Page 38 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“Why are you surprised? He killed an infant,” Alex mutters.

“What?” I ask, shocked. Marcellus briefly mentioned it, but I couldn’t imagine he would truly go that far. “Like, a baby?”

“Yes, his child,” Silas explains quietly. “He didn’t like his bloodline to be tarnished and hunted down all the women he’d bedded to see if they had a child, until he found one who waspregnant by him. Once she gave birth, he killed her and her child. His own child.”

I gasp. “Who would do something like that?” Technically, I think my father would have been able to do that, too. He did try to kill me after all, but at least not as a baby. When the bar is so low that it’s in the basement, it’s truly something to worry about.

“A monster,” Silas says. “Who was once our brother.”

Durant looks sad. “I still can’t believe Aloysius would do something so awful. How could this happen?” When no one says anything, he sighs. “Can I use your restroom?” he asks.

“Sure,” Marcellus gestures at the door leading to the corridor. “Just go through there, and then it’s the last door on the left.”

“Thank you.”

Silas waits for Durant to leave before he looks at Alex thoughtfully. “I trust you, Alexandrius,” he says all of a sudden. “Don’t disappoint me.”

“You don’t need to worry,” Alex says shortly.

“What about Durant, do you trust him?”

“I don’t know. He did help me a lot while I tracked down the vampires who fed on those abducted wolves.”

“And what did you do to them?” Silas asks.

Alex shrugs. “Kill some of them. Kept a few of the higher-ranked alive to spy on them.”

“How come Durant suddenly helped you?” Silas asks. “When I fled, he was still in cahoots with Aloysius.”

“From what I know, things really turned for the worse when you left the place,” Alex says. “You know Aloysius. He is a tyrant. Without you as the voice of reason, things obviously spiraled downwards. Then your ex-boyfriend - almost beloved - Julianus, had a change of heart and left too. But you know that already.”

Silas taps his lips. “I talked to Julianus. He is trying to make amends by helping the lycans.”

“Do you trust him?” Alex asks.

“No, not anymore,” Silas admits. “But I believe him. He never was blindly loyal to Aloysius, like Durant was. He never even liked him much. I can see him finally growing a backbone and leaving. As for Durant, I am skeptical.”

“He claims that when Julianus left, it opened his eyes. They were friends after all,” Alex says. “To answer your question: That doesn’t mean I trust him.”

Silas frowns. “You don’t trust him, yet you brought him here.”

“Get off my back,” Alex says shortly. “I had limited options, and I will need his help. Aloysius doesn’t know he’s changed sides. He is his closest and most trusted ally.”

Silas raises his brows. “Alright,” he says. “That could prove useful.”

He and Alex start discussing more family issues, and when Durant returns and joins them, it gets even more complicated. Just how old are they? I didn’t even know that Silas was one of the original vampires. This means he isn’t just any prince; he is of the highest royalty.

My head starts spinning while I listen. Eventually, Marcellus links me.How about the both of us retreat and let Silas discuss this with his brothers? I think it’s a good time to leave them alone.

I am so relieved by his suggestion that I just nod. We both excuse ourselves, and fortunately, Silas voices his understanding. When I drop into my bed, it’s already 3 a.m., and I can barely stand because I am so exhausted. This whole day has knocked me off my feet completely.

fourteen

New Labels

*MARCELLUS*

The next morning, I realize that; for one, the two new vampires are still here, and for two, none of them seem to have gone to bed or gotten any sleep.