mother attracted his attention and he instantly knew who I was. He must not have known about my existence until then.”

“So, Callahan used his shadow army to kill your father to get the woman he was obsessed with. He could never have her any other way,” Julian says. “Your father was a designated alpha, so I’m sure he mated with your mother. It’s nearly impossible to break a mating bond and accept a new partner. He’d have had to break her, both physically and emotionally, to make her accept him.”

“He wouldn’t have held back,” I say in a quiet, emotionless voice. “I’m glad she died before he could lay his filthy hands on her.”

Julian hugs me tightly, nearly suffocating me but I stay in his embrace without complaint. His arms wrapped around me are the only things holding me together right now.

I want to march down to Callahan’s haunted mansion right now and kill him for snatching my parents’ lives away. It hurts to be so powerless against him when I know he’s responsible for so much pain in the world.

I don’t even realize when Julian lets go of me. It’s only when he starts talking again that I find myself staring into space.

“Your dad’s family is still around,” Julian is saying. “Your grandparents and uncles are still alive.”

“Huh?”

Julian suddenly smiles. “Your real family is still out there.”

“How do you know?”

“I ran a search on the Burton pack,” he says. “They’re a prominent pack in Jersey City.”

“Really?” I breathe.

Julian nods. “You haven’t lost everyone.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to face them.”

“You don’t have to tell anyone about this,” he says. “This is complicated shit. You need to work through your feelings before meeting your family.”

“Why has no one questioned Callahan’s involvement with the Black Widow?” I ask, my mind still focused on the man who’s been at the root of every tragedy in my life. “He’s been investigating them but has never been successful in rooting them out. Did no one ask for an explanation? Did no one want to fire him for being a useless piece of shit?”

“I’m sure there are others who’re helping him.” He closes all the open files on the screen and switches off the computer. “That’s enough for tonight.”

“But, I want to know about the Burton pack.”

“You can find out about the members of the Burton pack online,” he says, pushing himself to stand up. Pain flashes across his features as he straightens. “They’re as famous as our pack.”

“Oh.”

He starts moving toward the door. “Come on. We’ve both earned ourselves a drink.”

I want to continue learning about my real family but Julian is already walking out of the door. Rushing to his side, I grab his arm and wind it around my shoulder.

---