Chapter 100 : Unity

AJAX.

It feels good to let all of that out. It hasn’t been long since I promised to stay away from Maxine and show allegiance to my nation and my father, but it feels like it’s been forever. It feels like so many things happened since then, and none of them are good except one: getting close with Jonathan and knowing what’s going on in the camp.

“Just patrol the woods around the area, no need to get inside the camp,” was the order that I got from my father, in a tone so detached and almost whimsical I was sure it had to be mockery.

And I was right.

I was ordered to take out trash in huge heaps through a big truck. I was instructed to clean the forest around the camp. It’s a job for the unwanted child. And they made sure it was unclear that I was unwanted.

But I didn’t care. And I don’t care now. They still put me in a place where I can do something about what’s being done, and that’s all that matters to me.

“We would stay out here on the cliffside,” Theo tells me. “You can find us when you need us. We will do anything to stop this.”

Maxine nods with determination, pulling me closer along with Theo. To my surprise, Theo gathers both of us in some sort of group hug, and emotions rise up in my throat. I don’t think I have ever felt this included in something before, something important. All my romantic feelings for Maxine have evaporated once I accepted the fact that she and Theo are meant to be, and right now all I feel for both of them is loyalty and friendship.

“I don’t think I can let you stay out here, honestly,” I say when we break apart. “That soldier might come back with Draco and have you two taken. I know a place.”

“That would be good,” Maxine says. “Thank you, Ajax.”

“Of course,” I say, and with that, I take them to the small truck that I drive all day every day around this cursed forest now.

Maxine crawls into the spacious backseat, encouraged by Theo who keeps insisting she should rest. I think it’s pretty sweet, especially considering the fact that he himself has the darkest undereye circles I have ever seen in my life. He gives her some blankets to keep her warm, and off we head out of the cliffside.

We stay silent for a while, with me behind the wheel going steady on the hills and trying to find clear paths for my truck to swerve into. Maybe it’s the rocking motion, or just the simple fact that they’re exhausted, but Maxine soon falls asleep, breathing steadily as she lays across the backseat.

Theo keeps reaching back to steady her and make sure she doesn’t fall. When he catches me watching him, he stops. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to show off or anything, I know you like her.”

“I don’t like her that way anymore,” I say reassuringly. “I’m happy she’s with you.”

We keep quiet for a long while.

“But she has suffered with me,” Theo finally whispers. “I keep thinking that she would have had such a better life if she was with you. I feel bad thinking that because I love her so much….” His voice cracks and he pauses. “But I really want her to have it good.”

“She has it good, or as good as she could,” I whisper. “If she was with me, she would have had it worse. You know who I live with. You know who I have to deal with.”

“I know,” he says, sighing. “I’m sorry. It’s just that… her stepfather just died recently, and I can tell she’s broken. But I don’t know what to do. This mission gives her purpose, though. It gives me hope too. I hope it’s the same for her.”

“She gets hope from you,” I say. “She looks up to you, you know. She gets her strength from you. You should hear the way she talks about you, the way she defends you. That’s when I knew I had no chance, and it was okay. She is with someone who will die just to keep her safe, someone who doesn’t have a family who would try to kill her at every turn.”

I don’t know why, but his eyes darken with that statement. He looks away, through the window, before turning to me again. This time, his voice is barely a whisper.

“Your father came to talk to me when the trial was still going on,” he says. “He told me… things that led me to feel that he might be closely related to me.”

Theo gives me a meaningful look, and chills run down my spine.

Now that he mentions it, I can see the similarities between him and I. Between him and Father.

“The soldier who escaped called me the Alpha Supreme,” he mutters. “I don’t know if everyone’s playing with me, or….”

He trails off like he doesn’t want to finish the thought. I can’t blame him. But I can help him.

I drop them off in front of the place I told them about. It’s one of the facilities, or at least it was built with the intention of being turned into one. But it’s been long abandoned, completely unused. It’s one of the places I discovered during my endless rounds, one of the places where I rest sometimes, away from the prying eyes of everyone.

“This is an old facility, and no one will look here because it’s always been unused,” I tell him. “You will be safe here.”

He has Maxine in his arms like a groom with his new bride, and he just nods.

I start to drive away, but I stop and call out to him, “And as for your lineage… I will find out.”

* * *

I arrive home at last, already past midnight and too busy driving around the forest to make sure none of the soldiers are getting anywhere near where Theo and Maxine are staying.

I get inside the house, knowing my work isn’t done yet. I still have to take files from Draco’s room and really dive deep into Theo’s history….

And find out whether or not we’re brothers.

I pretend to go up to my room so I can pass by Draco’s knowing full well that he would be enjoying his new post at the camp. But as soon as I go up, I find him leaning against his doorframe, looking at me with a smirk.

“Almost late, your Highness,” he says mockingly. “Time for a meeting. And Dad was maybe just about sleepy enough to make the mistake of inviting you. Now let’s go.”

I don’t say anything, but I’m cursing the universe right now for putting me up with this. I know that this meeting would just be another avenue for me to get embarrassed, but I come anyway, taking my seat away from Father, who has Draco on his right side and Beta Jackson on his left.

The Alphas are scattered around the office, and for some reason, they are passing champagne and laughing. Even Father and Draco look happy. Only Beta Jackson seems to be in the same grim mood as I am.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming even at this late hour,” Father starts, taking one of the champagne glasses and raising it. “Our move for complete unity has gone over to the Humans… and I’m pleased to say that they have approved.”

“Approved what?” I blurt out.

Usually, they would just laugh at me and ignore me, but not this time. They’re too happy to make fun of me not knowing things. Father himself looks joyful, as he motions with his glass to me as though making a toast.

“Our goal for unity, for complete and utter harmony, turning the Humans into our kind, is now well underway. And they themselves approved it.”