Violet Ashes: The Blood Ridge Alpha - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

"Luna Violetta," Alpha Jazmine jogs over with a couple of betas following behind her. "Sorry, I took so long. I was in Downtown,"
"It's okay, Jaz. I was explaining the situation. This is Beta Elemental Allen," I introduce her.
"Hi," she greets him politely and holds out her hand. He just stares at it. "It's cool. I get it," she nods and glances down at the body. "I've got it from here,"
"You sure?"
"Luna," the betas behind her bow.
"Not a scratch on her, boys," I order. They all bow and look around before stepping back to allow us to clear out.
"Until the three of them leave," Roman orders. The team salutes him and splits up to move around the packhouse.
"We're good?" Baby asks. I nod and slip the helmet back on.
The woman screams as I drag her mate away. I head back home through the center of their compound. It's excessive. I know that. There are very many names I can be called for doing what I just did, and in the last fifteen years, I've been called all of those things many times. So much they've become words.
It would be easy for me to say that this is how things are because of what we are—beasts, animals, savages, whatever term is used to specify our kind. But the truth is never that simple. Necessity is a very complicated word.
Did I need to do that? Of course, not. I could have taken the path my brother has been on for the past six years. It would have taken longer, and it would have required a whole lot of patience on my part. However, I've been thinking of the kind of person I wanted to be when I finally returned.
Mr. Thorne has taught me that hard work pays off. Something my father could never get through to me. He used a violent form of grooming. If we didn't perfect our tasks within the time frame that was given, pain and hardship would follow. It started when we were young, and it seemed like there was no other way to do things.
Mother's feral genetics fucked my brother and me. As her heir, I was cursed just a little more than he was. As an adult, my interests have evolved to include more refined hobbies, relationships, friendships, and ideals. Prolonged gratification is at the very top of those necessities.
It's the reason why I fell in love with Mr. Thorne. He's something I wanted because I knew how easy it would be to have him had I chosen to give in to the urge. It festered into a craving. Something I could only break if I reached out for it. But there would be no fun in that. I know exactly who I am.
Being home isn't going to change anything for me. I've done countless atrocities for a man who meant nothing to me. A man who means nothing to me. Why wouldn't I do them for the sake of my home? For what really matters.
I stop in front of the house I grew up in. When I came here this morning, I was only half of who Vincent and I were supposed to be. Sitting here now, I can feel his strength. I can feel how much he holds back. The rage and pain of having to swallow back the violence that comes with being in the position he's in.
Between the two of us, Vincent is obviously the strongest. But it's been so long that he's allowed our father to break the alpha command he should already have. I knew he would. I knew Dad would do anything to keep us in line, and he's accomplished it. He knows that I'd do anything to keep my brother safe. He knows Vince would do whatever it takes to make sure the city remains ours.
"Who is this display for?" my father growls as I haul Gary behind the white picket fence toward the four wolves statue. I ignore him and toss the length of the chain up onto the alpha wolf's neck. When the end swings over, I catch it. "Violetta!"
I growl at him with all the anger I feel inside of me when he puts his big ass boot on my kill's chest. His blackened eyes stay on me as those inside come out to see the spectacle.
"What the fuck do you want?" I demand. "Get your fucking foot off my kill, old man,"
"What you are doing is desecrating-"
"What the fuck have you been doing?" I snarl, letting go of the chain. It starts to slide back with loud clinks of metal as it falls off the brass statue. "Huh? Look at your fucking city, Alpha Wolfe! Fucking take a good look at it!"
"Return the body to his people," he growls.
"Or what?" I challenge. "What the fuck are you going to do to stop me, Dad?"
"Vy," my little siblings come out from inside.
"You couldn't cut it, Dad. Your way doesn't work anymore. We are losing to assholes like this one," I kick Gary. "He called your son a fruitcake. They've been taking our wolves to treat them like we're nothing. You allowed that. You're allowing it. I won't.
"I can't change what happened to her any more than I can change what's happened to you. But I can change what happens to those of us who are still here. To my siblings, to this pack, and those who are being sent to their deaths for no fucking reason.
"You have three choices, sir. You sit back and you let us do what you and Mom raised us to do. You can remove the problem," I growl, stepping up to him. "Or you can shift one last time and leave us like you did before. Whatever you choose, do it now."
"Violetta," Vince arrives just in time. "Dad," he comes over to us and pushes us apart. "What the fuck are you doing, Vy?"
"You think you can come back, kill a couple of alphas, and everything you've done will be forgiven?" Dad asks.
"Forgiven?" I laugh. "You think I want to be forgiven? Why the fuck would I ever apologize for putting myself on the line to save this pack? Do you really believe I've done something that requires your forgiveness? You are a stupid fucking man,"
"Violetta," Vince shoves me.
"Fuck," I growl stepping away from the two of them. "I've done things that I should be on my knees begging to be forgiven, and I can tell you right now, Dad. None of those things revolve around you, our family, or this pack. But since we're on the topic.
"I forgive you. I forgive you for abandoning us when we needed you the most. I forgive you for being such a fucking coward. I forgive you for turning my brother into you. I forgive you for stripping me of everything you wanted me to be, as if it were some grand prize. Most of all and I'm digging in deep to get to this one. I forgive you for turning me into the person I've become.
"You are the odd one out, Sir." I pick up the end of the chain and start wrapping it around my arm again so I can toss it back over the statue. "This goes for everyone," I look back at those gathered around. "Take my kill down and I will move in and sleep out here with it until it's nothing but bones and maggots on the ground,"
I throw the chain over the alpha's body again and catch the end of it. I tug the chain as hard as I can to lift Gary. When his feet hit the wolf's mouth, I wrap the links around the body to secure it better. I take the lock from the storage compartment under the bike's seat.
"Your mother would be repulsed by you," my father growls as I go over to the spot where the helmet rolled when I took it off. I bend down to pick it up.
"Yeah, well I'm repulsed by her mate who allows anyone to call my brother a fag. I'm repulsed by the audacity of the alliance she built by presenting a white-flag contract. I'm repulsed by the fact that I have to bring in outsiders because you couldn't fucking protect our people. My mother's opinion, much like yours, means jack shit to me. If people's opinions of me mattered, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'd probably be your sorry ass."