Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Theo “Theo,” Briggs warned as he saw my hands clench into fists as I was shaking with rage.

“She said nothing about you,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “But she did give me these.” I handed her the bank statements. “You can imagine my surprise when I found out that not only does your sister have absolutely no reason to take money from anyone, but there are a surprising amount of transfers going out of her account. Including a thirty thousand dollar transaction from a month ago. I’m guessing to your mother’s account.”

Kylee looked at the papers she was holding, shaking her head. “No, she’s lying...”

“Shut up,” I commanded. “You have been lying, Kylee. Open it.” I pointed to the safe on the desk.

“What?” she sniffled.

“The safe, Kylee. Open it.”

“I... I don’t know the code,” she protested.

“It’s your birthday,” I spat.

She slowly approached the safe and punched in the numbers. When it opened, she pulled the papers out.

“What is all this supposed to be?” she whined.

“Look at them, Kylee.”

1/6 Chapter 40: Theo 288 Vouchers She looked back down at the documents she held. I stepped in close to her, pushing my aura out to engulf her.

“You’re going to be honest with me now, Kylee. Did you know couldn’t lie under an about all this?” I ordered, knowings Kylee. Did you know Alpha’s command.

“I... I didn’t know she owned the house,” she muttered. “I didn’t know about the money.”

“You knew she paid for your school,” Mina shouted. “You knew she got you your scholarship in high school.”

“No,” Kylee whimpered. “That was Ma.”

“How the hell do you figure that worked out, Kylee? She hasn’t held a job for more than a couple months in over a decade.”

“But...”

“Ayla devoted her life to you,” Mina growled. I wasn’t even going to stop her. She obviously needed to get this off her chest. And I wanted to hear what she had to say. “Working three and four jobs for years just to keep a roof over your head. She gave up more opportunities than you’ll ever have in your life. Just to take care of you. And this is how you f***ing repay her?”

“She was never there for me,” Kylee spat. “This is all lies. Ma was the one who...”

“You’re mother was at your beck and call, giving in to your every whim. When she wasn’t too drunk or out gambling every penny she got her hands on. But she wasn’t the one taking care of you.”

2/6 288 Vouchers “How the hell would you know?” Kylee yelled. “You left us a long time ago.”

“Because Ayla actually made an effort to stay in my life,” Mina said. “She loved you, Kylee. More than anything. And you’ve treated her like garbage.”

Kylee turned back to me.

“Theo, you can’t believe this,” she said, rushing toward me. “You love me. You said you wanted me to be your mate.”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that,” I said. “You were the one who brought that up. You were the one telling me how Alphas were always stronger with a Luna by their side. How I needed someone to help me take over the pack.”

“You know packs are stronger with...”

“You manipulated me,” I bellowed, sending her back a few feet. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”

“She’s been lying about your relationship,” Briggs said. My head snapped to him. “She’s not only been saying you’ve been together for over two years, but she told Ayla you were her fated mate.”

I saw red. No wonder Ayla was so scared of hurting her sister. I stalked toward her, not sure what I would do, until Briggs stepped between us, holding me back.

“Theo, don’t,” he said.

“Theo, I love you,” Kylee whined.

“Get out,” I growled. “And don’t let me see you here again.”

3/6 Chapter 40 Theo 288 Vouchers.

Kylee started to say something but thought better of it, instead running out of the room. I took a few minutes to calm down.

Kieran was pacing circles in my head, feeling smug and satisfied. But I wasn’t. The damage Kylee had done – that I had done because of her still had to be fixed. And I would fix it.

“Theo,” Briggs said, “what are you going to do?”

“Mina” – I turned to her as she stood beside my Beta – “I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am for how I treated Ayla. For everything I’ve done.”

She was still angry, and definitely with me, not just Kylee. I I couldn’t blame her and I wouldn’t expect anything less. I was glad someone in her family actually cared about her. I knew had to prove myself to her as much as to Ayla.

“Don’t expect me to be singing your praises anytime soon,” she said. “Kylee may be a manipulative bi*ch, but you’re an Alpha.

You should be able to think for yourself.”

“Mina,” Briggs said, shaking his head.

“No, Briggs,” I said. Her words cut deep and hit me right in the gut. But I respected her for saying it. “She’s right.” I picked up Ayla’s letter and held it out to her. “This is from Ayla. It’s meant for Kylee and Marie, but I think you should decide whether to give it to them or not.”

Mina took it gingerly, nodding to me. I could see gratitude in her eyes.

“What are you going to do now,” Briggs asked, putting an arm around Mina’s waist again, letting her lean into him.

4/6 Chapter 40. Theo I averted my eyes and sat against my desk.

“I’m going to find a way to get my mate back,” I said.

1288 Vouchers “Bout fu***ng time,” Briggs said, half under his breath. Mina elbowed him.

“I’m not helping you,” she said. “From what I hear, she may be better off where she is.”

Again, right for the gut.

“Mina,” Briggs said again. I had a feeling he would be saying that a lot from now on. “They’re fated mates.”

“And if you ever treated me like that, I doubt I would care,” she said, shooting him a look.

I could tell she didn’t mean it. She would care, she may kill him for it, but she would care. I wondered where she got that kind of fire. How much of it came from Ayla?

“I screwed up. Big time,” I acknowledged. “I am well aware of how much of a colossal f*ck up I am. But I will spend the rest of my life making it up to her. If she’ll give me the chance.”

“You’ll have to get her away from Kingston first,” Briggs said.

“Yeah,” I said, my stomach churning as I remembered the way he touched Ayla. “He showed up when I met with Ayla.”

“And you’re still alive?”

“I told you Ayla wouldn’t let anything happen to him,” Mina half mumbled.

Before I could say anything else, the door to my office burst 5/6 Chapter 40: Theo open, and my mother barged in.

289 Vouchers “What the hell is going on in here, and why is Kylee in tears?”

6/6 Chapter 41: Ayla 288 Vouchers Chapter 41: Ayla