Page 122 of Omega Tricked

He shrugged. “Can’t avoid him all the time. Occasionally he says something worth listening to.”

“How can you give me closure?”

He leaned against the porch pillar. “I didn’t kill your dad, which I think you already know.”

“Yes.” I frowned.

“But I know who… or should I say what did.”

I squinted at him, not sure how to respond.

He crossed his arms in front of his broad chest. “Your dad wouldn’t stop coming after Jack and Carter. He was relentless.”

“I know.” His tenacity had shocked even me. He’d refused to let Jack be happy with Carter.

Charles cleared his throat. “Dylan already knows this, but Carter was a solar eclipse omega.”

I widened my eyes. “He was?”

“Yes. That was why they were here. Carter was with child.” Charles studied me. “They should have been safe here, but your father bribed a guard to get Jack and Carter outside of the back gates. There, your dad was planning on murdering them. But he didn’t get the chance.”

“Did Jack kill him first?” I asked.

“No. According to Jack, both he and Carter would have died if… if agents from the Ancients hadn’t interfered.

“Agents from the Ancients?” Dylan looked as confused as me.

“The Ancients have… others… who can do their bidding. The Ancients themselves never come here, but they do keep watch, and they do intervene when they must. In the case of Carter and your father, they had to intervene or Carter and his baby would have died.”

“You said who or what killed my father.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Jack said something came from the woods.” Charles wrinkled his brow. “Creatures. Half wolf, half man.”

I blinked at him, not sure if he was joking. He didn’t look like he was joking.

“These creatures killed your father and his driver to protect Carter.” He grimaced. “I work with the Ancients, but I’ve never actually seen creatures such as the ones Jack described. But I believe I know what they were.”

“What were they?” Dylan asked.

Charles hesitated. “Harlotz. They are guardians of old. They hunt in wolf form, but attack in a more human shape. They’re brutal, and terrifying. It’s strange that they would be sent. They’re not a good choice to set loose on this world. They’re ruthless and hard to control. I can only guess the Ancients truly believed there was no other way to stop Corbin.”

I shuddered. “My God.” It was horrible to think of Dad dying in that way, but I also knew he’d never have stopped until both Jack and Carter were dead.

“I couldn’t tell you the details because I’d have had to explain about the solar eclipse omegas too. It’s because Carter was a solar eclipse omega that the Ancients protected him. I wasn’t prepared to tell you about him or the others. I couldn’t do that just to give you closure. My job is to protect the solar eclipse omegas, and you were… not to be trusted.” He frowned. “I like to think that has changed.”

“I have changed.”

“Yes.” He nodded somewhat grudgingly.

I frowned. “If my father was killed outside the gates, why bring his car inside?”

Charles sighed. “I had it dismantled to hide the evidence that he’d been here. If the cops had found the car and gotten involved, well, knowing what you know now, I’m sure you see why I couldn’t let that happen.”

A chill went down my spine. “What happened to the bodies?”

“According to Jack, there wasn’t much left.” His mouth was a grim line. “What was left, the creatures carried off into the woods.”

Dylan shifted beside me. “Jesus.”