Saved By The Alpha
Chapter 25

I gave Iris a few minutes alone to cool off before heading outside to join her. My mind was still reeling from everything we’d uncovered. Most of it seemed like it belonged in a sci-fi novel or a Marvel action movie, not in my actual life. It didn’t feel real, but I knew I’d have to get my head around it and quickly because none of the remaining Raven Brothers were going to wait for me to get my sh!t together.

I found her not far from the door, arms folded over her ch3st as she stared up at the sky. I was careful not to creep up, allowing the gravel to crunch under my shoes so I wouldn’t startle her. “Hey,” I said quietly, stopping by her side.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice softer than usual. She leaned in a little closer without actually touching me.

I closed the gap, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. Iris sighed, tucking herself against my side as I pressed a k!ss to her temple. I wanted to ask if she was all right, but I knew the answer. I wasn’t sure if I was either after learning all that. “We’ll figure it out,” I said instead, taking a deep breath. “One step at a time, okay?”

Iris blinked, finally shifting her gaze from the sky to my face. “How can you be so sure?” she asked, pursing her l!ps. “If all that is true— Eli, there’s no one like her. How can we help her? How can we make sure it’s going to be okay?”

I gave her another squeeze, the sound of worry in her voice making my heart ache. I had similar concerns, but voicing them would probably add fuel to her anxious fire. “I know,” I said, not wanting to dismiss her. “I know. But between Maverick and Agent Foxrun, we have contacts. We can hopefully replace some shifters who understand the science in the notes better, and they can help us navigate this.”

She sighed and rubbed her face. “What about when Remus places her with a new family?”

“Just because she has a new family doesn’t mean we can never see her again,” I reasoned, squeezing Iris against my ch3st. I k!ssed the top of her head. “I’ll be in Austin regularly for business, and even if you don’t decide to stay—” The words caught in my throat. I blinked, not expecting the well of emotion just then. I had to clear my throat before I continued. “If you decide not to stay, I’m positive Remus would welcome you whenever you wanted to visit. You’ve helped him immeasurably.”

“Eli…”

“Iris, look.” I turned so we were face to face as I placed my hands on her slender shoulders. “We cannot worry about something that may or may not be. We have no idea what will happen — for all we know, Bella will experience no further impact as a result of Dr. Brenner’s bvllsh!t. If she does, she’ll have a whole network to rely on: not just Silver Streak but Longbow and all of our resources. Until then, though, we’re just going to make sure she is safe and healthy and that she feels loved, okay? She deserves that at the very least.”

The last few sentences seemed to strike a chord, and Iris straightened up, looking more determined as she nodded. “Yes. Yes, she does,” she agreed. “But part of that is making sure we have answers if she ever wants them. I never got that, Eli, and look how I ended up.”

“I like you as you are,” I answered automatically, realizing belatedly that she might have meant the trauma. I cleared my throat. “You know what I mean — and I’m not saying we won’t pursue this. I’m saying she’s three. Four. She doesn’t want answers now — she wants stability and care.”

Iris softened. “I…Yeah. You’re right.” She looked toward the cars. “Can we get out of here? I just…I know it sounds stupid, but I just want to see her right now. I’m sure she’s just fine with Luna and Fiona, but…I want to see her.”

“It’s not stupid,” I said, pulling out my phone and shooting off a quick text to let the others know where we were headed. “I want to see her too. Let’s go.”

The next day,I returned to Remus’ home around lunchtime. Iris opted to stay back at the safe house with Bella, given neither of us had been able to see her for several days prior. Clay and Jaxon remained back there, just in case. Even though we’d taken down the facility, neither me or Iris felt comfortable leaving Bella exposed. If anything, what we learned had made us a little more nervous that someone still might come after her if we didn’t tie up all these loose ends.

I found Remus in his office, staring intently at his computer. “Eli!” he greeted me with a tired smile. “You’re looking much better today.”

I snorted, flopping myself down in the chair on the other side of the desk. “I don’t think I could say the same for you,” I countered, giving him a sideways smile. I knew he was right. I’d slept like the dead the night before. I didn’t have any trouble drifting off, and I didn’t wake up, not once. I didn’t have a single dream either — not about the facility and what we’d done there, and not about Brock, either. When I woke up, I felt pretty good, and given the beating I’d taken the day before, I’d say that was actually fantastic.

Remus shrugged. “I got up early to give Luna a break,” he said. “She’s been watching the boys all on her own for the last few days. My mother mostly handled Bella, which was a help, of course. Our boys are good boys, but…”

“But they’re still toddlers?” I suggested, unable to help myself.

He gave a low chuckle. “Exactly. It wasn’t much, but she was at least able to get a few extra hours of sleep.”

“Where are they now?”

“Napping, thank goodness.” He chuckled again and shook his head. “It gave me a chance to look over some files, and Luna still gets a bit of peace.”

I nodded toward the stack of papers on his desk. “Have you gotten anything interesting yet?”

Remus’ expression darkened by a few degrees. “I’m afraid not. We recovered quite a volume of information, and it’s going to take quite a while to go through it all. I’m not ready to delegate to anyone outside of our group yet, and that’s not even accounting for the interrogations that need to be done.”

“Mmm.” I sighed, rubbing my chin. The sheer size of the task ahead of us was daunting, and I’d been avoiding thinking about the scale of it.

He shook his head as if discarding the thought. “How are Iris and Bella doing this morning?”

“They’re good,” I said, the smile returning to my face. “Bella asked Iris to watch a movie with her, and I don’t think Iris could have said no even if she wanted to.” I’d left them cuddled on the couch together as intro music played. Part of me had been tempted to join them, but I knew Bella’s peace wouldn’t last if we didn’t solve this mystery. “I think they’re having a bit of a girl’s day. Iris braided a ribbon into Bella’s hair and everything.”

Remus raised his brows. “A girl’s day? That doesn’t really strike me as Iris’ type of thing.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know that it is — but it seems to be Bella’s, and Iris is all about that. Besides, she’s told me a few times about her best friend growing up. Maybe she liked girly things, too.”

The thought settled over us like a thick blanket of fog — we both knew what had happened to everyone Iris had loved and cared about as a child. Her best friend was long gone, just like her parents and the rest of her pack. I didn’t know if it was healing or not to be doing those kinds of things again, but I hoped for Iris’ sake that she got something out of it too.

“I suppose you don’t have a lot of space to collect things when you’re on the road constantly, girly or not,” Remus reflected. He shook his head. “Only the bare essentials, whatever you deem them to be.”

I frowned. I’d never considered myself terribly high maintenance, but I just couldn’t imagine myself living the way Iris did. Creature comforts were one thing, but never having a stove? Having to replace somewhere to do my laundry? Not having the same pillow or the same sheets?

“I couldn’t live like that,” I said. “I don’t know how she does it.”

Remus shrugged. “Some wolves appreciate a more nomadic lifestyle,” he said. “There’s a lot of freedom in being able to pick up and move whenever you want. You aren’t beholden to an alpha, and generally speaking, most will allow you to move through their territory within reason as long as you’re respectful of their rules.” He paused, looking at me. “Do you know what she plans to do once this case is wrapped up?”

“No.” I sighed and shook my head. That was a question I’d been dreading — there was a reason I hadn’t brought it back up to her. “I invited her to join Longbow, but she hasn’t given me an answer.” My frown returned. “I don’t think my family made the best impression on her when we were in London. Either way, I’m not going to rush her into deciding. Joining a pack after being a loner for so long will be a big change.”

“Indeed.” He hummed. “Well, both you and Iris are welcome within Silver Streak territory as long as either of you likes and whenever you want to be here. And if she has notions of going somewhere else in the southern states, I have many allies there, as well.”

I smiled, tipping my head. “Thank you, Remus. I appreciate that.”

Truth be told, I was in no hurry to get back to London. I was looking forward to spending a little more time here — and I hoped Iris was as well.

Remus and I worked in a comfortable silence, processing a few files. It felt like a tiny dent in a mountain, but it was better than nothing. Luna had just stopped by to bring us sandwiches while we worked when the front door opened.

“Remus? Is that Eli’s car I see out front?”

We both looked up at the sound of our father’s voice. “No rest for the weary,” I said, sighing.

“Have you given any thought to sharing with him what you told me?” Remus asked as we both stood, careful to keep his voice low.

I shook my head. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, and confronting my own demons seemed to be a lower priority than Bella’s safety and well-being. “There’s been a lot going on.”

“Of course,” Remus agreed, inclining his head. “Well, it’s your decision. Just let me know if you want me to play any role.”

I still hadn’t decided on that bit either. I didn’t get the chance to tell him that because as we rounded the corner of the hallway to greet our father, standing behind him was Brock. My heart lurched into my throat, and I fought the urge to turn around and leave right then and there.

Why the hell did he bring Brock with him?

For better or worse, Remus seemed to be thinking the same thing. He locked eyes with the other alpha and growled. “Get the hell out of my house.”

Both Nic and Brock looked surprised, though Brock recovered more quickly, smoothing out his expression.

Snake.

Our father glanced between us, clearly baffled. “Remus?” he asked, brows pinching together. “What’s going on?”

Remus didn’t spare him a glance, eyes still locked on my mother’s mate. “I don’t believe I stuttered,” he rumbled. At that moment, he sounded just like our father at his most powerful — deep, brassy. Immovable as a mountain.

“I was invited,” Brock said carefully. Even he could pick up on the sheer power Remus was radiating at that moment.

“Not by me.”

“I invited Brock,” our father said, his frown deepening as he gave my half-brother an admonishing look. “He was asking how things were going and what he could do to help, and I thought it would be easier to include him instead of recapping everything and then again with you all. He’s already been here, so—”

“He is not welcome in any of my homes,” Remus said, cutting our father off. “And as soon as this trip ends, he is no longer welcome in my territory. The only reason I haven’t kicked him out now is that he is your guest.” He said the word as if it were a curse, his gaze flicking back over to our father.

Brock’s passive confusion morphed into genuine bewilderment before his gaze settled on me. His eyes narrowed. I ignored him.

My father huffed. “Remus, what is all this about? What the hell happened? You only met him a few days ago.” He glanced around the room, from one to the next. “I’m clearly missing something. Someone explain.”

Remus stiffened, hesitating. For a brief moment, I thought he was going to spill everything I’d told him. My gut clenched, and my heart leaped, my throat constricting so tightly I couldn’t have stopped him even if I wanted to. His gaze flickered back to Brock, and his expression went stony. “He knows what he did,” Remus said, his voice cold. “Perhaps he ought to explain himself.”

Brock’s gaze never left my face. Something ugly flickered in his dark brown eyes. “You shouldn’t believe everything you’re told, Remus,” he said, the corner of his mouth tipping up as he glanced back at my half-brother. “I haven’t done anything.”

Remus made a low noise. “Ah, yes. I forgot you were a neutered piece of sh!t who doesn’t have the spine to own up to anything he did. That’s why you work in the shadows and tried to mount a coup behind your alpha’s back.”

Brock looked shocked for a moment before he cleared his throat. “Manners,” he said, his upper l!p trembling as if he were trying to resist the urge to bare his teeth at another alpha. “I didn’t think you were so gullible. Or are you the storytelling type, too?” His gaze fell back to me, and my skin prickled, feeling hot beneath my clothing.

I tried to take a breath, but my throat still felt clogged shut. It felt like I was trying to breathe through a plastic straw. I took a step back, suddenly wishing to be anywhere but here, but Remus reached out, grabbing me by the forearm before I could escape.

“You are not the one who needs to leave,” he said, his voice a bit softer before he dragged his gaze back to Brock.

My father made a frustrated noise. “Are you two going to talk in riddles all day?” he asked, glancing between Brock and Remus. “Someone tell me what the hell is—” He paused as his eyes fell on me, mouth still open. Something seemed to finally click, and his eyes went wide before the rims of his irises went red. He closed his mouth, teeth clicking, and he turned his gaze to Brock with a terrifying slowness.

“Come now, Nic,” Brock said, “be reason—”

“Shut up,” my father snapped, eyes flashing. He turned his gaze back to me. “Eli,” he said, his voice much softer, “would you please tell me what happened?”

I paused, working my mouth as my father’s eyes roamed over me. The hurt in his gaze was palpable. Of all the things I expected to see there when I imagined this moment over the years, it wasn’t that.

Disgust, maybe. Pity. Shame. Disbelief. Anger.

But none of those things were there. It was only a deep, searching look, soulful and pained.

Maybe it was my surprise that allowed me to take a breath and force the words out.

“Brock has an anger management problem,” I said, irritated by how shaky my voice sounded. I cleared my throat and shook my head.

No, I can do this. I’m not a little kid. I don’t need euphemisms. Brock is a piece of work. A f*****g monster.

I straightened my shoulders, looking Brock dead in the eye. “He used to take his anger out on me. If he didn’t want me around on the weekends I was at Viola’s, he’d ‘make me disappear.’” I looked back at my dad. “The root cellar. That tiny yard out back. The neighbors thought Mom and Brock had a dog, you know.”

My father took in a sharp breath, every muscle in his body going stiff. “When you said you didn’t want to go over anymore because you and your mother didn’t see eye-to-eye on some things…’” He trailed off, glancing over his shoulder.

I snorted. “Yeah, we didn’t agree on her bad taste.”

My father didn’t say anything else. I didn’t even have the time to blink before he’d spun around, all but launching himself at Brock. Remus scrambled after him, releasing me as he tried to grab my father’s arm or shoulder.

“I trusted you!” my father roared, swinging wildly at Brock. “I trusted you with my son. I didn’t challenge your mateship with Viola because that was the right thing to do, and you repay me by torturing my child!? I will make you wish you’ve never been born, Brock Beckett, you—”

“Nic! Nicholas!” Remus hissed, catching an elbow in the side as he tried to wrestle our father away again. Brock stumbled back quickly, tripping and falling against the door as he tried to escape his pack alpha’s wrath.

“Get off me!” Nic snarled, pausing only to glare at his older son. “Why are you trying to spare him?!”

“Because he just tried to depose you!” Remus snapped back, grabbing at our father again. “Don’t give him or Gage ammunition to do it again before you banish his as*s. He deserves nothing less.”

Most wolves considered being a loner worse than death. My mind briefly thought of Iris, but I had to quash the thought. That could be handled later.

The argument seemed to persuade my father, though, because he took a deep breath and took a step back before leveling Brock with a red-eyed stare. “Stay put,” he commanded, casting his alpha over him.

“I’ll call my guards,” Remus said, exhaling. He glanced at Nic. “We’ll leave him in the holding cell until you fly back to London.”

Nic snorted. “Hardly. I’ll arrange something as soon as we leave.”

I found myself exhaling, trembling as the adrenaline started to flow away from me. I can’t catch a break, can I? My father turned to look at me, and at once, I tensed up again. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what he was going to say, but I was pretty sure I didn’t want to hear it.

“Eli…” All of the red had disappeared from his gaze. He looked positively morose. “Eli, I don’t even know where to begin. I can’t believe—all this time—” He stopped himself and shook his head, taking a deep breath. “I let you down, my boy. I am so, so sorry.”

“I…”

What? He’s apologizing to me?

I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I shrugged, not sure what else to say. I couldn’t say it was okay because it certainly wasn’t. I couldn’t say I forgave him because I didn’t. Not yet, anyway. I couldn’t even tell him it wasn’t his fault because it was as much as it wasn’t.

My father just gave a small nod as my throat worked. “It’s okay, Eli,” he said quietly, the sadness penetrating his voice. “You don’t need to say anything. I did not protect you. I did not see this danger right in front of me. I let you down, and that’s on me.”

“I…thank you.”

We said nothing else as we waited for Remus’ guards to arrive and detain Brock, but it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Maybe… Maybe things can change after all.