Fifty Two

When Eva came to speak with Bethan about the night of the attack for a second time, Bethan knew time was running out. Her question about the Mad Alpha had sent Bethan down memory lane so dark and jaded even though she denied having heard the title before. She had been lying of course. While Michael had pretty much ignored Bethan to the point that she believed he didn't know she existed, Bethan had heard the old man's stories whenever he was drunk.

He had earned his title in the same way Ethan intended to earn his; with misery, fear and murder.

There was some irony in the situation. Ethan had hated Michael with a burning passion for as long as Bethan could remember. Ethan believed he was nothing like their father and everything he had stood for. He believed he was stronger and smarter and in many ways this was in fact true. But at the end of the day, when it really came down to it, Ethan was more like Michael than he realised.

Bethan should have known Ethan wouldn’t be far away when Eva and Bethan talked but for the briefest of moments, she had found a small amount of bravery and attempted to open the door to telling Eva everything. However, before Bethan could even elaborate, Ethan waltzed on in and shattered the paper-thin courage Bethan had as if it was simply ice over a puddle.

“Nice try, sister.” Ethan sneered when they were alone, his hands coming up to smack Bethan across the cheek so hard she fell to the ground from the force. "But you're too late. I have the Alpha and tomorrow I will have Eva so I can complete my plans."

Bethan wanted to warn Eva. She couldn't help Daniel now, it was too late for him but maybe she could save Eva from the fate Ethan had set for her. But unsurprisingly, she didn't do anything. She watched from the bedroom window as Ethan lured Eva away from the safety of the pack. She didn't want to be around when everything came crashing down and thought about just leaving. She was certain she could get far away with night now closing in on them and Ethan busy. The rogues wouldn't care either. They had been promised females that were better than Bethan in every way.

So that is why she found herself at the French doors looking out towards the forest that surrounded the pack township like a fortress. The bitter realisation that no one would miss her or notice her gone had sent hot tears rolling over her sallow cheeks. She’d be free though, finally able to live her life the way she wanted to.

"Bethan?"

The soft feminine voice cut the silence making the young woman turn and face Maria who was standing in the doorway, ice blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders and her eyes wide with surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Maria stepped closer. "I thought you and Ethan had gone home."

"No." Bethan whispered, wiping her eyes. "Not yet."

"Okay, well have you seen Eva?" Maria asked. "I've not seen her all day."

The mention of the she-wolf who had been nothing but kind to Bethan had her face crumpling like paper as she felt sobs escape her.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Maria rushed over, pulling Bethan into a hug as she sobbed and hiccuped.

"I'm a terrible person." Bethan managed. "I let her go with Ethan to find Daniel."

"How does that make you a terrible person?" Maria pulled back, looking puzzled as she examined Bethan's face and found guilt written all over her features.

"Because…" Bethan heaved a sigh, her body suddenly so tired from being terrified and lying all the time. "Because Ethan isn't who he says he is."

And just like that, the truth came tumbling out. The dam had burst and all the secrets and plans flooded out into the world for all to witness. Bethan couldn't hold it in anymore and even when she saw the look of utter horror on Maria's face, she continued, spilling every ounce of her life and the horrible deeds Ethan had committed for Maria to hear. She told of her life growing up, how her brother had gotten their mother killed and murdered their father. She described him using her to recruit the rogues that were now helping him and how he had taken pleasure in murdering the Emerald pack members. It was Ethan who set the fire and hired the two men who shot Eva and Kade but it was Ethan who personally killed the beta because Kade was about to uncover Ethan's real identity.

"You have to believe me, I didn't want any of this." Bethan's voice broke and new year's filled her eyes, glistening in the light before spilling over to roll down her cheeks. "I tried to warn Eva but he was listening in and intervened before I could say anything."

She closed her eyes, pressing her fingers into the sockets as the weight of it all slipped from her shoulders. It felt good to confess but her heart still raced as she thought of what would happen now. Would Maria believe her? Would they be able to stop Ethan?

"Hey now." Maria murmured as she pulled the terrified girl into another hug. "It's going to be okay. You're safe now."

"I'm not. No one is safe until Ethan is stopped but he's too strong." Bethan mumbled.

"We need to raise the alarm." Maria finally spoke, her voice high in panic. "Do you know where Ethan's taken them?"

Bethan nodded. "I can show you."

"Okay." Maria nodded. "We need to tell Duncan and Joe and then we need to find Eva and Daniel before it's too late."

---

It was a cold whisper of wind running across Eva's arm that began to rouse her from the depths of unconsciousness. Her head throbbed with each beat of her heart and the cool damp air made her shudder. Groaning, Eva tried to move, her eyebrows bunching towards the bridge of her nose as her joints ached. A sudden burning sensation wrapped around her wrists when she tried to move her arms making her hiss sharply and her eyes fly open.

"What the…?" Eva breathed, trying to push herself up but found her arms wouldn't move.

Glancing around through foggy eyes, it took a moment for Eva to adjust to the dank darkness. She didn't recognise the small space she was in but the broken window several feet above her let her see out just enough that she could tell they were no longer in the forest. The silence around her was tense, as if the night and all the creatures that usually thrived in the dark were now waiting for the storm to hit.

Trying to move again, Eva winced as the skin around her wrists felt like acid was being poured on them and she felt like she was unable to move her arms still. The cold dampness of the earth underneath her seeped into her clothes, kissing her skin while the foggy memory of what had happened several hours earlier slowly crept in.

Ethan had drugged her. Ethan had done something to Daniel. Ethan murdered Kade. Ethan was the Mad Alpha.

Just as the realisation settled in, a metal door somewhere in the darkness opened, the old hinges groaning like a wild animal in protest of the movement. Footsteps drew closer, until the familiar flash of blonde hair caught the moonlight as Ethan stepped into view.

"Ah, sleeping beauty is finally awake!" He chuckled, his eyes black and sharp like obsidian under the faint light. "I was starting to think I gave you too much."

"What the hell did you do to me?" Eva growled.

"Just gave you a little tranquilizer laced with Wolfsbane." Ethan shrugged casually as if sharing a recipe. "Nasty stuff, burns like a bitch if you get it on your skin but you already know that because I used it on the ties binding your wrists."

Eva swallowed against the lump in her throat, trying to keep her breathing steady. Wolfsbane could be lethal but in measured doses it could be used to cause injury and to weaken a werewolf. Aside from diminishing her strength, Eva couldn't call on Kalla to heal or shift even if Kalla was simmering just under the surface.

"What do you want?" She managed through gritted teeth.

"Oh that's simple." Ethan smirked as moved closer, sitting on his haunches right in front of the incapacitated she-wolf. "I'm going to become Alpha and you are going to help me."