Chapter 67 Hi Mom
He looks a little shocked by my question. Or maybe it’s the dullness in my tone that even I can hear.
“It’s not something you need to worry about anymore. Myself and my pack will handle it. All I ask of you is to allow me to provide protection for you while it happens.”
It’s my turn to be shocked by his words. “You want me to sit back and do nothing? And what do you mean by it happens? What is going to happen?” My tone is no longer dull as my anger and frustration seep out. I’m not going to be left in the dark, nor am I going to be pushed aside. I may not be overly excited at the prospect of going against my parents, but I’m also not going to be silent.
“Don’t get upset, Anneliese. I’m not asking you to sit aside while doing nothing. I just can’t ask you or force you to be involved in the fight that is destined to happen.”
“What fight? What does that mean?”
He looks at me like I’m stupid for even asking. I know in a normal circumstance this would never happen between Alec and me, but we’re both beyond stressed and are facing extreme news.
“Your parents are not going to back down. We can’t just ask them to stop. It is either be killed or kill with them. I know it sounds extreme to you, but I have faced them once. They won’t stop until the one they are hunting is dead or they are.”
My fork, which I almost forgot I was even holding, clatters onto the plate. “Dead? You’re going to kill them?”
“I don’t want to, but if they don’t leave now, they won’t give us a choice.”
Deep down, I know I shouldn’t be shocked to hear this. Especially when it isn’t fair, they are actively trying to kill them, so why shouldn’t they protect themselves. But it feels so wrong to hear him say they’ll kill them.
“I can’t believe you. The Alec I know would never talk of killing my parents so easily in front of me.”
“Well, the Alec you knew didn’t know my mate's parents killed my best friend, and nearly killed me. I didn’t know they were back to finish the fucking job.” His voice rises, making me shrink back.
But he’s right. He’s also going through it right now in this situation. He also has to deal with the repercussions of my parents being who they are. He has to deal with the grief that they killed Garrett. The other side around us is our breathing. His fast and deep, mine matching his pace.
“There has to be another way that involves no one losing their lives.” He sighs, shaking his head.
“You don’t understand that it isn’t possible.”
“Why not? You have me, I’m right here. You guys can use me. They are my parents, they won’t hurt me. I can convince them.” My voice rises as I try to plead with him to think this through.
“I’m not going to put you in danger that way.” His voice is firm as he tries to finalize the conversation. But he should know with me that isn’t going to happen.
“Did your parents agree with this? I know you all want your revenge, but I doubt they don’t want to at least try to use my help.”
He hesitates to speak again, and I know I’ve hit the nail on the head.
“So use me, let me help.” I pleaded with him, putting my hand over his on the table.
He looks at me, pleading with his eyes for me to let this go. I know he’s scared, he’s nervous for my sake, but I can’t just do nothing.
“Fine. You’re right. They want you to help.”
“Great, so tell me what to do so we can avoid unnecessary deaths.”
“We need you to spy. You need to get into their space where they would keep their plans and find out whatever you can.”
I’m not going to say no, but I have to voice a concern. “I don’t even remember what house we moved into.”
“That’s fine. You’ll just need to approach it differently. Maybe reach out to them, ask to come visit, then you can look around, see if you can find anything useful.”
It looks like it pains him to even talk through all the things I’d be required to do. But for me, it makes the numbness feel less. It’s not as much of a gnawing feeling.
\~~~
Calling my parents like this is beyond uncomfortable and awkward. It’s weird enough to be calling them from a phone they don’t know about, and that I shouldn’t even have. But it’s worse that I’m standing here in a room full of the same people last night that either comforted me or treated me like I might have known my parents’ secret. And not to mention my mate’s parents.
It wasn’t my idea, but they wanted to hear the call. They reassured me it’s not because they didn’t trust me, but because they wanted to know the plan.
I dial their number, holding the phone to my ear. At least I don’t have to have it on speaker phone. Although they can hear everything being said, it still feels like I have a bit more privacy.
It rings so much that it’s not shocking when it goes to voicemail. I sigh, pulling the phone away, looking at Alec for more guidance.
“Try one more time, it’s an unknown number, so maybe that’s why they didn’t answer.” His dad tells me.
I listen dialing again. This time, the phone only rings twice before she answers. I called my mother’s number, knowing she’d be more forgiving, and I even snuck a phone to call her. And assuming she’d be more likely to let me come visit.
“Hello.”
It’s like a jolt of shock through my body, hearing her voice for the first time since hearing the truth. A part of me wants to ask her everything, to confront her about her and my father’s job. But I resist, and maybe a part of me doesn’t want to ask. Maybe I really don’t want to hear it from her mouth, as it’ll only make it true.
“Mom, it’s Anna.”