Page 9 of Alpha's Redemption

“He still chose his mistress over Leah. It sent her over the edge and she left the city. Carter went looking for her not long after graduation; he wanted to find his real mother. Only, when he did, she was a forsaken. She attacked him and bit him.”

“And he lived?” I ask.

“Yes, he’s an Alpha, plus she was his mother. It’s unclear to us why that made a difference, but he was only sick for a bit. Dad said he was never the same afterward though. Then he snapped.”

“What do you mean?”

“You thinkI’ma savage? Carter was placed in a mental hospital after he killed eight of his pack members, so I’m surprised his father brought him back to the city. He may have survived being attacked by his mother, but the poison still had some effect on him. He’s unhinged,” Valen explains.

“Well, Ava said she met him and he was a pig. Why would my father agree to marry me off to him, then, knowing that? Seems extreme to marry your daughter off over a debt—especially to a monster.”

“Your father's pack is in debt?” Valen asks, bracing his arms on his knees.

“Yes, I think that’s why Dad has been helping Nixon. Ava said Nixon gets Shadow Pack lands if he can't cover the debt.”

“How much is the debt?” Valen asks. I shake my head.

“No, idea, but enough that Dad was willing to marry Ava off to you so she could hand over half your territory to Nixon,” I tell him.

“I'm surprised your father would agree to that,” Valen says, his brows pinching together.

“Yeah. But it explains why Nixon refused to sign my petition about the rogues now, especially since his only child was attacked by one, even if itwashis fault,” I sigh.

“Carter isn't an only child; he’s a twin. He has a twin sister, Alisha,” Valen says.

“Ava never mentioned her,” I tell him.

“Probably because most don't know she exists. I only know because my father told me. Alisha has been in a coma since Carter found her; she lived with their mother. She wasn't a forsaken, though. That's the odd thing. She was able to survive having a forsaken for a mother, but when Carter found them, Leah attacked him. Alisha saved him and her mother turned on her. She’s been in a coma since, like Emily. Carter managed to find a way home, but she never woke from the coma, and Carter was sent away to the mental hospital.”

My mind is reeling at what he just told me. This is so much information to take in.

“Wait, he only took Carter?”

“Yeah, Nixon has always been a piece of shit. Not only did his mate end up a forsaken, but he also ditched his daughter and only took his son.”

“How doesn't the city know about this?”

“Same as no one knew about my mother or you being John's daughter—he made her disappear,” Valen tells me. “But I want to know why Carter is suddenly back in the city.”

“Maybe he recovered,” I tell him.

“No, that’s what I’m finding weird. Why would Nixon risk it? Everyone knows about Carter killing his own people. If the city found out he was back, it would cause hysteria.”

“What do you mean?”

“Carter didn't just kill his pack members. He ate them and hung their pelts on border fences. The man is sadistic,” Valen says.

“Yes, but he’s also Nixon's only heir, isn't he? And he can't be too crazy—Ava met him. She said he was a pig but never mentioned him acting insane ,” I tell him.

“Hmm, I think tomorrow I may have to go see for myself,” Valen says.

“You're going to go see Carter?”

“Yes. This is my city, Everly, and I want to know why the fuck Nixon brought a psychotic serial killer back without informing me,” Valen says, getting to his feet. He offers me a hand and I grab him, letting him pull me to my feet. He pauses for a second, his hand cupping my face, then smirks, his eyes flashing black.

“What?”

“I suppose I’ll be getting that BJ,” he purrs.

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