Felix squeezes my shoulder supportively. “He’ll be out soon, and all of this will be a distant memory.” He smiles supportively at me. “Where were you this morning? I couldn’t find you.”
“With the witches,” I say. “They’ve been helping with my powers and mind-control stuff.”
“For good, I suppose?”
My mouth twitches when I think about the main reason I need their help. “Yeah, only for good. I’m not gonna go crazy with power.”
“Pleased to hear it.”
When Zara drags Felix away, I stand at the kitchen counter by myself as I watch people’s faces light up as they converse. Yet I feel hollow.
“Hey, Alpha,” I hear from beside me.
I glance over at the woman with dark hair, Carson’s wife, Esther.
“Hi, Esther,” I say. “How are you?”
She purses her lips. “Struggling.”
Carson is still down in the basement of the outhouse. I’ve had too much going on to even think about him. It’s been over a week, and yet I don’t know what to do with him.
“I know what Carson did was beyond forgiveness,” she whispers. “I’m angry too, but I can’t be angry at him for protecting us.”
My eyes lower at her words. “I understand.”
“Please, will you let me see him?”
I don’t hesitate as I nod. “Yes.”
As soon as we reach the building, we head down to the basement. I excuse my guards as Esther starts sobbing. I can’t take my eyes off her because I know what it’s like to be kept away from your mate.
Carson glances up at the sound of our entrance, and the second his eyes lay on Esther, he scrambles to his feet. “Esther,” he croaks as he moves towards the metal bars. “Oh, Goddess.”
Esther sniffles and reaches out for him. “I’m here. I’m here.”
She holds his face despite him being covered in dirt, and they press their foreheads together.
“Are you okay?” he asks her. “Is Tyler okay?”
“Yeah,” she murmurs. “Tyler’s okay.”
I give them a moment, even if the tightness inside me says I’m envious, given the circumstances.
Carson looks at me, tears gleaming in his eyes. “Alpha, I’m sorry,” he rasps. “I’m sorry for betraying you and our pack. I didn’t know what else to do, and I had to keep my family safe. Please understand that.”
“I wish you had come to me,” I state. “Done it discreetly somehow.”
Carson nods with heavy eyes. “I know. I was scared of Ryker finding out, of all the things he promised to do.”
The thought of killing him for his wife to be a widow, and his child to be fatherless makes me feel physically sick. I never want to end up like my father and continue his need for violence—so I decide to give him one last chance to prove himself.
“If you ever do anything like that again, I will not hesitate to tear you to pieces.”
He swallows harshly but stares back at me with understanding. “I know.”
“You are stripped of your title as head guard,” I say as I fold my arms over my chest. “And you’re never going to be my guard again.”
Carson releases a breath. “I deserve it. I need to earn your trust, I know.”
