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.

10:17 Sat, Jan 11

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.”

wrong in the best possible way. That is

him to.

an 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 I hope that you never have to feel like this or do this

a friend, but this was dramatic even for her. We all steeled ourselves, my father nodding subtly to Xander and me, as the door began

2/3

10:17 Sat, Jan

Chapter 33

surprise, that he never anticipated coming his way. We were 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.

Chapter 34

Xavier POV

Heather and his stepelaughter Isabelle, his

Jackson?” he asked impatiently, while fought the urge to wrap my hands around his neck and teach him

long thoment. Isabelle looked worried and Heather was trying to catch my mother’s eyes while she pointedly looked

that you have been abusing Regan for the

could you Johnathon? Your own daughter? Broken bones, fractures, the list goes on” he roaged in disgust, causing Heather and Isabelle

Beta Johnathon and showed

lies” Beta Johnathon tried to say in protest, only for my father to hold up the folder in response, his eyes chilly as he stared at his old friend

need to use the Alpha tone on you?” my father’s voice was cold. “On Heather, on Isabelle? Did you also hit Regan he growled, looking

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

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 patrol were taken completely by surprise

we all

consequences and she still entered it. If it weren’t for her, Celeste wouldn’t have died trying to protect her from a rogue attack.

incredulous as he studied Johnathon who looked as though he was beginning to lose it. “Have you been spreading this throughout the pack so that everybody blamed her?” he asked sickened.

it sound as though it was intentional” I murmured, glancing at Xander and feeling my stomach churn as I realized just how far the Beta had gone to get his revenge 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

tell the truth.

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 with what I was doing” he sneered, deliberately raking his gaze over everybody in the room “nobody here objected to it, did they?” he

and bring any

there motionless, as though

1/3

Jan

Chapter 34

angry my mother confessed, her voice shaky, “and perluas I shouldn’t have taken it our blame,” she told my father,

but I am

“Regan is always so careful and cautious, it’s hard to fathom why she would put herself in danger, let alone her mother without

one to see it either. 1 narrowed my eyes. My father looked sharply at my mother his face questioning. She flushed and bit her lip. Even Beta Johnathon was looking at her now and

I said, tilting my head and staring at her hard, my voice filled

had occurred to him because his tone changed to that of his Alpha tone instantly before she could attempt

he ordered, and she was forced to obey, tears trailing down her cheeks, her sobs filling the air.

into the forest that day. I told her that her mother had gone

demanded, looking confused.

looked at him beseechingly. My father used his tone again. She swallowed hard. “Because I knew the rogues were coming. The patrol had already warned me. I sent Regan into the forest to

at my mother, as though seeing her forthe

my mother with realization dawning

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

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

to be murdered by rogues to save her own damn

would have banished me and Johnathon. Celeste went into the forest after Regan, and it just happened. Regan couldn’t remember who sent

Johnathon was staring at my mother, an expression of betrayal on his face “And you almost killed my daughter just to save your sorry ass?” he roared, suddenly furious and looking on the verge of attacking her as Heather and

“To

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

dead Beta Johnathon hissed. “I figured it would only cause more trouble. You…you” he growled, his eyes going dark as he stared at

roared, causing everybody to

11

Chapter 34

He looked tired

and weary as he stared at everybody in the room. My father looked as though

Regan POV

disorientated and unable to remember clearly what had happened My head was throbbing. and my body ached, my vision was

feeling?” the doctor’s voice is cautious as he questions me

more, and he comes into focus 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. on the verge of healing and in various stages of

I got hit by a truck” I rasped, my voice hoarse.

A large truck.

“You had several broken ribs, bruises, grazes. This isn’t the first time you’ve ended

to remember all the times I had found myself in here and

“Who brought me here?” I struggled to remember what happened.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255