CHAPTER 60: 60-THE ASSHOLE IAN

Clementine:

"Your father did all that to his mother?" Yorick asked me, and I honestly felt so out of place. Even though I didn’t do it, the fact that such a man was my father really upset me.

"And not only that, but to his sister too," Troy added.

I looked down in shame. We were now sitting on the same ground. Haiden had basically told them everything he had told me.

"Her father had significant influence, since he owned a lot of gold and wolfsbane lands. Nobody dared to investigate," Yorick added, trying to make sense of why nothing had been done about it.

"Well, I’m not very proud of my father either," I finally snapped, and the two of them gave me a look that felt almost like an apology.

"It’s just too much. If someone had done that to my mother and sister, I don’t think I could have moved on from it. So hats off to you, Haiden, for growing up so strong," Troy said, patting his shoulder.

I watched Haiden look at me.

"Anyway, before you guys came, Clementine was telling me she has a plan," Haiden said, and both Yorick and Troy turned to look at me, as if to confirm whether it was true.

"Yeah, I actually have a plan," I stated.

"Sure, tell us. We want to be a part of it too," Yorick added. Haiden looked so surprise that they wanted to help.

"Okay, so hear me out. You know how they took me to the basement? There were some deals they presented to me. I might have already told you about all of them, but let me remind you, they’re going to allow us to go back to our packs," I said, watching them watch my face.

So much silence. This was the first time the alphas were sitting quietly and not interrupting me.

"How about we demand to go back to our packs, but instead of returning to your own, you all come to mine? Then we can do our research. We can find records and everything—possibly get someone to slip information about your sister. I’m pretty sure when something this big happens, somebody knows something."

I watched the alphas share a look, then begin to nod, just small nods.

"How about that?" I asked. They looked pretty happy with the idea.

"That would work. Once we’re all there, we’ll outnumber them. One of us can distract them while the others do the job. Obviously, Clementine can’t do it alone. His father hates her," Troy said, and both Yorick and Haiden turned to look at him.

"What? I know this because we were friends," he added.

"And you didn’t do anything to stop the bullying of your friend?" Haiden asked him.

Troy placed one hand on his hip, sitting on the grass with his legs crossed. With his other hand, he pointed at Haiden.

"You were the one who was bullying her. And if you’re forgetting, until we were fifteen, I defended her all the time. It was only after our friendship ended that I stopped caring for her, but not entirely."

He said the last part under his breath. After he reminded Haiden that he was basically my bully, even Haiden’s expression started to change. Because it wasn’t a lie. He had messed me up pretty badly in the past.

"Anyway, the point is, it’s decided. We should use this deal very cleverly. It could come in handy," Yorick said, stepping in.

"But there’s one problem," I said. "Who’s going to make Ian come with us? This has to be a mutual decision. The reason we’ll give the ringleaders is that we’ve decided to visit each other’s packs during each visit, so we get to know one another better. We’re trying to build a connection, so our stay here won’t feel so difficult, and we won’t be tempted to quit again."

I remembered my conversation with the ringleaders. It was so uncomfortable. I didn’t want to sit across the table from them again. I didn’t know what it was, but even when Rue was helpful, the other two made it nearly impossible to have a proper conversation.

"I think she’s right. What can we do about Ian?" Troy asked.

Haiden shook his head and raised his hands. "I don’t trust that man, so I’ll stay out of it. And I don’t think he’ll listen to me after tonight."

He wasn’t wrong. He was finally angry at the right person, Ian, for lying about Sadie. It was Haiden’s decision, and Ian didn’t even care about him in the first place. So for Ian to lie just to get him on board was pointless.

"I’ll do something about it," Yorick finally said, and it was concluded that he would be in charge of convincing Ian to come with us.

We all went back to our dorm room, and Ian seemed to have taken another shower. His hair was wet again as he sat on his bed, leaning back against the headboard, staring at something in his wallet.

The moment he saw us enter, he snapped his magnetic wallet shut and slid it under his pillow, watching us with his head tilted.

"So, are you guys back after a good gangbang?" he asked, making me nearly gag. What was wrong with him? Could he not say a single thing that didn’t make people hate him? I instantly knew it would be difficult to convince him.

"Actually, we’re glad you’re awake," Yorick said, subtly pointing at us with his thumb.

We all started to sit down on our own beds.

"Really? Why? If you expect me to join this crazy sex thing, count me out," he said, raising one hand.

I wanted to slap him so badly for saying things like that about me, but we had to tolerate it, for Haiden’s sister. So I stayed silent.

"We were thinking—if you’d agree to come with us to Clementine’s pack," Yorick began, his tone almost sounding like a request. The look on Ian’s face told me he was going to be trouble.