Chapter 19

Corrigan’s POV

Lucien’s talk with the staff seems to have worked. They are nicer to me. They don’t stare at me with judgment in their eyes and they treat me just like any other guest at the hotel.

The bodyguards have also reduced in number. They don’t follow me around like before and if they do, they do it from a discreet distance. Cormac doesn’t stand over me or stare at me as I eat, but instead, joins me and has a conversation with me.

I go to the spa more often, even go swimming sometimes.

I have made friends with the swimming instructor, who seems to be a very nice lady.

In return, I smile more, give bigger tips and remember names.

I ask about ingredients and recipes, even though I can’t cook. The landscaper had invited me to see the roses in the garden and watch him trim the maze. It was nice. I had butchered a few roses but we had smiled about it.

Even the guests are nicer. Of course, there will always be the looks of disdain and jealousy but that means almost nothing now. I am not as bored as I had been when I first arrived here.

Lucien calls occasionally. Not before six and not after seven at night. His vague replies whenever I ask about the situation at the pack always riles me. Does he not trust me? Is there something he isn’t telling me?

It had been almost two weeks since Lucien left the hotel when I got the call. Lucien has gotten my phone returned to me, though it had been formatted first.

“Hello?”

“Corrigan?” I hear Dad say.

I haven’t heard from Dad since I left the pack house. I look around to make sure no one is nearby. When I’m sure I am alone, I lower my voice.

“Dad?” I whisper, sitting at the table.

“Corrigan, I’m at the hotel. We need to talk.”

We met at the bar. He seems to be maintaining a low profile, with dark shades over his eyes and a baseball hat. I recognize his posture, however. The posture of someone who was important and didn’t mind everyone knowing it. He is sitting at the counter, ordering what I don’t think is his first drink. Since when did Dad drink?

I walk towards him, taking the seat beside him. The first thing I notice is his agitation. He’s tapping his foot against the stool.

“Dad?” he startled when he heard my voice. His eyes water and he pulls me closer, burying his face in my hair. I hug him back, frowning. He pulls away, looking at me.

“Are you still here? With Blackthorn?”

I can tell he is disappointed in me. I purse my lips and blink away tears, fidgeting with my fingers. “Dad…”

“Do you have no shame, Corrigan? You're better than this! Your mother and I gave you the best whole growing up. Why?” He says, his voice breaking. I pull away, wiping my cheeks.

“Dad…why are you here? Don't you have some duties at the pack?”

He hesitates. “Lucien had me removed .”

I frown. “ You…you're no longer the beta? Why would he do that?”

“New government.” He says offhandedly. I find his attitude a bit off but I remain quiet. “The pack members don't trust him, they say they don't want a murderer in the position of Alpha.

He's in a tight spot. Some of them are joining hands with Niles to overthrow him.”

My heart sinks and I try to set the suspicion I feel aside. I can’t.

“You…you're not part of this plan, are you?” I ask.

He averts his gaze and laces his fingers.

“Are you?” I press on.

“What else did you expect?” He explodes, quieting down. We see we get a few curious stares from the tables surrounding us.“What did you expect?” he asks in a quiet voice. “My only child is a live-in whore for a murderer.”

I sit back. “Why do I find it hard to believe that that’s all there is to it? You would have let me become Luna to Dante and you knew about the rumors that I had been his mistress but not once did you ever care about it or try to correct it.

And now you’ve been removed from your position and suddenly you feel like Lucien is so unworthy.”

It makes so much sense that I want it to be a lie. I want him to give me real, actual reasons why Lucien isn't a good enough leader. Maybe he was like—or even worse—than Dante.

I waited to be told to stop overreacting and making things up. All I met with me was silence and a guilty flush riding up from his neck.

“So that's it.” I say, disappointed. “You don't really care about the fact that I’m Lucien's mistress.”

“Darling, I do care…”

“Then why don't you tell me to come along with you? To leave Lucien and l forever and go with you as my father?” I ask.

Niles is not one to let go of an opportunity, no matter how little it is. If Dad really doesn't want me to be Lucien's mistress, he would make me go. He hadn't mentioned leaving since I got here.

“Why are you here, Dad?” I say wearily. The real reason why, if you don't mind.”

“Corrigan…”

“The real reason.” I ground out.

“Niles wants you to work on our side. To help us get you away from Lucien.” He says finally.

“So I'm supposed to whore myself to Lucien so you can get information. Of course, it's wrong when I do it because of him but when you start up a plan that has a 90 percent chance of failing, I'm supposed to spread my legs and keep my ears open for the “good of the pack”.” I nod, getting up from the stool.

“It was nice speaking with you, but I’d like you to leave now.”

“Corrigan.” He stands, taking my shoulders. “You would rather stay with this…this…”

“Lucien didn't kill Anneliese.” I say, surprising even myself.

Dad looks at me slowly, pitifully. He strokes my hair. “He had brainwashed you into thinking that?”

I put his hands away from me.

“I saw it happen. I lied.” I take a deep, fortifying breath. “Dante killed Anneliese.

I witnessed everything. He was going to frame you so I lied to everyone and let him exile Lucien instead with the ring Lucien gave to me.”

“There”. I have said it.

For the first time in three years I have admitted to someone but myself that Dante was Anneliese's real killer. I watched the color drain from Dad's face. His eyes widen with shock and he crashes down into his chair. He stares at me like he has never seen me before and I can't blame him. I hated looking at myself in the mirror for months after that.

“Corrigan…do you realize what you're just admitted to?” He asks, his voice low and urgent. “Niles is going to kill you.”

I think about that and it surprises me how much I don't care about Niles’ wrath. I’ll deal with that later.

“I need to go to the pack house, Dad. My answer to your proposition is “no” but thank you very much for offering.”

“I need to get to the pack house.” I tell Cormac urgently as I walk into my suite.

He looks slightly shocked about my request. He clears his throat.

“Uh…is there a reason why?” He asks.

“It's alright, Cormac. I know about how the pack members don't trust him and about how rogues are planning to overthrow him.

” I say, setting a suitcase down on the bed and throwing clothes in without a single thought.

“Who told you about…”

“It's not the guards or the staff, Cormac. I had the most enlightening conversation with my father just now.” I shut the suitcase and get another suitcase.

“Corrigan, you have to stop. Lucien won't like you going over the pack house. It's not safe.”

“If it's not safe then it's my fault. I told a lie and I need to rectify it.” I say, throwing some shoes in the suitcase. “I can't let Lucien get punished for something Dante did. Dante has caused enough harm already.”

“You’re not thinking of telling everyone that you lied, are you?” He asks.

“I think we both know the answer to that question, Cormac.”

“So what exactly do you plan to do?” He asks, stopping my packing by taking both my wrists. “Tell everyone that you lied about Anneliese’s real murderer and shift all the hatred to yourself?I swallow.

“I know it's stupid and it's a bit unreasonable, but they want someone to be mad at and Dante is dead. I can't keep on letting Lucien take the blame for something he didn't do. So do you want to help me or do I have to take the car myself?”