Shadows of Destiny

107 Truths and Lies Part 2

~Leo~

Amanda stared at me, and I could see a haunted look in her eyes. Something that spoke of hidden

pain.

It had always been there, but I was too occupied to question her about it, and I felt my hurt surpassed

whatever inner turmoil she battling with, but here it was again.

The haunted look had resurfaced while deep in a conversation about her true intentions and the life her

actions had forced me to live. The haunted expression reared its head, and she looked broken.

Amanda sighed after taking a deep breath and looked at me.

“You do not understand my life, Leo; as fucked up as you feel this is, you are the best thing that has

happened to me in a while, and that is why I hold on,” she said, and I laughed. Gone were the days

when those words touched me, but not anymore.

“I do not want you to hold on anymore, Amanda. I want you to leave,” I said to her, and she bowed her

head.

“Okay, I will leave in the morning,” she said, sounding resigned, and I laughed.

“Yes, you will, after you tell me everything you planned with your father. How you helped him stage the

attack that brought Volkov’s men on us, how you helped feed him information that wrecked and divided

the east. Information that made people doubt my leadership. How you tried to help him take over the

east again,” I said, and her eyes widened, tears falling from her eyes.

“Leo, I will never do that to you.” She said with fear in her eyes.

“I don’t believe you. You lied against me in his favour; you lied against Tamia, so don’t you dare,” I said,

and she shook her head.

“I can never help my father do anything, Leo. I can’t. I will never do it. I never lived with him. I always

looked for a reason to live apart from him. Did you ever ask me why?” She asked, and I did not care.

“He killed my mother before my eyes and would have killed me too had I not promised never to speak

of it. He stopped her heart with Silver because she was against something he was planning. I can’t

remember the detail, really, but I think it had to do with the massive attack in the east that claimed a lot

of lives. He stabbed her because she said she would write Maurice Volkov and report his conduct. She

called him a usurper, and he stabbed her. The memory is still embedded in my head. I can never help

him do anything. I went along with his lies because I wanted to be free of him. Becoming a mistress

was better than being his child.” She said, and I paid attention.

“Then why did you feed him information about my dealings? Why were you helping him to spy on me!!!”

I yelled at her, angry.

I was mad that she would think telling me her story, whether it was true or false, would make me feel

sorry for her. I hated her.

“Why did you do it?” I asked her, and she bowed her head in shame.

“I had no choice Leo,” she confessed, and as much as I was angry, I wanted her to be innocent but

hearing her admit it broke my heart and made me feel like a fool. Black began to growl.

She got off the bed, went on her knees and bore her neck to me.

“I had no choice, alpha. It was the only way I could keep you safe. I did not know that was what he was

doing until Tamia left. He ordered me to make sure we got married. I knew you weren’t up for it, but he

insisted. He told me he wanted to know everything you did from then on. I told him I couldn’t do that

and that he should take it up with you, but he did not find it funny. Soon I found out that he had people

in your ranks and working in the pack that was on his payroll, and he was on the payroll of some King

somewhere. He said if I chose you, he would kill us, and he would not need to raise a finger to do it. I

had to think of my babies and you, Leo. You might hate me, but I love you. My father had shown me

times without number what he was capable of; I knew he would do it with ease and get away with it as

always,” she confessed.

“I asked him what he wanted, and he said he wanted to have your itinerary and know your private

discussions with Max and Kyle. I did not think much of it because I did not think you were planning

anything serious, so I agreed, and I have been doing so diligently,” she said, and I felt like a fool.

I had serious discussions with Kyle and Max at my home. I wondered why she was always around or

awake during those times, and I now knew why.

“If I knew he was trying to take the east from you, I wouldn’t have helped him. I swear, Leo. I thought he

was just being nosey. I thought he was just trying to be informed and aware. He is a control freak, so I

just thought it was one of his curiosities,” She said, and I knew she was sincere, but the damage was

already done.

“I fed him a lot of false information, too; that is why he came for the games. He figured it out. I have

been avoiding him. I am scared,” She said, and I frowned.

“What false information?” I asked her.

“He asked me if you were communicating with Volkov and Tamia because of the things discussed at

the meetings. I said no. I lied when he asked if you would be coming to the games. That was why I did

not follow you here. I felt it was off he would ask me such questions because it had nothing to do with

the east, so I lied Leo, and he was mad,” she said and looked at me with complete fear in her eyes.

Fresh tears began to fall, and I could feel her panic.

“Please help me. I will go away with my children and never bother you if you rescue me from him.

Please, Leo. I swear I will disappear and never trouble you. Please,” she said, and I looked at her.

“Why didn’t you tell me this? Was that why you were acting weird since you arrived?” I asked her, and

she nodded. Although I did not believe her, I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt without

exposing myself to more harm.

“There was no way I could tell you without telling you what he had been doing. I was afraid,” she

confessed, and I sighed.

“Do you know anything of his plans?” I asked her, and she shook her head.

“All I have is his email password. I was able to get that before I came to the north. I wanted something

as leverage. I believed he was doing something bad, and I wanted to get the proof to buy my freedom,”

she said. I could only imagine how horrible Ramsey was that his daughter would think of buying her

freedom as if she were a slave. The man was just too evil for his good.

“Alpha Gabriel is in on it too. All the old Alphas except Alpha Timothy. They all visit him and have secret

meetings, so I know they are in on it. I did not know they were planning to take over the east; from what

I learned, it seemed more like they were trying to install a new king. There was nowhere your name

was mentioned; that was why I did not say anything. Please, Leo, I know you hate me, but I am not

lying. I swear. I swear on the life of my unborn children that all I have told you is the truth. I need help.”

she said, weeping seriously.

I got up from the bed, went to the closest, and took out a silver bracelet.

“I will help you,” I said, approaching her.

“You will follow me to the estate tomorrow and repeat all you know to Lord Volkov. Then I will decide if I

want to stay with a fated that unwillingly destroyed my life or move on. I believe that is fair enough,” I

said, and she nodded.

“Your wrists,” I said, and she willingly handed it over. I clamped the silver on her wrist and felt her wolf

go silent.

“Go to bed,” I ordered, and she obeyed without question. Her game was up.

I took out my phone and sent Devin a message informing him that we would be going to the Volkov

Estate in the morning. I sat in the chair in my room and watched Amanda. I was determined not to

sleep until we got to the mansion, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to get away.

I wasn’t planning on releasing her.

I planned on pleading with Sylvester to lock her in one of his cells until her story checked out.

I couldn’t allow the woman to fool me twice. She seemed to be telling the truth, but it could just be an

act. I was mad that she was carrying my pups. However it turns out, the fact still remains that my pups

would have Richford blood. It was unfortunate.