Chapter 10

Reed’s POV   

With Nix out of our bedroom, I finally had time to use the bathroom. I was getting desperate when I had to bang on the door. He had been in there for hours.  

I really want to encourage him to give Eden a chance. I admit I made a mistake. I made a huge mistake. I never expected to have a second chance mate. Not when she found out I was her mate and went with David, regardless. I didn’t need or want either of them in my life. They deserved each other. 

I told no one about her, not even Ethan. He didn’t need to know. I had a chance of a better life when I went to work for the council. Or one at least where I wasn’t the upcoming Alpha’s loser brother, who he frequently knocked about.   

I made my way to the dining hall and found Nix. He is sitting there chewing slowly. He has a smile on his face in between bites. “What’s happened?” I asked him. “Nothing, just taking a friend’s advice.” No idea what he is talking. I know I am taking Lottie’s statement this morning, so eat as much as I can. I know Nix said she didn’t hate me anymore, but this could be my last meal!   

When we finished eating, I told Nix I had to get Lottie’s statement. “Don’t worry, she won’t kill you,” he said, trying to reassure me. “Do you not want to come?”   

“Sorry” he says. “I have somewhere to be.” He says while smiling. He is obviously thinking of something, or someone. Hopefully, it is someone. What could have changed between him leaving the bedroom and now?  

I found General Rayne in his office. He laughs at me as I walk in. “Feeling better?” he asks. He has a horrible sense of humor. He was there when Lottie threatened me yesterday. “Not really, but I need to do this.”   

He handed me a sheet of paper. “This is what the Wolf Council wants you to ask Lottie.” He says as he hands it over. There isn’t much on the paper, like six brief questions. “Is that it? Is that what they sent me to ask her?”   

“Yes, like I said. They are after Lottie. They are going to use an external consultant ‘you’ to gather the information. So, if anyone ever challenges them. Say a Wolf Council on another continent. You are a consultant, an outsider.” I think about what he is saying. “They are telling you what to ask her. They don’t want any other information other than the answers to those. Then they can sway the report in any direction they want. But it will be your name on the document.” He says, repeating himself.  

“I can’t believe they would do that!” I said. They can’t want Lottie that much. What could they use her for?  

I have had enough of listening to the General. No one at the council has ever been that bad to me. I finally look at the paper in my hands and read the questions. I looked up at the General. “Council Member Edward is dead?” I asked him. I am shocked. He nods his head. “She killed him.”   

Now I know Lottie wants to kill me for what I did to her sister. But she hasn’t, not yet anyway. But she’s not the sort of person to just go around killing people for nothing. Something just isn’t adding up. But I am here to do a job and this is what the council wants to know. Who am I to question them?   

Both me and the General walk into a room where Lottie sits next to Maddox. Her head resting on his shoulder, he is being so affectionate towards her. But as soon as they see me, their posture changes. “Lottie, Maddox. I have the questions the council wants me to ask you.” Neither of them says anything, but neither of them looks happy to be here.  

“Let's get on with it.” I said. I don’t want to be trapped in here with them any longer than I have to be. “Lottie only answer the questions Reed asks you.” The General tells her. “Don’t give him any details. Just answer the question.” She smiles at him, like she knows something.  

“Did you know Council Member Edward?” She looked at Maddox. “We met him briefly a few months ago at Silver Mountain Pack. He was visiting my uncle.”   

“Do you know what he was doing there?” I asked her. I think it would be useful to know how their relationship was leading up to his death. “That is not a question the council wants you to ask Reed.” The General says.  

“I was just curious about their interaction,” I retorted. “The council does not want to know that. They want a simple answer, no background.” That’s strange, I think. Surely, they would want to know the events leading up to his death? But he is right. They don’t want to know.  

“Did you kill Council Member Edward?” Lottie looked at the General. “Yes, I did.” I saw Maddox let go of Lottie’s hand. She must be burning up.  

“How did you kill Council Man Edward?” She smirks “I burned him. I held on to his face so tight that his flesh oozed through my fingers, like soup.” That is a stomach-churning thought.   

“Did anyone aid you in his murder?” I asked her, assuming Maddox would have been there. “No, I did it alone.” She answers.  

“Would you do it again?” I asked her, following the flow of questions on the paper. “In a heartbeat.” Geez, he must have pissed her off more than I did. That would have taken some doing.   

“Lastly. Did you stab and kill Alpha Hudson?” She stared at me. A stare so intense that it hurts my soul. “No. I certainly did not.” Her lip quivers. Thank goodness that is the last question. But they are ridiculous questions. There is no context, no depth. It doesn’t even ask why she did it. They don’t want to know. 

“Thank you, Lottie.” I said, getting up and leaving the room. I noticed that the General stayed.   

What a waste of time it was sending me here to ask six questions? I will see Ethan later and ask him about it. I headed to mine and Nix’s room so we could pack and leave. But he wasn’t there. 

I lay on the bed for a nap. I may as well be rested for the journey into the council territory. Before I drift off, I think about what the General was saying. I don’t want him to be right, but with the simplicity of those questions, I am starting to worry he is. 

  

General Rayne’s POV  

The questions Reed asked Lottie were pointless. I already knew the answers, anyway. But now I have the opportunity to ask a couple of my own questions. Questions that I never felt comfortable asking Lottie. But now that Maddox is here, I could get away with asking, “Lottie, what really happened?”   

It was Maddox that answered. “Lottie was sick. We were in the bathroom. I got a mind link from my brother yelling at us to RUN.” A tear ran down his face. “We tried to get away, but they caught us.” He looked me in the eye. Before he sobs, “I don’t even know what happened to him. My baby brother, I let him down.” He sobbed into Lottie’s shoulder. 

It brings back the memory of what happened to Summer when I couldn’t find her. It may not have been personal to anyone else, but it was certainly personal to me. I took it hardest. She is my baby sister. I was all she had at the time. I felt like I had let her down at that stage. I know exactly how he feels. 

“Who was it? Who was it that attacked you?” I asked. I have never asked her this before. She always seemed so upset whenever the attack was mentioned. 

“When we got to the River Valley pack. The Beta had an old friend visiting. He was nice enough, even said he knew my biological mom. He was the one who threatened to kill Maddox if I didn’t stop fighting them.” She looks at him and kisses his hand. “He was the one who held a blade to his throat and cut him when he was unconscious.”  

“Council Member Edward said he was his stepbrother. But they acted like they had separate agendas.”  

“What do you mean?” She took a deep breath. “Richard said he wanted revenge. Edward said he either wanted me to co-operate or to breed more like me.” Maddox’s face turned sour. I guess he didn’t know that. 

I think that is enough for now. They don’t need to relive the events anymore. Not right now. “You did good, Lottie.” I said to her.  

I sat there finishing my drink, thinking about what they had said. They both start walking out of the room. I hear Maddox say something, but I think I miss hear him. I hope I misheard him. 

I cough as I stand and bang on the table to get their attention. “What did you just say?” I ask while still coughing.  

They both looked at me. “I said, both me and Parker always felt that Beta Thorne was up to something.” I froze. Goddess, please don’t let it be so. It can’t be.