Chapter 288: Chapter 288

“He isn’t going in,” Dad says firmly as he looks at Valerie, who glances at me.

I raise my hands in surrender, before passing her the antidote. “That’s fine, Just … I need to know if it’ll work:”

It has to. Fuck at this moment a part of me is terrified that if this fails… everything I did was in vain…

“I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve checked it,” Valerie says as she lets herself inside the safehouse leaving me alone with Dad.

“How did Zaia get hurt?” I ask the burning question that has been on my mind since I found out.

“In her confrontation with your mother, she was shot in the waist.”

I look up sharply, guilt and worry rushing through me. “She’s shot? But that was recent, and she’s out there fighting?” I ask, my heart thundering.

“Well, she is the Alpha. What did you expect her to do?” he replies coldly. “Even if it isn’t the best option, it is what she must do.”

I exhale in irritation, letting his words sink in and the unspoken message in them loud and clear.

If I was here, as Alpha, she wouldn’t have to be the one leading this fight… I’ll join her the moment that Sia has that antidote…

“I was angry and upset when she left this pack, feeling as if she was the one who could fix you, but I can’t blame her after everything you keep doing. When will enough be enough?”

I let his remark about fixing me slide.

“What are you trying to say?” I ask, glaring ahead into the night as the sounds of the clash from all around surround us.

All I can think of is that she’s injured, fuck I need to go to her.

They want to get in, také over… overpower the Sublime, and kill them… Zade and Gaultier were raised as killing machines, and I don’t want Zaia facing them.

“That she was never in the wrong… I see that now… when will you fix things, Sebastian? When will you stop her suffering?” His voice is quiet, and I mask my surprise at his concern for Zaia.

Long ago, she was his and mom’s favourite, but after a while, he started turning against her…

I tilt my head, frowning as I observe him. “Tell me, Dad, was Mom the one instigating matters regarding Zaia? Your words now and the hatred I remember after she left, don’t exactly go hand in hand.”

He’s silent for a moment before he looks away. “I was a fool. Looking back, I realise I was just too blinded… the way she worked… I fell for it, but it’s no excuse. I made mistakes, they are on me.

Blaming another doesn’t make the fact I listened any less.”

True…

We fall silent and after a while; I glance at the door behind me, feeling impatient. “She’s taking too long.

Call her.” I say to Dad. He frowns and pauses. By now Gerard might know that something isn’t right.

“She wants us to come inside,” he says just as the door unlocks and is pulled open.

I find myself staring at Hugh Toussaint. His eyes flash when he sees me before he steps aside, allowing us in.

“How is it?” I ask as he leads the way down the hall to the panic room, the safe place I had created in case the safe house was infiltrated. A place that can withstand a lot more.

Where is Valerie?

“There’s some bad news, I’m afraid…” Hugh begins as we step through the safe house door.

“What is it?” Aran asks coldly.

But my stomach is already sinking when I see Valerie standing at the small door that leads to the panic room. Tears in her eyes as she holds the vial in her hand.

“What is it?” I ask quietly, dreading the answer.

“It’s not an antidote… you were tricked, Sebastian…” she whispers, looking away in frustration as she struggles to control her anger.