Page 39 of Winning the Wolf

Accepting this, Nyla licked her lips and looked at the ceiling, clearly recalling the memories of the last few days. "I met Jeremy as I was leaving the shop. He was extremely charming." Shaking her head, she sighed. "I'm a sucker for a cheeky smile. Anyway... it wasn't long until he started to act strange, telling me he was the true alpha to our pack." Her quick glance to Killick was accompanied by a cringe. "Of course, I didn't believe him... until he showed me his birth certificate. Your mother's name is on there, Killick."

Scoffing, Killick tightened his jaw. "He could've easily faked the document."

"I thought that at first, so decided to do my own research. I was worried he would try to disrupt our pack."

Killick's shoulders tensed. "Go on."

Swallowing, Nyla looked our alpha straight in the eye. "The document wasn't fake, Killick, he's your brother." Holding up a hand before he could say anything, Nyla gulped. "I didn't go with Jeremy willingly, I was in London at the records office, doing my own detective work, when he basically gave me no choice but to go with him."

"He kidnapped you?"

Swallowing, Nyla glanced at me, tears popping into her eyes. "He threatened to drown Larissa in the lake where Chris died. I couldn't let that happen."

A gasp shot from my mouth, echoing around the room. My chest squeezed at the cruelty of the man.

Killick's hands clenched into fists, but otherwise, he remained calm. "What happened next?"

"He took me to that hut and..." Tears dropped down her cheeks as she sucked in a breath. "...he was furious that I'd doubted him so took his anger out on me. It wasn't long until he came up with a plan to use me to entice your mother to meet us."

"That's why you texted me to say sorry," I said, trying my hardest not to break down myself.

I hated seeing my sister so vulnerable and in pain, especially as it was becoming clear that she'd been coerced.

"Exactly. I didn't want you to come looking for me, but I couldn't just leave you in the dark." Looking at Killick again, she licked her cracked lips. "He promised me that he wanted a friendly reunion with his mum. I told him no at first, which was a mistake."

"Fucking hell, Nyla, you should've killed the bastard somehow," I blurted, unable to keep my emotions in check.

The sadness that crossed her eyes made my stomach roll. She communicated more to me in that look than she ever could with words.

"I managed to hide my phone," she went on, "so you could read all my messages."

Taking it out from under the duvet, she handed it to Killick. 'I arranged a meeting with your mum on the top of the gorge, bribing her with the information. Jeremy drugged me before we met Miranda, so I don't remember what happened but..." A distressed sigh left her. "I must have had the foresight to press record on my phone because I found a recording when I sobered up."

The stiffening of Killick's shoulders made my insides quake with emotion.

"I'll listen to it later," he said stiffly, "when you've finished telling me the part you played."

"I was back in the hut when I next became aware of my surroundings. He left me there for hours before I heard a commotion outside. I suddenly smelt your father and Jeremy at the same time. The alpha had tracked your mother's scent to the hut."

Glancing at me, Killick balked. I stared at him, reading between the lines just a moment behind him. His mother's blood.

"His mum was with you?" I asked Nyla, feeling even sicker.

A sob erupted from Nyla and the dam that had been holding back burst. Loud wailing escaped her, filling the room. I rushed over and wrapped my arms around her, allowing my own tears to flow.

My gaze looked over her shoulder, rising up to seek Killick's. A single solitary tear tracked down his cheek as he stared at me, his gaze heavy with unshed grief.

No one needed to utter the words, Miranda had already died.

Pulling away from me, Nyla scrubbed her face with her palms. "I managed to drag myself over to a hole in the wooden wall," she said, speaking directly to Killick, "and saw at least ten members of the Moon Dusk Pack with Jeremy. They..." An even more anguished cry left her lips. "...tore into your father. I mustered all my strength and launched at the door, screaming at them to stop. When it finally gave way, it was too late. Your father's wolf spirit rose into the air..."

"No!" Killick's face was contorted, anger twisting his features.

My heartbeat was pounding in my head, making it hurt. The pain of losing an alpha was tripled by his pain of losing a father. It burst through me, burning my nerves.

"I'm so sorry, I couldn't stop it. I tried!"

Raising his hands, Killick shook his head. "I've heard enough, I'll kill him! I'll kill them all."

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