Violet Ashes: The Blood Ridge Alpha - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

The pups are playing video games and arguing in the living room. Roman and Verona are both working in the greenhouse on the rooftop. They've gotten carried away, and I'm okay with that. It's been a long time since I've felt this rich. Since I've felt like I'm home. I want two others to be here, but that seems like a far-off fantasy, especially with the two of them being alpha shit holes.
Maybe I was a little harsh on Vince. I can say I don't know what he's had to put up with in my absence, but I know. I've always known, and it's the reason why I pushed myself as hard as I have, why I gave up parts of myself that I'm never going to be able to get back. He gave up his entire future for this pack and I just shit on him because it's catching to up to us.
I didn't think that becoming one with the parts of me I've been denying since I walked away would be this difficult. It's all on display in front of me, and I can't even look him in the eyes and tell him the truth. I've left him alone in all of this. Sold my soul to a monster that took away the sister he remembers.
All I'm going to be able to do is pass on this disease inside of me onto him. Kill all the parts that make him kind and loving. My father isn't the only one to blame here. He's lashing out because he doesn't know how to deal with the rage. He's a good person, and I'm not.
"Someone's here." Baby brings me out of the dark hole I just tripped into.
"Who?"
"He looks flimsy," she says. Baby and Pepper giggle to themselves.
"It's that fuck tard, Thorne." Pepper scoffs. "I thought you got rid of him."
"Stay here," I order them. "All of you."
They go back to their video games, but I'm sure they're going to do the opposite of what I asked, and they're going to bring the older ones into this. I put the lasagnas in the oven and head down. Mr. Thorne is, in fact, standing outside the garage. I hit the button to open it. He turns to face me when it's about halfway up.
"Hey, Vy," he greets me with a tight smile.
"What do you want?" I ask him. "Why are you bothering me in my home?"
He tenses up. His nostrils flare the way they do when he's angry. I cross my arms over my chest and wait for his answer. He looks like hell. His hair is a little shaggy, he hasn't shaved in a while, and he's wearing jeans.
"I deserve that," he clears his throat, and then holds up a file with my lawyer's stamp on the front. "But not this."
"That's up for debate."
"Vy, what the fuck? We built this together."
"I agree."
"The offer is a good one. A generous one," he shouts.
"It's really not. I suggest you leave."
"We can talk about this like adults. Like friends. You're my best friend. I don't understand why you're doing this."
"Do you remember when we went to Syria to get the nano tech we needed for the cancer treatment for your mother and you fucked the Syrian prince's daughter so he sent a bunch of assassins after us?"
"Vy-"
"Who do you think took care of that? Your family? Do you remember when we went to Miami and you spat in Alpha Bluen's face and I stepped in front of you before he could kill you?"
"He wasn't going to kill me," he scoffs.
"He was. That slap didn't kill me because I'm like him. Better actually. Stronger. I always have been. But mortal like you wouldn't have survived a hit like that."
I let that settle for him. He stares at me for a long time, long enough for me to let Beverly surge forward so he can see what's standing in front of him. I can hear his heart start to beat wildly in his chest, and the sweet, burnt scent of his fear is carried into the garage by the late afternoon breeze.
"No," he shakes his head.
"I have been killing and fixing all the shit that you have left behind every step of the way to get Thorne Labs to the position it is in now. You are a spoiled fool who has gotten me into a whole lot of trouble since we met.
"I overlooked all of it, Zander. I made you my priority for a long time and all you had to do was make sure your idiot fucking brother didn't fuck us both. He has done so at the expense of my brother. I could have let it go had it been literally anyone else. It could have been Eloise Lockwood or Jennifer Gorgon. Shit, even Pernicious Phurry and I would have let it go.
"I don't have to take it all. I can accept the money, and we can part ways without any further issues. Water under the bridge and all that. All I ask is that you give me Justin so I can make an example out of him. So that other idiots like him, will never try to fuck with my dumb ass brother again. The choice is up to you."
"You're a fucking werewolf?" he finally snaps out of it.
"Yes, and if that isn't enough to make your balls shrivel up into your stomach, I'm also a Wolfe. So, know that I'm not letting any of this shit go until I get what I want. You can choose what you're loyal to, Zander—your pathetic excuse of a brother or the company. I will let you sleep on it. Present this information to the board and ask them what they would like to do. I will be waiting for your call."
He stares at me, and without saying a word, he turns around to leave. I watch him get into his car and haul ass out of here. That shook him in a way that I needed it to. His next move will be made in a panic and without the permission of the hunter's association. I put my phone to my ear to call Pernicious.
"What up?" she hollers. "You know, I am starting to love your almost daily calls. It makes me feel so loved by you, Luna Wolfe."
"Shut up," I laugh.
"Please, give me some good news. The monster villagers are being so fucking mean to me and Jonas, right now."
"Okay, the shipment is here, and I'm going to hand it over to Alpha Barnes tonight. The construction on the tower is on schedule. And I've got control of the alphas for now."
"That's my girl. You know, it sucks that we weren't mated. We'd be the Queens of the packlands," she laughs.
"I dropped the bait. Zander knows I'm a Wolfe. He just left the tower," I agree entirely. We would have been unstoppable.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
"I could use a drink. He didn't look good. They're pushing on him."
"That's not your problem anymore. We need Justin dead, and we need him dead soon. If it starts a war, we're not that far from you."
"He's going to try a peace offering. I want to see what bullshit he pulls. It's usually good," I admit, and shut the garage door. "I'll call you back if he tries to make contact again."