Violet Ashes: The Blood Ridge Alpha - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

"Come on, Vy. How bad can it be?" Verona shakes her head. "Were you like a-you know," she shrugs. "A hooker?" she whispers. "You can tell me."
I laugh, rubbing my face at how cute she is. A hooker? That would be less shameful than the truth. How do you explain to someone you've protected their entire life that the courtesy doesn't extend to others?
There's nothing wrong with profiting off sex. We do it for free with strangers we have a fleeting connection with, and wake up feeling ashamed about it later or sometimes immediately after. At least someone ends up a little less disappointed when those bills are paid or they're rocking that new bag.
"No, I wasn't a hooker, but there were times when I had to use my body to get to a target. When I first started, I would dress up like a private school girl. Pervs loved it. It made it easy for me to get into some really hidden places—deep underground shit.
"When I left, I had never been on my own before, and I fell in love with a guy who used me to boost his business. We made an excellent team, and then we caught the attention of a monster.
"He made us do some fucked up shit. Covens, packs, hordes, dens, royals, aristocrats, and humans. He would give the order and we would follow. Men, women, and children. We couldn't say no, or he would do what we were doing to us. He did. I killed the rogue king and his entire family in a single night.
"He trusted me because he knew I loved him, and I killed him, his baby, his mate, and his parents while they were sleeping. I gave the others the codes to the house, their gate, and the location of their guards. The entire Rogue council. That was me. I led that assassination. All because that fucking asshole said no to taking out Arnold Knightly.
"And that's not even the worst thing I've done since and before. It's where the money comes from. It's how I'm so connected. It's also the reason I'd been able to work for the Thornes for as long as I did. He controlled what they knew. He put me in his path, hoping Zander would be dumb enough to fall in love with me. I am going to ruin those hunters because that was the purpose of my working undercover.
"Perry killed him and I helped her because I didn't want to fuck Zander over for no other reason. I was hoping that I would never have to come back. That one day, one of those missions finished me before I could do more damage. But none of them ever have. I don't know how to stop anymore. I don't want to. And I know I am going to keep doing it until I die. It's what I am now. All that's left."
Her eyes search mine as tears stream down her face. Her bottom lip trembles when she tries to say something. I take a deep breath to calm myself. I lean against the table. Why does it feel so good to have let that out, even at the expense of her mental state of mind? It feels like a weight lifted off my chest. I jump when her arms come around me.
I stay still as she sobs onto my shoulder. I relax, placing my hand over her elbow. We both jump away from one another when someone clears their throat. We turn around to see Alpha Barnes standing behind us.
"What the fuck?" Verona chokes out as she wipes her face.
"I second that. What the fuck?" I glare at him.
"I've been looking for you for hours," he growls.
"Okay," Verona sniffles and takes something off the table. "Good talk. I'll see you later."
"V-"
"Nope. Not getting involved," she waves me off. Once she gets behind him, she holds her hands out in front of her and dances around while mouthing the word fine.
"Get the fuck out of here," I shake my head. She laughs and skips out. I look up at him, annoyed. "You interrupted my conversation with my sister."
"I was worried. So many things could have happened to you. You-"
"Fled and successfully got away from you with ease. I already showered, had dinner, scolded my little sister, and her new BFF. I also made my other little sister cry because she thinks she wants to know everything, but she really doesn't and needs to go downstairs to her room."
I hear her giggling as she gets into the lift to leave.
"How did you get over here so fast? When did I lose you?" he demands.
"You can only hide your presence. That can get you killed. It's easier to track your scent. You lose the element of surprise if you're standing downwind."
"That's not a thing," he shakes his head.
"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean it's not a thing," I laugh. "I ran around you for about ten minutes, scattering my scent. It's a tactic I picked up in England. They have wendigos and what do you call those screaming omen assholes?"
"Banshees," he sighs.
"You were running around in circles while I made my way home. That's hilarious," I laugh. "That's what you get for being an asshole."
"I wanted you to meet a piece of my family. I wanted them to know you. You can't even admit to yourself that you have a mate."
"My sister knows. She's known the whole time." I roll my eyes and head back over to the stairs. He follows. "How did you get up here?"
"I have the key to your garage elevator. I swiped it off the kid helping you move in that night."
"That little shit didn't tell me he lost my key," I groan. "What do you want? I think I made myself very clear at the bonfire."
"I told the kid about the bike. I came to deliver the part. It's the same year, and I told her to bring it in. We'll paint it for her when she's done with the s I also brought the bike. I took the truck back and snuck in once I saw the lights downstairs go out."
"You asked those Lycan assholes for something to get past my security again, didn't you?"
"I asked for something to get past a Lycan tech security system, yeah. It only works for two minutes, and the little device is expensive, so I only got one," he places his big ass hands on my arms. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fucked up the bike."
"Or invited me to meet anyone without asking me first. I understand you're frustrated, but this isn't easy for me either. I'm trying my best to right a wrong here, Arsen. I know it's not your fault, but I have to do this before I lose them. I'm grasping at straws here. I can only take so much. The last thing I need to be worried about is my father actively hunting you because of me."