Clarity is clear to See.

Valentino Winter.

I was still in shock, even when we prepared, even when we loaded up in the plane, the shock of Xander and his brothers knowing still had a grip on me, I had underestimated, underestimated how resourceful he was, they were, —both their parent's were the smartest pair I knew, it would make sense that they would figure out everything and was only a matter of time before my family knew and at that point, my fate would be theirs to decide.

The day or rather time I had spent with Xander shortly before this whole mess happened, was the most beautiful time I'd ever had after I came back, he didn't force me to talk rather steered the conversation to a point where I was forced to talk, he made me want and think, feel things I thought I'd forgotten. Ping pong tournament, it was such a silly idea yet it made sense, unity wasn't with the old, it started with the young, he instilled the values of the pack in the young so they would never stray away, like I did in my misguided actions, giving them an outlet to talk about their feelings, a sense of belonging despite who they are, I had come to rule a pack that didn't even need me.

Thoughts kept coming even if the plane rattled a bit in turbulence, looking over at Xander now, his eyes were happy, his body, probably his soul was at peace, I missed my chance with him and a part of me regrets it now, I should've seen how he was such a gorgeous man, with a heart full of love, yet that heart wasn't easily accessed, he was also dangerous, extremely dangerous, I knew that first hand after watching him almost kill his brother and he was pulling his punches, I may have wanted to challenge him, I still do if only to prove I'm just as strong as him but I doubt that now, my life and problems had spilled over into his life and the pack, it would make sense that he would laugh when I said my problems weren't brought to the pack.

"So why did you do it?" I was shaken from my thoughts by Marquis's question. "What?" I asked changing my features to a neutral expression. "The killing, the lying, the following a bad man who killed dozens of people." He explained and I looked away, the truth is I was seduced by the idea of absolute power, he took advantage of my weakness, over my foolishness and used it to his advantage. "Marquis." Xander warned as he sat facing away from both of us, I was sure he had been face timing his twins and Rhiner since Alexis decided to come with us instead of the head warrior. "No it's fine, you already know, what's the point — in hiding it." I replied facing Marquis again.

"I was at a low point in my life, I thought my father had abandoned me, I thought he'd never want me back after cutting me off financially, I was surviving from pay check to pay check, unable to make ends meet, so when he came to me and told me hunters were on me and that he could protect me, I took the chance." I sighed, it was all rushing back. "He seduced me with the idea of absolute power over others, something I wanted, he hardened me, made me what I was to him, his lover, his executioner and his right hand, because he had given me what I thought I wanted, I wanted to reciprocate his kindness in the way he wanted, so I did, I killed, I lied, I tore apart families, actions that haunt me even now, but then I met his other lover, she reminded me of who I was before my darkness took over, she showed me the way." I explained and looked away before I could see the judgement on Marquis's face.

"Atleast you let her save you, Goddess knows we all tried but you wouldn't let us." I heard Marquis reply as he turned to where Xander was, a scoff escaped my lips, leave it to a Nile child to say that and it would be in the least bit insulting. "This is your captain speaking —." I tuned out the rest of that announcement as I buckled myself into my seat, then looked outside, the beautiful sky scrappers of St Maine were in view, we were here, and my heart was beating frantically, would we be in time to save them.

The plane landed in more or less a comfortable descent, I was never one for finding comfort when the plane ascended or descended that was the scary part always. "Thank you Sol, I'll inform you of our return and flight plan back." I heard Xander tell the captain, he was a wolf, born and raised in the pack, I remember hearing that my mother had been the one to find him and others like him with similar aspirations, to help them achieve their goals, with Xavier's help of course, he had connections everywhere.  When the conversation was over I was fidgety. "Where are they?" I asked Xander who was typing on his phone. "About to— here they are." Xander replied as three SUV's were speeding toward us and they parked not so far from us.

"Xan Xan!" A man just as tall and equally if not more built than Xander called out his name, he was like a whirlwind tumbling toward us, he didn't even think twice before jumping into Xander's arms, yes a part of me was jealous, but I had no right to be. "Ralliel, look at you, all big and strong." Xander appreciated the man as another equally large male, who looked exactly the same as Ralliel walked up to us. "Luca, hey gamer buddy!" Marquis shrieked as he hugged the man I assumed was the twin to the alpha, their hair was a startling silver, like Xander whose eyes had canary yellow tinge that made them beautiful yet scary. "I missed you, —you barely visit, you need to make it up to me." I heard Ralliel tell Xander and my eyes widened when I saw the two kissing.

"How's that?" Xander asked and I scowled looking away, I shouldn't have been hurt but I was. "That's a start, you owe me a date, plus I need to meet your kids, they must know their uncle." Ralliel went further, unashamed that Xander practically had his ass in his large hands. "Sorry about those two, they've always had that weird relationship, —after you left." Luca stated as my eyes narrowed on him. "Luciano Everlin, the one being groped is Ralliel, we're the alphas of the Ryleland pack, come with —oi Xander, if you're done fucking we've got things to do!" I liked him already. "Sorry guys, Xander makes me do things." Ralliel apologized and I rolled my eyes.

Soon enough we were all packed into the cars, I was with Marquis and Luca as Xander and Ralliel were in the other car. "What we know so far is that your girlfriend and her child are in the western side of the city, its a great neighborhood, only we didn't know a rogue alpha had set up shop there until recently, our human informant there had to move back to the pack since my dad was refurbishing his house, if we had known, we would've had another informant stationed there to keep an eye out, anyway, we're headed there now, it should be an easy task since we've been systematically killing any wolves that were helping the alpha, it's only him, and nine wolves in total holed up there." Luca explained and my wolf worried about our child, the mother of our child, she must be terrified.

"We're here and luckily it's dark out." Luca informed as the cars stopped and I got out first, Xander and Ralliel were out already, they were gods in the moonlight. "Three houses down the street, that's where they are, we need a plan of attack and a just in case plan." Ralliel commanded as he opened the back of the car we were in. "Guns or claws?" He asked me and I was surprised, they had incorporated guns into their pack. "Guns, less gory but claws work just fine too." Xander replied as he took two guns and placed them by a holster belt at his waist, and took another one to place by his leg.

"How was recon?" I heard Marquis question Alexis, I had forgotten he was here, when the plane landed he just disappeared. "Fun, there are seven men left." He replied and I realized he'd gone ahead to scout the situation. "Impressive." Marquis commended as he kissed his mate, I guess Xander's pummeling got through. "Okay, Lexi you're back up, so you'll stay behind and take watch up on the roof, Ralliel and I along with Val are going first we'll enter the house from the back, we can't risk any wolf lives here so those warriors who were with us will stay with Luca and Marquis, once we start killing there will be stragglers, your job is to kill them." Xander explained and I liked that plan.

Soon enough we were at the backyard of the house listening in on what was happening. "Did you really think I wouldn't find you huh!" I heard him scream, his voice causing me to harden my resolve. "You'll be obedient now, you'll know better than to fuck strays!" He screamed again as Elina screamed aswell. "Please no, stop!" She begged and I couldn't wait anylonger. "Don't be rash." Xander warned and Ralliel pinned me down with his eyes. "Please, ah!" Elina screamed and I shook off Xander running into the house. "Val!" I heard Xander hiss but I was already shooting.

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Another Val Chapter, Now that I'm not hating the guy, I can shower him with a chapter or two, anyway only one Val chapter left, lets see what's gonna happen next.

Saint Jay.