“He was also very polite to me,” Aurelia adds. “Actually, I think we clicked pretty well.”
“He seemed more comfortable with both of you than with Dad and me,” Liam adds. “Whatever that means.”
“Great,” Silas sighs. “So, we can assume his father is a problem, a real problem. Not that we thought he would be anything else.”
“Gwen said Maddox had never joined in any bullying, he just didn’t stand up for her,” I point out. “But she also said recently that she isn’t sure if he wholly registered what was going on around him. Seems like this Daniel even told her that Maddox is in his own head a lot.”
Dad shifts his glass between his hands, his expression thoughtful. “Our first bullies are our parents,” he says into the silence.
Liam looks at him thoughtfully. “You think so?”
“You said it yourself, he is more open with Celine and Aurelia. Even with Silas, although he is Charlie’s uncle.”
“Why is it that so many of these alphas are assholes?” Silas asks. “Not that I am one to talk. Coven leaders aren’t much better, but usually they don’t harass their own children.”
“Power,” Liam says.
“Control,” Aurelia adds.
Celine shrugs. “Money.”
“It’s not too different from humans,” Dad agrees. “The bottom line is that there are many bad apples.”
For a moment, we are all quiet until Liam raises his head, looking out of the window. “Oh, look at that,” he says. “Dante arrived quickly. I only just called him. ”
I blink, following his gaze. Indeed, I see a tall, strong man outside, next to Charlie. He is Liam’s beta and Charlie’s adoptive dad.
“He doesn’t look too happy,” Celine adds.
“Of course he isn’t,” Silas mutters. “I am not happy either. From what we know, it’s not a good pack, and Charlie is mated to their future heir. I don’t want to say anything against Maddox, he seems decent enough, but the pack is a different issue.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised. “I thought you’d hate him.”
Silas shrugs. “When you live long enough, you will realize how many mistakes you yourself made.”
Dad nods. “I agree.”
“The pack is the problem, not the guy,” Liam adds.
“So, what now?” Silas asks.
“I still think it’s not good to let him handle this on his own,” Liam says.
“We could send someone with him,” Aurelia offers. “None of us, obviously, we are all too high ranking, but someone young, someone his age, who wouldn’t alert anyone...“ She turns to me.
“Are you serious?” I ask, surprised.
“Fantastic,” Dad sighs, not looking too happy. Previously, I might have thought he didn’t trust my abilities, but now I realize he just looks worried.
“Felix is a good choice,” Liam agrees. “He is young, polite. People like him immediately. And no one would refuse him entrance to their pack.”
Silas nods tentatively. “Maddox could make up some sort of project. He is in college, isn’t he? For whatever reason, he could be working together with Felix.”
“I want to do it,” I agree. “I would like to investigate the pack that treated my mate so horribly.”
“Are you really up for the risk?” Dad asks me.
“Yes,” I reassure him. “Besides, I don’t think it’s a high-risk job for me. And I do have my gift to fall back upon. Now that I marked my mate, I have much better control over it.”
