ECHO

I sat there frozen on the couch while Gemma and Arlo spoke amongst themselves. My gaze flickered towards Molly who seemed just as shaken as me, but the look in her eyes was what scared me.

The raging storm of anger in them made her unpredictable and that was even worse. If what she had done was true, she had to be stopped. This news shouldn't have affected her as much as it did to me.

"Are you okay, Mols?" I asked softly, but she paid no heed to me. So, I called her name again, this time, a little loudly to get her attention.

Her head jerked in my direction and a gasp fell out of her lips. The talking beside me had stopped and now everyone's eyes were on her.

Molly seemed to have paled and looked everywhere, but at us. Frantically, she tried to smoothen her hair, but her entire body shook and I was scared for her.

"Mols, what's wrong? Talk to me."

But she didn't. Instead, she kept muttering something under her breath. That was extremely strange and as much as I tried to focus on what she was saying, it was indiscernible.

"What she is saying?" I quickly asked Arlo.

"I don't know, kiddo. Hang on." He said as he walked towards Molly who abruptly got up and held up a knife to Arlo.

Gemma gasped and I grabbed her arm, holding on for dear life.

I had never ever seen Mols this way. The only time she ever picked a knife was while cooking and above all, she was not a violent person. I trusted her with my life; please don't make me regret that as well.

"Woah, woah, hey! Molly, I am not going to hurt you," Arlo spoke slowly and calmly.

"You won't, but she will!"

She turned in my direction with the sharp end of knife staring in my face. I was terrified, but I was done being that.

To not alarm Molly, I gently stood up and gestured Arlo to take a step back. Gemma caught hold of my hand to stop me, but I assured her that it was all right.

"Put the knife down and we can talk," I said without a wavering note in my voice.

"No! No! You lied to us, Echo!"

"What do you mean?"

"Y-you still have your wolf with you. She isn't gone and I h-have heard stories..."

For a brief second I squeezed my eyes shut trying to block the memories of my past, memories of what I had done. I wasn't sure how Molly came to learn of that, but I suspected it was Colvin.

"Molly, I swear I didn't know. Have I ever lied to you?"

She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. This moment of vulnerability allowed Arlo to tackle her and snatch the knife from her hand. He tossed on the coffee table and the knife landed with a clank and thud.

I grabbed and pulled her towards me, wrapping my arms around her. "Shush, it's okay, it's okay." I whispered, hoping it would calm her down. But she struggled for a long time before settling down.

Gemma seemed horrified with what just went down. This would have stung her more because Gems was closer to Molly. They were opposites, sure, but they fit well together – like sisters.

"Gems, can you grab a bottle of water from the kitchen?"

"Huh? Ye-yes, okay."

I mouthed a 'thank you' to her.

Once she was out of the room, I guided Molly towards the dining table. Arlo was on high-alert in case Mols tried to pull something again.

I sat beside her and Arlo stood on the opposite end, his eyes trained on Molly. It was clear that he was pissed, hell, I was too, but being angry was not going to solve the problem at hand.

There were too many secrets and too many questions. It was time for some answers.

Gemma came back, placed the bottled of water in front of Mols and without any warning she blurted out, "We know what you did, Molly. You had no right to put us all in danger."

Arlo and I were taken aback by her sudden outburst.

Her best friend on the other hand, wasn't. It was as if she knew that we knew.

"I know, it was only a matter of time before you guys found out," her voice was a mere whisper.

"Tell us, why! We trusted you!"

"I had to!"

"What do you mean by that?" Arlo asked.

I patiently waited for her to answer. There were already two hotheads and I didn't need to throw myself in the mix so I stayed silent.

Molly joined her hands on the table and her head hung low as she continued to explain her actions. "Colvin reached out to me, I don't know how he got my number, but he did. He said we both could get what we wanted. He wanted Echo and I wanted to catch my brother's killer. I am so sorry, Echo."

"Don't. Just finish what you have to say." I didn't need to hear any more words from her than what was a necessity. Anger started to boil my blood just listening to what she had already said. I had already put two and two together, but I wanted her to confess.

She let out a shaky breath and her voice brokewhen she spoke. "Colvin said that he would just give us a scare so we would runaway from the last place and come here. It would be the only way to make it tothe Bloodrose Pack, otherwise we would never have come here. Their Alpha rippedmy brother to shreds and I had to watch. I couldn't do anything. This was myone shot at avenging his death."

Her voice dripped with venom as she spoke each word and the hatred for theAlpha, Jax, my mate was clearly evident. I could feel myself lose control andmy body shook as I stood up and slapped her right across her face.

"Echo!"

"No, it's okay. I deserve it. I wish things were different."

"Did you throw me in the lake to drown?" I asked with an angry voice.

She didn't answer, but her silence answered the question for me.

I scoffed.

"I wish things were different too, Mols because now, the Alpha needs to knowwhy you are really here. You don't know what you've done, you foolish girl.Your actions could cost all of us our freedom, but worst of all, it could costGemma her mate."

"No! You wouldn't dare, Echo! You care about us." Molly said confidently.

"I cared about you and you betrayedus. There were other ways to handle this, but you chose the path to revenge andit blinded you so much that you didn'teven stop to think about us," my lips quivered.

It broke my heart to pick up the phone and call Stone, but it had to be done."Hello?"

"Hey, it's Echo. Could you please pass on a message to, um, the Alpha? It'surgent." My voice broke with each words and I was trying hard to not cry.

"Uh, yeah, sure. Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

An hour passed by with me wallowing in self-hatred and Molly pleading for me todo the "right thing."

Arlo was out on the front porch with Gemma. I wasn't sure what they werediscussing about, but Molly could – werewolf hearing.

I scowled at her and averted my gaze.

I was surprised by Arlo and Gems because none of them stopped me from callingthe Alpha. Perhaps they thought it was the right thing to do too?

As much as I wanted to protect my friends, I couldn't. Molly had crossed a lineand that put all of us in danger. If it were just me, I could've taken the blowand gone down without any complaints.

But her confession brewed a different kind of feeling in my heart - a need to protect the Alpha.

I know he said I was his mate and with everything that had come to light, therewas a possibility that my wolf was still present, but I still felt empty and Ididn't feel a mate kind of pull towards Jax.

Or maybe, just maybe, you are in denial,Echo.

I checked the time on my phone again. What was talking so long for him to come here? Did Stone not pass on my message?

Waiting here was so fucking stupid. I was getting more irritated by each passing minute. Thankfully, when I heard the screech of tyres outside, I knew he had finally arrived.

The gravity of the situation had already hit and I had an hour to get rid of mynervous energy, but I was still fearful of what he might actually do. I had to be strong, even if it meant making a deal with the devil.

I was prepared to do what needed to be done.

And on that thought, the door burst open and an angry, but concerned looking Alpha stepped through.

His eyes found me and he rushed towards me.

"Are you okay?" he asked gruffly as he took my hands in his.

I nodded and looked over my shoulder. Molly glared at the Alpha and seemed ready to rip this throat even though she knew she wouldn't survive if it ever came to a fight.

"We need to talk." I pulled the Alpha through the living room onto the backyardas Arlo, Gemma and Stone came inside.

I closed the sliding door behind us and gestured him towards one of the tables and empty chairs. I looked weary, but silently sat down with me right beside him.

I gulped when I realized I didn't know how to begin this conversation. It my head it didn't seem so difficult.

"My patience is running thin, Echo." He said with every bit of authority in his voice.

Pursing my lips, I hoped that whatever was to come out of my mouth would be the right thing. I didn't want to fuck this up than it already was.

"Just hear me out first before you do anything."

He thought for a moment before giving me a reluctant nod. I breathed a sigh ofrelief. At least he was willing to do that instead of doing something rash.

I explained to him Molly actions and as much as I didn't want to, I found myself justifying them to an extent. Because I put myself in her shoes and perhaps, I would've done the same thing. However, her actions were not excusable, unless the Alpha in front of me thought so.

I tried to keep my past out of this conversation as much as I could, but it was imperative to mention Colvin's hand in this situation, but I left out the part about what he was to me or why he was doing this.

Once I was done explaining, I finally looked up at the Alpha. I couldn't meet his eyes when I said the things I needed to. I was ashamed.

His face was stoic as it was most of the times and I let my eyes roam all over him. His hair was a mess, as if he ran his fingers though it several times andas the last two times that I had seen him, he was dressed in a navy blue suit.

"You lied to me." He banged his right hand on the table and it made me jump.

My eyes snapped back up to his face when he spoke. "No, I didn't."

I didn't know what he was talking about.

"You came to here under false pretenses. Arlo said you were just passingthrough and needed to stop for a while, but all this time, it was you running from god knows who. Are you still lying to me, Echo?!"

He roared and his voice made me cower back into my seat. I was riddled with guilt, but as much as I want to tell him everything, I couldn't. I had to keep him safe even if it meant leaving this place.

I felt tears well up in my eyes and waited for those words to come out of his mouth, but they never did

"Fine, you don't want to say anything now, but later you will. Until then, this situation warrants a punishment."

"What kind of punishment?" I gulped.

"Molly will be held as a prisoner of the Bloodrose Pack and the rest-"

"Please, don't. Gemma and Arlo are innocent in all of this. Moreover, Gemma is Stone's mate who is your Beta. If you punish her, it will cause problem on both fronts."

"Leave the two of them out of this and I'll take the punishment." I quickly added knowing this was my window to make a deal for Arlo and Gemma's well-being.

The Alpha pretended to think. Condescending bastard.

"That's quite a proposal, but I am afraid, I'll have to turn it down."

With that he stood up, buttoned his suit jacket and turned around to leave. I couldn't let that happen.

"I'll do whatever you need to me." I got up and almost ran towards him.

He searched my eyes for the truth and when he did, I knew I had him.

"Do not mistake my leniency towards your friends as their freedom. I'll be watching them and they will stay on pack grounds for as long as I tell them to. On the other hand, while your friend isbehind bars, you will be my very own personal prisoner. You'll stay with me and do as I say. Defy me, Echo and the deal will be off. Understood?"

The Alpha leaned down and grabbed my chin, his hot breath fanning my face. I was rooted to my spot and had clammed up. I couldn't speak so I only bobbed myhead as a 'yes.'

"I need words, Echo," he whispered as he titled my chin harshly.

"Yes..."

"Good. Now go back your bags. You are coming with me."

The Alpha released his hold on me and left me standing all out of breath. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head in frustration.

What had I done?

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A/N: I am so happy that I was able to post another chapter. How many of you guys are shocked, but sympathize with Molly?

Also, can you finally see the ruthless and devious side of the Alpha? ;)

xoxo,
Grace Clarke