Reckless Regrets
Chapter 50

Marisol

It was surprisingly easy to talk the warlock into writing down a spell for me. And I didn’t even have to do anything more than smile and rub his arm. Female companionship was so rare in here he probably would have given me his entire life’s savings if I’d said I’d spend the night with him.

As I was heading back to Tyson’s cell, I had a strange feeling like there was a shift in my world that I didn’t know about. As much as I hated him, I had a feeling that the change had everything to do with my father, and I immediately became nervous. What if he had died? I was the last one who would mourn, but I’d at least want to know what happened to him.

I had to ask. When I got to the room, Tyson was there with another man who shared his same eye color, letting me know he was a bear. I remembered him saying something about “Little Bear” and assumed this was him. So I played my role.

“I’m sorry, Hades, I didn’t know you had a guest. I will return to my room and wait for you to finish,” I said.

“It’s fine, Little Bear was just leaving, and I could use a good back rub,” he replied while motioning me to come to sit beside him.

“I can’t believe you get The Duchess all to yourself; how did you pull that off?” Little Bear asked.

“Get me what I need in the next few hours, and I’ll let you in on a secret or two,” Tyson replied.

“You got it. I’ll get the set and be back before that garbage they call dinner is served.”

Little Bear left the room, and as soon as he did, I pulled out the spell and passed it to Tyson.

“You actually got it; I’m impressed, Troublemaker. Did you have any problems?”

“Besides a few idiots who grabbed my a*s, not really. Your name carries weight, so it was relevantly drama-free.”

“Cool. The plan is still to get out of here tomorrow night, so I’ll let those few idiots slide. Did you need something? You came in here looking like you had something on your mind,” he said.

“Oh! Right. I had a strange feeling a little earlier and felt like something was up with my dad. Do you know where he is? Does the pack know that he sent me here?” I asked.

“No, the pack doesn’t know. It was kept secret because there was already way too much going on,” he replied.

“You mean with the investigation? How is that going?”

“Well…”

He was hiding something, I could tell. And I could also tell when whoever the person in his ear was started talking. I wondered who it was.

“Is that Kade? What is he saying?” I asked. I didn’t know why I assumed it was him, but I just had a feeling.

“Yes. It’s Kade. So, the investigation is almost over. Your dad was taken into custody the same day you and Gabby were sent here. The Elders are holding him, but his days are numbered, maybe a week left at most.”

“So, Kade is the Alpha now?”

“He was. As of yesterday, that changed.”

I was so confused and didn’t understand what was happening. If my dad and Kade weren’t Alpha, that only left Cameron, and he was way too young.

“Can you explain a little more? I just want to know what I’ll be going home to,” I asked.

“Xander is your Alpha, and Canyon Woods is no more. It’s been absorbed into Blue Moon. The s**t your dad did was foul, so foul that it entitled Xander to take over the pack, and he did.”

I sat on the bed and stared at Tyson. I didn’t have the words, but there were so many questions.

“What does that mean for everyone at the pack? Greg and Simon? What about Gabby and I? And Cameron and Nate!”

“What do you think it means? It means a better life. You can’t tell me that when you came to our pack, you didn’t notice the difference in the quality of life between our people and yours. Canyon Woods omegas were a step above slaves, and now they will have a real chance at happiness. Greg, Simon, Gabby, you, and everyone else no longer hold a rank, but you’re now members of the largest pack in the country.”

“No rank! Are you f*****g kidding me? I’m the Alpha’s daughter! The future Luna!” I yelled.

“Actually, Angelica is the Alpha’s daughter, and Genesis is the future Luna. You are a regular member of the pack. Well, almost,” he replied.

Regular? Regular?! How in the hell did they expect me just to accept this bullshit? I was raised at the top; it was all I knew. Wait…almost.

“What do you mean ‘almost’?” I asked.

“Nate was made Captain, Xander wants you to hold the position along with him. So if you’d like, you can look at it as still having a rank. You can’t make any decisions, but you’d be the top female at the location, so congratulations,” he stated.

“How can you be so cold about all this? I’ve lost my entire life, and you make it like I’m complaining about a broken fingernail. What’s wrong with you?”

I was pissed, and he didn’t give a s**t. Blue Moon was full of stuck up pricks.

“First off, I understand that you’re dealing with a lot, so I won’t address the fact that I’m your Gamma, and not just some random bear you happen to know. Watch how you talk to me. Second, you haven’t lost your life. You have no idea what Xander had to pay to get me in here to get your spoiled a*s out. All the planning and time away from my f*****g family to rescue you, and you ask me what’s wrong with me? I see why Kade avoided you in the beginning. You’re a selfish little princess, but you need to grow the hell up, and quick.”

Maybe I was selfish, but what else was I supposed to think and feel? I’d been used like a street corner w***e in hopes of returning to my life, and now I’m being told that the life I knew didn’t exist anymore. Was I supposed to be happy about that? But one thing was true, Blue Moon had gone through so much to get Gabby and me out, and I was the epitome of ungrateful. I’d changed recently and didn’t want to slip back to the person I was.

“I’m sorry Tyson, I didn’t mean to come at you that way. The majority of the perks I experienced on the outside weren’t deserved. I see that I have to start working for things now. I’d be proud to serve as Captain alongside Nate,” I replied.

“Don’t apologize, Marisol, just think about what everyone else has going on. The world does not revolve around you.”

Tyson’s light, friendly mood seemed to be gone when he stood and headed over to the door.

“What. Where are you going? You’re leaving me here?” I asked, suddenly in a panic.

“I need to study our escape route; just stay in here with the door shut, and no one will f**k with you,” he coldly replied.

Before I could reply, he’d was out the door, leaving me all alone. I promised that I’d make sure Tyson knew how grateful I was to him before this was all over. It was the least I could do.

***

Tyson

I wanted to tell Xander to call this entire thing off and to pay for my release. This b***h and her selfishness were irredeemable in my eyes, and I refused to spend another minute away from my kids trying to get her back to hers.

Before I could open my mouth to pull the plug, I thought about her kid and how I would look him in the eye, knowing I’d left his mother to rot in hell. Then there was Gabby, who’d never done anything to anyone. She needed to be given a chance to live her life, and I couldn’t rescue one and leave the other.

So that meant I had to deal with Marisol’s s**t for another 24 hours. After that, we’d only have to speak in passing, and that was fine with me. This was probably why I never had female friends. There were five women in my life, including my wife and mother, and they each drove me insane in their own way; I didn’t need anymore.

I walked through the halls and cringed at the feeling of my boots sticking to the ground. What the f**k was making it so sticky? And why did the walls always look wet? I was going to bathe in bleach when I got out of here. And I’d never get the smell out of my damn hair.

I was pissed off and needed a way to work out my frustrations. Luckily Little Bear crossed my path, and I was able to catch him before he disappeared.

“LB! Wait up, I wanna ask you something,” I said as I jogged over to where he was.

“Come on! Ronnie! Why is that so hard for you? People are looking at me sideways and s**t because fuckin’ Hades has a nickname for me, they’re gonna think I’m your b***h or something,” he quietly complained.

“Well, aren’t you? You do what I say when I say. Sounds like a b***h to me. Anyway, is there a gym or something like that here?” I asked.

“No. The people in charge don’t give a s**t about us working out.”

“So, how do people work off energy?” I asked.

“Bare-knuckle brawls down in the cellar. They get pretty bloody, sometimes fights to the death, and a lot of money and drugs get passed around. With your history, you should blend right in,” he told me.

“Sounds like just what I’m looking for. How do I get in?” I asked.

“You’ve got to talk to Blaze. He’s the guy over in the corner with the freaky green eyes and scales inked on his face. He’s the dragon who burnt the s**t out of Ms. Matilda last year.”

I looked over at the guy, and it was apparent that he was a dragon. I’d only seen a few in my time working, but this dude fit the bill, and I found myself wishing he could shift so I could see his other form.

“Thanks, Ronnie, I’m still waiting on that package. I need it by 6:30 PM, understand?”

“You’ll have it, get off my a*s,” he replied, then quickly walked away.

I walked over to Blaze and sized him up. He looked to be about my size, maybe an inch or two shorter, but in damn good shape for sure. If I did step in a ring, I wanted it to be against him.

“What can I do for the great Hades this fine afternoon?” he said with a thick southern drawl.

“Where you from, man?” I asked.

“Kentucky.”

That made sense. Now for business.

“I hear you’re the man to see about fights down below. What’s the buy-in?” I asked.

There was always a price; promoters and organizers had to make money somehow.

“For you, nothing.”

“Why not?”

“Because. The guys in here would pay double to go a round with you just to say they survived.”

“What about you? How much to go a few rounds with you?” I asked.

He blew a deep breath from his nose that smelled like burnt wood and sulfur. I was sure the flames had to be next.

“I don’t fight anymore. I retired, just like you did,” he replied.

“Not even for $10,000?”

I had his attention now.

“Three rounds you said?” he asked.

“That’s right,” I replied.

“Do I get the money win or lose?”

“Do I look like a f*****g i***t? No, if you win, you get it. If you make it to the end of round three, I’ll pay you half for giving me a good fight,” I said.

“Alright. You’re on. The first fight is at 6:00 PM,” he announced.

“I’ll be there.”

I walked away with a smile on my face. This was going to be fun.