Chapter 149

Art POV

Royal birthright meant I had a distinctly selfish view on how things should be and be done. It was ingrained in me from birth to believe I knew what was best; being appointed to the Alpha Council as an inspector had only solidified my belief in my own self-importance and judgements.

Tyler Wright thought I could wave my hand and make things happen because I worked for the Alpha Council.

I knew he'd think I was capable of even more if he knew my heritage which was why I wasn't sharing my connection to the old Alpha King with him. The man would just have to understand I was doing my best and it would have to be enough.

"I want you to be there when we present Lindy for him," I said, letting my hands dangle between my spread thighs as I watched Justice pacing before me.

"Why?" she asked.

It was a good question. Justice was a talented witch, but I was more than capable of handling Richard Campbell without her assistance.

"I don't want to kill him," I admitted, "I think he'd push for death if we were to get into a fight. He wouldn't want to be taken alive. He's not the kind of man who could suffer indignity of any kind."

Justice considered my face for a moment before giving me a slow nod, "Yes. I can see where you might be right. Why not just kill him? You realize he'll make you or someone else eventually?"

"I've got enough blood on my hands, don't I?" I asked.

Justice sighed before crossing the room to ruffle my hair. I would normally protest, but her touch was soothing with my bloody thoughts spinning around and around in my head. All I wanted was for this case to be over.

Rachel Campbell or Flores or Wright---I needed to put her out of my mind because she was driving me insane. I had a crazed Alpha heir in chains because of her. I had plans to use an innocent she-wolf to lure Richard Campbell to what might be his death. Her only brother was comatose and might never be right again thanks to my intervention.

I wasn't doing my soul any favors the longer I stayed involved with this woman and her problems.

"You worry too much, Art," Justice said, pressing a kiss to my forehead, "Do what you must to survive and know it's necessary. Your life matters more than these fools and fakes."

She was gone before I could agree or protest.

I was used to her leaving in the middle of a conversation -it was one of many reasons we'd not made it as a couple- but I still felt stung. Why couldn't she offer me comfort with a little more compassion involved?

Everything was a bloodsport to Justice.

I'd worry she would put down Nathan Lewis as a rabid dog if I didn't know the guard I'd set on him would protect him well enough from her.

Concentrating on Wright House, I slid myself to Wright's front door.

I didn't have to extend him any courtesies, but I knocked all the same. I thought it would be better for talking to Lindy if I didn't scare the woman witless from the start. She was already a jumpy little thing.

Magda answered the door, "You want drink? I have many options, Alpha Inspector."

"Thank you, Magda. Is lemonade an option?" I asked, knowing it was since the housekeeper fairly reeked of fresh lemons.

She beamed at me before offering a bow, "Yes! I get for you and bring to social room."

Magda hurried away for my lemonade as I let myself in the rest of the way. I noticed Rachel looked worn around the edges with red-rimmed eyes and tired creases beside her mouth. She wasn't enjoying bedrest very much from what I could tell, but she was progressing with her pregnancy which was good.

I knew her child would be strong. The girl was coming from two strong Alpha parents. I couldn't imagine a possibility where she wasn't born strong.

"You're looking like you could use a nap," I commented, "Have you been resting at all?"

Rachel shook her head at the same time she shrugged, complicating her answer, "All I do is sit here. I hate it. I'm useless. Have you found out anything more? Is Ethan responding to treatment?"

"Ethan remains at rest. No change. I have an idea about getting us information which I need to discuss with Lindy. As for useless? No. You're growing an Alpha wolf. That's a whole job by itself," I pointed out.

I didn't give Rachel a chance to suck me into her web. I took hold of Lindy's arm and slid us from the living room outside to the driveway. The short hop might make the girl slightly nauseated, but she'd survive it just fine.

Stumbling into me, Lindy braced herself with her palms on my chest and I was forced to look down, down, down to meet her eyes.

Huge and brown, her eyes made her look more like a scared deer than any Alpha she-wolf I'd ever seen.

"Lindy. I need you to do something for us. You know we are trying to find Elena. Without Patrick Flores, your father is the only hope we've got to get her location. Do you understand what I'm saying?" I asked.

Lindy nodded slowly.

Slowly enough to clue me in she had no idea at all what I was asking of her.

Sighing, I said, "Lindy, we need you to call your father. Tell him he has to meet you. You've found out you aren't Elena Campbell's daughter. Peter told you something more. Something you have to ask him in person. Do you understand? I need him off-balance so I can get the information we need."

Lindy swallowed visibly. I could tell she wasn't comfortable with my request, but I didn't have time to baby her any more than I already had or was and the woman needed to grow up sometime.

We couldn't keep walking on eggshells around her.

"Lindy," I tried, working on making eye contact so she would hopefully believe me as I spoke, "You are the best hope we have for finding Elena. Think of how much Rachel needs her right now. Think about Ethan. If I could get Elena to donate blood for him, her Alpha blood might be enough to wake him from the coma. Rachel could have her mother and her brother back."

"She has Tyler," Lindy whispered.

Her voice was a breathless murmur; I could hear her heartbreak as well as see it on her face.

Lindy Campbell was not in a place where she could be anyone's hero, but, unfortunately for her, she was going to have to be one anyway.

"Tyler isn't enough. Would you think Nathan was enough if you were in her shoes? If I could bring your mother back to you? Or you back to your mother? How would you move on from that offer?" I asked.

Tears slid down Lindy's cheeks, flushed her face as she mumbled, "I don't know. I just don't know. He raised me. He's my father. He's---he's my father."

I went by instinct alone and wrapped my arms around the woman. I drew her shaking body against mine and held her until the stiffness bled out of her, leaving her limp against me as she cried.

"I know. I know. You can do this though. You can do this for Rachel and for Elena and for yourself. You can do this, Lindy," I promised, hoping I wasn't lying to her when she needed the truth more than ever before in her life.

"I know. I know I can. I just don't want to. Please don't make me do this," Lindy said.

I hugged her to me, squeezing tight. There was hardly room for her to breathe in the circle of my arms, but I tried to let her go only for her to wrap her arms around my waist and hang on tighter.

Rocking her side to side, I whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lindy. If I had any other choice---"

"I know," Lindy repeated again, her tears clear in her voice as she whispered once more, "I know."

None of us were innocents in this plan. Lindy would be the sacrificial lamb for the immediate action we were taking, but none of us were innocent.

Considering all that was to come, I wondered if there were any innocents left in this world of wolves and men.