“He’s always been a close friend of my parents from before I was born. He sometimes watched over me when my parents and Liam were busy. He used to look at me… in a weird way. I noticed, but didn’t know what it meant, I didn’t know it was wrong back then. Sometimes, his hands went places they shouldn’t.” I swallow hard as the memory flashes through my mind. The terror and the pain I felt at the time, and how scared I was, thinking it was my fault, that everyone would blame me. “When I grew a bit older, he started to touch me… in a more direct way.” I pause.
Celine stares, her mouth falling open in shock. “W-wait a moment…” she stutters. “What…?” Her eyes flash silver as her fingers clench into fists. “That fucking monster!” she hisses. Her genuine reaction gives me the courage I need, and words start to flow.
“It started with touches here and there, you know, as a kid you sometimes don’t understand what’s going on. You know something is wrong, but at the same time, you don’t understand what or why it is. I just knew that Calvin was my father’s friend, my family’s friend. He was there for Christmas and holidays, for birthdays. He was like a member of the family. I didn’t understand… He was very careful with his actions; he’d let months pass before touching me again. Now I realize that he did that so that in my mind, my childish mind, would think everything was normal again. He’d make sure I wouldn’t tell anyone. Then one day, when I was fourteen, he plied me with alcohol, and then… he went all the way with me. I couldn’t even scream.”
“That piece of shit!” she spits out, fury flashing through her eyes. “I can’t believe he would do something like that! Where is he now!? I would love to have a word or two with him and give him a piece of my mind!” She grabs the little fork in her hand tightly, like she wants to drive it through his head. Cyrus is swooning over her reaction. “What a vile, disgusting piece of trash. I knew it! I knew something felt off about him when I saw his slimy smile. He just had that deceiving aura around him.”
The fact that she feels so angry for my sake makes me almost want to cry in relief. For many years, I was scared that my mate would blame me for what happened and would think I’m disgusting. I’m not sure what to say.
Celine looks at me again, flecks of silver in her eyes still showing extreme anger. “Where is he now?” she growls.
Oh shit, she is hot when she is angry.
“Liam handled it for me,” I tell her quietly, hoping she won’t deem me weak for not seeking him out myself. “He went there with his Betas and Eric. They detained him.” I pause. “I’m not sure what exactly happened. I don’t want to hear yet.”
“Eric was there too?”
“To represent the Council,” I explain. When I told Liam everything, he was so close to running there and killing Calvin on the spot, but we both wanted him to play it smarter, to make sure we find others he hurt… in case he did have other victims. We discussed everything beforehand… before he marched to our family’s pack lands. “Politics,” I mutter. “It sucks.”
She nods tentatively.
I’m still not sure how I want my parents to handle the situation. Dad could kill him without a trial, but it would look bad in front of the pack. He could announce what he did without saying my name, but it would raise questions, and I doubt it would remain a secret that it was about me. With Eric, we have the option to have the Council handle Calvin, which would probably be the worst outcome for him… The Council is able to free his wolf spirit from him, to actually turn him into a human, to strip him of his powers and gifts. Part of me wants to see him suffering through them, but the other part of me feels scared. It might be the worst outcome for him… but also for me. It would mean an open trial, and I’m sure Calvin would make sure to announce to everyone that it was me he raped and molested.
Never once did he show me any mercy. He isn’t going to go down without blurting my name out to everyone.
For now, he is in Silverlake’s dungeons at the mercy of my parents and Beta Vincent. Liam swore to me that Vince honestly didn’t know what his fellow beta was up to. He tested his reaction when he outed Calvin. I’m so glad that at least one of my father’s betas didn’t betray us.
“I’m so sorry, Marius,” Celine breaks the silence, her voice quiet, the look in her eyes sad. “This has to be so hard. I can’t even imagine how hard it has to be for you. You’re so strong for how you handle it.”
“I’ve hid it for so long,” I admit. “It feels scary that other people know now. Liam and I don’t know if there are more victims… If they are, it’s my fault.”
“No, it’s not! It’s not your fault. You’re not responsible for his actions,” she says. “It’s his fault, that disgusting psychopath.”
“Liam and I weren’t sure if Calvin… if he had any of my brothers… you know…” I finally say it out loud.
“Oh no,” she says quietly.
“Liam had Finn present when he confronted Calvin, but it seems Finn was genuinely shocked. Thank Goddess.”
“And the twins?” she asks carefully.
“We haven’t told them yet,” I admit. “I think Liam wants to question Calvin and see if he touched any of them.” I pause. “Aurelia knows though. Nox overheard the commotion and told her.”
“Oh shoot,” she mutters.
“At least it saved me the hassle of telling her myself,” I sigh.
“The beta’s bond to their alpha,” she muses quietly.
“As it should be,” I say bitterly. “Not like Calvin, who betrayed his bond to my father.”
Celine rubs over her face. “Honestly, now I wish I had suggested a more private setting for this talk.”
“You couldn’t have known,” I tell her.
“I apologize for asking this now…” she looks at me. “Is this the reason you didn’t want me as your mate? You can be honest. If it had anything to do with me at all… if there was something else that I did or—”
I shake my head. “It had nothing to do with you,” I interrupt her. “I thought I couldn’t ever tell anyone… that…” I find it difficult to find the right words, to explain what I felt. “I was so weak, Celine. I should have stopped him. I should have yelled, should have told my parents. I’m an alpha’s son, A lycan with royal alpha blood, a fucking prince, for goddess’ sake! It shouldn’t have happened to me. I should have been stronger. I’m so weak.”