“We were.” Shannon screamed. Then she started to cry. “He used magic to get us to follow him. I’m so sorry, Amy. You are my sister, and I love you so much. Everything that happened between Brandon and me was all Garith’s idea…to break you.”
Brandon was staring at her with confused eyes. I picked at my nails as if I was trying to figure out what to do and waited for Brandon to follow suit. “Shannon is right. You were my mate, and he used me to hurt you. I have loved you all my life. Shannon was just a mistake, one I never would have made by choice.”
My father scoffed. “You have to be kidding me.”
Vince took the cue to jump in. “Gavin, we used to be friends.” That was news to me. “We were so close growing up.” The thought of my father and Vince being friends didn’t sit right. “You know I would have never agreed to this without your father forcing me.”
Morgan was the only one who remained silent. I turned to him and lifted a brow. “What about you?”
I watched him think about what he was going to say, and then he shook his head. I had the feeling that Morgan was going to tell the truth for once. So I turned back to watch the other’s faces. Shannon had a slight smirk on her lips; she really thought shewas convincing with her bullshit. “I did it all because I wanted your mother. I wanted her not only because she was beautiful but because I was hoping she would give me a son. One strong enough to kill Brandon and take this pack.” Shannon’s face fell. But Morgan looked into my eyes. “I loved your mother in my own way. When she turned her back on me, I was angry, but I realize now I deserved it. You should kill us.”
“Daddy!” Shannon whined, but I held up my hand.
“Well…that was unexpected and actually refreshing.” My father’s voice was icy. “But Ainsley is my mate, and you will never get the chance to see her again.”
Morgan seemed to shut down at the thought, but he just nodded. “Fair. Can you do me one small favor though, Alpha Maclean?” The soft respect in his voice was even more surprising than his words.
“Maybe.” My father’s voice was still hard.
“Can you just tell her I’m sorry…for everything.” My eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Fine.” There was an enormous boom over the call.
“Daddy?” I grabbed for the phone as a loud crack that I felt in my bones rippled on his side, then there was the sound of falling rocks. “Daddy!” I called again, and I watched as a smile spread over Vince’s face. “Talk to me.”
I heard a few coughs, and then my father’s voice sounded worried. “Explosive! Get out of the caves now. Evacuate now. Baby, I have to go. The caves are collapsing.” The call ended, and I just stared at the phone as if it would change. Like the call would somehow pick back up and his voice would be there.
Shannon snickered. “Oh, well.”
I turned to her, and I smiled. “Amusing, isn’t it?”
Her face froze. “What?”
“It’s funny that my pack is in danger once again, right? That your plan has failed, and your life is in my hands, but listening to others potentially die is quite fun, isn’t it?”
She scoffed. “I never said that.”
I walked over to Vince and picked him up by his throat. “You didn’t have to, Shannon. You snickered while you listened to me call after my father. Pretty pointed, don’t you think?” Vince choked.
“I’m not her father. It doesn’t really hit the same way.” Vince tried to explain. “If you are going to kill someone to make a point…it should be Morgan.”
I smiled. “Who said we were going to kill you?” I turned to Rowan. “Can you release them?”
He tilted his head. “What are you thinking?”
A slow smile spread across my face. “I’m just returning every favour that they did to me.” Rowan waited for another second before he nodded. I felt his aura fade away. There was a second of relief before I dropped all of my pretense. I allowed my power to roll out like a wave.
In Rowan’s aura, they were treading water. They could speak but not move. Once his aura was gone, they started to get to their shaky feet. From one breath to the next, they were slammed back into the ground, but this time they were silent.
“Fuck.” Rowan staggered under my power and landed on one knee. His face turned from surprise to devotion. “This is all of your power, your aura?” I nodded. “Goddess, that is sexy.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “What?”
He pressed his hands into the grass, and pushed himself to his feet. Then, he slowly made his way over to my side. “Your power…is sexy.”
I dropped Vince to the ground in a heap as I turned to my mate. “You aren’t intimidated?”
It was Rowan’s turn to laugh. “Insecure men get intimidated by strong mates…and I am not insecure.” He looked at me as he stepped close. “Your power…your strength? It will protect my pups, my pack. That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen.” He slid his hand up my neck and cupped my face. “I love you, Amy.” Then he leaned in and kissed me.
