Chapter 75 – Take a Chance on Him

Violet.

I gathered David and Javid, and led them outside to a private and quiet space at the care center. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat as I prepared to reveal the truth about Bart Rivers… my half-brother. The words felt foreign in my mind, like they belonged to someone else's life story.

Just thinking of him as my sibling sent a fresh wave of goosebumps down the entire length of my arms. More than once on the way over, my foot heavy on the gas pedal of David's car, I couldn't help but draw parallels between Bart and the first vision I had of Thaddeus. The resemblance was uncanny, and it made me wonder... Did the same madness that fueled Thaddeus's and Bart's quest for power run in my veins as well? Was I destined to follow the same dark path?

The thought stole my breath, and I rocked unsteadily on my feet for a second, black spots dancing in my vision, before I managed to flop gracelessly onto the hard bench underneath a large maple tree. The twins exchanged a worried glance as they sat on either side of me, their presence both comforting and worrisome.

I knew without them saying that they had my back… but in this, I had my doubts.

I drew in a shaky breath, trying to gather my courage, knowing there was no turning back. They deserved the truth, no matter how much it terrified me to tell them that the enemy they were fighting was related to me.

I breathed in deep, steadying myself before I looked at the twins. They were both watching me with curious expressions, their eyes filled with questions.

"Whassup, Vi?" David asked, rubbing a broad shoulder against mine.

"I had a conversation with Samuel," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "He told me something...something I never knew before."

"What is it?" Javid asked, his brow furrowing.

"It's about Bart Rivers," I said, my heart racing. I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as a bone. "He's...he's my half-brother," I managed to get out, the words feeling all kinds of wrong on my tongue.

I watched as David and Javid's faces morphed from curious to shocked and disbelieving right before my eyes. Javid's blue eyes went wide as saucers and he ran a hand through his dark hair, totally speechless for a sec. David, though, he narrowed his eyes into slits, his jaw clenching so tight I thought his teeth might crack as he took in what I'd just said.

"What? That damn creep?" David growled, his muscles flexing under his shirt as he balled his hands into fists. He jumped to his feet so fast, I got whiplash. "How the hell is that even possible?"

"Samuel told me my father, Thaddeus, had an affair with Bart's mom, Constance," I explained, my words trembling like leaves in the wind. "She was some powerful witch, and she used her magic to force Thaddeus into her bed. And well, that's how Bart came to be."

"That's...that's insane," Javid said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I know," I said, trying to shake off the icky feeling I had. "I can't believe it either. But Samuel said I deserved to know the truth. He said I have a right to know where I come from, and what I'm capable of."

"What do you mean?" Javid asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I mean that I'm a powerful witch, just like Bart," I said, my voice gaining strength. "And I'm not going to let him hurt anyone else." I paused for a beat to let my words register. "Bart...he's done some terrible things. He's taken lives, caused so much pain…" my voice broke at the anguish the twins had on their faces for their father.

"He hurt Dad," both twins said at once.

David carried it several steps further, not meaning to hurt me, I was sure, but to press the issue home nevertheless.

"Steve, the guard at our community, his kids no longer have their dad," David said, his voice wavering. "And Dirk, he didn't deserve to go out like that. That POS hurt members of my pack and as their Alpha, I have to get some of my own back."

Javid nodded in agreement. "We don't want to hurt your half-brother, Violet, but we can't let him continue as he is." His blue eyes met mine, pleading for understanding.

And I did. I really did.

Still… I held out hope that somehow… some way he could be redeemed. That it wasn't too late.

"I know," I said softly, looking down at my hands. "I just... look I know he's done some terrible things, but he's my half-brother…"

Guilt tore me up inside, knowing that my family connection to Bart had put the twins in a difficult position. I understood their duty, and I even shared their feelings of hurt and anger towards Bart's actions. But I couldn't help feeling protective of him, despite everything.

"There has to be another way," I insisted. "Samuel told me about Bart's past, about how his mother died fighting another witch and that he was raised in the Warlock society without any restraint for the amount of power he has. You have to consider that."

David rubbed his chin, his brow furrowed. "I don't know, Vi. I remember his mother… vaguely. She was a real piece of work, always on him about something when she picked him up from school. Even as a little kid, I recognized he was getting mistreated at home. Still, that doesn't give him an automatic pass for a second chance."

"But don't you see?" I said, my eyes wide. "That's exactly what we should try and give him. A second chance. A chance to make things right, to make amends for what he's done. We can't just write him off as a lost cause. We have to believe in the possibility of redemption."

David and Javid exchanged another look, this time filled with uncertainty and hesitation. I could see the wheels turning in their heads, the idea of redemption taking root in their minds, but that was underneath. On the surface I clearly saw the doubt, the skepticism in identical downturn of their mouths.

"I understand what you're saying, Vi," David said, his voice softer now. "But the pack comes first."

"I know," I said. "I'm not saying we should just let him go, that we should forget about what he's done. But we have to try to help him, to give him a chance to change."

David nodded, his expression still serious. "We're not making any promises, Vi," he said. "But… if he stands down when we ask him to… I'll think about it."

Javid chimed in, his blue eyes meeting mine. "We can't let him keep hurting people, Vi. If he slips up even once, we'll have to act."