143

143
Chapter 143

Gerald

21 years ago…

I smiled as Humphrey finally crushed Alpha. His smile was contagious, lighting up the room with joy and celebration.

Helen looked happy, smiling.

She wasn't showing yet, but I could tell the difference already. She was fatter. It was not very noticeable, but anyone who knew her or was close enough to see it could easily tell.

“Congratulations, brother.” I shook Humphrey’s hand.

“Congratulations to you too, my new beta.” He grinned wide.

He was more excited about me accepting to be his beta than his wedding.

“Yeah, yeah.” I said with a sigh.

Just then, Helen made her way towards me, pulling me into a hug.

“Congratulations, my love.”

“Congratulations to you too.”



Later in the evening, I was at the park border.

“How is Cassie doing?” I asked Landen, my brother and friend since we were kids.

His parents were in the same clan as mine. Rogues.

Rogues without wolves….

“Good. She is off to college in a week. She is very upset that you are not coming to see her off.”

I ran my hands through my hair.

“She knows why.”

“Because she cheated. Yes, I know that.” Landen said, “But you have to forgive her sooner or later.”

“Yeah. Just give her this.” I handed him a box.

“It's a gift for her. I have to be here for a while. I am beta now. I can't leave, and I don't want to.”

Landen nodded.

“Good luck, brother; just be careful.”

“I'll try.” I smiled before waving him goodbye.

Present day

“I haven't seen her.” Rita said through the phone,

“Then find her. You're an assassin; act like it.”

“I have tried asking Tony, but he isn't available. He's avoiding me.”

“Rita, don't make me come up there myself. She can't just disappear into thin air.”

“I know. I'm on it. I'll get the information today.”

“Good.” I murmured before hanging up.

I couldn't believe I had lost Fiona and the recording in one day. This was absolutely ridiculous.

I made my way out of the bar.

Max intercepted me on the way to the door.

“I may have found a lead to who hired Liliana's kidnappers.”

“Who?” I asked.

“His name is Glen.”

“What have you found out?” I asked, walking out of the bar to a more quiet place in the parking lot.

He was being unusually nice.

For the last couple of days, he had blamed me for what happened to Liliana, and of course I didn't blame him.

I blamed myself too.

That's why I was trying to make things right.

That's why I was going to end it with Cassandra today.

I still cared about Cassandra, but there was no way I could still be with her.

I had no feelings for her, and yes, she and her dad were a great help to me, but at the end of the day, I would be doing myself a disservice by letting go of Liliana.

She was my mate, and yes, her father was my best friend, but I was tired of denying myself what was mine.

“He's known for trafficking young she-wolves. He gets a tip and works according to that tip.

He was here in this pack on the day of her kidnapping.”

My hands curled into fists beside me.

“He may have seen Liliana and taken her, or maybe he was tipped off by someone else. I think he was tipped off.”

“And who would do this?”

“Who do you think?”

“You don't think it's Cassandra, do you?”

“I do.” He said.

“No.”

“She is the only one with motive.”

“Cassandra is a lot of things, but a killer? No.”

“Anyone can turn evil for the people they love.”

“We'll check him out tonight then, but first. I'm going to get something from the pack.”

“Sure thing, boss,” he said.

I mounted my bike and rode back home to the pack house.

As I entered, I made my way upstairs but stopped when I saw Lillian sitting on the staircase, her head down.

“Liliana? Are you okay?”

I questioned, and she looked up at me with a deadly expression.

“Liliana…”

“Who are you, Gerald?”

She asked, standing up.

“What?” I frowned in confusion.

She slowly walked towards me.

“Who are you? Why did you save me that night?”

I frowned.

Why was she asking this now of all times?”

It made no sense to me.

“Why are you asking me this?”

“You have spent the last four months lying to my face; answer my fucking question.”

“I don't understand…”

“Answer the question!” Her voice got louder and scarier.

“I saved you because I wanted to.”

“Bullshit.” She sneered.

“You saved me because you knew me; you knew my father.”

My stomach flipped, my eyes widening.

“How…”

She slammed something in my hand, and when I looked down, it was a picture of me and her father.

“Explain this.”

“Liliana… I can explain.”

“I sure hope the fuck so.”

She spat.

“Did you kill my father?” She asked, and the question was about killing me.

“No.”

“Then why did you save me? How do you know him?”

“Can we go somewhere quiet?” I asked.

“Fine.” She said, to my relief.

I led up to my room.

I began to pace.

“I knew your father; we were best friends.” I started.

“But I betrayed him many years ago.” I said,

“All he ever did was try to help me.”

“What do you mean by betraying him?” She questioned

“I left him in his time of need.” I confessed it quietly.

Liliana's brows drew together. “What do you mean?” She asked.

I inhaled deeply. I rubbed the back of my neck as the memories clawed their way back.

“Your father saved my life, Liliana. I wasn't always a beta. Hell, I wasn't even part of a pack back then. I was a rogue. A stupid, reckless rogue who thought he didn't need anyone.”

Her frown deepened. But she stayed silent.

“One night, I was attacked by a group of rogues near the western border. They nearly tore me apart. I would have died if your father hadn't found me. He didn't know who I was. He didn't know what I'd done. He just saved me. He brought me into his pack. He treated me like a brother. For the first time in my life, I had a home.”

Liliana's jaw clenched. “And you betrayed him.” She said, her eyes glossy, her fist clenched.

I nodded slowly. “Not at first. We were close. I was broken from what Cassandra had done. She cheated, and I lost myself after that. Your father helped me heal. He gave me purpose again. But then came the war between his pack and the northern clans. He asked me for help. He asked me to stay and guard Helen. She was your mother. She was pregnant with you then.”

I swallowed hard. My voice trembled. “I promised him I wouldn't leave her side. I said I'd protect her with my life. But Cassandra's father had called for me then, finally giving me the army I needed to defeat the people that stole my ancestor's pack. I had to go. I had promised my father I would get back the pack in his deathbed. When I came back from the war. Your mother was dead, and you were four. He forgave me… I wish he didn't. I promised I would always protect you. That's why I didn't kill you.

Her eyes glistened with tears as I finished my story.