Chapter 179

The next day, I definitely feel like I’m on the outside looking in. The brothers aren’t telling me everything, and they either think I’m an idiot who won’t notice or they don’t care if I do.

Three times today, when I enter a room where the brothers are, they stop talking when I approach. They aren’t even subtle about it. They just abruptly stop mid-conversation. Midsentence, even.

It’s unnerving. It’s frustrating. It’s infuriating. And I’m only getting more and more pissed off as the day goes on.

Meanwhile, my thoughts are running wild in my head. By now, I’ve pretty much decided they are set on going to some kind of blood war with their father, like something I’d seen in the movies. Two enemy lines facing each other, guns drawn. Like the wild west or something.

The fantasy is getting more and more dramatic. Right now, it ends with each brother dying horribly.

To put it mildly, I’m on edge. The regular pain I feel every time I try to breathe sure doesn’t help.

I’m tired of playing nice, so I give some thought as to which of the brothers might be the weakest link. Almost instantly, Steven pops into my head.

So I head over to his lab. I’m so mad I don’t even bother knocking before entering. He’s curled up at his desk, scribbling some findings in one of his notebooks. He doesn’t notice when I come in but I let the door slam closed behind me, which jars his attention up from his notes.

His glasses have fallen down his nose. He looks up at me over the top rim of his glasses. “Chloe?”

“Steven,” I say, none-too-gently. I came here for answers and I’m going to have them, by Gods. I storm across the room as quickly as my broken ribs would allow me. “Tell me what is going on.”

“What are you talking about, Chloe?” he asks. He stands up at my approach, though he seems more worried that I’m about to hurt myself than he does intimidated by the furious presence I’m attempt to exude.

Gods that makes me so irritated. All I’ve done, and still, the brothers don’t take me seriously.

“Everyone is avoiding me today,” I say. “I come into a room, and they get up and leave. Whatever conversation they were having abruptly ends. Don’t lie to me. There’s definitely something going on, and I want to know what it is.”

Steven sighs. He pushes his glasses back up his nose. “You know I can’t tell you.”

I wave off that bullshit answer. “Are you guys plotting a war with your father? Are you going to run in guns blazing and wind up shot full of holes?”

Steven blinks at me. “Uh. No? I don’t think?

“You don’t think?”

Steven rubs his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. “We’re not doing the war-talk yet. We’re still trying to figure out how to remove Wyatt as our official Beta.”

So much for not supposed to tell me anything. Thank you, Steven. I didn’t even have to push really.

Unless this answer itself is bullshit.

“Can’t you just, I don’t know, mail him the paperwork or something?” I ask.

Steven shakes his head. “It has to be done in person. And since he avoided our summons, and is actively ignoring all of our calls and messages, you can see how seeing him in person is a bit of a challenge at this stage.”

I could see that.

“But we have to do something,” Steven says. “The last thing any of us want is for him to continue to saunter about, flaunting the privileges that come with being our Beta. But that’s exactly what we suspect him of doing.”

“So what’s your plan?” I ask, eager to hear the rest.

He opens his mouth, then closes it just as fast. “I’ve already said too much.”

“What’s too much? You’ve barely said anything!”

“Too much, Chloe.”

I growled a little, mostly in frustration, not necessarily at him, but the vibrations made my ribs ache, so my noises and thoughts abruptly halted to I could cradle my chest.

Steven stepped forward. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just a little sore,” I said through grit teeth.

“We should get you back to bed.”

“I’m tired of waiting around in bed. I want to help…”

“We know you do, Chloe,” Steven said. “But every time you get too worked up, this happens.” He waves to my ribs. “You get hurt.” In a softer voice, Steven admits, “We don’t want to see you get hurt.”

So they are keeping me in the dark in some valiant attempt to protect me?

Gods, I am so fucking tired of Alphas.

“I can take care of myself,” I say, though it is admittedly not as hard-edged as before. Though I definitely find it annoying to be surrounded by such over-protective wolves, I can see now why they would purposefully keep me in the dark.

It’s still annoying as hell though.

“Just whose idea was it to keep me in the dark?” I ask. “Archer?” He’s the first that comes to mind. Ever since he deposited me in my bed last night, kissed me, and then disappeared, I had my suspicions that he was at the forefront of my exclusion.

Steven dips his head a little, avoiding my gaze. He looks guilty as hell. “It was a group decision.”

Oh. So they are all the asshole then. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.

I dip my head down to look at Steven. Even though he’s said what should be the thing he feels guilty about, he’s still avoiding my gaze. There’s more, then.

“Steven,” I press.

He cracks almost instantly.

“Neil is the one who put the idea forward to keep you out. He suggested it first, and then we all agreed.”

A-ha! So Neil is the one to blame.

Well, I would just have to give Neil a piece of my mind, then.

“Thank you, Steven,” I say.

He groans. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

There’s a metaphorical fire alight under me as I stalk over to Neil’s room. Oh, I’m so mad, I’m going to spit flames. Really chew him out. Give him a piece of my mind once and for all and make sure that he has to listen.

Even if getting worked up does hurt my ribs, I still deserve the right to get worked up. I am an actual adult woman. Someone capable of making my own decisions. And I should not be excluded from decisions that affect me – that are basically because of me!

Wyatt nearly killed me. Now they want him out.

At least let me help!

All of this I thought over from my small walk from Steven’s room to Neil’s. I am so ready when I open Neil’s door without knocking to truly lay into him!

Yet when I come inside, Neil is fast asleep. His face is peaceful, like he’s actually able to sleep for once. Like he’s not feeling his usual always-present pain. Maybe the doctors changed his medication. I should ask Steven.

As I look at Neil, all of the anger seeps out of me. Neil has done so much for me. He continues to do so much, every single minute of every single day.

What kind of asshole am I to burst in here, ready to give him hell for it?

Maybe I’ll give this some more thought. I can always come back later when he’s awake. I might have a clear head by then.

So I turn back to the door. Yet, right as I’m about to reach for the handle, I hear a soft whisper.

“Chloe…”

I turn back, but Neil is still asleep.

Then he opens his mouth again, and moans.