Behind The Scenes
OPAL
During times like these, when there are no emergency calls or anyone we need to rush to help, we sit in the little cabin in the woods in silence.
I’m anxious.
This sense of impending doom won’t leave me alone. At some point, Bruce will have to give in and tell the rogues what he wants from them. But of course, this doesn’t matter if what he’s after is revenge.
But even as the Alpha King, he has no right to do this to innocent people. Why aren’t the Alphas stopping him? How can everyone stand by and let him do something this cruel?
I have this urge to stand up and fight…but where? I’m just one woman. The rogues retaliate when they can, but it’s hard to locate Bruce’s army. There isn’t much Kyle can do because Bruce is more powerful. From what I heard, the rogues don’t even have proper weapons to fight.
I can’t help but wonder how Bruce thought that Kyle would be able to kill his father. How would he even get to the Alpha King? It makes no sense at all.
A knock on my door makes me sit up. I already know it’s him. “Yeah?”
“Food’s ready.”
I don’t have much of an appetite after what happened earlier today, but he cooked and I don’t want it to be a wasted effort.
So, I meet him in the living room.
We head toward the living room and sit across from each other.
I start to eat, forcing the food down my throat. Kyle clears his throat and I meet his gaze. “Is everything okay? You seem worried.”
I shrug. “Until this situation is over, I won’t feel any peace.”
He sighs. “I guess that makes sense.”
I continue eating and something occurs to me then. I’ve thought about it before, but right now, it’s a question that’s demanding my attention so I have to get it out. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your fiancée…”
Kyle sighs and shakes his head. “Don’t even worry about Cassie. She’ll come back around once she returns to her senses. She has it in her head that we’re a couple because that’s what everyone is talking about.”
My face feels hotter. I don’t know why this makes me so uncomfortable. “Are people really saying that?”
“Yeah. They are.” He picks up his glass of water and takes a sip. “They’re calling you the rogue queen. Only a few of my closest people know who you truly are. You’ve surprised me, Opal. I didn’t think you’d have so much goodness in you.”
Goddess knows how emotional his words make me. “I’m just trying to fix what they’re trying to break.”
“Wanna take my advice? Don’t feel bad about that. You had nothing to do with it, right? So, don’t stress about it. I know what your intentions are and that should be enough.”
“That’s very kind of you, Kyle,” I admit. “I’ve always felt…lost, you know? Like I never understood my purpose in life. But doing this—helping others, I mean—gives me so much hope.”
I’d never be able to go back to my old life. I don’t have one. The only life that matters is the one I have now.
“You know,” he begins in a light tone, “I’m glad I didn’t kill you.”
I fight a smile and say in all seriousness, “I’m glad you didn’t, either.”
Then, we go back to eating.
BRUCE
I slide the signed document back to Walter and he smiles.
It makes me want to punch him all over again.
“You’ve done well,” he claims in the most insufferable way imaginable. I shove the pen back inside the drawer and lean back in my chair, shame blooming in my chest and in my stomach. Every-fucking-where.
Walter reviews the document quickly, then says, “Now, we can end this. You’re gonna pick up your phone and send word that you want to meet them. Don’t worry, they’ll get the information. Just tell all the Alphas to send word on the street that the rogues should gather around Main Street tomorrow at eight in the evening so this matter can be discussed. I want it to be a public place because then, nobody can try anything without being seen. Does that make sense to you?”
I just glare back at him and don’t answer. He chuckles. “I don’t think you need to be guided on what to say, right? It was all on the document you just signed.”
Walter wants me to send word that the rogues will be pardoned if they agree to take the blame for what happened to the Alpha King. Also, they’ll have to hand Opal over. The leader, Kyle Dresmond, should take the fall for killing my father even though Walter was the one who did it. Of course, this is to ensure that nobody will ever find out what he did.
It’s the perfect plan, and he’s a son of a bitch for it.
I didn’t know that people could be so evil and conniving. He really wants an innocent man to pay the price for his crimes? What kind of leader does he think he’s going to be? There’ll be no sense of fairness anywhere and the world will have to bend to his will.
This is the most malicious plan I’ve ever heard. The worst part is that he’s acting in my name. I’m the one who’s going to have to negotiate the terms. People will hate me for being a coward. What if the rogues retaliate and fight back? Do we turn around and go home, or kill even more people?
This is sick. Twisted.
I’ll lose everything. The trust of the people. My name. Because the other term of the agreement is to open fire in case they don’t accept this, which isn’t the point of a pardon at all.
He’ll be killing several birds with just one stone.
Walter tilts his head to the side. “You have to decide whether or not you truly want to do this, Bruce. Do you want to see Opal again? If not, then tell me right now and I’ll end this in the one way I know how to. So, what will it be?”