The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Chapter 57: Secrets and Spies

Fang’s POV

Astrid was ecstatic with the huge warm reaction she had received regarding her pregnancy announcement. I was happy for her. I was happy for both of us. I was scared shitless about being a Dad. My own Dad ended up being an alcoholic and then a would-be murderer. Speaking of my own Dad, I could not stop feeling drawn to Cody. The hair on the back of my inner wolf’s neck was standing up! Did my senses deceive me or did Cody smell like my…

“Dad,” said Thaddeus suddenly. Timbre looked up. “Is it ok if I show Cody the spot on our estate where we wanted the new building?”

“Son, today is a day of celebration!” Began Timbre, raising his hands in the air, the old viking about to make a speech I’m sure. Good grief.

“It’s ok, Baby Bear, you’re excused!” Said True, beaming at her eldest son.

“Hey!” Whined Timbre like a little school boy rather than a seasoned warrior and former Alpha. He pouted at his wife and mate, True, who gave him an innocent look from under her lashes.

“Papa Bear, it’s my luncheon today remember. Friday and I are the hostesses so we can excuse Thaddeus,” cooed Timbre, glancing at Friday encouragingly.

“Oh,” said Friday blankly. “Um, you’re…excused?” “Thank you, little Luna,” murmured Thaddeus pressing his lips to Friday’s forehead.

" for one, think commissioning Cody’s company to sort out that new building is an utterly brilliant idea,” chimed in True, winking at Elizabeth.

Even the mothers of Thaddeus and Maze were friends now! Ugh. I felt like I was on Barney and Friends. We were supposed to be in the middle of the Challenge. I got up as soon as Thaddeus and Cody did.

Everyone looked at me. Astrid looked affronted.

“Please, um, Luna True, may I tag along? I, uh, love architecture,” I lied, hoping it was not obvious.

“Oh, Fang! Please, call me True,” chastised True. “Run along and have fun,” she said as though I were her fourth son and had asked to go to sports practice with my friends. She didn’t need to tell me twice. I gave a quick peck on the lips to a suspicious Astrid.

Thaddeus led Cody and I to the back of the main pack house where there was a vast open field. It was windy. The wind made the overgrown grass bow and rise again as one like a wave crashing through a green sea. The Berryndale landscape was really beautiful. I almost forgot my aim when I stopped to admire my surroundings. I recovered.

Are you smelling what I’m smelling?I asked Thaddeus over mind-link privately. Thaddeus’ POV I sure hope not, I answered Fang, sighing.

The truth was I didn’t actually want Farris caught. He was a huge asshole and a sorry excuse for a father to my little mate, Friday, but him being sentenced to death would break her little heart. I knew she still wished she could have a decent relationship with him like the one she had recently developed with Fang. I supposed nothing in this world was impossible when you considered that Maze and I were friends now. Genuine ones. I thought of Maze too. I knew he didn’t want to have to be the one to put Farris to death. Sure, he wanted to avenge his own father, Malachi, but he also didn’t want anymore drama and rang nag come, Pernaps, ne was just curious to know nis vaga’s wnereabouts this.

If I were rignt about

“Look, Cody, I like Maze a lot and therefore I care about Elizabeth and I want her to be safe and happy. My top priority however is Friday so I need to know something, why do you smell like Farris?” I asked. The drunken stench of the former Beta was faint but unmistakable. I had always been nose for my keen sense of smell even before I took up the post of Alpha.

Cody gulped, sighed and then took a slow, deep breath. Fang and I waited patiently.

“Fang, Thaddeus, please know that I mean absolutely no harm to anyone here. I adore Elizabeth but that’s just the thing…” began Cody, pausing.

“What’s the thing?” I asked impatiently. “Enlighten me!” I was trying to not use my Alpha voice. I only used it as a last resort. Fang was shifting nervously from foot to foot.

“Elizabeth was taken from me by Malachi and I went off the deep end. I was devastated, out of my mind with grief so when he showed up…I…my heart went out to him. Felicity was taken from him by the same man,” concluded Cody.

“You housing him right now, yes or no?” I asked pointedly. “Yes,” whispered Cody. I heard a sharp intake of breath from Fang.

“You do know that harbouring an attempted murderer of a former alpha is also punishable by death, depending on how lenient or harsh the pack leaders want to be,” said Thaddeus, folding his arms, his tone impassive.

Cody sighed. “I expect the pack leaders to be lenient though,” said Cody defiantly.

This guy was brave. Thaddeus towered over him, seven feet to Cody’s six-foot-two or three. He was talking Mano y Mano with the famed seven foot alpha.

“Why is that?” Asked Thaddeus, his tone and gaze darkening with suppressed rage.

“Because that is under Maze’s jurisdiction and I doubt he’ll be in a rush to kill his mother’s mate after the years of unhappiness she went through with Malachi. He’d even hesitate to kill Farris. That’s Maze’s mate’s Dad. This is a very complicated family and I think you guys both realise that,” said Cody with a tired smile.

I shrugged but said nothing. I didn’t want Maze to be in that predicament though.

“How do you know my father?” Fang said softly, frowning. Cody and I looked at him in surprise. We had almost forgotten he was there. He had been silent up until now.

Cody’s POV

“Malachi had ordered your father to keep tabs on me in the early days his marriage to Lizzie. He didn’t want me coming back to Marigold to snatch his heir incubator away from him,” I said, my tone becoming bitter near the last few words.

It was such an unfair situation. Felicity and Malachi had pursued a more than two-decade-long affair, the discovery of which pushed Farris into a fit of vengeful rage and sent Lizzie running into my open arms. Now, Farris’ head and possibly even mine were on the chopping block. Lizzie and I deserved our happy ending after all these years just as much as Malachi and Felicity. I looked at Thaddeus. I doubted his parents, True and even Timbre would be ok with snuffing me out not after the lengths they’d gone through to pull Lizzie from a dark place and to locate me for our reunion. Thaddeus and Maze were the current Alphas but perhaps this needed to be handled by the generation that initially produced the mess. Perhaps, Malachi and Felicity, and Lizzie and i all needed to have an open honest discussion with Timbre and True

“I’m prepared to tell Malachi myself,” I said quickly but first I needed to message Farris and tell him to get the hell out of the house in case they sent a squad there. I reached for my cellphone in my pocket.

“Easy there, Partner,” said Fang putting his palms up. I was surprised and frankly suspicious about the suddenly cooperative demeanour of Cody.

“There’s no need for that yet,” I said sternly as I mind-linked Theo for backup in case Fang completely sided with Cody.

Theo was at my side in the black of an eye, a wary expression on his face. “Take me to Farris,” I commanded him. I didn’t use my Alpha voice. I was going to trust him for now.

I looked at Fang. He nodded resolutely. Theo’s expression remained unfathomable.

“Let’s go quickly before the girls realise we left,” I said, heading in the direction of my car. Theo close on my heels. Fang and Cody sauntered behind us.

Friday’s POV

Thaddeus, Fang and Cody were not back yet. I glanced at a worried Elizabeth. Maze was holding her hand again from across the table which was so sweet of him. I kept glancing upwards hoping to see Thaddeus. I grumbled to myself.

“What’s taking them so long?” Asked Fallon and Fargo in unison. Timothy and Titus shrugged.

Astrid was beginning to look worried too. I stood up. “I’m going to go check on them,” | announced.

“No, no, there’s no need!” Piped up True. “They’re probably mapping out how they want the building to look,” said True with a dismissive wave of her hand before she took another spoonful of chocolate brownie and vanilla

The Lunch had been served and it had all been divine, roast chicken with jackets of cheesy mashed potatoes, meat and vegetarian and even vegan lasagna, different kinds of pasta and different kinds of rice. We were now onto the desserts: brownies with ice cream, a plethora of kinds of cheesecake, cupcakes sprinkled with edible glitter, chocolate mousse, Oreo mousse and coconut mousse. The conversation between Elizabeth and my Mom was one of the most, correction, the most awkward thing I have ever feared witness to.

I tried to mind-link Thaddeus and that was when my wolf and I realised he was very far away and moving steadily further. Were we being left? My wolf started to panic.

Ishh-ed her. They were probably just walking around the vast grounds and looking at other building spots, I told myself but I had a nagging suspicion that there was something more afoot.

“Excuse me, please, I have to use the bathroom,” I said to the table. No one tried to stop me, not even Maze. It was time for me to investigate.

Ezra’s POV

I had been keeping tabs on Cody for almost two days. Yesterday, at the Howl, was the first time I had ever seen him. Elizabeth’s mate?! How interesting. So both Malachi and Elizabeth had spent twenty-five years in a loveless marriage where both of them knew who their true fated mate was. Why would anyone do such a thing? Subject themselves to a life of misery. I could not easily enter into the gates of the Berryndale Pack House but I could have my vampires follow him everywhere else. So I did just that and low and behold, I made a ground-breaking discovery. Farris, the former Beta of Marigold wanted for the nonfatal shooting of the former Alpha was hiding out at Cody’s house.

I was there in person now, peering through the windows of Cody’s ranch house, watching an. transgressions on the aireaay doomed Farris. Before I couia ponaer tnis Turtner, i neara une sound or car doors opening and closing and then footsteps. Voices. Cody, my new buddy. The Formidable Fang. A deep, booming voice that was unmistakably Thaddeus! I had to move away from here. Otherwise, they would smell me. I stole through the forested area at the back of the house. I leapt effortlessly into a tree, crouching amidst its highest branches and pulling my hood back down. I would watch the show unfold from here.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.