Jace’s POV
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” I asked at the top of my voice.
“It is as I said, Alpha,” Harvey answered and then looked at Edith, who had her gaze lowered to the floor.
“No way, that’s impossible,” I whispered in disbelief.
Betas were usually so loyal to their Alphas. Hearing of a Beta that would go so far as to harm his own Luna or Alpha was unheard of in my years of being an Alpha. It was next to impossible.
“No, that can’t be right,” I muttered.
“I wish it were impossible, but that wasn’t the case. He called me out to do him that wicked favor,” Edith spoke up as I felt a shiver go throughout my body.
“I am so shocked, to be honest, and I feel very upset over this. Beta Marshall was who Aunt Berta looked up to, according to my late parents,” I said seriously.
“He is kind and good; that’s what I know. I can’t believe he could be this wicked!” I said loudly.
“Alpha, I don’t know what you will do, but I told you this because I want you to know the truth before it comes out,” he said as he held her hand.
“I am also happy that my mate confided in me,” he said with a smile when he looked at her.
“Edith,” I called softly.
When she looked at me, I stood up from my desk in my office.
“Such information must have been hard for you. Thank you for telling Harvey about it,” I said softly as she nodded and then smiled.
“You both can go back and rest; I will handle this,” I said seriously.
They both nodded and then walked out of my office.
I sat in my chair, thinking of how to tell Sky and Glen.
They had all the right to know about this, just like how Aunt Berta had the right to know too.
“What should I do, Ridge?” I asked silently.
“Dominic is like a brother to us, and well… Glen too, despite us not liking him much. If Beta Marshall is that determined and obsessed with our aunt, then he will stop at nothing to have her,” he answered.
“What is the worst-case scenario?” I asked with concern.
“Him killing his own Alpha to claim his mate,” he answered as I furiously grabbed the phone on my desk and dialed Sky’s number.
I didn’t want to think about that, but he was right. If he was obsessed with our aunt, then he was going to do everything in his power to have her, and that included killing.
“Did you miss me, brother?” Glen’s voice came through.
“Glen?” I asked seriously. When he laughed softly, I smirked.
“Dominic?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered as I smiled.
“How the hell are you the one picking up the call?” I asked playfully.
“Oh, Glen didn’t tell you, did he? Well, we decided to help out with a few files in the pack,” he answered as my smile grew wider.
“Are you ever returning? You know, to your mansion and workplace?” I asked as the line went silent.
“I’m sorry, Glen, I can’t return no matter what because what we want and love is right here in this pack. But I can always visit you if that’s okay with you,” he answered.
It was really funny how Dominic meant so much to me as a brother when, in the past, he and Glen were the ones Ridge hated.
“You are always welcome in my pack,” I said honestly, then sighed heavily.
“Brother,” I called in a low tone.
He kept quiet again and then spoke.
“Something is bothering you, isn’t it?” he asked in a low tone.
“Yes,” I answered honestly.
“You can always tell me,” he said as I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
“Please don’t react with anger when I do tell you,” I said seriously.
“What is it?” he asked.
“When I tell you, don’t let Glen take over, promise me,” I said.
“Fine, I promise, but I will have to step down in a few hours and give him full control,” he answered as I sighed heavily again.
“That’s okay too,” I whispered softly.
“So out with it already, what is bothering you?” he asked.
“I found out from Harvey and Edith that the hate Clyde felt for you two wasn’t natural because it comes from a dark magic spell that was cast by a witch,” I said seriously.
“I’m sorry, Jace, I don’t understand,” he answered.
“Your father’s Beta, Marshall, is obsessed with your mother. That’s what I was told by Edith. To win her love, he made a deal with a witch to make your father hate her, but the spell backfired, and he ended up hating you and Glen instead of her,” I said seriously as the line went silent, this time longer than before.
“Dominic,” I called.
When I heard heavy breathing, I decided to continue.
“Even now, the spell is still in effect. Although it is losing its power as your father seems to be breaking through, that doesn’t mean you aren’t in danger or trouble,” I said seriously.
“The Beta asked Edith to meet him for a favor. He wanted her to strengthen the spell or make your father hate your mother or something like that,” I said.
“Look, my Beta and his mate are completely trusted by me. They can never say anything they aren’t sure of,” I said seriously.
“When Harvey told me about that and Edith went on to confirm it, I was furious too.
“I would have kept it a secret if I were a fool, but I can’t do that because you are my brother, as well as Sky. Also, Berta is my aunt, whom I respect dearly,” I said, then froze when a loud growl pierced my ear.
“Oh, I am going to fucking kill that old fuck,” came his cold threat.
“Dominic, calm down,” I said loudly.
“Cousin, how the fuck am I to calm down when the very Alpha I wanted to be acknowledged by was under a damn spell! All these years, we were hated and treated like we were dead by him because of that stupid old fart of a Beta. I will fucking rip his heart out!” he yelled furiously.
I was about to tell him to think over his decision when he disconnected the call.
“Fuck,” I whispered and then smiled when I picked up Lillian’s scent.
She still had the most amazing scent, but now it was fused with that of her pregnancy.
She pushed the door open and smiled at me.
“Hey,” she greeted.
I stood up without a word and walked to where she was, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“I’m so happy that you are here,” I whispered when she hugged me back.
“My love, there is something I want to tell you,” I said seriously as I pulled back.
I was going to tell her everything because she was my other half, someone I respected and to whom I had given myself.