Chapter 91: Chapter Thirty-Eight

**Benjamin's POV**

"*Last night, tragedy struck in the small town of Jester, where residents have become victims of a series of vicious and devastating animal attacks. Although local authorities have yet to identify the wild animals in question, the latest reports suggest mountain lions or coyotes. Some shaken members of this community even go so far as to claim the attacks were perpetrated by none else than the mythical and evil-like creature Chupacabra. While most things are still uncertain this morning, one fact remains, the death toll in Jester is catastrophic. At least fifty-three residents were confirmed dead, and seventy-four others are recovering from various injuries, all ranging from small*-"

"Turn it off," my father ordered from the deepest corner of the living room before getting up. "I think that, for now, we've all heard about enough," he sighed heavily as broken pieces of glass shattered some more under his weight.

The television screen went black, and for a moment afterward, the silence that followed was just as dark and sudden. Neither my parents, Ophelia, nor I dared to sound as we stared at the torn furniture, dented walls, and bloodied carpets that were now the ruins of my childhood home. Everything we've ever known, loved, and worked for was gone entirely, ripped apart piece by piece by the Lycans, and it was all my fault. 

As I expected that they would someday, the lycan beasts came to Jester, and instead of being there, defending the people I loved, I was away, hunting down Gisele and her rogues, leaving my pack unprepared, weakened, and helpless against a much deadlier threat. 

I was naive and arrogant to believe that I could control everything, that I was somehow powerful enough to do so, and because of it, I failed Blackwoods and failed my mate again. Except for this time, there was no coming back from it. Yes, this time, the Lycans took Mina and killed more of us than I cared to accept, and so my mistakes and failures came at too high a price to ever forgive. 

I had no other choice but to face the inevitable truth: my time as Alpha was over. 

Benjamin Miller was finished.

"Son," my dad called as he approached my seat and asked, "Has Ryan contacted you?"

"Yes," I mumbled back, head hung low. 

I was riddled with guilt just thinking about Ryan, for every time I closed my eyes, I could still see his dad's mutilated and tattered body lying in the mud. And despite trying to stay away from the Beta, I knew I couldn't escape him the same way I couldn't run from Ronan Lafleur's haunting memory. I would have to face Ryan soon enough, and with him, the consequences of all my actions. 

"He's on his way with Alpha William and his Beta," I managed to say lowly as my father's gaze scrutinized my face. "Their pack arrived this morning," I explained. 

"Son," my father's voice softened, and I hunched over, bracing for the undeserved sympathy that was to follow. "I hope you don't blame yourself for the attacks," he said as anticipated. "No one saw this coming. No one could have been ready for it."

"Benjamin, honey, please don't blame yourself," my mother added, her arms still comforting the traumatized Ophelia. "You came back as soon as you heard what was happening. You did all you could do."

"No," I disagreed faintly, shaking my head. "I came back too late; the Lycans were already gone, and- and Mina," I stuttered, holding back my tears.

I was a pitiful mate, and I didn't deserve Mina. To abandon her again when she needed me the most was indefensible, and to know that wherever she was, Mina was scared and praying that I would somehow come to save her was incredibly painful. Her heart, her life, and her trust—all she had given to me to protect and defend, and still when those beasts came for us, I could do nothing.

"We'll find her, Benjamin. We'll fix this," my dad said, attempting to reassure me. "I, umm, I don't know how yet, but we'll fix it together."

I frowned at his words in almost utter disbelief.

Wasn't the loss of his best friend more than he could take? Didn't he and everyone else have enough of the pain and suffering? After all, they weren't responsible for the attacks on Blackwoods. The bloodshed and the burden of distress, the lives lost and hastily buried this morning, it all laid with me, so no, this mess was mine to fix and mine alone. I would not allow for even one more soul to be sacrificed at my expense.

"Dad, *we're* not doing-" I started to say, but Ophelia's sudden screaming stopped me short.

"Shira!" she let out as River Creek's Luna, her mate, and their Beta walked into my parent's living room, followed by Ryan. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father greeting the men and Shira hugging my mother and Ophelia, and I couldn't help but silently welcome my friends' arrival. Indeed, the somber room suddenly felt a little warmer and the tense air a little lighter. Yet despite that, my shame still weighed on me heavily, and I dared not get up from my seat, let alone meet anyone's gaze.

"Ryan, how's Roxanne?" my mother inquired about my sister, worried.

"She's shaken and tired, but she's fine," he replied. "I took her home to rest, you know? For the baby," he added, to which my dad nodded.

"Good idea. And you, how are you doing, son?" my father then asked him, no doubt with Ronan's death in mind. 

"I've had better days," Ryan answered sincerely, sadness permeating his voice.

"We're sorry for your loss, Beta," William told him. "And that extends to all of you. We're sorry we were unable to join your fight in time."

"But you're here now, William. That matters to Blackwoods," my dad thanked him. 

"And we'll be there with you when you go to Colevan. We'll help you get your Luna back and make sure those damn, filthy Lycans regret ever coming here," the Alpha said, and the room slowly fell silent, everyone present waiting for just one response: mine. 

In the face of my stillness, William's confident readiness slightly faltered, and when he spoke again, confusion echoed in his voice. "If our numbers aren't enough, Benjamin, we'll talk to Crescent Moon," he ventured a guess. "I'm sure Zayn would agree to join us."

Unbeknownst to my friend, his proposition made my throat swell and my stomach sink further, every word bringing about violent nausea. I could hardly conceive of William offering his pack to certain death, let alone a third, and though I knew he meant to help, the entire idea was sickening. One word from me, one single, tiny head nod, and I would drive more werewolves to their demise than the whole of Lycans had ever done. I couldn't let that happen. I would not let it happen.

"Maybe what we should do first is figure out how they heard about Mina," my mom suddenly said, changing the subject upon sensing my unease.

"Right," Ryan jumped in. "According to the Deltas, the assholes tortured people to get the Alpha's address. They came here because they were after Benji and Mina."

My father grunted. "No one but us knew the truth about our Luna," he said tightly. "So, how did the Lycans know to look for her?"

"Shira and I didn't speak a word of it," William assured. "Even Chris here," he added, pointing to his visibly confused second-in-command. "He knows nothing about Mina's true nature."

"Alright, then how-"

Luna Shira cleared her throat, and, interrupting my father, she said, "I think I might know how."

My eyes lifted from the ground for the first time and followed everyone's to the Luna, then to Ophelia, whom she was openly studying. "Well, O?" Shira said softly. "Maybe you can help us, right?"

"I- I- I'm," the girl stammered, her eyes bouncing nervously at everyone in the room.

"Ophelia," Shira insisted. "I can sense there's something you're holding back. Say it, O, it can help Mina." 

"B- but I'm not sure."

"Tell us anyway, sweetie," my mother added, taking her hand. "Please."

Ophelia hesitated for a moment, and I could barely contain my nerves as she bit her lip and anxiously took a long, shaky breath. "We're not the only ones who knew," she started to confess, glancing in Christopher Reese's direction. "Travis knew too," she said before facing the disagreeing growls of the River Creek man.

"Stop," Shira raised a finger, silencing the Beta and ordering him to listen before turning her head back. "What makes you say that?" she asked, speaking to Ophelia again. 

"He asked me about Mina," the girl replied, sinking further into the torn couch. "The night of my pack ceremony, we talked, and Travis asked me if I knew about Mina being a Lycan. He wanted to know if it was true, and I said yes."

"How did Travis know about it?"

"Mina told him," Ophelia answered Shira quickly. "He said the night before, she told him about her father."

My blood boiled inside my veins listening to her speak, and the rage that I could barely subdue threatened to burst at this last detail. Mina had promised to stay away from him, and now I was being told she found in him a confidant with whom to share her greatest secrets. I couldn't believe it. The blow to my ego was devastating and even worse, my hatred of this man grew to absolutely no bounds. The hypocrite acted as if he cared about Mina, but he only wanted to hurt her all along. He waited patiently for the perfect weapon to wield against her, and now, the Lycans had my mate.

"I should have killed him when I could!" I screamed, losing what little control I held over myself. "I'm going to kill him! That fucking dog, I'm gonna kill him! Your fucking brother is dead!" 

"Son! No!" my dad screamed, he and Ryan rushing to keep me back as I lunged towards William's Beta.

The Alpha joined in their efforts to hold me, but as I drove and clawed my way through them, even he pained to stop my savage attack. I was letting Silas take over for the both of us, his own rage and grief as unbridled as mine, and though I could still hear the room pleading against my shift, it was too late; I saw only red.

"The fucking traitor!" I howled mid-shift at the top of my voice as Silas's strength pushed and dragged the men with me. "I'll kill your bastard brother, and then I'll kill you! I'll come after your whole fucking family Reese; I swear! If she dies, all of you will die!"

"Benjamin!"

"Son, no!"

"Stop him!"