Chapter 96 Chapter 96
Violet
That was not possible, sadly. I would have to extend my stay for more than a few weeks to work on Lady Aurelia’s plan.
Winning over Elijah to stand by me against Nate and Nicole would definitely be childish compared to what price I had to pay to save my pack.
I gave her a small smile.
“Yeah, I am getting a bit forgetful”
She slapped my shoulder.
“Yeah, I could sense it was getting too much for you. So I enlisted a few people for our team on my own.”
I was grateful for the change of topic.
“And who that might be?”
I asked and at that exact second, there was a knock on the door.
Cassie giggled and ran towards the door, acting as if there was a surprise waiting for me on the other side of the door.
“Surprise!”
She shouted and the door opened to reveal two men standing outside.
Gavin and Tyler.
My smile disappeared upon seeing them.
They waved at me as they stepped inside hesitantly while Cassie was being her joyous self like usual.
“See, I told you that you could count on me for support.”
Gavin and Tyler exchanged glances with each other and then looked at me.
“Of course, we are here to support you in whatever you need.”
Tyler said, taking a step closer.
I had still not gotten over how they had been Elijah to cut me from Cassie’s life.
I replied with a weak smile. “Hi”
“Oh come on, show me some enthusiasm, Violet. These two are the best men to find out everything about my brother, the way he behaves and acts. Because, apparently, his sister is too young enough to understand anything.”
Gavin turned to Cassie and muttered. “Yeah on that note, can you find our alpha for us. It will be even better if you tell him we are here. Meanwhile, we will discuss whatever doubts Violet has.”
Cassie smiled brightly.
“Oh my Goddess, so you are going to follow my plan?”
Tyler nodded. “Of course!”
She let out a whoop and left the room to look for Elijah, leaving us three alone.
Gavin and Tyler stood in front of me awkwardly, poking each other to start a conversation but I was the one to speak first.
“Cassie is just too enthusiastic. You can go and meet your alpha.”
I meant to leave the room but Tyler stopped me.
“Please, we are here to clear the confusion you have about us.”
Gavin joined him.
“Yeah, what you heard was half of the story that day back at Elijah’s office. We were really pulling his leg by taking your name.”
I looked from Gavin to Tyler, my eyes searching.
“That is the truth. Alpha Elijah has never been so distracted before but ever since you arrived, he is being weird. And you know, he isn't one to talk about whatever really goes on in his mind so we were simply using your name to make him admit.”
My heart began to race at that last bit.
“Admit what?”
Gavin added softly.
“That you affect him. I don’t know why or how but he is very different with you compared to…”
Tyler poked his elbow in Gavin’s stomach hard.
“Ow, what the hell are you doing?” He winced and rubbed the sore spot.
“He meant that our alpha is just weird around you so we were just poking him. We sincerely don't mean you are a bad person. Just wanted to clear that up.”
“Not just that.” Tyler added brightly.
“Cassie told us everything about the wedding and the complicated relationship between you and the assholes so when she asked us if we could come over to help, we gladly agreed. So, will you accept us in your team?”
He looked at me hopefully.
In other circumstances, I would have yelled at them a bit, told them how much I had begun to see them as my friends and hurt by their words but now a heavy ache settled in my chest.
Because, I was going to turn their joke into reality. I was going to prove that their words against me were right. For the sake of my family and duty to my pack.
I wasn't paying much attention to what Gavin and Tyler were saying or when Cassie had joined in the conversation.
They were busy trying to come up with ideas to put Nate and Nicole in their place. Meanwhile, my phone rang and I saw mom’s name flash on my screen.
I walked out of the room to talk to her.
But the second I received it, she was shouting at the top of her voice dramatically.
“Violet what mess have you gotten yourself into? Why did you lie to me about who Cassie’s parents were? And why did your father get a call from Alpha Alaric all of a sudden? What is going on?”
I wearily began to explain everything to her and she interrupted me several times before I could even finish a line.
“You have to stop behaving like this pack is your responsibility, child. It's ours- your father’s and mine.”
Her tone was not harsh anymore but just sad.
“You are my family. You would do the same to protect me.”
But I could see her voice grow choked. I heard her sniffing and imagined her wiping her tears as she added.
“We are very proud of you, Violet. I am not sure what good deeds we did in the past to deserve a daughter like you.”
I could also feel my eyes getting moist. She was so far away from me.
I badly wanted to hug her.
“How long are you going to stay there? And I hope you will stay just close to Cassie. There is absolutely no need to mingle with others.”
Mom spoke the last line sharply and without a doubt I knew who she was talking about. Odd that his mother had asked me to do the exact opposite.
“Mom, you haven’t even met Elijah once to know if the rumors about him are true.” I couldn’t help but defend him.
Instead of backing out, she became all the more keen.
“Violet, that man doesn’t have a heart. If rumors are to be believed, he hasn’t met his own family in decades. Who does that?”
‘Someone who wants to stay out of trouble’ I thought but didn’t say it out loud.
“He must have his reasons.”
But mom grew all the more insistent.
“Promise me that you won't let him break your heart. Promise me!”
What a strange promise to ask when his own mother asked me to break his.
“Yes mom”