Killian said nothing. He stood and stared, waiting.
“I was…” the king began, tearing his eyes away from Killian to stare at the floor. “I was the one who… hired him.”
The horrible betrayal hit Killian like a tsunami. Before he knew what he was doing, he was already shifted into a black hulking mass of furious wolf. He had knocked the king to the ground and was towering over him.
“It was you?” Killian snarled. “You hired an assassin to kill Scout? My mate!?”
Every hair on his pelt bristled with fury. His dripping fangs were bared, inches from the king’s face.
“Answer me!”Killian snapped.
“I did,” the king said, tonelessly. He wouldn’t meet Killian’s burning yellow eyes. For the first time in his life, Killian thought his father actually looked ashamed. He growled deeply and stepped off. There was no pride in hurting an already injured enemy — even if he had almost gotten his mate killed.
“I can’t believe you,” Killian growled. He circled around the king, who was laying still on the ground. “I knew you didn’t like him, but this — this is insane! How could you do this!?”
“I… I’m sorry.”
Killian stopped. Was he hearing things? Or had his father apologized for something?
“Excuse me?” Killian growled.
“I’m sorry, Killian.” The words were crystal clear this time. Killian didn’t know what to say. He stared at his father, laying there injured and weak on the jail floor, looking pitiable.
Killian sat down on his haunches. The king slowly rose, sitting up.
“I didn’t know… no, that’s not true,” the king said. He shook his head. “I did know what I was doing.” He sighed heavily. “The grey wolf — the assassin — he is from Silvercreek.”
Killian’s hackles rose even further, but he didn’t interrupt. Not when he was getting an admission of guilt and an apology from his father for the first time in his life.
“I didn’t think that omega— ”
“Scout,” Killian corrected with a growl. “His name is Scout.”
“I didn’t think Scout,” the king said slowly. “Was a good mate for you.”
Killian narrowed his eyes. Before he could retort, the king continued.
“But I realize now what I did was a mistake,” he said, avoiding Killian’s gaze. “I… I should have never tried to tear the two of you apart.”
Killian’s hackles fell slightly, but he was still upset. “I don’t know if I can forgive you for trying to kill my mate, no matter what you say to me,” he growled.
The king nodded. “I understand.”
Killian paced around the jail cell before making up his mind. He stopped and faced the king. “I’m going to find Scout and fix this mess you made.”
“Wait,” the king said. “There’s something else.”
Killian waited.
“The assassin… the reason he attacked me is because I didn’t honor our deal. I was supposed to pay him, regardless of whether he accomplishes his… task or not.”
Killian’s ear twitched, but he remained quiet and listened.
“He was angry with me. Before all this happened, I planned on letting him out after a few days—just to make it seem like I’d done something—but he got angry. He must have known about Silvercreek’s attack before I did. He attacked me, stole the key, and knocked me out.”
The king sighed. “I don’t remember anything after that. The next thing I know, you were here.”
Killian spat. “That wolf—he must have known someone would come to check up on you eventually.”
