Virgil didn’t look at him. “In any case, I knew I was here to stay for a while. But when I realized the horrible condition of this pack, I was mortified. Omegas treated like livestock, alphas forced to join an army, everything based on war and chaos… I couldn’t just stand by and let ithappen.”
“But you’re still here, and no offense, but nothing seems to have changed,” I saidbluntly.
“You’re right. In fact, it’s gotten worse ever since that first omega - Charlie, I believe his name was -escaped.”
I felt at ease knowing Charlie was safe and sound in his home with Flint, happy to have escaped thisplace.
“To be honest, I’ve been biding my time,” Virgil said. “I needed to rise in the ranks. When I first joined Gunner’s alpha army, I was treated like garbage. I was an outsider with no place to go. To them, I must have seemed pathetic. But I knew that I had to work my way up to Gunner. I needed to earn histrust.”
I nodded. “And then attack from theinside.”
“Exactly.”
“Attack Gunner?” Niko gasped suddenly. “You can’tdothat.”
I held my tongue. I didn’t want to get on Niko’s bad side again, now that he seemed to be at least neutral to me. Virgil glanced at Niko the same way one might look at a child parroting lies heard from the playground; a bit exasperated, but mostlysympathetic.
“Things are not that bad here,” Niko mumbled, his cheeks flushing in frustration. “Especially for you alphas. We just need to suck it up and deal with it. It makes usstronger.”
Virgil shook his head, then pinched the bridge of his nose, like he couldn’t stand to hear him speak any longer. I sat there uncomfortably, not knowing whattosay.
“Niko, do you trust me?” Virgilasked.
He looked unsure. “Yes. But I don’t like hearing you talk about Gunner that way. He’s our top alpha and we shouldrespecthim.”
Just hearing that made my skincrawl.
“I’m about to tell you something you might not want to hear,” Virgil said slowly. “David, I’m sure you’re already well aware of this, but Niko…You’renot.”
Niko blinked quickly, suddenly looking fearful. “What do you mean? What’sgoingon?”
“Gunner hasbrainwashedyou.”
An unsettling silence washed over us. Niko stared at him as if hedidn’thear.
“No, he didn’t,” Niko said quietly after amoment.
I gritted my teeth. Listening to this and not being able to speak up was toopainful.
“I’m telling the truth. I thought you said you trusted me,”Virgilsaid.
“I do,” Niko replied, sounding increasingly agitated. “But not right now. Gunner wouldn’t do that. He’s agoodman.”
My wolf was crying out with grief and rage. I couldn’t take it anymore. The words came spewing out of my mouth before I could stop them: “He stole youfromus!”
I instantly regretted it. I didn’t want to push Niko away any longer, but at the same time, not being able to do or say anything waspainful.
Niko lowered his eyes, which were clouded inthought.
“No…” he finally murmured, but with less resignation than before. “That can’t be true. I won’tbelieveit.”
“You should believe it, because it’s true,” Virgil said gently. “You’re a prisoner ofwar,Niko.”
His brows furrowed. “No, I’m not - I…” He dug his thumbs into his temples and held his head in hishands.
“It happened a long time ago,” I said, my voice creaking. “Almost ten years. I watched it happen, right in front of me. I always assumed you were dead. That’s why I never came looking for you until now. I’msorry.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Niko said with a frown. “That doesn’t even make sense. I - I have memories of living herebeforethen…”
