“Allow me to play devil’s advocate here,” Bruce said. “Images can be deceiving. Is there anything about Maddy that could be a threat? Could there be some grain of truth to what Miss Monroe is saying? I’m not saying Maddy is a super being, but perhaps she fears Maddy could become a figurehead of sorts. A freedom fighter who could rally the shifter community to greater heights. Something along those lines?”
If I took the vial, there was a chance I could actually become a werewolf. That wasn’t something we needed to discuss here. The odds were low, and there was no need to help Viola’s cause. Werewolves hadn’t been seen since the time of Edemas, and they’d become a thing of myth and legend even among shifters. What we needed to focus on was the terror and tragedy Viola was bringing to the world.
“Viola Monroe is chasing a fairytale,” Nico said. “Maddy only wants to live her life. She has no aspirations to become the next Ghandi or Mandela. What we have here is a powerful and wealthy woman who has brought death and destruction to the world. Children have been murdered. Died, Bruce. Babies. Innocent lives lost because Viola is pursuing this baseless vendetta. That’s why I agreed to this interview. I’m here to let her, and the world, know that we refuse to hide anymore.”
He gazed intently into the camera. “Everyone watching needs to understand this. I am telling every shifter across the globe that they need to protect themselves. After the attack on us yesterday, it has become evident that people want to follow Viola. To do what she tells them because they are afraid of use—because they refuse to understand us. Every shifter alpha listening right now needs to be ready to defend their homes.
“Any human who feels compelled to follow Viola’s instructions needs to listen. This battle is not yours. You are being manipulated into a war that could cost you your lives or freedom. Do not listen to her. Shifters are not coming for your families. We don’t want to take over the world, and we aren’t a threat to you. All we want is to live our lives like you do. We want to raise our children, wake each morning in peace, and do nothing more.
“For those of you who can’t or won’t listen to reason, all I can tell you is that we will no longer hide in fear. If you choose to attack us, then I, and every shifter on Earth, have the right todefend themselves. Take this as a warning. If you step foot on any pack land, if you attack any shifter, or if you threaten harm to any shifter, then be prepared for us to push back. And we will push back hard because when it comes to family, nothing is more sacred to a shifter, and we will not hesitate to end any threat. I plead with you to end this bloodshed. Once Viola Monroe is dealt with, I know this war will be over.”
“Very well said, Mr. Lorenzo. I, and most of the world, are on your side. One thing that we can’t skip over was the attack yesterday and the footage broadcasted from the helicopter. The disturbing images were heart-rending, but in the midst of that battle, something else became apparent: the witch that fought beside you and the other shifters.”
Nico sighed. “I knew we’d get to that eventually.”
“Indeed. As you and most others know, witches were thought to be extinct for hundreds of years. Many had even decided that they may have never existed. Seeing the power this woman wielded has made many become even more fearful of the so-calledShifter Threat.Can you go into some detail on how this woman came to be in your employ?”
“First off,” Nico said, “the woman is not my employee, slave, or minion. She is a member in full standing with the Lorenzo pack. Though she is not a shifter, she is a part of my family and under my protection.”
“Yes, but how did you find this woman?” Bruce asked.
“She found us. This, as with most things, goes back to Viola. Viola’s company murdered her parents, rendering our pack witch an orphan who was, in turn, raised by another witch. They came to us to help in our fight against the royals. Your viewers cannot imagine the horrors this girl has witnessed. Not only that, but we recently took in another individual who has the powers of a witch. He was forced to become one by The Monroe Group. The magical energies of a dead witch were forced intohim during cruel experiments overseen by Viola Monroe. I don’t want to drag this young man into it, but he is Miss Monroe’s own son.”
“Umm, I’m sorry? Mr. Lorenzo, are you saying that Viola Monroe abused and experimented on her own child?”
“I am. I’m not going to say his name because it isn’t my place to expose him to the world, but everyone needs to know the monster we are dealing with. No one is safe. If it helped her goals, she’d kill anyone, including all these poor deluded people following her. She’s even kidnapped his half-siblings and has been holding them as insurance to make sure he does her bidding. The government needs to look into this. They’re minors and are in desperate need of help.”
The reporter looked a bit shell-shocked at this revelation. Nico had been keen to get the info out to both help the cause against Viola and to force law enforcement around the world to try and find Maxwell’s siblings. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but there was no use in not trying. If Viola was going to kill them, it was likely she already had. Nothing we said would make things worse for them.
“Mr. Lorenzo, I want to thank you again for joining us today. I’d like to send my deepest condolences to your pack for those you lost yesterday. I truly believe that this interview will open some eyes around the world. Is there anything else you’d like to add before we end?”
“No, Bruce. I think I’ve said everything I wanted to. All we want is peace. If that isn’t possible, then weareprepared for war.”
“Fair enough. I’m Bruce Witherspoon with TDN News. Thank you.”
There was a slight pause, and then I watched as Bruce loosened his tie on the screen.
“That was a helluva interview, Nico. I really do hope it works out for you all. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“I don’t think so. Is that it? When will the interview air?”
Bruce laughed. “Um, I guess my producer didn’t tell you. We were actually live.”
“Oh.” Nico looked like he’d been kicked in the stomach. “Okay, then.”
“If I were you, I’d check social media in an hour or so to see what the reaction was. See you all later.” Without another word, the video feed went black.
Nico rubbed a hand over his face. “I need to call the other alphas. The ones nearby we couldn’t bring in. See how things are going for them. I want to see if they’re of the same mind as I am. I’m done hiding. Do you want to sit in on the call?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be fine. You go do youralphastuff.”
Nico went to his office, and Luis started breaking down all the video equipment he’d set up. I wandered out the back door, desperate for some fresh air. To my surprise, Maxwell was sitting in the grass beyond the porch. I noticed his hands and saw that, in all the confusion, Sinthy had never reattached the magic bracelets that held his power back. He was free to use his magic and could have vanished in the night but chose to remain here. Why?
“Maxwell?” I said as I walked toward him.
The young man jerked in surprise. “I’m sorry, Miss Sutton. Am I not allowed to be here? I can go back to my room. It’s not a problem.”
I dismissed his apology with a wave of my hand. “It’s fine,” I said as I sat on the grass beside him. “I was wondering why you didn’t decide to teleport away when you had the chance.” I nodded toward his bare wrists.
