He didn’t ask about Becca, which meant he alreadyknew.
When she begged him to let me into the pack and train me, he…he raped her.I dragged in a rough breath.I hated your father, Liam, but I never meant to kill him. It truly was an accident. If I could rewind…if I couldjust—
Ness, my father didn’t die because of anydrug.
I know how he died, Liam. I know he drowned.My eyes were so hot that the cold air made them sting.But he drowned because of theireffect.
You think he fell into his pool and somehow spasmed to death?His gravelly voice turned almost shrill.Oh, Ness…He nudged my cheek with his wetnose.
But Everestsaid—
What did he say?His tone was as dark as his glisteningfur.
I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. My throat had squeezed as tight as afist.
My father did die in his pool, but he was strangled to death with a silvercord.
The air eddied between us, cold and hot, loud andsilent.
Strangled?Iwhispered.
Your pills might’ve slowed him down, but they didn’t kill him.Liam’s large black face dipped heavily. In a slow, even voice, he added,I wondered why my father hadn’t shifted.And then,Everest knew about the pills, didn’the?
He suggested them. I only wanted to give your father one, but Everest recommended three. He told me Alphas weren’t built like normalwolves.
Suddenly, everything made sense. How quickly Everest had been to blame me. How swiftly he’d pushed me toward the enemy pack to make me look like a traitor. How he’d up and left Boulder. Why he’d blackmailed me to compete in the lasttrial.
My death would mean his secret wassafe.
Liam’s death would mean my cousin would be free ofretaliation.
What he hadn’t counted on was for me to figure it out and share my findings with Heath’sson.
My head swam, but my heart, it shot up from the depths it had been wallowing in.I have to go. I have to go.I tried to wriggle out from underneath him, but he pinned one of my shoulders with his giant forepaws.Liam, I have to go! Let me go! Everest took Evelyn. I have to saveher.
I spun my face to see my uncle. He was watching on as intently and curiously as the others. Was he in on his son’s scheme? Was he the one whosawme?
I writhed, but Liam wouldn’t get off me. I snarled at him.I need to findher.
I’ll go withyou.
You come with me and they’ll know Italked.
What am I supposed to do? Let you leave to face Everest on yourown?
Yes.
No.His yellow eyes sparked likefire.
He’ll kill Evelyn if you come withme.
He might kill herandyou if I let you go on yourown.
We’re wasting time.I writhed like a snake.You want to help me?I growled.Then shift back and tell them I’m running away since I can’t forfeit. That’ll give me time to find her, and it will lead Everestastray.
Ness—
I spun so briskly to the side that he faltered. He tried to trap me again but ended up swiping his paw across my face, his claws catching in my cheek. The wound wasn’t deep, but itstung.
