Alpha Brothers - The Beta (book 2)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15
Archie
I waited in the void for my brothers. Callum was probably still trying to convince Little Liv about going and Malcolm was...I really didn't care.
I found myself disappointed when we argued instead of having a normal chat but I wasn't ready enough to admit that I wanted to 'bridge in the gap' according to Callum.
"Where's Callum?" My head shot in the direction of the stairs and found Malcolm, going down them.
"Still tryin' to cut the leash that Little Liv has him on," I joked.
"Hey, I heard that!" My head turned up to the second highest gallery to the two heads leaning down.
"Hurry up!" I called back, making one nod - probably Callum - before disappearing and moving to the stairs.
They slowly made their way down to the void, their hands locked together. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that it was sicking, I couldn't help but ache for that sort of connection with Amy.
"You ready?" I asked, both my brothers, still hoping that one would want to pull out.
"Aye," Malcolm nodded, heading for the door.
When I turned back to Callum and Liv, he had her tight in his arms, kissing the crown of her head.
"I love you," he muttered before pulling apart and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
I saw the fear that Amy was talking about earlier, masked by a smile and shining eyes. Callum saw it too. But there was nothing he could do, annoyingly. He was king and alpha. He had responsibilities.
"Some home safe, okay," she said, as if he had any control over it.
"I promise," he said, playfully tapping the tip of her nose.
He finally let go of her and turned to me, remembering that I was there.
"Am I drivin'?" I asked, wanting to get this over and done with.
He shook his head, "no, this is business. We take the black cars."
"Oo, black cars," I joked as we turned towards the door, "This really is a business deal."
"Aye."
When we got outside, the new black Jeep complete with Duncan in the front and Malcolm in the back was already by the house. Callum went for the front, winning a glare from me.
"What?" he asked with a shrug.
Oh he totally knew and his grin showed it all. That bastard wanted me to sit with Malcolm. I hated him so much.
I groaned, but opened the door to the back and got in. Malcolm had the same grin.
"Shutup," I groaned making him chuckle a little.
It was only then, with the fire burning in my stomach that I realized that I was going to see a demon that I hadn't seen in three years. And we didn't end on good terms.
That memory flooded my mind, leaving me dying for happiness afterwards.
"You think you can just leave?" Adin's voice, took a hold of my throat and wouldn't let go, "You are in deeper than the deepest part of the ocean."
"I know that but –."
"No, Archie!" he snapped, "Do you know what your brother will do once he finds out what you have done? You have broken so many laws."
"My brother is not like that," I tried to tell him, trying to keep his voice out of my head. It never worked. Adin had a way of convincing you to do things that you didn't want to do.
"That's not what I heard. That's not what I've seen," he said and I knew exactly where this was going, "I remember the day I found you in those woods. Forgotten by your family. Broken inside with no one to heal you. I healed you!"
"And I will always –."
"Who will look after you when your family founds out?" he asked, "Who will look after you when they've kicked you out and turned away from you?"
I swallowed, feeling Malcolm's pain fresh.
"I will survive, I normally do," I reassured him.
"Because of me!" he yelled, "Did you think that I would just let you go with just a simple, 'see you later'?"
"Stop askin' me these question!" I yelled, "You're gettin' inside my head like you always do. I don't need you anymore Adin."
I was finished with him. I totally was. I was finished with his deals, his bargains, his women. I was done with it all.
Just as I went to turn away, he caught my arm. I could sense his strength just by the way his hand gripped my arm. But I wasn't scared of him. At that point, so much was going on in my life back then. My brother had hit breaking point. He hadn't turned away from his wolf yet but I could see the cracks plain as day. Callum feared that he would turn away from his family forever, or worse, kill himself from the guilt.
Adin was nothing.
"You'll be sorry," he warned me.
"No you will," I growled, allowing my eyes to turn their burning gold.
He matched my threat by showing me his blood coloured eyes and growing fangs.
"Don't think that you're stronger than me Archie, that is always your mistake," he warned.
"No, it's yours," I corrected him, "You have no idea how strong I can be."
Archie
"There he is. My warrior," he said in that voice that I watched so many girls crumble for.
Archie
"I was never yours. I'm not anyone's."
"Archie!"
I jumped awake at the sound of Malcolm's voice. I groaned and rubbed my sore eyes with my hands. I hadn't realized that I had fallen asleep.
"Why did you do that?" I groaned, trying to pretend that I wasn't grateful for it. I didn't want to relive that night.
"For two reasons. One you were mumbling threats that I don't care to repeat and two, we're just about to come to the mansion," he told me.
"Mansion?" I asked, still half asleep.
"Aye, Dall Estate. Adin Hughes' new place."
I groaned again and shook my head, "Nope. Old place."
He frowned, trying to work my words into meaning. But it was only a small piece of plastic between Callum and us. Anything he worked out he would have to keep quiet.
It wasn't long till the great castle of Dall Estate came into view. It's cream cement walls shined in the little sunlight, making its grey slanted roves stand out. A green flied spread for miles on the others side of the gravel drive way. I was reminded of the windows, their triangle on top of a rectangle shape. Everything was exactly the same.
"What's our plan of attack?" I asked as the three of us, piled out of the car.
"To do absolutely nothin'," my brother answer, bringing me to a stop.
"You're jokin'."
He shrugged, "Why does everythin' have to end in violence?"
"Because he's a blood suckin' –."
"Archie," Malcolm stopped me before I could continue, "This is Callum's plan of attack, not yours. We're here for moral support. And to keep Olivia's nerves under control."
I rolled my eyes at him, knowing that he was always right. The bastard.
I sighed and rubbed my temple. I was quickly regretting this decision.
"Okay, how do we get in?" I asked, hoping that my brother would decide to back out right about now.
"Like in most houses," Malcolm stated, "We ring the doorbell."
I scoffed and rolled my eyes at my smartass brother as he grinned and walked up to the door. He found a rope and pulled it like he wasn't just ringing Count Dracula's doorbell.
"Now, what?" I asked like an impatient child as Callum and I joined him by the door.
"Now, we wait," Callum answered.
In less than a minute, the door opened revealing a small ten year old girl. It wasn't just her smell that gave away what she was but her ghost complexion and bloodshot eyes. She must not have been a vampire long. I could sense her new heightened emotions, feel the hunger like it was my own. She was confused to what we were. Smelling that we weren't fresh and pure humans. We were something much more scary.
"Is your master home?" Callum asked, with the gentle voice that you would use to a child. I guess he only saw her as a child and not a blood sucking vampire. But then again, Callum hadn't had much experience with them.
"H-have you put in a meetin' with him?" she asked with a little stutter reminding me of Amy. Focus Archie! I wanted to scream at myself.
"Tell him that The King wants to speak to him," Callum said, making my eyebrow raise.
She nodded and turned before disappearing. Without a care, Callum stepped into the house.
"The King?" Malcolm questioned, moving in after him.
It was unsettling to watch them so at ease in a place that had cause me so much pain.
"I couldn't think of anythin' else," he admitted.
"What about Callum Patterson?" I suggested.
He just looked at me dumbly, "I'm tryin' not to seem like a total idiot."
"It's not workin'," I muttered.
"Can you just –," Callum stopped when the little girl appeared in front of us again.
"He's waitin' for you in his office. I have orders to take you up there," she said in that creepy little girl voice that made my skin crawl.
"Well, show us the way," Callum stated, gesturing her to continue.
She nodded and turned, leading the way. My heart started to race as I looked around the void. It was exactly the same. Old paintings of Adin hung on the wall that he got made every century he survived. It was to remind his enemies of how old and powerful he was. The girl led us up a flight of stairs till we came to the gallery. More paintings hung on the wall, all women. Mostly his mistresses. Even Kaylie was up there somewhere. The girl stopped at a door that made my skin crawl. So many memories were in that room. And they weren't happy ones.
She opened it with no care making my stomach unsettle again. I felt my wolf stir, warning me of the danger that was inside that room. I already knew the danger.
"Thank you," my brother said before the three of us piled into a room that made my blood go cold.
Like everything else, it was the same. Too much the same. Like Adin was purposely playing with my head. It was a large room, with a lounge by the wall, a filing cabinet in the corner and a desk under the window. And there he sat. Dracula himself. His eyes were their masked deep brown colour and his hair was still rich coffee. His skin was ghostly pale but flawless. His smell filled the room, making my wolf go crazy. It wanted out.
His eyes were glued to mine in their sickly way, making me fear my mistake. I shouldn't have been worried if Callum would get out of here alive, what about me?
"Ah, the Patterson Brothers," He said dropping his gaze, allowing me to breathe again, "I've heard so much about you that I think I can practically guess which ones you are. You're Callum Patterson," he said pointing to Callum, "I can practically smell the royalty coming from you. And your Malcolm, the Lonely Brother. Do you mind if I call you that?" he asked, not excepting an answer, "Your story is just so interesting. Meet a girl, completely in love and then –."
"Aye, I know how the story goes," Malcolm snapped, before he could finish.
I narrowed my eyes at Adin, watching him feed off my brother's hidden pain.
"Now you," my eyes narrowed even more, when his finger pointed to me, "You, I don't know. I mean, you could be the twin but I'm pretty sure he's a lot younger than you are. Please, other Patterson Sibling, tell me your name?"
"Archie," I snapped, feeling my jaw tighten.
He was enjoying this way too much.
"Oh yes, the Beta right?" he asked, knowing the answer.
I nodded, clicking my tongue, "you've got it."
"Well, now that you've figured us out, tell us about you?" Callum finally asked, radiating frustration.
"Right, well, not much to tell," that's a first, "I'm American, as you can tell. And I've recently moved into a beautiful estate."
Again.
"I want to know why a vamp was found on our land," Callum asked, getting straight to the point.
Adin frowned, "There was? Well I'm –."
"Why do all of a sudden, vampires are showin' up right, left and centre, the same time you get into town?" he asked.
What ever happened to the do nothing plan?
I watched as Callum kept throwing Adin's questions, too fast that Adin couldn't charm his way out of them. He hid behind his desk, with a canny smile and quizzing eyes, but we could all sense his anger.
"What are you suggestin' Callum?" Adin asked, standing at his desk.
"It is my Lord to you," Callum snapped, taking a step forward to challenge him. Even I was impressed, "I might not be your king, but I still have a title in this land and not one you can buy."
"I must say my Lord, I'm impressed. The stories of you say that you're a fair person," he stated.
"I am many things. But I don't like the idea of people in this area becomin' food, or worse, one of you," he snapped.
His eyebrow raised and leaned against the table, "what do you suggest I do about it, my Lord?"
"If an innocent is so much as marked by one of you, the werewolves and the vampires will have a problem," he told him.
"I think your overestimating my power, my Lord."
"No, I think your underestimating it," Callum took another step forward, "You buy a club, you buy a mansion, ten year old girls answer your doors. You have authority."
He shrugged, agreeing, "Well, you're lucky that I like you, my Lord. Not many people can enter my house, impress me like this and leave alive," that was true, "I will do as you ask."
Callum's eyes narrowed, "I need your word."
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. Somehow they landed on me again. It was a common line that I had said around him.
"But I would watch out for the creatures in your own back yard," he stated, making my heart race.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Callum asked.
"I'm just saying, maybe it's not just the vampires that are the evil ones."
Seeing, where this was going, I stepped in, "Okay, this meetin' is over."
"Archie, just –."
"No, Callum," I snapped, "Do you know what he's suggestin'? He is suggestin' that werewolves are the enemy."
I was lying. And I was lying horribly.
"Don't you just hate interrupting siblings?" Adin added.
"You shut it!"
"Archie, you're over reactin'," Callum stated.
Probably right. But like always, Adin had gotten inside of my head.
"No, you shouldn't be able to –."
"Archie."
At the sound of Malcolm's voice, I stopped. My voice was stolen away and I started to see sense. I was over reacting and I had just made a fool out of myself and my brother.
"I'm sorry, I'm just –," I added with a groan making Adin chuckle.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said through his laughter, "Kaylie was right."
My eyes narrowed, "Kaylie?"
He nodded, his face turning hard again, "You're just like you always were."
I ignored Callum's confused face, taking a step forward, "If you say another word, I'll –."
"You'll what? This isn't like before. You have someone you want to keep safe."
My eyes narrowed even more, "Excuse me?"
"I lied before, I did research on you too. And your precious little mate."
Without controlling myself, I through my fist but he caught it.
"Don't think that you're stronger than me Archie. That is always your mistake."