Page 78 of A Second Chance for the Beta
*ELLA*
Iwrapmyfingersaround Dante’s hand, holding onto him for support. I know if Annie didn’t just come out with the truth instantly, it has to be something big. Oh Goddess, hopefully Charlie isn’t sick, anything but that.
Let her be alright.
To Nefeli and me, she is like our own pup. Please don’t let me fail her.
“Thanks to Dave’s meditation techniques, I was able to focus on where I heard about Charlie’s issue,” Annie says. “I know who told me about the nose bleeding and the purple eyes.”
“Who?” Liam asks.
“Silas,” she says. “The co-leader of Sunset Hills pack.” She turns to us. “You remember when Liam’s brother Finn went on his mission to save this secluded pack? The alpha’s son, Benjamin, was a bully, but he was also a victim, abused by his father for many years. We decided to place him in a new pack.”
“Right,” Liam says. “I was looking for packs to take him in, but after talking to him and realizing how detached he already was, I felt like putting him into a regular pack might have meant the end for him. He was only eighteen, and his father was brutal towards him. I wanted him to have a real chance.”
“Sunset Hills is that pack led by a former rogue and a coven leader,” I say, trying to recall what I know about that very special pack. “Marcellus is the werewolf’s name, I think. Aren’t they a pack for outsiders?”
“Yeah, they are. Marcellus comes from a complicated background,” Liam says. “He and his twin brother were supposed to lead a pack together, but then there was quite a messy story concerning his mate. It’s actually a very sad story. Marcellus is a fantastic young man, very kind and generous. He left his family and pack then.”
“And the vampire?” Dante asks.
“Is a pureblooded vampire who was fed up with his elitist coven and built his own.”
“Right,” Annie interrupts him. “And Silas was the one who told me about it. When we brought Benjamin to him, I chatted for a while with him. Vampires receive their power at age sixteen, and it normally begins with weird bleedings around their sixteenth birthday. Their eyes will turn into a shade of purple then.”
None of us say a word, silence engulfing us as the clock continues to tick. “What?” I finally whisper. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
“I did,” Annie says. “I remember it clearly now. I was curious because it was my first time talking to a vampire, and Silas was very forthcoming and polite. He is one of the very few vampire allies we have. And I remember he truly appreciated that we respected his and Marcellus’s pack. He told me nose bleedings, but also bleeding out of eyes, mouth, and even ears can happen. Not excessively, but it does happen.”
“But Nefeli can feel her wolf,” I say, my voice trailing off. “Goddess, her father, the one we are looking for, it means he is a vampire!”
Liam furrows his brows deeply. “She is a hybrid,” he says. “One of the tests I had the infirmary do on her is actually to see if there are other supernatural ancestors in her lineage. This will verify it, but I’m sure Annalise is right.”
“Do we really think her father is out to kill her?” Dave asks. “Maybe he wants to find and abduct her.”
“You are right, let’s not jump to conclusions.” Liam grabs Richie’s phone and zooms into the picture again. The man he coincidentally photographed has long hair and is dressed in a long, elegant coat, but other than that, it’s hard to see anything. “Ancient vampires like Silas do wear their hair long,” he says thoughtfully. “So, this guy could be one too.”
“If this man was a good guy,” Dante says, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Then he would have protected Candance; he would have saved her from being killed. But instead, she hid from both him and her former alpha. She didn’t trust him to protect her.”
“Dante is right,” Annie mutters. “Candy did everything to make sure Charlie’s identity remained hidden. Either she didn’t know what he was, or she knew and wanted to keep Charlie away. That said, going by how careful Candy was and how aware, I doubt she didn’t know.”
“I want to take this issue to Silas. I am already regularly in contact with him to check on Benjamin,” Annie says, turning towards Liam. “Liam?”
I can see how torn he is, like every time she suggests something that might put her in danger. But he respects her too much to prevent her from doing what’s necessary. Annie knows how to handle difficult political relations. She was born an omega, but so far, she has put everyone in place who looked down on her.
“Take Jun with you,” he says.
“I want to come too,” I say promptly.
“Of course,” Annie agrees.
“Then I will help Stella and our IT team in their search for Imogen,” Dante says.
“Oh, the IT team!” Dave beams. “Why don’t you ask Dalila for help, the future luna of Emerald Moon?”
My head perks up at the mention of her name. She is indeed one of the future lunas of the twin alphas from Emerald Moon. Our packs are allies, and the young twin alphas are friends with Liam. I’ve heard that Dalila is an IT genius.
“Good suggestion,” Liam says. “I will give Anthony and Henry a call. I trust them and their mates. Dalila might be able to find Imogen even with the little information we have.” He furrows his brows. “Jun,” he says. “Tell Levi I want him to visit Richie tomorrow and have him make a phantom picture of Imogen. He has no photo of her, but he for sure knows what she looks like. Once he is done, he is to bring the picture to me. I will send it to Dalila.”
