Alison’s POV
I felt the tension before I even opened my eyes. It hung in the air, heavy and undeniable, like a storm threatening to break loose. The events of the last few days weighed on my chest like a boulder, and yet, I found myself craving resolution, clarity, and closure. I didn’t realize how much until the words tumbled out of my mouth at breakfast: “I need to see Kendrick.”
Xander’s fork paused mid-air. His jaw tightened, and I caught the flicker of displeasure in his eyes before he even uttered a word. “Absolutely not.” His tone left no room for argument or so he thought.
I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. “You can’t forbid me from this, Xander. I need answers.”
His chair scraped against the hardwood floor as he leaned forward, his palms flat on the table. “That man led you to the danger you were in for months, Alison. He doesn’t deserve your presence, let alone your forgiveness.”
“It’s not about forgiveness,” I shot back, my voice trembling slightly, though I refused to back down. “It’s about understanding. I need to look him in the eye and hear the truth from him if he really knew about my lineage.”
Katherine, who had been quietly sipping her coffee, chose this moment to intervene. “Sometimes, Xander,” she said softly but firmly, “people need closure before they can move forward. Let her have this.”
Xander’s lips thinned, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the table. “This is a terrible idea.”
“And yet, you’ll let me go,” I replied, my voice calm but resolute.
He held my gaze for a long moment, his frustration simmering just below the surface. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he turned to Luke. “Prepare the cars. Make sure the escorts are armed and ready.”
I bit back a smile of triumph as I finished my coffee. Xander was a man of control, but even he knew when to bend.
Upstairs, I threw on a simple outfit, my thoughts racing. Xander, of course, wasn’t letting me off the hook that easily. He stood by the door, arms crossed, watching me like a hawk.
“You’re determined to put yourself in harm’s way,” he said, his voice low and edged with worry.
“I’m determined to finally get closure and move on,” I corrected, stepping past him to grab my boots.
He caught my wrist, pulling me into his chest. “And what if it doesn’t give you the peace you’re looking for?”
His question made me pause. I hadn’t considered that. Still, I met his gaze, trying to convey the depth of my determination. “Then at least I’ll know I tried.”
He sighed again, this time pulling me into a brief but fervent kiss. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“You love me anyway,” I quipped, earning a reluctant smirk from him.
He tried to lean in for a kiss but I pressed a finger to his lips “Not today Xander, we have somewhere to be” he sighed in frustration before raising his hand in defeat
We finished getting ready and left the room hand in hand, as we walked up to the front door, the door open to reveal Caitlyn and as she saw us her shrill voice cut through the morning calm like nails on a chalkboard.
“Xander!” she called, her heels clicking against the polished floor. I groaned internally. She was the last person I wanted to see right now.
She stopped in her tracks the moment she saw me by his side. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she plastered on the most insincere smile I’d ever seen. “Alison! So it’s true? You’re alive! Oh, praise the Moon Goddess!”
I barely had time to process her sudden embrace before Xander brushed past her without so much as a glance. The moment the door shut, Caitlyn’s mask slipped. She pushed me back, her saccharine smile replaced by a sneer. “Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be six feet under by now?”
I smirked, crossing my arms. “Now that’s the Caitlyn I know. Dropping the act so soon?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t think for a second that you’ve won. While you were… indisposed, Xander and I grew very close. You’re nothing but a temporary distraction.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, you mean the same Xander who didn’t even spare you a second glance just now? Face it Caitlyn, you’ve already lost.”
Katherine’s soft cough interrupted us. She placed a hand on my shoulder, her smile warm but knowing. “Alison, dear, Xander’s waiting. Don’t keep him waiting too long.”
I pecked her on both cheeks before walking away, leaving Caitlyn fuming in silence.
Once in the car Xander looks at me “Are you okay?”
“Sure, I’m fine, better than if ever be” I gave him a smile before the car took off
The car ride was eerily quiet, the weight of my decision settling in my chest like a stone. Xander sat beside me, his fingers drumming impatiently on his thigh. Luke, ever the dutiful Beta, drove in silence, his eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror.
“What are you going to say to him?” Xander finally broke the silence, his voice tense.
I stared out the window, watching the forest blur past. “I don’t know yet.”
“That’s reassuring,” he muttered, earning a sharp look from me.
“Xander, I need to do this. You don’t have to understand it, but I need you to trust me.”
His jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I trust you. I just don’t trust him.”
The Blackwood Pack’s territory was shrouded in mist, the towering trees giving it an almost ethereal quality. Their Alpha greeted us warmly, though there was an underlying tension in the air.
When I expressed my desire to see Kendrick, Xander immediately bristled. “Alison, you’re not going in there alone.”
I placed a hand on his chest, my voice firm but gentle. “I’ll be fine. I need to do this on my own.”
He looked ready to argue but eventually relented, his hand lingering on mine. “If you’re not out in ten minutes, I’m coming in.”
The sight of Kendrick behind bars was almost surreal. He looked thinner, his once-proud demeanor reduced to something pitiful. When he saw me, his eyes widened in shock.
“Alison?” he croaked, stepping closer to the bars. “But… you’re supposed to be dead.”
“Surprise,” I said coldly, crossing my arms.
He stared at me, a mix of confusion and something else… fear, maybe? “I didn’t have a hand in poisoning you. That was all Priya. I was framed.”
“I know but that’s not why I’m here ,” I snapped. “I’m not here to absolve you either. I just want the truth, Kendrick. About me. About my heritage.”
His brow furrowed. “Your heritage?”
“You told me you knew who I was.. Where I came from,” I said, my voice trembling. “Was that a lie?”
He hesitated, and in that moment, I saw the truth in his eyes.
“I honestly don’t know,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “All I know is what I Over head from my father, he said you were taken from the Crimson Pack during a raid. I lied because… because I thought it could use it to keep you to myself by all means.”
My stomach turned. I had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was a blow I wasn’t prepared for.
“You used me,” I spat, my voice shaking with anger. “You all manipulated me, made me believe I owed you all my loyalty. You’re pathetic.”
Kendrick flinched, but I didn’t care. I turned on my heel and walked away, my head held high despite the storm raging inside me.
The moment I stepped outside, Xander was there, pulling me into a crushing embrace.
“I’m fine,” I said, laughing softly.
“You don’t look fine,” he muttered, his grip tightening.
I rested my head against his chest, letting his warmth soothe me. “I needed to see him, Xander. And now I know the truth. He didn’t even know who my father was, he just wanted to manipulate me.”
He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes. “I’m so sorry my love, I’m here for you, I’m not letting you go.”
I smiled, my heart swelling with love for this infuriating, protective man. “One more thing,” I said, my tone teasing.
“What now?” he asked warily.
“I want to return to my family. Officially. I need to be recognized by my pack before the mating ceremony.”
Xander frowned. “Isn’t being with me enough?”
“Of course it is,” I said, cupping his face. “But this is something I need to do for myself. And for us.”
Luke, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. “She’s right, Alpha. It would strengthen her position and yours if she’s recognized by her people first.”
Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But do not hesitate to call on me if anything comes up.”
The drive back home was surprisingly lighthearted, the three of us laughing and joking as if the weight of the morning had already been lifted. For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful.