Chapter 33

Xavier POV

I fling the hospital folder onto my father’s desk without announcing myself, startling him as he stares at me wide–eyed. Xander walks in behind me, his expression just as grim.

“What is this?” my father stammers, grabbing the file and begining to peruse it while my mother glances at it over his shoulder, her own eyes questioning.

“Regan’s hospital records for the last few years. All of the abuse he’s suffered and the treatments that have been provided. They were meant to be scaled and destroyed, but luckily for us, ene of the other doctors kept a copy on their computer at home. Who do you suppose ordered that Father?” I said sarcastically, glowering at them both.

My mother was busy reading, the blood draining out of her faces she saw the number of fractures, broken bones, and various other injuries that Regan had endured over the years. My father looked at me and my twin brother in disbelief “Surely it cannot be true” he began. “There has to be some sort of reason for all of this… he trailed off

“Believe it” I snarled, pinning him with my gaze and refusing to look away from him. “Beta Johnathon has been hiding this from all of us, for the last few years. I know you don’t like Regan I know the pack doesn’t, but we at least had some sort of duty of care towards her as a pack member” I shouted, losing control of my temper and exasperated with my parents who continued to ignore the obvious even when it was right in front of them.

My father’s mouth opened and closed, gaping like a fish. My mother’s voice was strangled. “Boys it’s not that easy to just simply” She whispered.

“What?” I interrupted her coldly, eyeing her with condemnation. “You are the Luna, it’s your job to protect the children and mothers in this pack. Did you just figure Regari wasn’t worth it because you blamed her for killing her mother? I can’t condone this” I gestured to the file sitting on our father’s desk, my throat seizing. “I can’t believe the level you went to ignore

it.”

I was still in a state of disbelief. How bould we have all been so bind for so long?

“I didn’t know” my father’s voice is grim. “Believe me, I have no qualms with Regan. I have never blamed her for her mother’s death. That was a tragic accident he said perplexed and glancing up at his wife who tightened her lips and avoided.

his gaze.

“Then why are you and Mother so cold towards her? Why have you let the pack abuse her so much? Why haven’t you stopped it?” I spat out, glowering at them.

“I find it hard to look at her because she is the spitting image of her mother” my father confesses, looking shame–faced, “but I did not know that I was being so harsh or that I was coming across as cold towards her. I guess I have been lost inside myself and oblivious to how the pack has been treating her. That’s no excuse” he said tightly “and neither is the relationship we have with Beta Johnathon preventing us from exploring this now.”

“I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding” my mother tried to protest and all of us stared at her.

Misunderstanding? What was mother trying to play out? She knew this was no simple misunderstanding. This was abuse. The worst kind. I could see my father regarding her in surprise and even Xander was studying her closely now.

“Abuse is no misunderstanding. Mother, why are you defending Beta johnathon so mich?” I snapped, feeling as though there was more to this than simply friendship but not sure if I was merely being suspicious.

She blinked. “It’s just that he’s a friend..” she continued to object

“Nonsense Jennifer my father growled, looking frustratedly at her. “If he’s abusing his daughter then it’s our job to step in and protect Regan. We cannot let friendship stand in the way of doing what is right and what is needed? he told her firmly.

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Chapter 33

She flushed and bit her lip. “But think about what this will do to Babelle and Heather” she murmured.

838

1 almost lost it right then and there with her. Where was her comer when it came to Regan, the one who had been abused Where were her priorities?

“Right now, my priority is Regan, who is my mate,” I told my mother icily, shaking my head at her “I do not give a damn about Heather and Isabelle

“Heather and Isabelle are equally a part of this. Even if they did not physically harm her, they were just as complicit by not saying anything” Xander’s voice is deadly quiet “and as such will also warrant punishment” he adds, causing the tension in the room to grow even thicker as we all look at each other.

My mother looks even more nervous now. My father sighs deeply. “Had I realized this was going on in the pack. I would have instantly stepped in, but I see now that I have become too lenient in the role of Alpha” he said, looking at us both. “Perhaps stepping back from the role in the near future will be a good thing. For now, let us discuss this” he said, frowning heavily “Beta Johnathon, his wife and stepdaughter will be required to explain themselves. It’s only natural that we demand they come here, in order to confront them before they can make up a false story between themselves.”

1 agreed. The longer we left it, the more chance they had to concoct some fantasy instead of speaking the truth. We could use the Alpha tone, but that was always a last resort. Although I wasn’t opposed to using it in this instance.

My mother wrings her hands together. “Honey, don’t you think that we are dealing with this too harshly?” I mean, this hardly needs to be dealt with immediately” she continued to argue persuasively.

We stared at her and she flushed, looking down at the ground, unable to protest any further.

“The sooner the better” I growled, beginning to feel enraged once more. “I don’t trust that man not to run or find some paltry excuse for his pathetic behavior.”

“If you don’t mind–link him Father, I will” Xander added in agreement, nodding vehemently and side–eyeing our mother warily

Neither of us understood her strange desire to protect Beta Johnathon or why she continued to defend him when the proof

of hurting Regan was right there in front of her.

My father’s eyes grew cloudy as he began to mind–link the Beta and his family. We waited feeling tense, while my mother folded her arms across her chest and avoided looking at all of us, I felt the rage increasing from my father, though he tried to hide it, his eyes returning to normal.

“Beta Johnathon is on his way, along with Heather and Isabelle. He is not pleased to have been summoned and even angrier that I refuse to tell him what the meeting is about. Be warned, he is feeling on edge” he warned my brother and me “and therefore he will immediately be on the defensive. I am certain that he will be looking to place the blame elsewhere or to find excuses for Regan’s injuries, that prevent him from being punished. I wish I had seen this side of him sooner” he sighed, shaking his head and looking weary “but I am grateful for you both bringing this to our attention”

“It is only because we continue to respect you both that we did, I told him, “otherwise Xander and I would have handled this in our own way and it would not be as merciful as I suspect you and mother are about to be.”

I suspected that my father was about to prove me wrong in the best

him to.

Alpha. Friendships cannot get in the way when it comes to leading the pack, no matter what Your mother understands that he looked at his ashen wife, and then back at us “and

and my father’s expression hardened while my mother blanched, her anxiety skyrocketing. I understood her trepidation when it came to pushing a friend, but this

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Chapter 33

about to show him what happened to those who hurt our mate and make an example to those who might be trying it in the future. The pack was about to learn that change was coming

Chapter 34

Xavier POV

his wife Heather and his stepelaughter Isabelle, his lips tightening as my father motioned for him to remain standing where he was, near

wrap my hands around his neck and teach him a lesson for being so disrespectful to our

my mother’s eyes while she pointedly looked the other way, as though she

Regan for the last few years. We have copies of her hospital

bones, fractures, the list goes on” he roaged in disgust, causing Heather and

our father stood up to Beta Johnathon and showed him who was

hold up the folder in response, his eyes chilly as he stared

Heather, on Isabelle? Did you also hit Regan he growled, looking at both of the women

it” Johnathon snarled stepping protectively in front of the women and staring hatefully at our father. “I was the one who did it. I beat Regan, constantly” he snapped “but she is the reason my mate died all those years ago and I retain the right to punish her for it, just like all the rest of you have done, no matter how much you stand there pretending

My father roared, standing up and towering over his so–called friend who trembled in the face of his wrath. “Regan is not to blame for her mother’s death. It was an accident. A rogue incident. Nobody could have foreseen it coming he snarled. The

we all

Johnathon snapped bark, seething. “She knew the consequences and she still entered it. If it weren’t for her, Celeste wouldn’t have died trying to protect her from a rogue

father sounded incredulous as he studied Johnathon who looked as though he was beginning to lose it. “Have you been

on his daughter. “That she had purposely entered the woods, knowing rogues were attacking and putting herself and her mother in danger. But it sounds as though Regan didn’t know about the rogues at all. So which is it, Beta Johnathon?” I asked, leaning forward and spearing him with a gaze,

tell the truth.

the thing is. Who cares” he cried out in exasperation, causing all of us to look at him stunned. “Either way she deserves whatever she gets. You loved Celeste, we all did he turned to my mother, spreading his hands out and appealing to her. “Why else would you have remained silent all these years? You agreed

and bring any attention

merely standing there motionless, as though afraid to make

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Chapter 34

taken it our blame,” she told my father, her

but I am also to

loud and watching Beta Johnathon closely with narrowed eyes. “Regan is always so careful and cautious, it’s hard to fathom why she would put herself in danger, let alone her mother without cause. Did she ever say why she went into the woods even when it was

now as I asked the question? I wasn’t the only one to see it either. 1 narrowed my eyes. My father looked sharply at my mother his face questioning. She flushed and bit

and staring at her hard, my voice filled

his Alpha tone instantly before she could attempt to escape the room or

forced to obey, tears trailing down her cheeks, her sobs

went into the forest that day. I told her that her mother had gone in there looking for

my father demanded, looking confused.

rogues were coming. The patrol had already warned me. I sent Regan into the forest

my father’s expression was bewildered as he stared at my mother, as though

mother with realization dawning on his

admission caused all of us to still as she stared at Beta Johnathon. “Johnathon and 1. You were away and I was lonely” she hiccupped, tears continuing to trail down her cheeks. “It was just the one time, I swear, but Regan, she saw us

die, because you slept with the Beta” I snarled, beyond disgusted

condemned a little girl to be murdered by rogues to save her own

couldn’t think what else to do. Your father would have banished me and Johnathon. Celeste went into the forest after Regan, and it just happened. Regan couldn’t remember who sent her into

you almost killed my daughter just to save your sorry ass?” he roared, suddenly furious and looking

“To

mother shouted back at him in frustration. “I don’t exactly see you coming clean with

it would only cause more trouble. You…you” he growled, his eyes going dark

my father roared, causing everybody to

11 &

Chapter 34

He looked tired

the room. My father looked as though he had suddenly

Regan POV

and my body ached, my vision was slightly blurred as I blinked and turned my head, disturbed by the sound of machines beeping and footsteps approaching me from the side of the

how are you feeling?” the doctor’s voice

more clearly. I see that he is holding a clipboard and regarding me sympathetically, I stretch, wincing as I notice the various bandages and the telltale bruises that continue to litter my body.

hit by a truck”

A large truck.

ribs, bruises, grazes. This isn’t the first time you’ve ended up in hospital from

talking about. It was humiliating to remember all the times I had found myself in here and the number of times I’d tried to avoid treatments in fear that they would attempt to speak to my father.

brought me here?” I struggled to

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