The challenge two alphas one girl novel Chapter 65

Thaddeus’ POV

There was a sharp knock on my door sometime after midnight on the twenty-first day of the challenge. I sat up groggily worried it was Friday because she was not allowed to sleep here with me but I knew I’d struggle to refuse her. Part of me hoped it was Friday because well, you know, she’s my Friday! The knocking turned to frantic banging on the door and I practically flew across the room opening the door to reveal a terror-stricken Fang.

“Fang! What’s wrong? Is it Friday?” I inquired, immediately crossing the hall and opening her bedroom door with my master key.

She was up and eating the food Maze and I had left her and wearing the diamond bracelet. I grinned at her.

“Friday’s fine!” Exclaimed Fang. “It’s Katrina!”

“Katrina?” I asked.

“Are you guys ok?” Asked my Friday sweetly, putting down her croissant.

“Eat, Luna!” I instructed sternly. She took another bite.

“Katrina is Ezra’s sister! I thought you knew Ezra! He was here with the girl who kinda looks like Friday but fl!pped me off!” Said Fang loudly, practically yelling and waving his hands animatedly in the air.

“Oh! Yes! Ezra has a younger stepsister!” I said “What’s wrong with her? How do you even know her?”

Fang looked a bit apprehensive. “We met in a bar!” He said dismissively. “The point is we were talking on the phone. We’re newly acquainted and I heard some weird sounds and she screamed like she was being attacked. The call cut and I need you to contact Katrina’s brother or something to go check on her!” Fang said breathlessly. He took a deep breath.

“Calm down, Bro!” I said softly putting a hand on his shoulder. “Did you try calling her back?”

“Yes!” Insisted Fang. “Three times!”

Fang’s POV

I had to get to her! Or, at the very least, I needed to send help somehow! Poor Katrina! What had befallen her? I wouldn’t be able to go check on her myself at the Vampire Manor after my reluctance to move forwards with the Friday kidnapping plot.

“The scream really sounded like she was being attacked!” I reiterated, beseeching Thaddeus.

Thaddeus nodded.

“Call Ezra, please, now, it’s an emergency. She doesn’t have much time!” I said, my voice strained.

Friday looked worried. Thaddeus seemed uneasy also. I hoped Ezra would answer at this hour. Thaddeus dialled the number while I waited anxiously with bated breath. When Ezra didn’t answer on the first ring, I began to panic. Thankfully, Ezra picked up after the second ring.

“Thaddeus?” Ezra’s toned was confused and concerned on the other end.

“Ezra! Sorry to call you so late but my…brother-in-law is concerned that your stepsister might be in danger,” Thaddeus said handing me the cellphone.

I launched into an explanation before Ezra could utter another word, “Hey Ezra, I’m Fang, Friday’s brother. I know your sister. We met at a bar about a week ago. I was on the phone with her a few minutes ago and suddenly she stopped answering, there were sounds of a scuffle and then a horrible scream before the call cut. I know it was her voice. The scream. Can you please confirm her whereabouts?” I had to talk as if I were properly introducing myself to Ezra for the first time so as not to reveal my past dealings with the vampires.

“I’m going to look for now!” Was all Ezra said, his tone serious. He hung up before I could ask that he let me know when or if he found her.

Thaddeus seemed appeased and so did Friday.

“So he’ll call back when he finds her?” I asked.

“If I don’t hear from him in an hour maximum, I’ll call back,” Thaddeus said.

“What if you don’t get onto him?” I said, my dread mounting. What if some mutiny was brewing at the Van Der Windt Man

“I have other vampires I correspond with that I can call,” said Thaddeus. “Worst-case scenario, I can send a squad of warriors to scope out the premises.”

“That’s so dangerous!” Piped up Friday, coming over and standing close to Thaddeus, looking up at him.

He patted her head and then ran his fingers through her tousled waves, untangling them. “Little Luna, I have sent squads to the Vampire Manor before. They are expertly trained. They know when to fight, stand their ground, retreat or call for back up,” explained Thaddeus patiently.

Friday nodded. My head was pounding. There would be no sleeping tonight. I sighed and went to the Alpha Dining Room. I sank into the nearest chair, putting my head in my hands. I had to just wait and hope. Katrina reminded me a lot of Friday. She was naive but b.rave and that was a dangerous combination. She trusted others too much including her stepfather. She seemed shocked that he would lie to her or exclude her from his plans. That wasn’t surprising to me. Ezekiel Victor Van Der Windt seemed like he’d sell his own son out if necessary. His biological one. And Katrina was a stepchild though she seemed to love her stepfather. It reminded me of how eager Friday always was for our Dad’s approval. I could’ve told her he wasn’t worth it but I hadn’t been a decent big brother then to advise her. So many feelings swirled inside of me. There was outrage, anxiety, hope, fear, regret, shame and guilt. Lots and lots of guilt.

I looked up to find Friday in a nearby chair, waiting patiently with me for an update, eating her croissant. I held her small hand in mine. She swung our interlocked hands like we were preschoolers and smiled. She had a diamond bracelet on her wrist. She hadn’t really owned any jewellery before the challenge. The pink diamonds with the rose gold suited her.

Thaddeus came in and sat on the other side of Friday. I was wracked with guilt. If I told them about the vampires, perhaps, they could just handle them. Thaddeus and Maze and their warriors. The way Thaddeus and Maze had beheaded the two vampires that tried to attack them during the camping trip. The drawback was how they would handle me. Would I end up in the cell adjacent to my father’s? Would I be on death row?

I shivered. I couldn’t risk it. Before perhaps but not now. I was going to be a father. I couldn’t leave Astrid pregnant and alone. I didn’t want my child to know the disappointment and hopelessness I felt when I thought about my own father’s treason. Like father, like son. The parallels between the past and the present were uncanny, the rejection then acceptance of Malachi and my mom versus Maze and Friday, the treachery my father and me. The present had certainly improved upon the past but I doubted being less severely treasonous than my father and changing my mind halfway would score me many brownie points with Maze and Thaddeus. They would both still be furious. I wondered between the two alphas who was less likely to k!ll me. I looked at Thaddeus and then an idea occurred to me. Friday. Perhaps, I should go directly to her. Her forgiveness already seemed boundless.

“Friday,” I said. She looked up at me. I couldn’t do it yet. I wanted to see my son or daughter if I could make it that far into the future. “No matter what happens, Friday. No matter what anyone says, including me, always know that I love you. You’re my baby sister and I love you and I want you to be a part of my son or daughter’s life. They’re lucky to be related to someone as forgiving and special as you. And you’re unlucky actually to be related to someone like me.”

She seemed shocked. She cupped my face in her little cool hands. She k!ssed my cheek.

“You’re not that bad!” She said, giggling. She seemed moved by my words. She crawled into my lap and I h.ugged her tightly.

Maze entered the Alpha Dining Room.

“Maze!” Squealed Friday, jumping up to h.ug him like she hadn’t seen him in years.

He caught her but he frowned.

“What are you doing up?” He asked as if she were his six year old daughter or something. I rolled my eyes. Maze was always so bossy.