Chapter 78

~Grace~

What was Liam doing here?

Alex, Enzo, and I stared at Liam as he rushed in, panting. He must have run through the building to find us.

“What are you-”

Before I could finish my words, Alex darted forward, a feral look on his face.

“No!” I screamed, my heart dropping.

Not again, dammit! I rushed forward, and saw Enzo ahead of me, who grabbed Alex around the chest. He struggled to hold him in place, I could tell he was losing his grip quickly.

I rushed in front of Alex and wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up into his eyes, pleading.

“Alex, please. Let him speak. I’ve done too much to have you throw all of my work away just to kill Liam on the spot right now.”

Alex’s snarl softened, and he looked down at me. I could see fear in his eyes.

I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. The spell didn’t work and the Lycans were all going to die. The only way to prevent that was to kill Liam and his family.

But it wasn’t too late to fix things. I had to believe that.

Alex finally stopped struggling and Enzo let him go. I let my hands slide off of his waist, and I leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him. He didn’t respond.

I turned to Liam, who had backed away from us, standing low, ready to shift.

I shook my head at him, letting him know he didn’t need to do that. Slowly, Liam stood up, his eyes trained on Alex.

“Grace, I have news,” he said, finally tearing his gaze away from Alex to look at me. He stood up straighter now, and cautiously approached me.

“What is it?” I asked, excited and nervous.

It had to be something that would help with the Lycans, or at least I hoped it would.

“My mom talked to me about that night that you talked about? The one where she is accused of leading an attack against the Lycans.”

I nodded, my heart pounding. So it was about the Lycans! I needed this information to help us, dearly.

Maybe it was about the curse?

“She told me she never betrayed the Lycans. It was the Elder Lycan who set everything up,” Liam continued.

Alex made a move forward again, but I shot him a look.

He grit his teeth, but stayed still.

I knew he didn’t like their most sacred member being talked about negatively, but this was too important to brush aside right now.

“Did she say why? Or how?” I pressed.

Liam nodded. “She said he disapproved of her and her relationship with Alex’s father. The Elder Lycan didn’t believe she was good for the clan or should be integrated into the clan, let alone lead it.”

I nodded, letting him continue.

“There were rumors of a wedding. Their relationship was still young, but it sounded like she really loved him, and the clan.”

I could understand that. It was so similar to what Alex and I had. Were we doomed to repeat something similar? Maybe bringing a werewolf into a Lycan clan was just bad news.

But no… I couldn’t believe that. I loved Alex, more than anyone. I couldn’t believe that our relationship would only bring ruin to his clan.

I couldn’t leave his side.

I gave Alex a sad look, and I could see that his eyes were dark pools. This story was a different version from what he’d been told happened to his family since he was a young boy. I’m sure it was hard to hear this.

“The Elder Lycan organized an attack on his own clan. He spread rumors to werewolves that Alex’s dad was keeping my mom there against her will, and what horrible, deplorable things the Lycans would do to her.”

Liam looked sad as he spoke. “A band of werewolves did attack the Black Lycan clan that night. But it wasn’t led by my mom.”

I didn’t know what to say. It was still such a tragic story, and it didn’t change the fact that many people died.

Were my parents still part of the pack of werewolves that killed the Lycans?

I didn’t feel quite as awful about them if they did, if they really thought that the Lycans were as bad as they were, although that didn’t justify anything.

I still wanted to believe they wouldn’t join in on something like this.

I looked over at Alex, whose brows were lowered in a pained expression. I stood by him and took his hand in mine.

He squeezed it. I squeezed back.

I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. To think… his entire life’s purpose had been a lie, and he had been tricked by the very person who was responsible for his family’s deaths…

It was just awful.

I rested my head against his shoulder to show him that I was there for him. I didn’t know what else to do, out here with everyone.

Alex finally took a deep breath.

“Where is the Elder Lycan?” He asked, and I looked around. I didn’t see him in the ritual circle with the rest of the Lycans. Odd.

Enzo headed toward the door. “I’ll check his room.”

It only took a few minutes before Enzo brought the Elder Lycan into the room.

He didn’t look sick at all.

Old and frail, yes, but other than the hobbling walk he stumbled in with, he didn’t look to be on his deathbed like the rest of the Lycans.

Besides, I’d think he’d be the first one to go. The sickness seemed to affect the weaker Lycans more, that’s why it took so long for Alex and Enzo to succumb to it.

I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms. I never liked him, there was always something weird about him.

But it wasn’t my place to judge right now. Alex needed to do this. This was his clan, and his moment.

I wouldn’t dare try to take that from him.

“What is the meaning of this?” The Elder Lycan hissed, throwing Enzo’s hand off of his shoulder. “What is going on in here? Black magic is strictly forbidden!”

I lowered my brows at him, challenging him to say more. He was just a cranky old man, who wanted to control everything behind the scenes.

He had been hiding behind Alex’s shadow this entire time, manipulating him into becoming a cruel, spiteful leader.

It was the Elder Lycan’s fault. I could tell Alex didn’t really want people to fear him the way they do, but I don’t think he knew any other way to rule.

My gut churned. I hated the Elder Lycan. He was despicable.

Alex stepped forward, standing tall over the Elder Lycan. He walked stiffly, his arms folded in front of him. This was difficult for him, I knew.

But too much was on the line for Alex to sit back on this situation. Not that he was a man to sit back on any situation, but I’d understand if he didn’t want to deal with this one.

Alex spoke with authority, his voice never wavering.

“Elder Lycan, did you organize a werewolf attack against the Black Lycan clan?”