Chapter 67 ~The Hidden Truth~
(Xander's POV)
I looked at Calvin. I was at a loss, and still trying to figure out what was happening.
“What do you mean, Dakota would be the best person to tell me?” I asked finally.
He shrugged. Turning on the car ignition, he muttered something inaudible under his breath.
Whatever was happening, it would not end well. He knew it and I did, too. So we drove in silence, the kind of silence that lingers when there’s so much to say, and yet so little.
An uneasy feeling was building up in me as we advanced.
It was bad enough that my brother was trying to kill me, my mate's ex was out for her as well, and I might lose everything and everyone I've ever known.
I tapped my fingers impatiently on the car dashboard, willing my heart rate to slow as the car pulled into the thick gates of Nightfang.
“Whatever happens in there,” Calvin began as he drove in. “Whatever you hear, just be calm and try not to do anything irrational.”
Irrational.
I chuckled under my breath.
Life was irrational. It was irrational and stupid.
“I don't know Calvin. I'm not promising anything until I actually see what the fuck is going on.” I muttered.
We finally got out of the car and we walked straight to the main building.
Dakota, Nova, and Jackson were seated in the living room in silence. I could sense the energy the moment I walked in.
Dakota was the first person to meet my eyes. She stood up, clutching her bag. “Oh, Xander, you are here.”
The other two turned eventually. Nova was looking like she would rather be anywhere than here, and Jackson… well, guilt and something else I couldn't quite place were evident in his demeanour.
“What's going on?” I asked, confused.
They both turned to look at Jackson. He lowered his head.
Honestly, my patience was wearing thin.
“So I'm just going to say it, since no one else will,” Dakota began. “Jackson is in love with Fiona.”
There was a sharp ringing in my ear once she said this. Rage was slowly building up inside me. It was my turn to look at Jackson. “Is this true?”
He looked up, and suddenly I could fathom what the second expression was - fear.
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“And that's not all. He wanted to force himself on her, too.” Dakota wore a diabolical smirk on her face as she said this.
A wave of shock went through me. I walked close to where he stood, ignoring the protests from Calvin. “Is this true? Did you want to sleep with my mate?”
With a low voice, he muttered. “Yes… but I can explain.”
“Oh, you better start doing that now.” I hissed through my teeth.
“It was just a game. One day, Nova, Dakota and I were talking, and they were fighting over who could get you… Dakota was so sure that she could, so she went for it,” he began.
“That was how she got to kiss you at the riverside, and she won the bet.”
“Yeah, and what does this have to do with Fiona?” I was losing my cool.
“During the game, I expressed my feelings for Fiona. I told them I was in love with her. Nova and Dakota were the ones that suggested I slept with her.”
“Oh, shut up!” Dakota spat out. “You're a pathological liar.”
Jackson got up with fury. “But that was exactly what happened.”
“Then why the fuck did you tell Fiona everything, you dickhead?” Nova spoke for the first time, addressing her brother.
“Wait… Fiona knows?” I could hardly believe what was happening. Everything happening today felt like a fever dream.
Why did Fiona hide this from me?
Dakota gave a half-smile. She seemed to be enjoying this.
Jackson must have noticed this, because he glared. “How smart of you to expose people's secrets while yours is the biggest.”
A look of intense fright flashed across Dakota’s face.
“Now, I'm pretty sure Xander would love to hear the real reason why you moved to Singapore.”
Dakota glared at him. “Don't you dare Jackson.”
Truth was, I honestly didn't give a shit about the rest of what was being said, because the thought of Jackson having his way with Fiona was making bile rise in my throat.
I grabbed Jackson by the collar. But Calvin was faster, holding my arms. “Let it go.”
He was right. One more minute in their presence and I could kill them all.
I released Jackson’s collar and turned to leave.
On second thought…
I went back and punched him right in the nose, and he instantly fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.
Yeah… that's what you get for even thinking about it.
Calvin winced, and the others looked on with shocked expressions.
“You all sicken me!” I spat out to them as Calvin and I walked out of the room.
“Where are you going now?” Calvin asked as he tried to keep up with my fast, impatient strides.
“To see Fiona.” I simply said. She, at least, needed to know all that was happening.
–-----
The hospital room had been quiet for quite some time. After I told Fiona I was moving, she hadn't said not anything yet.
She just looked at me with a deadened expression in her eyes.
“Father said I must.” I continued, although I knew it did not change anything.
“So… you're really leaving, huh?” her voice broke a little when she said this.
I nodded. “That's not all.”
“What is it?” she blinked.
“Beckett and Loki are out for us. Calvin found out that they are working together and want to kill us.”
Her breathing quickened. I could tell from the rapid rise and fall of her chest. “W…what?”
I nodded again. “But I guess it's under control.”
This didn't seem to placate her at all. “You don't understand. Beckett is not one for empty threats. If he wants to kill us, he'll stop at nothing until he's done just that.”
“I guess we have to be security-conscious from now on. They could strike at any moment.”
She closed her eyes and buried her face in her palms, muttering inaudible words to herself.
I could do nothing but lightly tap her back to soothe her nerves, hoping she didn't get a panic attack.
After some time, the trembling subsided, and she looked at me. “Can I come along to this new academy?”
“It was the same question I asked, but father said no.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Apparently, the school is for the gifted, alphas, hybrids, tribrids and the rest, according to what he said.”
Her face lightened instantly. “Did you just say… tribrids?”
I nodded slowly, wondering where she was going with this. I chuckled. “What, are you a tribrid now?”
She looked at me, her eyes unfocused like she was contemplating whether or not to tell me something. “Something happened while I was at Ashridge. And I haven't told anyone about it.”
Here we go again.