Page 24 of Alpha's Redemption

"You need to leave the city!"

"Tell me why. What have you done?" I ask him.

"I haven't done anything, but I found documentation on a hard drive Nixon left at the council one morning. He’s building an army to take down Valen's pack and the Night Slasher Pack. That's why I tried to marry Ava off to Valen. Not just to absolve my debt, but to ensure Valen holds his reign over the city. If he married Ava, I would have had sway over Valen, but–"

"You want Valen to remain in control?" I ask, a little skeptical.

"We may have our differences, but if Nixon takes down Valen's pack and the Slasher pack, he will hold control."

"We outnumber his pack. You aren't making sense!" I tell him.

"You don't! Think, Everly! The forsaken! Nixon is behind it, and he is building a fucking army out of them!"

I stumble back. "And you're helping him?"

My father shakes his head. "No, it's not like that. I got the pack in debt with Slasher Pack's Alpha. Nixon dug me out, so now I owe him. I will work that out, but…."

"What aren't you telling me?"

My father hangs his head. "He was trying to find a vaccine for his daughter and son. Nixon managed to make the vaccine, but he also stumbled onto something else. He found a way to replicate the venom,” Dad says, and my eyes widen in horror.

"And you're helping him kill rogues?" I asked, disgusted.

"No, that's not me. I….. I can't…… Fuck!"

"You want my help, you fucking speak," I snarl, trying to figure out what it is he’s wanting. My father sucks in a deep breath.

"It's my fault because I got the pack in debt. I made a stupid bet while drunk."

"You bet the pack land?" I ask, and he nodded.

"Yes, or three million dollars. I’d already gambled everything. Nixon loaned me the money and the pack is collateral. He gave me five years to pay it back or hand my firstborn over. I was going to find the money, but Nixon was pushing for you to marry Carter, and when you said you were pregnant, I knew you wouldn't get rid of your son. So I made you a rogue to cover up the fact I faked your death. If Nixon knew you were pregnant he would have used Valarian against Valen," he explains.

My head is swimming with all this information. I have so many questions, but my father's nervousness and the way he keeps glancing around tells me he can't be seen here.

"So, why are you helping him now?"

"I asked for more time after I met Carter—I couldn't let him have Ava either. When I refused, he kidnapped your mother. It’s why I don't let her leave the packhouse. He injected her last year with the venom."

"What?” I exclaim, my heart racing.

"Every month, he gives her the vaccine. It stops it from taking over, but when it does, she’s like one of them. The vaccine is the only thing that stops her from turning completely. It's why I went against the petition. He wouldn't give her the vaccine if I signed it," he says just as Valarian calls out.

"Mom!"

My father looks over my shoulder. "I have to go. But I… I’ll see you at the challenge," he says, rushing back to his car.

"Come on, Mom!" Valarian whines. I collect the bags and rush to the front door. Moving across the foyer and into the elevator, my father's words replay in my mind, but as we approach the penthouse floor, another worry sets in.

The elevator doors open and Valarian runs ahead, opens the front door, and holds it for me. I drag the groceries to the kitchen and place them on the counter.

"Finally, you're home," Valen says, walking out of the hall with a towel around his waist.

His hair is wet and his skin is glistening, obviously having just stepped out of the shower. Valarian rushes over and hugs him. Valen scoops him up and walks over to me. He pecks my cheek and reaches for the handbag I still have over my shoulder. My heart thumps harder in my chest and I pull away. He gives me a funny look, but Valarian distracts him by talking about Taylor and Casey fighting over her Barbie dolls.

Moving quickly, I put the groceries away before rushing back to the bedroom, needing to hide the damn pregnancy test, at least until after the challenge. I know if Valen finds it, he’ll make me back out. But now, even more is at stake, and I’m not about to back down after everything that’s happened.

Ineedto do this! Valen wouldn't understand that, especially if he knew I was pregnant—and he can't claim my title for me. Glancing around, I rush into the closet. As soon as I hear him come up the hall toward the room, I panic and jam it inside one of my knee-high boots and set it back on the shoe rack. Just as I finish placing my bag on the small shelf just inside the walk-in closet, Valen walks in, retrieves some shorts from the shelf, and slips them on.

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