Page 167 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince
Aw, you need my help?He smiles like the demon he can sometimes be.What with?
Don’t be an ass!
Oh, I’m the ass?He raises his brows.
Okay, I know I have been a jerk to you, but if you help me now, I promise I’ll owe you one.
He smirks.Fine.
“Dad, Marius, you’re here early,” he acts like he’s just seen us. “Why are you waiting outside? Come on in. I can offer you coffee.”
My father indeed lets go of me and nods. “Thank you.”
“So,” I sigh in relief. “Can I stop worrying that you’re going to disinherit me?” I ask, honestly relieved by his reaction.
My father turns to stare at me in disbelief. “What!? Is that what you were so afraid of? Is this why you didn’t want me to visit you?”
Liam furrows his brows and stares at me.I can’t believe you. You asked me for help and then made it worse yourself.
Shit, I got carried away!I want to facepalm inwardly.It slipped out. I didn’t mean it to.
No,Liam sighs again.Your fears and doubts are valid, and you have a right to have them, even if the rest of us might be shocked and find them unwarranted.
“I can’t believe you thought that,” my father says quietly. “I would never think less of you, and certainly not for such a reason. The only one I think less of ishim.”He spits out. “I can’t believe I trusted him; I should have known.”
“No one knew,” I say quietly. “He was good at hiding it.”
Dad’s eyes focus somewhere behind me, as if gazing off into the distance. “No one can take away this guilt from me,” he finally says solemnly. I could swear he has tears in his eyes, and something about seeing him so sad makes me sad too. He is always strong and confident… and so certain in his decisions. It hurts to see him like that.
“Dad,” I mutter.
“He was my beta,” he says bitterly. “I assigned him to be in charge of my children’s training because I thought Vincent would be too rough on you. If I had only used my gift on you once, I would have known.”
“You’ve never used your gift on us. Well, aside from that one time Liam got abducted,” I point out. “And for the most part, I’m glad about that.” I attempt to lighten the atmosphere. “The number of times you would have seen me sneaking off pack grounds… I would have been grounded until I’m a grandpa.”
I toss a glance at Liam.
“No kidding,” Liam adds, catching on fast. “Or when we snuck into the wine cellar.”
Dad scrutinizes us for a moment, his jaw tensing. He knows we are just trying to distract him.
“I know I’m going to regret asking this,” I mutter. “But were there other boys? You know, other victims?” Liam and Dad go rigidly silent. Without saying anything, I just know. An almost suffocating sadness fills me. “It’s my fault.”
“Why would you think that?” Dad exclaims in shock.
“Because I stayed quiet. And my silence gave him the chance to prey on others,” I say bitterly.
“No. Your speaking up now has saved all his future victims,” Liam points out.
Looking at Liam, I’m unsure if I’ll ever be able to see things the way he does, but it feels good to hear him defend me.
“How many boys?” I ask nervously.
“Two,” Dad answers. “I’ve already talked to their families and provided them with all the help and support they’ll need. Flora is constantly checking on them.”
“And did he…” rape them, I want to say, but can’t.
Liam guesses my thoughts, nevertheless. “No,” he says immediately.
