Page 6 of Alpha's Redemption

“Mom called me; she said Kalen got your petition pushed through,” she says nervously, and I sigh.

“Let me guess, she wants me to pull the petition. Not happening,” I tell her.

“She also asked that you rescind the challenge,” Ava tells me.

“Also not happening,” I tell her, and she nods, looking out the window.

“Are you nervous?” she asks me, but I shake my head.

“Nope. After years of pent-up aggression, it will be good to beat something, or someone; though I wish it wasn’t dad,” I chuckle, though that’s a lie. I didn’t want it to come to this, but I feel more than ready for it. Valen has been helping me train late at night when I’m up to it. Not that I’m really worried—I was taught by the best, and you don’t suddenly forget.

While I feel like I can handle myself, I am still a little nervous since my wolf isn’t nearly as big. I make a mental note to shift soon. Valen has been pestering me about it—he says I have to train in wolf form—yet I never have the time, and I can’t exactly shift at home. Training in our living room isn’t exactly a good idea in wolf form. That might scare Valarian. Hand to hand, I’ll be fine, yet in wolf form…

I’m not sure how I will fair, honestly.

But I know he’ll force me sooner or later. Probably sooner when he finds out I have the council meeting in a week, and two days after that is the next full moon and the challenge against my father. So much going on and so little time.

Pulling up in front of the school, I wait for the bell to ring, checking my emails while Ava stares off out the window. Glancing at her, I can tell she wants to say something, and her silence is starting to bother me.

“What is it? Spill. Has this got something to do with what you wanted to speak to me about?” I ask her.

“Kind of.” She doesn’t elaborate, and I put my phone down to give her my attention.

“Just say it. I won't get angry,” I tell her. I could never be angry with Ava, she’s my little sister, despite everything.

“Nothing. It’s just that being at the hotel and hearing the stories—what everyone puts up with, what you put up with… I should have come with you,” she says, wiping a stray tear. “I’m sorry, Everly, I should have done more.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ava. You didn’t do this. I wouldn't have let you anyway; you were fifteen, what could you have done?” I ask her.

“Been there. I should have been there,” she chokes out. I shake my head.

“I’m glad you weren’t. And everything turned out alright. I’m alright, Valarian is alright, and you’re here now,” I tell her, and she nods.

“Mom tried, you know. Her and Dad fought constantly for weeks, but you know how Dad is.”

I sigh and nod. The bell rings in the distance and I turn my head to the school, looking for Valarian.

“She still could have called, it’s not like I was hiding,” I tell her.

“Dad forbade her to go anywhere without her guards or him. Same with me. Damn Nixon ruined everything,” Ava says, and my brows furrow.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“The debt. And I’m pretty sure that’s who Dad was planning for you to marry, though I didn’t know about that part until the other day, but it makes sense to me now.”

“What debt?” I ask, shocked. Ava shrugs.

“It’s why he wanted me to marry Valen. If I did, Dad would control half of Valen’s assets. Dad wanted Valen to enter into a treaty with our pack. Nixon has been threatening to go to war if Dad’s debt isn’t cleared soon, so Dad thought if he had Valen on his side, Nixon would back off.”

“How much does Dad owe?” I ask.

“I’m not sure, but they had some original deal, which I’m now assuming was you; it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“Nixon has a son?” I ask her.

“Yes, he’s around Valen’s age. His name is Carter. Absolute asshole,” says Ava, rolling her eyes.

“How come I’ve never heard of him before?”

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