261 Scars and Resolve
Lucian
“You don’t know what life has been like with that man,” Martha said, her voice tight but steady. “I never said a word because I thought he was my problem. I thought I was the only one he was tormenting. I didn’t know he was Chase Nighthorn-the one who killed your wife, who tried to kill Mara and Lucian. I didn’t know he was the one tearing this family apart. I thought they were two different people.”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “But now that I know the truth, I want to help.”
Her gaze locked on my father. “I am not just a tool, Vander. My worth does not begin and end in the bedroom. All my life I’ve been told that s*x is all I’m good for-my mother told me that, Alaric told me that,
and you told me that. But I am more than a hole to give release to whoever wants it. I am a person. A
woman. And I have value.”
She drew in a breath, her voice trembling with both pain and conviction. “I may not be a trained fighter like
Mara or an academic, but I have the will to survive. That bastard took everything from me-my dignity, my life, my daughter, my peace, my joy, my husband. He took it all without cause, without remorse. And I want to pay him back in his own coin. I want to strip him bare like he stripped me. I want to ridicule him, take
everything from him, and watch him suffer.”
She pulled her blouse back on, adjusting it with quick, efficient movements, then met Vander’s eyes again.
I
“I don’t care if it’s the last thing I do. I have nothing left to live for. My parents are close to the grave. My daughter may never see the light of day again. Mara may have given her five years, but we know the people won’t go easy on her. She’d get thirty years if she’s lucky and they don’t slam her with a life sentence. My son doesn’t need me. My husband has left me. The least I can do is take Alaric down for
everything he made me do… and everything he made me lose.”
Her words landed like a blow, and I felt a sharp ache in my chest.
I couldn’t believe my father had ever said something like that to her. No wonder Martha was always bitter,
lashing out at everyone. It was her outlet. She couldn’t aim her anger at him, so she turned it on me, the
staff, sometimes even Darian. It was her way of coping.
I looked at my father. Shame was written across his face.
How can you tell the woman you claim to love that s*x is all she’s good for? I linked him.
He didn’t meet my eyes. He was sorry-I could feel it. Maybe he’d said it in anger, but that didn’t make it right. Words like that cut deep, the kind of wound that never fully heals. They destroy confidence, break a person from the inside out.
He stood and crossed the room to her. Martha’s body stiffened, her shoulders trembling. She had always feared my father, though I knew he’d never raise a hand to her. But sometimes words hit harder than
blows.
< 261 Scars and Resolve
He pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist, but she shook against his chest.
“I’m sorry, Martha,” he said quietly. “I never meant it that way. I was angry. I didn’t realize how deep it
would cut.”
Her arms came up slowly, then tightened around him. She sobbed against him, the sound raw.
“I’m sorry I lied to you,” she whispered. “I was scared.”
We all knew that already-fear was the only reason she’d kept silent. Alaric had that effect on people. It
made Tina’s delusion that he could love her all the more absurd.
My father guided Martha to the chair beside him, keeping her close. The sight of them together-finally reconciled-was unexpectedly moving. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Mara brushing away a tear.
It was about time. My mother and Martha were both victims of Alaric; Martha had simply been lucky
enough to survive.
I cleared my throat, breaking the spell. They could work through the rest in private.
“How do we get this bastard?” I asked, my voice sharper now. Because I was out of ideas-and Alaric was
still hiding in the shadows.
We had thought Rockville would force some kind of response from him, but he was still hiding in the
shadows. The only confirmed sighting had been when he intercepted a vessel loaded with ammunition
bound for Mistwood. How long were we supposed to keep playing hide-and-seek with this bastard?
Martha raised her hand like she was in a classroom. I almost laughed. Clearly, my father had never
allowed her to take part in pack affairs before. I nodded for her to speak, and she gave me a small smile in
return.
“Thank you, Alpha Lucian,” she began, clearing her throat.
“Alaric is a coward. I can’t speak for now, but in the past, he’s always avoided direct confrontations. He
prefers to lurk in the shadows, manipulating others into doing his bidding while keeping his own hands
clean.”
I leaned forward, listening.
“He’s also arrogant-deeply so. If you have a way to call his bluff publicly, he will take the bait. He always does. But…” she paused, her gaze sharp, “he might surface with a lot of might. You’d need to be prepared to withstand that blow before making any public challenge.”
It was solid insight. She knew him better than any of us, and if she was right, then preparation was key. We’d need the military in peak condition before we could even think of trying to humiliate or bait him out.
“How’s the state of the military, Rowan?” I asked.
Rowan leaned forward, looking like he was still trying to shake the mental image of Martha’s bare back. No matter the scars, she was still a striking woman, and judging by his expression, that fact hadn’t
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261 Bears and Resolve
escaped him.
“Not good, Alpha,” Rowan admitted. “We’ve got a lot of people staying neutral right now-neither for us nor against us. But we still have the loyalty of Neev and Southwood. You own Mooncrest City and Driftwake. I think after Rockville, people realised it wouldn’t be an easy win for Chase… or Alaric.” His tone stumbled over the name, unsure which to use.
“His real name is Tom Alaric Moongrove,” Martha said evenly.
Rowan nodded, but Mara spoke before he could respond. “We’ll still refer to him as Chase Nighthorn to outsiders. We don’t want him knowing his cover is blown.”
Darian chuckled under his breath. “Let him keep thinking his identity’s safe. I can’t wait to see the bastard’s
face when he realises we know everything.”
“Rowan,” I said, shifting the focus back to the matter at hand, “prepare the military with arms and have them ready for defense. Divide the force into three. I’ll lead one, my father another, and Darian will lead
the last.”
Rowan gave a sharp nod.
“That’s good,” Darian said, leaning forward, “but I’m tired of the bloodshed. The truth is, the bastard will keep hiding behind others. We need to challenge him-wolf style. One-on-one. Everything on the line for
both sides. We make it clear we’re done wasting innocent lives.
“If we win, we take it all. If he wins, he takes it all. Fifty-fifty stakes. Let’s end him once and for all.”
The idea hit like a punch-clean, direct, and dangerous. It was bold… but the risk was glaring.
If Alaric agreed, what were the odds he’d actually fight fair?
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