Chapter 76

Vivian

I stormed out of Renee’s hospital room, every muscle in my body wired tight. I couldn’t believe it. That little liar—lying there like some tragic heroine while I tried to offer her grace, and for what? So she could throw it in my face again? If I knew she would be this ungrateful for the honor of being my friend, I wouldn't have bothered to pick her up when I did.

Nothing was going the way it should’ve. I was supposed to be the one everyone sided with. I was supposed to be the victim, not her. I was the victim. It should have been me wearing that dress. It should have been me and the spotlight. It should still be me, and it would be as soon as I got her under control.

I was rehearsing the words I’d say to Dad to smooth all this over when I rounded the corner and walked straight into him.

I jolted back a step. He looked terrible. Not like messy or unshaven. Dad never looked anything less than put-together, but his eyes were red-rimmed, his shoulders heavy. And worst of all, his gaze was clear. Clear in a way that made my chest tighten.

He wasn’t confused anymore. That misty look he'd get looking at me was gone. It was as if someone had pulled the veil from over his eyes.

“Vivian,” he said quietly, voice raw. “You need to go with them.”

"Them?"

I blinked and noticed the Mountainhowl agents standing just behind him. Like shadows waiting to pounce.

I crossed my arms. “Excuse me?”

“Just go with them,” he said again, voice tight. “Don’t say anything. Not until the Brightclaw lawyer gets there.”

“Are you serious?” My voice pitched up in disbelief. “Dad, this is insane. You’re really going to--- what? Turn me over like I’m some criminal? I'm your daughter.”

His face crumpled for just a moment, and he looked away like it hurt to meet my eyes.

“I’m asking you,” he said, more hoarse this time. “Please. Just go with them. Say nothing. Let the lawyer handle it.”

“No.” I took a step back, shaking my head. “No, Dad, this is me. I’m your daughter. Your heir. I'm the future of the pack! You can't just treat me like this. Whatever Renee has said, it's all lies. And—”

"Vivian," he said, his eyes closed. "I…" He took a deep breath and looked down at me. "You will always be my daughter, Vivian, but that doesn't mean I should protect you from the consequences of your own actions."

"Dad--"

"Vivian!" He yelled, staring down at me. "Just… go, Vivian. I’m asking you to go. Please don’t make this worse.”

His eyes filled, just enough to glisten. My stomach dropped. He stepped forward and gently took my hand, like it was something fragile. Like I was a little girl again. Then he leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"I love you," he whispered. "I always will."

By the time he stepped back, I felt the world shift under my heels.

“Go with them,” he said one last time.

And then he turned me over. Just like that to the bulky men who stepped forward.

"Wait-- Dad!"

He didn't even turn around and the Mountainhowl officers weren't budging no matter how I twisted or fought.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

They dragged me out of the hospital, but they didn't cuff me. Instead, they put me into the back of their car and drove off. I tried to get the door open, but it didn't budge. There was a divider between the backseat and the front seat, and the windows were blacked out.

"Let me out of here! This is kidnapping!"

The driver said nothing. I tried to get out pushing at the door, pushing at the windows, but nothing cracked, nothing bent. When the car finally stopped, I was pulled out, not necessarily roughly, but too rough. And I screamed.

"I'm the heir of Brightclaw you can't do this to me!"

"The only reason why you're getting such nice treatment is because Dominic has actually been quite cooperative."

I turned to look at the woman who was speaking. I recognized her from television, Luna Mountainhowl. As usual she was wearing expensive clothes and looked on the edge of ordering someone to gut me. I'd heard she was vicious. I sneered at her.

"My dad--"

"Is as tired of your shit as I am," she said calmly. She looked at them. "If she continues to resist, cuff her and haul her to jail instead of the holding cells of the Judicial Hall." Her lips twitched. "And do remind her that the rules of Mountainhowl and the interpack agreements don't bend just because her father sits on the Panel." She smiled, coldly. "The Brightclaw lawyer should be arriving soon enough to talk over the charges with her."

She turned.

"Bitch!" I yelled after her. "You don't scare me! Wait until my Dad comes! You'll be sorry!"

She just laughed, loud and mocking as I was pulled away. I did resist, and as she ordered they cuffed me and dumped me inside of a cell. I snarled running to the door and screaming after them.

"Let me you, you bastards!"

I was left alone as if no one else was in this section of holding cells. Within the hour, a familiar face came in. He was a member of the pack, one of the few members who couldn't be swayed and wasn't interested in currying any favor with me. I'd told him often that as soon as I controlled the pack, I'd kick him out.

Why would my dad send him here? I set my jaw.

"I want someone else."

He hummed, stopping before he took a seat.

"Is that an official request for different representation?"

"Obviously!" I hissed.

He shrugged, turned and left, pulling out his phone.

"Yes, Alpha. She's requested a different lawyer. I'm leaving."

He hung up and smiled over his shoulder. "Just so you know… you'll have to wait for a public defender."

"What!"

Dominic

I stood in front of the hospital room door, staring through the glass. Renee was awake now, propped up with wires looped around her wrist and shadows under her eyes. She looked small in the bed, tired, pale, but still proud somehow. Her hair was messy, her mouth set in a firm line, and all I could think about was Hazel.

God. Hazel when she was Renee's age. Hazel when I'd first brought her to Brightclaw for the summer. The way we'd argue about nothing, laughing together. When she was at her worst, and could barely get out of bed, depressed as if no happiness could move her again. Renee looked so much like her in that moment it felt like my ribs cracked open.

And then came the guilt and anger twining together. Thick and hot and merciless.

I had let this happen to Renee: Tyler, Vivian, the endless games and posturing. I’d let them treat her like this, all while telling myself I was being neutral. Deluding myself into thinking that it was all just fine. And she’d ended up in a hospital bed because of it.

This was worlds different than what had happened to Hazel, but there was a chance that if I hadn't pursued Hazel, if we'd never married, she wouldn't have been on that ship, wouldn't have been kidnapped, wouldn't have died the way she did. That Vivian would be with her real father, and I… I don't know where I would be. Married to someone else, I guess. Living a completely different life.

But… none of the aspects of my life that I found unbearable more often than not would have changed. I still would have been alpha too young with a half brother who hated me, with more money than companionship, with only Lara as family in the whole world.

I swallowed hard, shame rising like bile in my throat. Renee was young and had been through hell, and I was throwing a stupid pity party, knowing that I was part of the reason she was even in the hospital right now. I didn’t deserve to walk in there. Not like this. Not when I hadn’t slept in two days and my hands were still shaking from everything that had happened. Not when I still couldn’t figure out how I’d let things get this far.

Not when I couldn't separate myself from the guilt.

She deserved more than this hollow version of me.

I turned to leave. I’d come back tomorrow when I could look her in the eye without flinching. When I could say something that wasn’t pathetic.

But then the door opened.

“Alpha Brightclaw,” came a low voice behind me.

I looked over my shoulder. A Mountainhowl bodyguard stood just inside the room, one hand still on the door.

“She’s awake,” he said. “You should come in.”

I hesitated.

Then he added, quieter, “She’s not mad at you. Not yet.”

That last part hit harder than anything else had all day.

So I nodded, slowly, and stepped through the door.