Occasionally stealing glances at Alpha Bayron, Derek was confused as to why someone like him was there present in his father's office. That was the first time he was seeing him and hearing about him also. That should proved more how cunning and secretive his father was. He had been in the dark all his life and his father had deliberately kept him there.
Seeing how is father was showing all his previously hidden cards and plans to him now, shows how the incoming storm was upon them. He looked over at his father, waiting for an explanation as to what was going on, what he was about to do. "Why is he here father?"
"Well for one, he is an ally of mine. One that has been in the shadows for a long time, patiently waiting for this day" Alpha Maynard explained with a smile.
"What day?" Derek asked a little confused
"War and Chaos" Alpha Bayron replied with a straight face.
"So you found the notorious Black Lotus group huh?" Derek turned his attention to him.
"That is indeed correct" He nodded
"So I guess that means you know who they are and what their powers and weaknesses are" Derek went on, sounding hopeful.
"Well not entirely" Alpha Bayron replied
"What does that mean?" Derek questioned with furrowed brows.
"Slow down now son. You will get answers in due time. As much as I invited him over for more information and mutual briefing, I also invited him over to tell you the answer you've been seeking for the most" Alpha Maynard stated
"What answer is that?" Derek shifted his attention to his father.
"Well now you're going to know why I accepted the Omega, Kieran into the pack in the first place and why I did all I did while he was present and you kept grilling me about it....and for the answer you seek most, why you should give up on Tessa" He explained
Derek shifted glances between them, waiting impatiently and curiously for the answers. "I'm listening"
"Go on Alpha Bayron. Tell him"
"Well first off, his name isn't Kieran and he certainly isn't an Omega. His real name is Kreed" Alpha Bayron started.
"Wait what are you saying? What does that mean?" Derek inquired with a puzzled look.
"He's saying Kieran or whatever his name is...is the leader of the Black Lotus" Alpha Maynard replied.
"What?!" Derek's expression housing shock and confusion. "That can't be possible. He...I...." He paused when he saw the serious looks both the Alpha's faces. He scoffed with disbelief, turning to face his father. "How long have you known about this?"
"I confirmed it before I agreed to release him from his holding cell and let him into our pack" Alpha Maynard replied.
"What? And you kept something as huge as this from me? From us? The Alpha?" He questioned angrily. " Oh my God you allowed Tessa to be with someone like that?!" He stood up from his seat and began pacing the room, trying to digest what he just discovered. "And we might have been able to avoid this coming war if we had known"
"And who says we want to avoid the war?" Alpha Maynard scoffed lightly with a smirk on his lips.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll know with time. Now you know why I kept the Omega close and why I didn't take decisions about him based on your feelings. Which brings us to the next part about Tessa" Said Alpha Maynard. "Tell him"
"If what your father told me is true, then he's right. You should forget about the girl"
"And why will I do that?" He shifted his attention to Alpha Bayron
"Because she's no longer yours. You see we Direwolf clan are different from you people as you well know. The concept of finding your mate doesn't apply to us. We pick our mate" He explained.
"What does that mean?"
"It means whoever we sleep with automatically becomes our mate. Sex for us is our marking ritual. It establishes a bond between both wolves, a deep bond that can't be broken"
"Wait....this isn't real is it? And besides how are we sure they've had sex?" Derek questioned
"Oh they have. You didn't think with me knowing who the Omega really was, I would set him loose in our pack without eyes on him now did you?" Alpha Maynard said.
"Oh my God" Derek sighed, feeling his heart shatter into pieces.
"So them having sex had automatically formed a mate bond between them. As long as she's alive I doubt her heart would be open to someone else" Alpha Bayron added
"Isn't the bond supposed to be broken now that he's dead and besides Tessa isn't from your clan, there shouldn't be any bond" He argued
"I'm afraid I have bad news for you son. He isn't dead and about Tessa not being from the clan, I think you should take a seat for this one" Alpha Maynard instructed.
***
"Hmmm I see" Cassie smiled after listening to their story, staring at them intently. She heard all they had to say. She knew why it was important to Vee who was standing beside her twin in front of her but she didn't get why her twin was bothered and interested about it. "And why exactly are you telling me this again?" She cocked her brow.
"Because we need your help" Vee replied, not feeling too good about bringing Cassie into it. She was against it but Nate had insisted.
"How?"
"By finding out whatever you can from Derek seeing as you both are now close" Nate explained
"So you want me to be a SPY...." She accentuated her last word clearly so her brother would know he was asking her to do exactly what he hated their father telling them to do.
"You don't have to put it that way" Nate cleared his throat, realizing exactly what he just did.
"Well I just thought about him and.....no" She flashed them a smile, standing up from her chair. "I'm not from this pack so I don't care what happens to it" She replied, all the while maintaining her smile. "You shouldn't either...brother" She concluded and walked away.
"I told you it was a bad idea" Vee sighed, running her fingers through her hair.
"So what do we do now?
"We tell Tessa. I think it's time she knows. It's full moon tomorrow and it's always night for bad things. So let her know what we know, so she can be cautious of things" She explained
***
Alpha Maynard kept staring at his son who was busy pacing about the room, panicking like he's been doing since Alpha Bayron left. He was trying not to breakdown. "I know that is all a lot to process all at once but you have to get yourself together. This isn't the time for all that" Said the Alpha.
"Are you kidding me right now? I just found out we've all been living in lies and secrets, how else am I supposed to react. Tessa is one of them, Kieran or Kreed whatever his name is, is alive out there and he's mated to the love of my life. My father is cunning, conniving, secretive and monster who's been planning all of these since before I was born. Tell me how I'm supposed to react" He blurted out, forgetting to breathe.
"Fair enough"
"I still don't get how he's still ali...." Derek was interrupted by the subtle knock on the door.
Alpha Maynard placed his forefinger on his lips, silencing Derek on catching the scent of who it was. "Come in" He ushered.
The door clicked open with Tessa walking in. "Hey" She said on seeing Derek. "I didn't know you were here" She added, shutting the door behind her.
"Hey Tess" Derek replied, trying to act as normal as possible. With all the information he had now, he couldn't help but see her in a different way.
"Why are you here Tessa? I thought you would still be resting" Alpha Maynard asked, his eyes fixed on her. He could sense there was something different about her. He's been sensing it for a while now.
"I have had enough of rest. Any more and I would lose my mind" She replied.
"Okay then. So to what do I owe this visit?"
Tessa looked around her father's office which Alpha Maynard had made his own. She sighed and brought her gaze back to his. "I think it's time I step up as the Alpha of the pack and lead the pack" She announced
"I don't think that's...."
"I want to and I'm ready" She cut him off. "It's what my father would have wanted. Of course I would need your support and advice and guidance through the coming war" She added
Alpha Maynard sighed quietly, forcing a smile. "I see..." He paused, glancing at Derek who had been silently staring at Tessa the whole time. "It's full moon tomorrow. It would be the perfect time for you step up. How does that sound?" He asked
"Better. Thanks you" She smiled softly and then turned to leave.
Alpha Maynard kept smiling till she was out of the office. As soon as the door closed following her exit, his smile faded immediately. "What are you going to do father?" Derek asked curiously on seeing the look he now had on his face.
"Accelerate my plans. Get ready son. Tomorrow is the night everything changes. I hope with the truth you now know, you choose well on who to side"
***
Shutting the door, Tessa turned to see Vee sitting and waiting for her in her room. "Hey Vee" She greeted, taking off her jacket. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long. Just got here" Vee replied, staring at her friend with concern. "Are you alright? You've been off lately" She added
"I'm fine but I do have something to tell you though" Tessa replied, joining her on the bed.
"Same here but you go first" Vee urged her. She's wanted her friend to start opening back up to her and now was a chance for that. "What do you wanna tell me?"
"Well...." Tessa paused and sighed, feeling exhausted. "I think Kieran is alive and he's Devil Eyes" She broke the news to her friend.
"Wait what?" Vee's eyes widened
"That's not all" She shifted her eyes to her fingers and then looked back up at her friend's still shocked eyes. "I'm pregnant"