Chapter 66
Chapter 66
It still stings, but Xavier and Xander are bestowing so much attention and love on me, that Claulia’s hateful words are pushed to the hack of my mind as I relax on Xander’s lap, leaning fully against him and yawning widely. Even though Xander is all sweaty and dirty, part of me doesn’t mind, enjoying the feel of him pressed against me, just like I had enjoyed! the feel of him and Xavier pressed against me last night… Blush feeling my heart begin to race and my palms begin to get all sweat. Last night had been amazing. I thought, and even now found it hard to believe that I had gone that far with my mates, but I refused to be embarrassed by it.
“There you all are Heather walks into the kitchen, dressed up in designer dress, her eyes shining brightly as the looks down her nose at us
There is no sign of the twin’s father, Alpha Jackson, We shoot each other glances, feeling uneasy. I can feel a sense of dread rising inside of me. Something is wrong but I can’t put my finger on it. It seems unusual that Heather is walking about the packhouse so freely without Alpha Jackson by her side.
“What is it Ms Ramona” Xavier speaks icily, and I wince at how he uses
s Heather’s last name as a deliberate insult.
She smiles wider, refusing to be cowed by his disrespect. “Xavier, Xander” she ignores me, Your father is rather busy with matters at the moment and wanted me to relay instructions to you. While you are in charge of the pack, anything that requires a signature or alteration of the pack in any way shape, or form is to go through me, as well as all or any financial
matters.
That’s a lie” Xavier quickly objects, standing up and glaring hatefully at her while I cringe.
Heather blinks. “No, actually. Your father is still in charge of pack funds and all the financial aspects, until he signs that over
So it is true in fact she said, spearing the twins with a gaze and looking around her with satisfaction.
to you.
“I’m going to speak to father about this Xavier growled threateningly.
Heather made a mocking motion. “By all means, go for it. That if you can get not to be disturbed by anyone, except for myself.”
into
to the ro
room. He’s put specific instructions
This was strange. Alpha Jackson adored his sons. How was it possible that in one night, everything had been turned upside. down to the extent he only trusted Heather with his affairs? It was weird. Did this have something to do with the elders or was there more at play? I nibbled my lip, eyeing my stepmother suspiciously.I felt as though she was hiding something. She was acting way too casual, way too relaxed about the whole thing Had she set this up from the beginning? She had been curiously eager to mark with Alpha Jackson and become mates, I thought to myself.
“What happened when the elders left last night?” I asked with interest, as Xander quietly moved me over to the seat next to him and sat me down.
She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Nothing. They wished Alpha Jackson and I the best, commented on your rudeness for leaving after the ceremony.” She pinned me with a disapproving look “and then chose to leave in their vehicles. Nothing more was said. What are you implying Regan?” she said tightly.
“Just what we’re all thinking. My father seems to have done a complete turnaround personality-wise,” Xander said, while Xavier got up and moved past Heather, running up the stairs so fast that he was practically a blur.
“Adults are compelled to change their minds” Heather remained unconcerned. “It happens all the time. Besides, leaving the pack in your so-called capable hands. It Never really sat well with me”
Xander’s lip curled “You think that you would do better” he asked as I sat there silently, pleading for him not to make her
angry.
Sweetheart that’s not even a question” Heather commented, forming her face with her hand, a glint in her eye “but you
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should console yourself with the fact that at the very least right now, you have the company of the mate that you were so desperate to get your greedy little hands on. I hope that you still want Regan” she said as I glared at her “and haven’t changed your minds on that little matter.”
“Of course we want Regan” he hissed, gripping the table “We would never change our minds about our mate.”
I exhaled slowly, feeling relieved, even though part of me knew at my mates would never abandon me or leave me. Still, it was always a fear of mine, that would ntinue to remain at the back of my mind, no matter what.
“That’s good” Heather gives a wan smile “You’ll need the company of each other.”
It almost sounded like a threat, I thought, eyeing my stepmother and wishing I could read her mind.
Xavier comes down, looking irritable. “Father refuses to open the door” he exclaims, holding his hands out while Heather openly gloats. “When I asked him what was going on, he repeated everything that Ms Ramona just told us he added darkly. “So it’s true” Xander sounds shocked.
“No” Xavier quickly objects. “She has him under a spell or something,” he said, looking at my stepmother with a shake of his head “Father would never just hand over the finances of the pack and the amount of control she has just like that.”
“I assure you he has, There is no spell, Heather said with a giggle and a raise of her brow “but by all means, feel free to call the elders back if you feel that something is amiss. I’m certain they would be more than happy to offer their opinion. However” she pauses and looks at us all, while I begin to feel a sirsening sense of dread “they might also decide that I deserve more power than I already have. So what is it going to be” she purred, flicking her hair over her shoulder and glancing at us with her lip curled back “are you going to respect the hierarchy or are you going to risk the elders again?
None of us wanted the elders back. One visit from them had been more than enough. I didn’t want to have to go through all that scrutiny and worry all over again. I could have lost my mates because of them and their disregard for other people. Xavier and Xander were shooting each other glances, looking just about exasperated as I was.
“Father has to come out of that room eventually. He can’t hide in there forever” Xander’s voice is remarkably calm, “and when he does, we’ll demand answers from him. This isn’t over” he warned Heather, eyeing her and tilting his head, a cold glaze in his eyes.
“On the contrary, I think it is. Now, I heard that you put a close friend of Isabelle’s in the dungeon” she gave a shake of her head “I think you should reconsider that” she advised with a raised brow “I mean, looking at the finanicals, the cost of keeping her confined, could be costly, costly indeed.”
“Are you threatening us?” Xavier’s voice is incredulous.
Of course she is, she’s just too smart to say that outright. Still, why did Heather care about Claudia so much, or is this more about precious Isabelle?
Heather blinks, feigning innocence. “Of course not. I’m simply stating facts. It’s up to you whether you perceive them to bea threat. Isabelle would like to see her friend be freed and it’s up to me to ensure that her emotional and physical wellbeing are catered to at all times.”
So it was Isabelle then, who wanted Claudia freed. I should have known that Heather would back her daughter, no matter the circumstances.
“I leave you three to talk amongst yourselves and digest this news that I have ultimately dropped on you” Heather smiled. “You look as though you need some time.”
She turned on her heel and left before anybody could make a sound or protest. Not that any of us wanted her to remain in the kitchen either. The three of us inhaled sharply and then each of us turned our heads to look each other in the eyes. For the first time, I saw my mates and what I saw frightened me. They looked bewildered and more than a little lost as to what to do. I grabbed their hands and then opened my mouth. I had a solution, but it was one that was risky. More than risky, it was dangerous. But what other choice did we have? We were growing desperate.
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