Chapter 0045

"Alright, fine." Caleb mutters, raising his hands and sinking into the vacant chair.

"This is the deal. You tell us everything you know about Dominic and his little crew. You tell me and Athena everything about being a Lycan. If you cooperate, I might just let you live."

"That seems a bit unfair. You 'might' let me live." Caleb replies. "After I've given up all my secrets. I've only ever been willing to share information." He grins at me. "Surely you can at least guarantee my safety?"

"It won't be my decision." I mutter.

He turns to look at Athena. "You're letting my sister decide my fate?"

My gaze shifts to my mate, who hasn't moved. She was intently watching Caleb.

"You won't know who makes the final decision." I tell Caleb. "That way you can't try to manipulate or bribe them."

"Well played, Alpha Alexander. Seems you already know my methods. So what do you want to know?"

"Everything. You claim Silver Creek is the only remaining Lycan pack. Where did they originate?"

"Same as Wolves, I suppose. Packs develop over time, created from multiple different..."

Stop. Where did the Lycans originally come from? We are children of the Moon Goddess.

"We are too. There's a story, maybe truth, maybe myth. It goes something like this: a Wolf claimed a human. When they marked the human during a full moon, the human began to change. Shifting into what we now know as a Lycan. Part human, part Wolf. As more were created, they began to procreate. More were born. Neither Wolf nor human, but something in between."

'A Wolf claimed a human?' Titan mutters.

But that wasn't my concern.

"We share many characteristics with you, Alpha Alexander." Caleb continues. "We can shift at will. Females go into heat exactly like Wolves, though I believe our females tend to stay in heat much longer. I can't be certain about that one. Females aren't my preferred choice. We hunt. We feed. We mate. We mark our claimed ones. We are strong. We can heal. The only real difference is our bloodlines started differently." He shrugs like it's common knowledge.

It's impossible to tell if he's lying. Titan tells me.

"You know a lot for someone who grew up adopted." I mutter.

I told you I had someone on the inside. But you killed him. He looks over at Athena. "I'm truly sorry I couldn't protect you."

"Were you there?" Athena asks quietly. "Were you there the day I killed my parents?"

Caleb shakes his head. "Though I was informed about it much later. Victoria should never have put you through that."

"Victoria?" I ask.

Remember what they said about the poison being meant for Victoria's parents?! Titan mutters.

It's no secret she wanted to become Luna. Apparently all the Lycans knew and supported her takeover. She couldn't do that while our parents were still around. She framed Athena, who was next in line to become Alpha.

"They knew? They all knew what Victoria wanted?" Athena asks.

Caleb goes quiet. "I can't say for certain."

"They... they all knew I was set up and they still..." Her voice trails off. Her blue eyes fill with tears.

"I'm sorry... I thought..." Caleb looks back at me. "I thought you had figured it out?"

"There were still some gaps." I mutter. I could hear my mate's heart racing.

"Claim it back." Caleb mutters to Athena.

"I'm not an Alpha." Athena mumbles.

"You may feel that way now, but I promise you, the blood running through your veins says otherwise!"

Caleb gives her a small smile.

Athena keeps her face unreadable.

Only I knew all the thoughts racing through her mind.