THE ALPHA'S FORSAKEN SECRET
son'
My ideas were disorganized, bits of guilt, rage, and anxiety. The weight of it all would not go away. Ava's comebac
ly something seemed odd. It was in his avoidance of my eye and his hesitation upon receiving directions. And now, as t
breeze, their limbs murmuring whispers I could not hear. The rogues were waiting, observing, organizing thei
the door. I said, "Come in," my voice raspy
We have raised the patrols as you requested," he remar
narrow eyes. "good." There i
. "I doubt this is solely about the rogues, Ja
enough for me to know when he was h
ng to face me at last. I listened and heard something. On
for a means to discredit me, constantly hiding in the background ready for a chance. I ought to have realized h
ed me for some time. But today he is focusing on my family. Ri
of doubt, a split-second of hesitation. My tummy turned
could not let mistrust color my judgment.
atrols once more. I want eyes on every square inch of our country. A
ff. Jackson, you
on't know what to think." "But I'm not taki
in as the door closed behind him. Was I acting in line? Was I pushing too hard,
ears of hiding the past had gone toward me convincing myself I had made the correct choice. But seeing her once more
door broke off my concentra
Quietly referring to the twins, she remark
Rather, she crossed her arms, a few feet away, as if her on
e added, "I overheard what Ril
s not the complexity here. Blackthorn is not follow
ldn't quite read: maybe fear, maybe rag
g control. And he spots a chance with you and the twins i
he desk. What therefore ought we to d
voice. Not waiting is what we do.
ed her eyes on me. "You're t
'm referring to looking out for our kids. I refu
ly, and I caught a flash of the A
a whisper: "You hurt me." "You upset me in
my chest, I turned no
ing once again. "I doubt whether I sho
ushing down on me. "I'll get it
re nodding at last, although her eyes
on it. The enemy is already at our doorstep, the risk too close. I saw th
et it. I have not
I'll send a team to border scouting tomorrow. We'
th her arms still crossed. A
rept back in. We w
ence I had developed over years of leadership was eroding with every hour tha
son, take care. Whoever it is, they are not j
s laying over me like a w
turned to go and stoppe
. I felt she would withdraw for a moment,
ith that, leaving me alone
e silence of the night encircling me. Now the moon was higher, giving the for
wling in the shadows whil
tart actin
ng menace of Marcus Blackthorn. Doubts linger as he gets ready to meet the challenges ahead, maki