\[Elise’s POV\]
I keep my gaze fixed on Warren and Jose as they examine me, clearly debating whether or not it was a good idea to let me watch over my father, especially after my attempt to kill him. However, in the end, they both simply nod their heads, granting me permission.
Remaining silent, I wait until they close the door to the trunk and then turn my full attention to the man in front of me.
“What?” He asks, smirking. “Are you seeing yourself in me?”
“Shut up!” I growl, kicking him in the stomach, so he curls in on himself.
“Don’t damage the goods.” Charlie calls from the front seat. “Otherwise, I’ll have Jose take your place.”
“Aren’t you a little too carefree, given what happened?” I growl, hating Charlie’s indifferent attitude.
“Do you think crying and begging the Goddess is going to bring Marty back?”
Did I? No. Of course, I knew that wouldn’t do it. But I also wasn’t in the mood to act like nothing happened either. I wanted to kill the bastard in front of me and wanted to avenge Marty, but even I knew that wouldn’t bring him back.
“You’re lucky.” I growl, turning my attention back to my father. “You get to live a little longer because you’re holding the answers we need.”
“Lucky me.” He chuckles, reminding me too damn much of myself.
“Just because we need you alive doesn’t mean that you have to be in one piece.” I warn, extending a claw. “I’m sure they won’t care if I take an eye or two.”
“Elise,” Charlie growls, adding to my bad mood.
“Fine.” I snap as my father laughs.
“Shut the fuck up!” I snarl, kicking him again.
“You and your sister are so different.” My father chuckles. “Unlike you, she was so obedient until she met that husband of hers.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” I respond. “I guess it is due to our different upbringings. You know, you’re the one responsible for that, right?”
Growing quiet, I wait as my father processes my words, not missing what I was hinting at.
“I suppose there isn’t any reason to deny it since we’ve made it this far.” He says, keeping that damned look of amusement on his face. “You want to know why I gave you away and kept Denali, I suppose?”
I did. That was the single fucking question that I wanted the answer to more than anything. Why me? Why was I the one that he gave away at birth to live a shitty life filled with abuse or suffering? However, I guess the life Denali lived wasn’t any better, but if it were me instead, it wouldn’t have gotten so far.
“Do you want to take a guess?” He suddenly asks, catching me by surprise. “You seem to be a smart woman. I’m sure if you think hard about it, you’ll get it.”
Frowning, I begin to wrack my brain. The only thing I could think of was the fact that Denali wasn’t blessed with the strength or abilities of an alpha. That alone made her a sitting target who couldn’t overrule our father. But then why was I sent to that particular orphanage? I could only assume it was because of those fucking mages. However, that still didn’t make any sense since I was eventually set free.
“Too stupid to figure it out?” My father asks, snapping me out of my head. “And here I thought you were actually worthy of calling yourself my child.”
“Who would want to do that?” I hiss through gritted teeth. “Only a fool would want to lay claim to you.”
“Deny it all you want.” He smirks. “In the end, you have the same blood as me.”
Clamping my mouth shut, I don’t bother playing into his petty games. He was intentionally doing this to piss me off enough to attack him since he knew that would result in me looking bad.
“Why?” I ask slowly. “Why did you do everything you did?”
“It’s simple.” He shrugs. “You were needed to nurture the beast.”
Eyes widening, I take in his words.
Nurture the beast. Did that mean that the fucking thing they planned on giving Serenity to was living off my energy while I was in the orphanage? Then why did I get to leave? Wouldn’t they have kept me there until I was sucked dry?
“You weren’t intended to be adopted out.” He huffs in annoyance. “But you already served your purpose, so I didn’t bother looking for you.”
Looking for me. That meant this bastard was keeping tabs on me the entire time.
“Dammit.” I growl, remembering how harsh I was with my mother when we met in purgatory. It looked like when I finally died, I owed her an apology. “How the hell did a piece of shit like you manage to bag any woman?”
“Because I’m a catch.” He says, causing me to grimace. “No one was forced to be with me. Your mother chose me willingly, well, mostly.”
“What?” I snarl. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
As the words leave my lips, I feel a chill race through me. What the fuck did that man do to her?
“That’s something that will forever be between your mother and me." He shrugs. “Now, have I given you all the answers you seek?”
I don’t bother responding. He gave me more than enough, and it was taking all my energy to not rip him to shreds. I thought Alexander was bad with the way he used me, but my father was much worse, and I couldn’t stop the images of what he could have possibly done to not only end up with my mother, but also take her entire pack over.
“Was it you?” I ask, remembering one other thing.
“Was what me?” He asks, raising a brow. “You’ll have to speak more clearly.”
“Did you cause her death?” I snap, knowing damn well he understood me. “Answer me.”
“And if I did?” He grins. “What do you plan on doing to me? Remember, I’m needed to save your sister’s pup.”
“YOU BASTARD!” I roar, punching him in the face.
I didn’t give two shits if Charlie or Jose didn’t want me to kill him. I could fuck him up without killing him. He just needed to be able to speak.
“YOU SELFISH PIECE OF SHIT!” I continue, slamming my fist against his face again and again.
“ELISE!”
The voice comes with strong hands grabbing a hold of me, and I let them drag me away because, honestly, all I want to do is kill and that would screw things up. And for once I didn't want to do that.