Numbness overtook him and if he hadn’t shaken his head to clear his thoughts, he surely would have sunk to his knees. Child of the shadows … in more ways than one it seemed.
“My wolf tracked her down from the smell of her blood and your cries. And it … when it saw the two of you … they said she couldn’t be harmed!” he cried. “She was supposed to be invulnerable. That’s what they said.”
“Only while she’s pregnant!” he spat. “You didn’t know, did you?”
He let out pained groan. “By the time I was able to wrestle back control from my wolf, she was … she was … gone.” The agony in his voice was real. He really did believe he loved Helene. “And then your father was there. He must have realized that she had run and tracked her down. Saw she was dead. He came at me, but he was so blinded by grief that I easily took him down. Then I made up that story about a gang of Lone Wolves breaking into their home. But I had to hide you, so … I went to Armand’s great-uncle and aunt, told them to never reveal who you were because the Lone Wolves were still after you.”
So that’s who they were. Perhaps there was a small part of Remy—maybe the part that loved Helene—that was still good, which was why he didn’t kill Delacroix when he was an infant. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t a murderer. “You killed my mother.”
“It wasn’t me! It was my wolf. I loved her and would never—”
“But you still killed my father!” His hands curled into fists. He could end Remy right now. Drag him into the shadows, and no one would ever know. He should have done it a long time ago. “And the things you made me do …”
“You didn’t take care of that child in Lafayette, did you?” Remy taunted, reminding him of that night. “You spared her. So, I know you don’t have the guts to kill me.”
“Like I said, it’s over, Remy.” There had been so much blood and violence in his life, one would think one more death wouldn’t have mattered. But this was not the kind of world he wanted his pup to grow up in. “We’re taking you in. To the Lycan High Council, and you’ll have to answer for your crimes.”
“The council?” He sneered. “I’d rather die at your hands. Not that you’d ever have the chance.”
Remy’s hand shot out so quickly, he didn’t have time to think about what to do. A bright light turned his vision into a blinding white screen. Before he could react, his back hit the ground, and a heavy weight pressed on top him.
“Like my little trick? You should thank the mages for that potion. Now, I’m gonna hurt you just enough to keep you alive until they—arrggh!”
The weight lifted off of him as Remy howled out in pain. He was still blinded, but as he struggled to get up, a pair of hands gripped his arm. The scent of lavender and spice tickled his nostrils.
“It’s me,” Mika whispered in an aching voice. “I thought he—”
“I’m fine, but … I can’t see. Must have been a blinding potion. What’s happening?”
She let out a relieved breath. “Gabrielle … she has Remy subdued now. He’s not getting away. Oh my God, I didn’t realize she could control her powers that way.”
Damn, he wished he could see it. “Help me up …” She slung an arm under him and assisted him to his feet. The first thing he did was embrace her and bury his nose in her hair, then moved his hand to her belly. “Everything all right?”
“I’m fine, we both are.” He felt her sigh against his chest. “And your grandmother is here too.”
“Adelaide? Are you—”
“I’m fine, child. I heard everything; we all did.”
Mika cleared her throat and moved out of his arms. “I need to make a phone call,” she said. “I won’t be too far away.” He felt her squeeze his hand before her hand slipped away.
Long thin fingers wrapped over his hand. “Thank you,” Adelaide whispered. “Because of you, we will finally be able to get justice for Helene and Armand.”
His throat burned, so all he could do was nod. “I’m sorry I couldn’t kill him. I just thought—”
“Shh. It’s all right. I understand. It has to end, all this death and blood.” Her voice was wistful, and he could picture a sad smile on her face. “My Helene … she was the gentle one. Hated conflict of any kind … the p-peacemaker of the family.” Her voice grew shaky. “She would have been proud of you.”
As he heard the old woman sob, he turned toward her direction, reaching out to her. His grandmother fell into his arms as her thin, frail frame shook with sobs and wails. He soothed her, whispering to her in French and English as he rubbed his hand down her back. They stood there for a long while, and by the time she slowed down, his vision had fully returned.
“Th-thank you,” she hiccupped as she stepped away.
“You’re welcome.” Glancing around, he saw his aunt a few feet away from them standing over Remy. “Gabrielle? Is he—”
“I haven’t killed him,” she replied. “Yet.”
The Alpha lay on the ground as strips of dark fog wrapped around his legs and arms, pinning him to the ground. The lower half of his face was also covered in a mask of shadow, preventing him from speaking or turning his head, but the fury in his eyes completely conveyed how he was feeling at the moment.
“How’s everyone else?” he asked Mika as she came back. “Did they—”
“All the wolves have been subdued.” She put her phone back into her coat pocket. “No casualties. I’ve also called
