Chapter 162 – The Alphas Contract Novel by Taylor West

Filed to story: The Alphas Contract Novel by Taylor West >>

**** Neah sits at the opposite end of the bath to me, a content smile on her face as the water lapped at her chest. Her knees are pulled up in front of her because she likes to claim that I take up most of the room.

I was quite tempted to read her mind, but I held off because we had agreed that I would only do it if I was worried or during sex.

I watch her happy, content, blue eyes becsadder with every passing second. “Will we have to send them away?” she asks quietly “The boys?” She nods. “When we had the threat before, all the children and the elderly temporarily left the pack.” “I don’t intend to send anyone away this time. They are safer here with us where we can see them.” “Right.” I was waiting for one specific question. One that she hadn’t asked since she had learned what Brax claims to see. Maybe she didn’t want to know. Maybe she already knew.

“What about Abraxas, when this is all over? Do I just let him go?” “I think that is something we will need to discuss when the tcomes.” “But you don’t trust him. That is what you said.” “And I stand by that.” There’s a knock on the door and I inwardly sigh. “Stay put.” I mutter, getting out of the bath. Neah sinks a little deeper into the bubbles as I wrap a towel around my hips.

“What?” I pull the door open to Klaus “More Lycans have arrived.” “How many?” “A small pack. Maybe thirty-forty.” “A pack of Lycans?” Neah calls out “The guy said they are called Everwood Pack.” Klaus shouts back “That can’t be right. According to Brax, Everwood was wiped out…. Though it seems Blair’s mother had gotten away, what if more had? “We will be there shortly. Take Damien and Eric and make sure Brax….” “They are already with them.” He runs off down the hallway and I turn to find Neah already out of the bath and dressing.

“Are you sure you are ready for this?” She nods. “I asked them to come.” We make our way over to the training hall. Cars I don’t recognise are parked out front while arguments take place inside. More Wolves are hovering outside, waiting for permission to do something.

Neah doesn’t hesitate, ripping the door open and marching in.

A bald man with deep blue eyes approaches us. But he won’t look at Neah properly. He offers his hand toand introduces himself as Rykem As I take it, he yanks mel.ne forward and whispers. “Why the fuck is there a Hunter here?” “Precautions.” I mutter back.

My eyes quickly find Brax. He’s looping the training hall. His eyes each darted between each one of them Lycans. Making them move around like a school of fish. Trying to put distance between themselves and their predator. “Has anyone here gone Rogue?” I ask Ryken “No, not any of us.” He tellsconfidently “Then you will have nothing to worry about.” “Wait, what do you mean by ‘not any of us’?” Neah presses. “Are there more of you?” His thick brows settle into a deep v.

“He’s talking about his stepdaughter.” Brax mutters as he makes his way to us: “BlainEverwood.”

Damien “Well it had to happen at spoint. Though Blair gavethe impression that her family is dead.” I mutter to Eric “Exactly what I thought.” He’s carefully watching everyone. I half expected him to be annoyed that I was given his position in the pack, but he seemed to be happy enough with a secondary Beta role.

A woman makes her way through the crowd, clutching a small baby to her chest while two young boys hold on to either side of her dress. They were mini versions of the man talking to Dane. But I recognised the woman from the photo Blair had given Neah. Blair’s mother.

We move closer as Arbraxas moves off to do another lap of the training hall. He givesa quick wink before putting all his attention on the crowd of Lycans.

It was an odd feeling to see this many in one place. There had been just a dozen Rogues where I was, a tiny amount in comparison, and probably even less than the amount that might turn up. The bald guy also said they are a small pack.

“I want to make it clear that we,” the bald man gestures to all the waiting Lycans, “had nothing to do with what Blair has done.” “She turned up a couple of days ago, right before we received your link. Looking for somewhere to stay. She’s not welcin our house.” Blair’s mother adds “Why?” I hear Neah ask The woman clutching the baby stops in front of her. “She put us all in danger. Years ago, she almost brought a Hunter to our door.” She glances back over her shoulder. “In fact, it was him. He was hunting her. Before she turned up the other day, we hadn’t seen her in over five years. We knew she was alive, but that was it.” “She blamesfor what our father did.” Neah tells her.

The woman reaches out a hand and cups Neah’s face, “I know and I’m so sorry for that.” “It’s not your fault.” Neah sighs. “You didn’t know and from what I understand, my father lied to you too.” “He did. And there is something else you should know. Your….” “Tara and I tried to talk sense into her.” Ryken cuts her off and gives his mate a strange look. “My mate took a long tto recover from what he did to her, but Blair she has never been er been able to let go. She didn’t even know the man, but still she has been on a lifelong vendetta to achieve something that is impossible. And I’m sorry to say, death will be the only thing that stops her.”  A tear runs down the woman’s face at Rykens final words. It must be hard to admit that killing your child was the only thing you knew would work. But everyone seemed to be glossing over the interrupted answer of Blair’s mother. Or maybe I was just imagining things.

“She knew you were coming here?” Dane asks”She had already cto us that morning and had sent her away. She reappeared when we were packing the car. I’m guessing because she heard the link too. She didn’t want us to come, but if there is a chance I can protect my children from her then I will do what needs to be done.” Ryken tells us “She is your child too.” I mutter, testing Tara “She stopped being that a long tago.”

“They ain’t lying.” Abraxas mutters as he comes back past us. He doesn’t stop and keeps moving making the crowd Lycans move from one side of the hall to the other as they try to put distance between themselves and him.

Ryken’s deep blue eyes follow Abraxas. “I’m not sure why he is here, but Everwood is not the packt brice was, We live in the suburbs. Most of n.

us have jobs and a family to support.” He gestures to the others. “Srarely shift because of the risk of being caught.” It was the life that Mallory had dreamt of.

“Did Blair speak of any plans?” I question “No. Though she said that you would kill us. I told her if we died, it would rest on her.” Ryken shakes his head. “That girl had so much potential for good and she threw it away.” “Because she becRogue.” Neah mutters “Yes, she learned what happened to the original Everwood Pack that her mother was part of Ryken reaches out and gives his mate a shoulder squeeze “She completely lost it Caught up in her own fantasies. It was something neither of us understood. How can someone be so content on righting past wrongs when it’s nothing to do with them?

“She thinks it will make her look better.” Neah replies, though she isn’t looking at them. “Make herself look like a hero.” “To make her look worthy of being an Alpha.” Dane adds “I tried.” Tara whispers. “I tried so hard and…” “It’s not your fault.” Ryken tells her. “So many people tried to help her. We cannot help those that don’t want to be helped.” “SHUT UP!” Neah screeches and the entire room goes silent.

“Get her out of here!” Abraxas demands “I’ve got her!” I mutter, “You stay here,” I tell Dane and hoist Neah on my shoulder and charge out of the training hall.

“Putdown Damien.” Her hands smack against my lower back as I carry her across the grounds. I really hope she doesn’t shift. She would be able to rip my back apart in seconds.

“Not until we are back in the house.” I mutter, locking my arms around her legs so she couldn’t kick me.

“Damien!” Her tone is dark, I drop her on her feet as soon as we are inside and slam the door shut. Her eyes are a solid black as she stares back at me.

“Get out of the way!” “Neah,” I grab her face, forcing her to look at me, “Don’t let her out. Think of your boys. They need you, they need their mother. You can’t let her win.” She stares back at me, a tiny hint of blue appearing around her eyes. “My babies need their mother.” She whispers back “Yes and Dane needs you and the Lycans need you.” She rubs her temples, closing her eyes. When they open again, they are back to their usual colour. “It’s her isn’t it. She is my darkness.” “We believe so.” I have had my suspicions for a long time. Everyone’s darkness is different and triggered by different things, but Neah’s seemed to be her own Lycan spirit and Abraxas was certain of it. “Why did you tell her to shut up?” “She keeps accusing everyone of being a liar. Tellingto kill them. Tellingnot to trust them. Sometimes she talks when I’m trying to listen and….” “The words blur into one dull noise?” “Yeah. It makes it difficult to hear anything. How did you know that?” “You were close.” I had been silently keeping an eye on her since we first discovered that she was close to going Rogue. Every now and again she would discuss it or ask et questions, but mostly I had watched at a distance. And until today, I had never heard her shout at her Lycan.

She throws her arms up as she moves away from me. “How am I supposed to be an Alpha of Lycans when I can’t even control what is happening in my head?” I can’t believe I was even considering it. But the asshole knew a hell of a lot more about Lycans than did, especially those that are pure bloods. I can’t believe I’m even considering asking for his help.

Neah’s pacing the office when Abraxas raps his knuckles on the open door.

“Where’s Dane?” I ask, glancing out into large hall “Talking to the other Lycans.” He replies, but his frown is focussed on a pacing Neah. “She’s still close to the surface.” “Why do you think I’m still here?” “Has she said anything?” He continues to watch her.

“She askedif Nyx is her darkness and I told her.” He finally looks at me. “How do we deal with it? How do we NO stop her Lycan from breaking her?” “We don’t.” He goes back to watching her movements “Are you fucking mad?”

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