Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Julian’s POV
With Penny’s suspicions matching my own, I looked back at Tony. “You hired this woman, Becky. You are certain that she wasn’t actually Olivia p>
“You said you’ve known her for years at the theater,” Uncle Peter added, also looking at Tony know. It was good to have him on my side. As the oldest and gruffest here, his help was unexpected but welcomed. Though I was Alpha, he was something like the family patriarch. Those that wouldn’t listen to me seemed cowed by him instead.
Tony was no exception and lowered his head slightly at Uncle Peter’s implied accusation.
“Tony,” Aunt Kathy said, pressing with her motherly tone. Tony’s parents weren’t around anymore, they had both passed in a tragic accident a few years before, but Uncle Peter and Aunt Kathy seemed to make
‘for good stand–ins, encouraging his submission with only a few disapproving words.
“Alright, that was a lie,” Tony said. “I’m sorry, truly. I don’t… I didn’t realize she did those things p>
“Wait,” Penny gasped. “So that really was Olivia p>
y waited a moment, and then nodded once.
ediately, my stomach dropped. I couldn’t believe it. Even with his misunderstanding of her, how could he still invite her into this place, into our family? She had been exiled. I had declared her to be an enemy of the pack. And Tony had gone behind my back to bring her here anyway?
Gods, she could have actually hurt Mom. We had left her alone in there with her. What would Tony have
done then?
“Olivia tracked me down through some mutual connections. She gave me the full sob story and I ate it up, ” Tony said. “She kept talking about our past friendship and I let myself fall for it. She told me you were pushing her aside because of Amber’s influence p>
“That’s bullshit,” I said.
“Yeah… ” he said, letting his voice trail. He took a breath and continued, “I thought if I could get the two of you together again that it would trigger some romantic connection, and you’d see how you’d been
manipulated p>
He laughed once, bitterly, “I had no idea I was the one being manipulated. I had no idea she was guilty of cheating p>
“None of us really did,” Uncle Peter said. “Such a vile thing to do. A mate should remain committed p>
It bothered me that my relations seemed to care more about Olivia’s infidelity than they did that she had
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Chapter 240
+15 BONUS
tried to have Amber killed and Alice hurt. But in this moment, I supposed I would have to settle for this being the cause of their dissatisfaction rather than nothing.
I didn’t like it though. At all.
“Do not diminish the hurt she caused to my family,” I snapped. “To Alice and to Amber p>
“Yes, yes, that too,” Uncle Peter said dismissively, which only managed to further stir my ire.
I was still angry about all of this, about the way Tony had treated Alice, about the way he had invited Olivia into our lives again, and now how everyone was more upset with cheating that attempted murder.
That anger was stirring within me without a real outlet. It had nowhere to go.
Aunt Kathy was the only one who seemed to notice that I was a walking, ticking time–bomb. She moved closer to me, yet was careful not to touch me. Gently, in a soft voice, she said, “Perhaps you should check on Alice. She most likely needs to feel the protectiveness of her father. I’m sure she’s scared, the poor
dear p>
Aunt Kathy’s compassion did successfully calm me a little and, after curtly nodding at her, I turned and left my family to argue amongst themselves, letting Uncle Peter deal with Tony as I went to the room
where I had seen Amber earlier take Alice.
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