One last time

One last time
VINCE

Declan was making a very wholesome, tantalising, and otherworldly proposal, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't being tempted to accept it.

The details are just too sweet to the ears. Talking about being willing to surrender his elders to be eliminated. Also, I am willing to surrender the sorcerers who know about my roots for elimination. And then to top it all, he's willing to keep it a secret. Also, he's gonna evacuate Richard's pack and won't bother us anymore.

It all sounds too fucking good to be true. I mean, the thought of it has my nerves buzzing. But I'd hate to get excited so quickly.

But then again, if it does work out, if Declan's not trying to play games with me and it turns out he's being serious, then this could solve all my problems. I'll be able to keep my roots a secret from the bigger audience forever. I could peacefully relinquish my Alpha duties to Richard, move to Switzerland, to the human regions, or wherever in the world without bothering about a rogue invasion in my Pack, Leo's, or Richard's.

I'd be able to leave before my people start cussing me out over my recent unexplainable killings. I would be able to stay low-key the rest of my life and live a normal life with Elena and our daughter. As normal as we can.

I need a bit of normalcy and quietness after years of chaos and fighting. However, as I mentioned, the offer sounds too good to be true. I feel like I'm gonna get trapped if I jump right into it.

“I know you have doubts,” he began, voicing my thoughts. “I know you think I'm trying to mess with you but I promise you, I'm not. I'm being a hundred percent serious.”

“Right,” I mumbled, scrutinizing him, searching for anything that would give him out. Anything that would make me realize he's trying to mess with me.

“I can take an oath if you want. Anything at all. I don't mind.”

He sounds really convincing, and there's nothing about him that signals that he's lying. So it's kinda safe to believe that he's not. It's kinda safe to believe that he's telling the truth.

I don't trust him Leo mind-linked me. He was downright scowling at Declan. He doesn't even need to talk about his distrust through a mind-link. Everyone in the room can tell that he doesn't trust Declan.

What don't you trust about his offer?

Everything. I don't think someone can go from wanting to kill you one day to genuinely offering to make sacrifices for you the next day.

“I know it's hard to believe…

Hard? More like impossible. Leo retorted. Vince, I know you're way too fucking excited to take him up on this offer, but I'd advise you to think about it deeply.

I'm doing that right now.

No. You seem convinced.

“Well, that's because I am.

What? Vince, you know better than to trust whatever comes out of this bastard's mouth. I can't trust him. Don't ask me to.”

I'm not asking you to trust Declan.
I'm asking you to trust me. I tell Leo firmly, hopefully that's gonna fix his doubt and mood..

I turned to Declan, ready to finish up my conversation with me. But Leo wasn't having it. He still had doubts and this time, he wasn't trying to hide it.

“Forgive me, but I fail to understand why you need Vince's help in killing those. You still have a handful of Army under your watch. I doubt they're all gonna revolt if you tell them you wanna get rid of problematic elders.”

“There are two reasons why I can't do it myself. First, I'm a rogue prince. By birth. Going against the ancient elders, laying hands on them is a fucking taboo. And you pure bloods think you're the only ones with laws and rules, but we have those too. Believe it or not.” He said, giving Leo a pointed gaze. Leo replied by rolling his eyes at him. I don't intend to interfere in whatever personal beef they're having.

“And the second reason?” Richard asked.

“Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again. These armies ain't mine. They're just a bunch of rogues I gathered in this fight. They're not the armies who swore allegiance to me. Vince already killed those ones. There's a good chance they're gonna turn on me if they think I'm trying to betray the rogue clan and going against the ancient elders. God, I'm tired of explaining myself.” Declan groaned.

“Well, too bad, you still have more explanation to do. So you're at risk and Vince isn't? Doesn't the taboo thing apply to him?” Leo was bombarding him with more questions. Interesting questions, if I might add.

“Well, first, he's not a rogue royal. I mean he was. But that's been annulled through a bunch of rituals when he joined the pure blood clan. And second, he's not gonna be at any risk because he won't be the one doing the killing. I just need him to have his men waiting in the woods while the elders make their way through. It'll be swift and less chaotic. The only reason I'm gonna bother offering an explanation to my people about the whereabouts of these elders is if they ask. If they don't, then we'll move on with our lives like nothing happened. But they're gonna ask and I'm gonna have the perfect lies for them.”

Again, Declan sounds too convincing. It'd be hard on me if he turns around and says he's kidding. I'll literally slit his little throat right here for messing with me this much.

“What kinda lies are you gonna tell them to convince them about the sudden disappearance of the elders?”

“Maybe the elders committed some grave sin and got struck by the moon goddess. And the sorcerers were their accomplices. I could pay someone to back me up on my lies. Now what other fucking questions do you have? Wanna know what food I'm gonna have for breakfast that morning? You're insufferable!”

“And you're a fucking dog, so don't you dare yell at me!” Leo barked right back at him.

The tension between them was over the roof but I wasn't paying attention to that. I was more excited about how real this plan had gotten.

Now I'm not a religious man, but dear goddess, just this one last time. I promise I'll never be ruthless again. Just let me get rid of these elders and secure the future I want for myself and my family.