If what Cole’s saying is true, that changes everything.
“Why would she do that?” I ask.
“Roxanna’s parents wanted her to be matched with a wealthy pack. She knew about my family’s wealth and thought that Damon would be the weakest link in the pack,” Cole explains.
“And she was right,” Damon mutters.
“You had no chance, dude!” Laz shouts at Damon. “She waited until he was walking home alone, snuck up on him in the dark, and sprayed him!”
“Somehow, Damon managed to contact me straight after it happened,” Cole says. “Thankfully, we were already close by.”
“Roxanna was forcing herself on Damon when we arrived.” Ren shudders at the memory. “She was baring her neck and begging him to bite her.”
“You have to understand that most alphas would never have been strong enough to fight that urge,” Cole says. “Especially such a young alpha.”
“Alphas have less control of their urges in the first few years after their designation presents,” Ren elucidates.
My mind is reeling. Despite the laws changing in recent years and more legislation being introduced to prevent unconsented bonding, it doesn’t change the impact of the physical act. While unconsented bonding can be legally severed, it’s pretty pointless when the physical tie can never be broken. Some medication is rumored to help combat the effects, but they’re still experimental. A bond's permanence has left many omegas—and alphas—living in terrible situations.
“Somehow,“ Cole’s shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath, “Damon managed to resist biting her and pushed her away, but he didn’t know his own strength?—”
“I’m an alpha,” Damon interrupts. “It’s my job to protect omegas. She got hurt on my watch.”
“It was self-defense!” Laz slams his fist on the table, causing the candles to flicker. “You had no choice!”
“After we got Damon under control, I told Roxanna to leave,” Cole returns to the story. “But she laughed in my face and refused. Instead, she took another bottle of Ruttcol out of her purse.”
I gasp in horror. Using Ruttcol around one alpha is bad enough, but with an entire pack? That’s asking for serious trouble. Out of control alpha packs are my biggest fear, so I can’t believe an omega tried to create that situation.
“Lucky for us, she was holding the mist the wrong way.” Laz smirks. “She sprayed herself in the face.”
“Unfortunately for Roxanna, it also has terrible effects when sprayed on someone who isn’t an alpha.” Ren winces. “We tried to get her medical attention as soon as we could, but it was too late.”
“So she blinded herself?” I murmur, realization dawning.
Cole nods. “If the case went to court, a judge would have ruled in Damon’s favor because there was plenty of evidence to show that he was under the influence of Ruttcol and couldn’t be held responsible for what happened. My dad and Roxanna’s family agreed to cover up the incident to avoid negative press.”
“We brought all the case files for you to look at.” Ren puts his satchel on the table then pulls out a large manilla file, pushing it toward me. “I included numbers of all the witnesses, doctors, and officers involved. You can contact all of them if you want to check our story.”
With shaking hands, I quickly leaf through a few of the pages. I recognize some of the names and documents from Kady’s PI’s files, but there’s so much more too. I skim the toxicology reports and blood test results. Everything is here and lines up with what they’ve told me.
“We understand if you want to leave, Faye,” Cole’s voice is barely audible. “But I hope you see now why we needed to makesure you knew everything before deciding. What happens next is up to you.”
Although it’s a lot to process, a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The Silverwood alphas are not monsters at all. In fact, they were the real victims.
I turn to face Damon. “You should have told me the truth.”
“Why? It changes nothing.” Disdain practically seeps from his pores. “I’m still dangerous.”
Despite what he thinks, he’s shown more self-control than most alphas would be capable of under the influence of Ruttcol.
“You’re as dangerous as Mr. Snuggles,” Laz refutes.
Damon doesn’t seem to find this comment amusing. “Stuffed animals can’t go into ruts.”
“Can’t he?” Laz counters. “I’ll have to ask him.”
“This isn’t funny, Laz!” Damon snarls. “It’s not a joke.”
