Page 95 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“Got it,” I say. “Anything else?”

“Yes, I’d need some equipment to research on Charlie. My phone, notebook, and alike.”

“Consider it done.” I pause. “I miss you,” I say quietly.

“I miss you too,” she says. “Please don’t worry about me.”

I catch the others up on what she just told me. Silas snorts when I tell them that Atticus is going to pick up our warrior and that he has a bruised face.

“What’s so funny?” Annie asks curiously.

“Nothing, but Atticus is an asshole and my brother’s favorite. The fact that he probably punched him feels very satisfying,” Silas says. “Oh, and since we are already on it, some more advice: Make sure to send a female warrior,” he adds. “Aloysius easily feels threatened by other males, but he thinks of females as less of a threat and will let his guard down around them.”

“What’s his endgame, though?” I ask. “Why the games? This is all so weird.”

“His endgame is to save face, always,” Silas says. “He is proud and thinks of himself way too highly.”

“But how can he save his face if he goes and kills Charlie?” Liam asks.

“He wouldn’t need to kill her instantly, would he?” Silas asks in return. “An accident a few months later… an unfortunate attack of rogues. Unfortunately, he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.”

I feel dread filling me, and for the first time today, I’m fully on board with Ella being there with Aloysius and playing her own games with him. I cannot let them hurt Charlie. It would completely ruin Ella and me. Us.

“How about we add a tracker to the notebook?” Annie offers.

“You can do that, but I know where Aloysius lives,” Silas tells us.

“We should still connect the notebook…” Liam’s voice trails off. “Maybe to Dalila?”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” Annie exclaims. “Dalila will know what to do. Through her, we can communicate with Ella, and maybe Dalila can use some of her skills.”

“Yes,” I agree. “We would benefit so much from this!”

Liam nods. “I will give Anthony and Dalila a call once we wrap up the meeting. Then I want us to question these werewolf hitmen.”

“I would like to offer my help,” Silas says. “That’s why I’m here. Beta Ella was abducted under my and Alpha Marcellus’s watch, and we feel it’s our responsibility to help.”

“I appreciate the gesture,” Liam says. “It’s not your fault, though. Aloysius would have found Ella anywhere.”

“That’s true,” Silas says. “But he is my brother.”

We stay silent at his words before Annie clears her throat. “Being related to him doesn’t put you at fault. You cannot choose your family.”

Silas sighs. “I feel like I should have tried to stop him earlier. But I was blinded by my love for him. I love my siblings and never believed one of them could turn into someone like Aloysius became.”

“There is still time to stop him,” Liam says. “You made the first step by leaving him and his elitist coven. You have your most trusted men and women with you. And you have new allies.”

“That’s true,” Silas says. “Maybe it’s time to think of a way to stop him. First, however, I want to help with your problem at hand.”

“Well, I for one, would be curious to see an ancient vampire in action,” Liam says.

“Then it’s set,” Silas agrees.

“Which warrior are we going to send to Ella?” Annie asks.

Liam answers before I can even suggest someone. “Aryanna,” he says.

“Your own beta,” I ask, stunned.