Chapter 546

Everything froze a second before Garith threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, that is priceless.”

Rowan growled low, a warning shot. “Leave Amy alone. She isn't a part of this.”

Brandon’s mouth dropped open. “You mated Amy?”

Rowan wouldn’t look away from Garith. “You can kill me, but leave Amy alone.”

Nix and Megan were on their feet instantly. They ran back to Rowan without a second glance at me. But that was fine. The man was being stupid. Rowan’s eyes danced around the crowd, his eyes meeting mine for a fraction of a second, but I could see his thoughts. We were outnumbered. He wanted me to slink away undetected until I was safe. He would give up his life for me instantly if he knew I could leave safely. Shannon growled. “Why does everyone fucking care about Amy?” She screamed my name like it was a curse. “So what, she is a female Alpha. She is ugly, and fucking useless. She can’t even keep a man.”

Rowan laughed. He struggled to sit himself up, and his head lolled. I went to grab for him, but Nix busted out of the trees. He’s playing them.

I froze. What do you mean?

Nix panted. He was trained like you were. His dad made sure he could withstand silver. He is fine. But he is trying to give us a way out. He is telling us to run.

Fuck that. I turned back to Garith.

Nix snorted. My thoughts exactly.

Rowan finally pushed himself into a position to look at Shannon. “Since I’m about to die, allow me to illuminate a few things for you.” He raised an eyebrow and waited for Shannon to nod. “She never wanted Brandon.”

“Of course she did. He’s an Alpha.”

“A weak one.” Rowan countered, but he raised a hand to stop her words. “You want to know how I know?”

Shannon’s eyes glared back at him. “Sure.” She huffed out a laugh as if he were lying.

“Brandon was rejected in the first year of school, when he was in the cafeteria, surrounded by hundreds of she-wolves. Right?” Rowan turned his head to Brandon and waited for his answer. “Am I right?”

Brandon glared at him but just nodded. “I’m assuming she told you.”

Rowan smiled. “She did, but not for the reason you’re thinking.” Rowan turned to Garith. “You are from the same family, so you can tell if I’m lying.”

Garith’s eyes tightened. “What are you on about?”

“Your mother passed down a gift to her child, one that you passed down. You live your life…until you die. And you come back for a second chance. Right? You have the chance to correct whatever happened that caused your death, right?”

Everyone gasped. But Shannon cackled. “That’s insane.” Everyone joined in. I heard a few people whispering about how the silver must have gotten to his brain already.

Garith snapped his head toward Verity. “Is it true?”

Everyone stopped laughing. “What?”

Verity paled. “I thought…”

“You thought what? That it was normal for someone to die and then come back to life years beforehand?” Garith stood. “When?”

“When I was reborn?”

“When was I reborn?” His voice was high-pitched and mimicked Verity. He slammed his fist onto the wooden pew. “Of course! When did you come back?”

Verity looked around. “When I was twenty. I died after my mate found out I was a bastard. He killed me right as my mother told me about you. So when I came back, I found you first, and rejected my mate.”

Garith stared at her. “You played me.”

“No…I just thought it was a blessing from the goddess and kept it a secret. You never told me you’d come back before.” She cried, but he silenced her with a hand.

“Later.” He glared at her for a second before he turned back to Rowan. “So Amy came back?”

Rowan nodded. “Her first mate killed her when she was twenty-four.”

Garith’s eyes tightened. “What does that have to do with today?”

Rowan smiled. “Everything. You see, Amy met her mate on her eighteenth birthday. She mated him within a month and then became a Luna. She did everything she could, but she never shifted in her previous life.”

“She never balanced her magic and wolf.” Garith snorted.

“She was never told how. Her father was killed before she found out in her first life.” Rowan coughed. “But that didn’t matter. She was still a strong Alpha.”

“Who fucking cares.” Shannon growled.

“I promise there is a reason.” Rowan chuckled. “Her mate betrayed her with Shannon, killing the pup that they had in a fit of anger.” Shannon furrowed her brows, but Brandon grew still. “So when she woke back up on her eighteenth birthday, she ran to her father’s pack. He helped her find her magic, which I am sure you knew about.” He turned to Gavin.

“No.” Brandon’s whisper was soft, but Rowan clapped.

“You figured it out.” Rowan chuckled. “You made the same mistake twice.” He cackled. “You threw away your Alpha mate for her whore sister. So she rejected you in college. And then used your pathetic chasing to get close.”

“Why?” Brandon whispered.