Chapter 175

Jack and I were just leaving the main cabin after lunch when Matt’s car came squealing to a stop, its tires skidding in the mud. We exchanged a glance as Matt jumped out of the car. I barely had time to step back before he was there, tackling Jack to the ground.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Matt growled, pushing Jack’s face into the mud.

Jack punched him in the side and gasped for air. “Get off me, asshole.”

“Um…” I started, not sure if I should intervene or not. The cabin doors opened, and people came streaming out–Fiona, Ted, his boyfriend Andrew. A minute later, Enzo and Nina followed, trialed by Seth, Jenna, and a boy from the team named Brodie. Soon everyone was gathered around to watch the fight.

“I’m going to kill you,” Matt snarled, punching Jack in the side of the head.

Jack hit him in the ribs again. “Get the fuck off.”

“Should someone maybe stop them?” Seth asked, his brows pulling together.

“We need to contain Jack,” someone said. Everyone turned, noticing the man for the first time. We’d all been too focused on the fight to see him get out of the car.

“Dad?” I said, my eyes going wide.

Fiona looked between us. “Dad?”

Jack managed to flip Matt over, punching him in the nose. “What the fuck?”

Henry took a step forward, his eyes flying to his son. “He’s a traitor. He’s been feeding information to the Schreibers.”

Enzo’s gaze darkened, and he stepped forward to pull Jack up. It took both Enzo and Seth to get him up, despite their supernatural strength. Jack stopped fighting to glare at our father, his breaths coming fast.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to protect my daughter,” he said, his eyes flitting to mine, then away again.

I took a step forward. “Jack’s helping us.”

“He has proof,” Matt said, wiping the dirt off his shirt and pants. Blood dripped from his broken nose, and he reached up to put it back with a loud snap that made me flinch.

“Alright, let’s tie him up.” Nina stepped forward. “Put him in the far cabin.”

Jack didn’t bother to struggle. He let Enzo and Seth steer him down the hill, heading for the furthest cabin. Celeste quickly fell into step behind them, followed by Matt, Enzo, and her father. Everyone else dispersed after a command from Nina.

Fiona looked between the two groups, then hurried to catch up with me. She took my hand, ignoring the imploring look Nina sent her way.

They brought Jack into the cabin. It wasn’t being used, and it smelled like dust and dirt. Brodie appeared with a set of ropes and got to work, tying Jack’s hands behind his back. Jack didn’t so much as move, he just sat on the dirty floor and glared at our father.

I didn’t know what to think. It hurt to think he’d betrayed me. I thought things were finally getting better between us.

“Why Jack?” I said, my voice breaking.

His expression softened as his eyes turned to me. “I had no choice. Please, believe me. Freddy didn’t give me any other option. He threatened to kill me and everyone I was with. They have silver bullets. I’ve been holding him off for as long as I can. I’d never let him take you.”

“How do I believe you?”

His gaze strayed to their father again, and his expression darkened. “Why are you so willing to believe him?”

“You hate wolves,” Matt pointed out.

Jack sighed. “I’m trying.”

“He is,” Fiona said, much to everyone’s surprise.

Matt sat down on the edge of the bed, dust swirling up around him. He scrunched up his nose but didn’t move. “Explain,” he said.

Jack did, starting with his mission to kill Matt–something Matt didn’t seem surprised by, despite the cries of outrage from me and his friends. “I clearly didn’t follow through,” Jack muttered when the cries died out. He went on to talk about how Freddy cornered him at the motel, and the dozen men and women he had with him.

“We made a deal. I’d stay working with you guys to get Celeste out. I told him I’d give her to him when she was free.” He looked at me again. “But I didn’t. I thought we’d lose them on the road, but they somehow followed us here.”

Nina glanced around. “Are they coming for her?”

Jack shook his head. “He said he’d hold off for now. He knows about the war, and I think he agrees that you guys are nowhere near as bad as the Crescent wolves. Regardless, he has to run everything by our grandfather.”

“So, he could be coming for me still?” I asked.

“There’s a lot of people here who’d never let that happen,” Jack answered. Matt grunted his agreement.

“You betrayed us,” Nina said. “We can’t trust you again, no matter what you say. You’re a liability.” She took a step toward him, reaching for the gun at her belt. My eyes widened, and I took a step forward, intending to reach for her, but Matt was faster. He planted himself between her and my brother, a hard look on his face.

“What the fuck Nina?”

“We can’t afford to have him here, and we can’t let him go. He knows too much.”

Matt crossed his arms. “We’re not shooting Jack. I don’t care if you’re in charge. That’s a bullshit move. You’ll have to kill me first.”

“Me too,” I said, coming to stand beside Matt.

Fiona barely hesitated before joining me. “Yeah, same.”

My dad looked between us.

“Sounds like he didn’t have a choice,” Matt growled. “And we don’t kill people just because it would be easier for us.”

Enzo cleared his throat, looking uncertain. “He’s right.”

Matt looked shocked at the support, but quickly covered it up. Nina sighed and took a step back, her hand falling away from her gun. “Fine, then he’s your problem.” She glared at Matt, but he didn’t back down. “You’re responsible for him. Everything he does falls on your shoulders.”

“Fine,” Matt snapped.

Nina nodded and stalked from the cabin. “Find out everything he told them,” she said over her shoulder.

The rest of the group followed her out, leaving only the three of us and my father. “Well, are you happy?” I asked him.

“I’m trying to protect you.”

I shook my head and kneeled in front of my brother. He eyed me wearily. For the first time, I noticed how exhausted he looked. “You’re in so much shit,” I said.

He nodded.

“Now would be a good time to start talking,” Matt said, turning to peer down at him. “What exactly have you told them?”

I sat down on the floor next to Fiona. Matt took up his place on the bed, dust still swirling in the air from the unwashed quilt. Our father hovered in the corner, a pinched look on his face.

Jack told us everything he said to Freddy. When he was done, Matt laughed. “You left quite a bit out.”

“I said as little as I could get away with.”

Matt shook his head. “You’re such an ass.”

Jack gave him a tentative smile, but it quickly fell away. “I know.”