Alpha Brothers - The Beta (book 2)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28
Archie
I lied in bed, staring at the ceiling. Amy lied on her side, completely asleep and completely unaware of what was going on in my head.
Last night, I told her something about my life I hadn't realised that I was keeping from her. I wasn't planning on telling her. I wasn't even planning on planning on not telling her. And if that didn't make my head spin, I didn't know what would.
I knew what would. Agreeing to Adin's deal.
I couldn't allow another one of my siblings to get hurt. Graham barely made it, Allie crumbled. Nobody was allowed to hurt my siblings, not even me.
I sighed and rolled onto my side to face Amy's back. Could I go through it? For years I had bottled up my emotions. One bottle for each emotion. But there was one emotion I could never bottle up. Love. It sounded pathetic just thinking about it. It was something on movies and really crap books. But it was true.
I loved Amy, with everything that I had and more. But that love also made me weak. And I didn't think that I could do the things I needed to do to get the result I wanted now. And if I did, I don't think I could touch her like I use to.
It would have to take a lot more than a shower to clean me now.
I sighed, knowing that if I didn't leave now, I would never leave.
"Love you, Princess," I whispered before I kissed her cheek and rolled out of bed.
I had a quick shower trying to prepare myself before I found a pair of jeans and a shirt from my cupboard. I didn't even have the energy to tie my hair up into a bun. I allowed it to curl around my ear and neck.
I was just about to leave when Amy groaned in her sleep and rolled onto her back. Damn, I couldn't let her wake up without knowing where I was.
I walked over to my chest-of-draws and found a pen in my pen cup and a random piece of paper that was probably meant to be rubbish. I quickly scribble Wolf business, back later, before placing it on my pillow as she slept.
"Love you," I told her again, kissing her forehead before walking out of the room.
I made my way down the stairs and all the way to the first gallery. I eyed the paintings that hung on the wall of each Alpha King that had ever lived inside the house. Each one stared at me as if they knew that I was going to make a deal with the devil.
"What are you lookin' at?" I growled before I could stop myself.
I had never been so grateful to see the first double doors of the library. I pushed them opened, not bothering to shut them behind me. Like I thought, I found the keys to the good Jeep on Callum's desk. The thought of using one of the black cars did cross my mind but the less people that knew about this the better. No, it was better if nobody knew.
"Your goin' to go see him, aren't you?"
I jumped and turned at the sound of Malcolm's voice. If he wasn't trying to be concerned about my reaction, I would have sworn that he thought it was funny.
"Aye, I am, happy?" I asked pacing towards the door.
"Not happy, just," he paused, "Archie what is your plan?"
Right, plan. I needed one of those?
"You don't have one," he asked, "of course."
"I don't need this right now, Malcolm," I snapped, making my way to the stairs with Malcolm following me.
"What you need now is a brain."
I turned around, causing him to halt.
Raising my finger, I told him very seriously, "what I need now is a time machine to go back in time and kill Adin when I saw the son of a bitch in the forest four years ago."
"Oh aye, great plan."
I scoffed turning back around and continuing my descend.
"Do you want me to come?" He asked.
I thought about it for a second. But I couldn't risk even him knowing Adin's deal.
"No, I've got this," I told him.
"This is a lad that sent five vamps to attack the twins."
I turned around again, causing him to stop.
"I know that. That's why I'm goin'."
"To your death bed."
I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for that grin to come. It didn't. The bloody bastard was being serious.
I scoffed again and turned around.
"Stop it, Malcolm," I told him.
"I can't. There's a good chance you're not comin' out of this alive."
"Shut it Malcolm."
"What are you goin' to tell Amy?"
At the sound of my mate's name, I halted. I didn't even have the strength to turn around and tell him where to put it. I was too stiff with guilt. But like with everything else, it had its own bottle.
I turned around and looked at him very seriously, "Amy doesn't know and if you tell her, I will kill you."
Now it was time for Malcolm to scoff.
"Save your threats for the vampire."
I rolled my eyes and continued to walk.
"I'm not goin' to tell anybody," he added behind me, "all I ask is that you don't do anythin' stupid."
"Why because I've already done that?" I asked, not expecting an answer.
"Aye!"
I rolled my eyes though I knew that he wouldn't see me.
Just when we got to the void, Malcolm took my shoulder and turned me around to face him.
"Just promise me, give me your word, you won't do somethin' stupid," he was now begging.
I wanted so much to promise him that, but I couldn't. Malcolm saw it. He titled his head, trying to guilt trip it out of me but I couldn't do it. Breaking a word in this house was worse than not giving it. So I didn't.
I walked out of his grip and turned towards the corridor.
"Archie!" He called after me.
I didn't answer him.
"Archie!"
I still kept walking and didn't stop till I was at the back of the house where the two Jeeps were. I climbed into the good one and turned the key, listening to the engine roar. Shifting into first gear, I started the drive to my death.
I got there just before nine. His estate looked the same from a week ago. Which pissed me off. My new plan should just to burn it down with him and all is crazy ass vamps in it. That can be Plan C.
I knocked on the door before the creepy ten year old vamp opened it.
"How can I help you?" She asked, her red eyes non-blinking.
"Where's you master?" I asked, barging in before she could stop me.
She shut the door before looking at me, "he's still asleep."
"Well tell him to get his decayin' arse out of bed. I'm here for his little offer."
She nodded, "go to his office."
She disappeared before I could say another word. I groaned but made my way up the stairs and down the corridors to his office.
It was exactly like it was four years ago. Bookcases by the door, the sun coming through the window, a desk by it and a lounge by the wall. It always made me smile to think of this room. It was always sunny for something that through time was known to burn in the light. But in real life, sun didn't affect vamps. It gave them headaches and their hunger grew if they were out in it for long. But it didn't kill them. Unfortunately.
"Ah, Archie," I turned around at the sound of Adin's voice and almost groaned when I found him only in his robe. He couldn't even get dress?
"How's your brother and sister?" He asked making my blood start to burn.
"They're fine, thank you," I growled through my teeth.
"Yes, I thought the wolfs bane was a nice touch," my eyes narrowed at him, "your sister has quite the anger management issues. She did some damage to my vampires. Though, they did make her twin their lunch for the day."
Ignoring the fact that he just called my brother lunch, I said, "I'll think about it for her birthday."
He chuckled making my anger grow. He was trying to be my friend. An act I recognised from my own actions.
"Just get to the point Adin," I told him, "I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be."
He gasped pressing his hand against his chest where his opened robe showed, looking hurt. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"I'm hurt, Archie. And to think that you had such warm memories in this place."
"I had hollow and unforgivable memories in this place! Memories I wish with everythin' that I have that I could take it back! And if you -."
"Tamper, tamper," he stopped me clicking his tongue as he shook his finger at me like I was a child.
Why do I even try? I was dealing with the devil that was a thousand years old but acted more like a five year old.
"I don't think little Allie Patterson is the only one in your family that needs anger management classes."
I narrowed my eyes at him, about to explode.
"How's Malcolm's anger management issues goin'?"
I growled at the mention of Malcolm.
"But I guess turning away from your wolf really takes the anger out of you."
Without any control, I stormed over to his desk and with everything that I had, with one sway of my arm, everything on his desk went flying. They hit the window, the walls, making the sounds of bullets escaping a gun.
I turned around feeling my eyes burn a different colour when I spotted that smug bastards face.
"My family is off limits for you!" I growled, "now what do you want!"
He sighed, "I thought we could have a mature conversation about this."
"You should have thought of that before you attacked my siblings!"
He shrugged, "you didn't take my first option."
"You didn't give it to me! You sent Kaylie to kill my mate!"
"I sent Kaylie to reveal to your mate what you truly were. I thought I would give you a little push otherwise you would have never have told her."
"You didn't give me a push! You bulldozed me into doin' the impossible!"
He shrugged, "the possible, Archie. It was very possible to tell her what you were."
Just when I was about to lose it again, I swallowed and took in a deep breathe. Calm down Archie, I told myself, he wants to get you angry. He's a sick son of a bitch that's usin' your emotions.
I let out my breath and placed my anger into its bottle.
"The letter," I started, feeling everything in me numb, "in the letter you said that you wanted me to do a little job."
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"I have a little problem."
My eyes narrowed, "no kiddin'."
"There's a certain woman that's a part of my company. I think she's a spy."
"That's new."
He rolled his eyes, "I should have made Emilia tell you to leave your sarcasm at the door. Anyway, I want to get answers out of her."
"Why don't you get Kaylie to do it or one of your other minions?"
"Because this one needs your expertise."
"Why?" I asked, finding this impossible to get through my head.
"She's my sister."
I was about to say something smart again but stop. Did I just hear him right? I blinked three times before I finally registered what he had said.
"I didn't even know you had a sister."
He shrugged, "we haven't been that close over the centuries."
"And you want me to see if she's your spy."
He nodded.
"And if I do this, my slate with you will be wiped clean? No more hard feelin's of me walkin' out on you?"
"It will be forgotten and forgiven."
I shrugged. Torturing a vamp for a couple of hours for a part of my life to be put behind me forever, simple.
"Now, Archie," he started, getting my attention, "I can't allow you to hurt my sister at all."
"Then how am I -,"
I stopped.
My stomach dropped.
My mouth went dry.
My heart started to race.
And my mind went into over drive.
"No," I said almost spitting the word out of my mouth, "you can go to hell."
"Your not seeing the real picture."
"I don't care what the picture is!" I yelled, "I'm not doin' it. I'm not shaggin' your sister - I'm not cheatin' on my mate. I will die before I do that!"
"Well, Archie you might have to."
I was about to yell when my voice was stolen.
"Remember the letter Archie, remember what it said," my body went numb for a whole new reason, "your siblings won't just have flesh wounds, they will be lucky to still have their heads!"
At that, the rage filled me and I lost it. A war cry erupted from my chest before I charged for him. I felt my nails become claws, my teeth grew fangs and my eyes glowed their gold colour.
Just when my fist was about to hit his face, he caught it. I felt my anger paralyse my body when I realized my mistake. And he knew it.
His smug grin grew, "don't think that you're stronger than me, Archie. That's is always your mistake."
"One day, Adin, I will kill you," I growled.
He shrugged, "that's not today," before pushing me back.
I had to stumble for my footing before I could stand. He was asking for the impossible. To cheat on my mate. It was a thought that took over my heart and squeezed till I thought it would stop beating.
"You will see her tonight," I scoffed at him.
"Clean out your favourite room," I told him, still not agreeing to this.
Maybe I can find ways to get around it. Maybe I can get the answers out of her before anything serious happens.
"I would but you're not seeing her here."
My head shot towards him, not being able to comprehend what he was suggesting.
"You can't possibly think that I will take her to Faol Coillie!" I yelled.
"I'm not thinking it, I'm telling you. You're taking her to Faol Coillie."
"No!"
"You're still not getting it through your head!" He yelled.
I groaned, shifting on my feet.
This could not be happening. This could not be happening.
I felt trapped. I was a raging animal and slowly the walls were moving in closer. My bottles were over flowing and I couldn't put any emotion into them. I couldn't control myself, I couldn't control the situation. I could practically feel chains on my wrists, on my ankles, around my neck. Slowly, killing me.
I couldn't do this. I couldn't not do this.
"What are my options?" I whispered to myself.
"Do this simple job for me," he answered for me, "or watch your family die."
I swallowed at the image of Graham's blood covered body and Allie shaking and tear stained face.
"If I do this, you will leave me, my mate and my family alone?" I asked again.
He scoffed, drawing a cross against his chest, "cross my heart and hope to die."
"You don't have a heart," I snapped making his eyes roll, "I want your word."
"Fine, whatever. I give you my word that I will leave you, your mate and your family alone."
I rolled my eyes at his pathetic vow but if Adin could keep anything, it was his word.
"And what am I exactly supposed to get out of her?" I asked.
"I want to know if she is planning to kill me."
I scoff, "if she is, I think I might sleep with her willingly."
Even joking about it made me sick to my stomach.
"You may joke to make yourself feel better," he told me, "but if I don't get my answers, your family will pay the price."
I swallowed the vomit that was filling my mouth.
"When will I meet her?" I asked.
"You will pick her up here at nine-thirty," he told me.
"And what do I do with her afterwards?"
He scoffed, "she's not a piece of bad meat."
"She's related to you, isn't she?"
He rolled his eyes.
"You send her back and then report to me tomorrow."
I nodded, far from coming to terms to what I would have to do tonight. I really, really, really needed a drink.
"So I guess that I will see you tonight," I said trying not to gag.
"I guess you will. And say hello to Amy for me."
The look I gave him could only be described as pure hate as that smug smile appeared on his face. If he wasn't dead already, I would kill him. Maybe not even then.