Chapter 102 Chapter 102
Violet
“What do you mean?”
The alarm in my head started to go off.
“Oh come on, you used to be such a studious girl. Have you forgotten how in old times, the founding families had all the rights and the supreme power to make or break a pack?”
There was a time when the then ancestors of the current living generation of the founding families had allowed merger of lesser known packs into the stronger ones to allow survival and safety.
“Where are you going with this?”
He lowered his voice. “I know how bad your father’s situation is if he had to fall on his knees and beg Alpha Alaric for help. I also know how everybody refused to help them along with the fact that your father would rather die than take help of Elijah, the man you slapped me for.”
So, he had still not forgotten that.
“Maybe you deserved it!”
I gritted my teeth.
“Look, Nicole gets a little cocky at times because she is ambitious and used to getting what she wants. But I am not like that. I want to really help you. This money that I will get from your boss, I can offer it all to your father so that he won't be under Alpha Alaric’s debt.”
Now he wanted to help me?
“Why would you even offer that?”
Nate inched closer.
“Because even if we parted ways, we can still be friends, right? Consider this as a peace offering.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“What do you really want? Out with it.”
Nate gave an awkward smile and looked around to check if anybody was listening.
“I told you, I think I might have been a little harsh on you. And I am sorry for it. I can’t change the past but I can try to change the future at least.”
Why did he even need me when he had the wealthiest person on the entire planet funneling money into his marriage? He could just get a boatload of expensive gifts and be settled for life just like he said.
“I don't want to do anything with you. What’s done is done. And before you again bring up Elijah, I am telling you one final time, you have absolutely no rights to make a comment on him or me.”
My breathing grew erratic as I snapped at him yet again, despite promising myself to stay calm.
Sighing, Nate pulled out an envelope from his pocket.
“I really wish things didn’t come to this. But you can read this for yourself and decide.”
“What is this? Another deal you cracked? Gloat in front of your fiance, not me!”
I tried to step away but he shoved it in my hands and quickly retreated a few steps with his hands raised as if to show that he wasn’t going to harm me.
“How dare you touch me?” I shouted but he insisted.
“Just read it once”
I looked from the paper to him and wanted to just throw it back in his face but he added, “Please”
Annoyed, I opened it and noticed that it was an official letter from the council, the seal printed on the top right.
The corners of the paper were yellowed and worn at the edges.
My eyes skimmed automatically, trained from years of reading reports I hadn’t wanted to read.
And then I saw it.
Pack: Blackridge.
Territory Status: Dissolved.
Blackridge was the name of Nate’s parents pack. I blinked in confusion.
“This…” I began but he replied quietly.
“Is real. An original copy of the Council record which was under restricted access. My father kept a copy before everything fell apart.”
I read through the text in a daze. It seemed to be a final reminder for clearing pending dues failing which the other party was free to take whatever measures it wished to recover the money.
“A million dollars owed to E Lockwood.” I mumbled.
I felt something inside me go very still.
Nate nodded. “Elijah”
Then he pointed at the top left corner. “Look at the date. My parents’ pack was ruthlessly attacked this same day. You know the rest.”
He quietly added. And my brain raced through the blurred memories of Nate’s parents frantically calling mine for help several years ago, of how my dad reached with a few men but he was late.
“That doesn’t mean…” I started, then stopped. My mouth felt dry.
“That doesn’t mean he caused it.”
“No,” Nate agreed. “It doesn’t.”
Relief flickered for just a second within my eyes at that line. However, it was short lived.
“But it does mean,” he continued, voice steady, “that when my parents’ pack was bleeding, when they were begging for support, he had the authority to step in.”
“He could have helped, he could have recovered the money without bloodshed,” Nate said softly. “And he chose not to.”
I shook my head slowly. “You don’t know what he was facing. What else was happening.”
“You’re right,” Nate said. “I don’t. Because that part of the report is redacted.”
He pointed to the thick black lines slicing through entire paragraphs.
“But I do know what happened after.”
His jaw tightened.
“My father lost half his pack in three days,” he said. “The rest were forced to submit under Deveraux protection. We went from equals to dependents overnight.”
“Why are you showing me this?” I rasped, still not wanting to believe that Elijah was behind this.
“Because I might be a douche but he is an evil monster. And the next time you trust him, I want you to remember this letter.”
He quietly took the letter from me and folded it neatly into his pockets again.
“Thats all I wanted to tell you. Do what you want with this information. But I know if you interrogate him, he will portray me as the villain. You hate me already, I just wanted to tell you that I may have been an asshole but I was never a cold blooded murderer.”
“I…”
“I know what it means to lose your pack and dignity so the offer still stands. Forgive me, we put the past behind our backs and at least try to be cordial with each other and I give you all the money for your parents to be free of their debts.”
With that he walked back into the boutique, leaving me staring at his back.