Chapter 11 ~ They’re Quite The Pair

Matthew’s POV ~

I had decided to allow our traitors to marinate a few days. Nothing like hanging in your own body excrement to make you feel alive! Know what I mean?

Mom had just walked in with Ella.. both of them giggling up a storm.. and Maverick mutters “Here comes double trouble!” Making me laugh. I love how well they get along. Mom misses Ari and Gabi so much.. having Ella here has brought life back to her eyes!

Ella glanced up from the book Mom was showing her.. and winked at me. My stomach did four backflips and landed in my sock heel! This girl affects me in ways I never dreamed possible. I can’t wait to accept her and mate with her!

A guard linked me from the cells.. the redhead wants to talk. I told everyone I was going to the cells and Ella jumped up. “Can I come? Abalone mentioned something I would like to try..” I cocked an eyebrow at her and she said “As long as evil hasn’t blackened the soul, I should be able to access memories.. and hear thoughts, as long as I am touching the person.”

I held out my hand and whispered into her mind.. she immediately put her little mitt in mine, grinning at me. Definitely our thing!

We made it down to the cells.. and went straight to the prisoners.. I gagged “The fuck!? Y’all really do stink. Maverick.. hose them down.. something.”

Ella laughed “That ain’t gonna help.. instead of smelling like shit and piss.. they’re gonna smell like shitty piss. Six of one.. half dozen of another.” Maverick asked “What”

I shrugged and said “Ella logic.” She smacked me.. making me laugh. Maverick had the redhead separated and showered.. then brought to an interrogation room.

Lisa was shackled to the chair.. her wrists locked in front of her on the table. Her hair was dull and lifeless.. eyes puffy and swollen from crying.

Ella grinned at her.. then said “Your little band of turncoats decided you would be the sacrificial lamb. All of them aware that the ranks in this pack do not torture women. What they aren’t aware of.. is ME! I got no problem beating a bitch down. Especially one who drugged my mate and nearly got him killed.”

I smiled. My own personal badass. Maverick linked 🐺 I’m always staying on her good side. I laughed at that. Me too, brother. Me too!

I looked directly at Lisa “You told the guard you are ready to talk. I suggest you get to it. Depending on what you have to say, will determine who sees the sunrise tomorrow.”

She started with more tears and Ella snapped “Stop the theatrics. There is no shame in your soul. No remorse for anything other than getting caught.”

Ella linked me and it startled me.. First time hearing her in my head, and Frost is actually purring. 🐺 her soul is dark. I can’t get a read.. just feelings. She’s angry she was found out.. ask her about her father. Mel, I think?

I cleared my throat “Let’s start out simple. Tell me about Mel.. your father. We know he resents not living by the same rules as he did at River Run..”

She sneers at me “You know nothing! Your parents broke the chosen bond between my parents! My fucking mother found her true mate that same day. Didn’t think twice about abandoning me and moving across the country to be with him!”

Ella asked “How old were you when that happened?” Then, she linked me 🐺. Find a phone number for her mother. I want to have a discussion with this woman, before we get too far into this.

I nodded and had Maverick run that information down. Just as Lisa said “I wasn’t quite three.” Ella smiled and said “So, any memory you have of your mother is latent.. ones you have been conditioned to believe. How does your father treat you? I’ve heard River Run didn’t always treat she-wolves well. Is he good to you?”

She shrugged “He’s a dad. Like any other dad. He yells a lot. Disciplines me when I screw up. But, at least, he stuck around, right!?” Ella said “So.. you resent your mother for leaving you. Yet, you only know what Mel has told you…and follow him blindly… You obviously know who your mother is with.. where she is. Why have you never thought to listen to her side?”

She screeched “I don’t need to! I don’t care about her side! She left me! She sentenced me to a life of being a pack mule. A slave. A whipping post. So! No! I don’t care!”

Maverick came back and nodded. I linked Ella we can contact the mother. Taking her phone out of her back pocket, she looked at Maverick expectantly. He just stood.. looking back. I chuckled “The number, dumbass. Give her the number.”

Once Ella had explained the situation to Lisa’s mother, whose name is Elaine.. she put the call on speaker.. then she asked “What happened, Elaine? When King Damien snapped your chosen bond..”

Elaine said “My life was a series of cracked ribs and black eyes. Mel is not a good man.. I was beaten for things like pronouncing a word wrong. Nodding my head at another pack member. Not making enough food for his sluts to eat with us.. so they would get my portion. When the bond was broken, a warrior from Stormy Glen turned out to be my true mate. I was packing mine and Lisa’s things, when Mel came in and told me I couldn’t have her. He was keeping her.”

I said “Lisa.. as you are aware.. as patriarchal as our rules are.. the father has first claim to any and all pups. Although, you being female, I am surprised he chose to claim you.”

Ella said “He didn’t do it out of any kind of abiding love.. or responsibility. It was done.. strictly as a means to hurt Elaine.. and to punish Lisa, for being female. He harbors no sense of duty. He worked, every day, to poison Lisa’s mind against her mother. He succeeded.. a stronger mind would have realized what he was doing. Common sense dictates there is always three sides to every story. His side. Her side. And somewhere in the middle, the truth.”

Lisa yelled “Stop talking like I’m not even here!”

And Elaine whispered into the phone “Lisa? Oh Goddess! Lisa! I didn’t abandon you. I called the new Alpha once a week.. I attended all your school events. I never heard from you. I didn’t know if you liked the birthday and Christmas gifts I sent. You never wore them. I have been to Bear Creek five times to visit you.. but your father always said you were busy.. or out with friends.”

I sat watching Lisa’s face, as her mother spoke. She was angry.. then she was confused. Then sad. She whispered “No. No.. you left. You didn’t care. If I believe you, everything I know.. my whole life.. is a lie! I never got any gifts. I was never told you came to see me. Nothing. He lied? My entire existence is a lie?”

Elaine said “NO! Your existence is my greatest blessing! You brought me the only joy I had ever known. Leaving you broke me in ways your father never could. Alpha Landon, might I be allowed to see my daughter? Frank and I can leave right now.. I can be there in an hour.”

I told her she was welcome.. that it might help us reach a better understanding as to what is happening with these traitors. We hung up the phone.. and Ella turned to Maverick “Take Lisa to her house for a proper shower and a clean set of clothes. She should be presentable to meet her mother.”

We all left the cells.. with Mel screaming he was going to kill Lisa this time.. and I stepped to him “You aren’t going to kill anyone. You are going to die for treason. When the King and my father find out what you’ve been up to… Well.. I’m just relieved it’s not me facing their wrath. They’re quite the pair.”