Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies (The Rossi Legacies Book 4)
Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies Chapter 43

CATHERINE.

I look up when the door opens and although I'm expecting Skyla, my son's mate, it's not her, but Kenneth.

His face is pale as he stares at Royce in shock before that changes to relief in his eyes at the sight of our son.

Oh, if only he knows that even our little baby girl is alive!

"Royce... you're alive... I got worried..." he says as he slowly enters the room. "I sensed your emotions, Catherine... I... Winona instantly turns her face away.

Marcel pulls her into his arms, turning and slightly as if shielding her from Kenneth's view.

And even Royce steps forward, blocking her from view.

I replace it odd. Does she not want to meet him? But something is definitely wrong. Even Marcel's demeanour has changed.

"I am alive. Are you surprised, Father?" Royce asks quietly.

"What is the meaning of this? Why are you meeting like this? Why did you lie about being dead?" Dad asks as he looks between Royce and me. His eyes glimmer with anger.

"He's alive, Ken! What more do we need? And, there's more. Do you know who else is alive?" I say as I close the gap between us and cup his face. I'm unable to hold back the happiness I feel.

He needs to know our baby girl is here!

"Not now Mom... because I assure you, you will want to hear the rest of the rest of the story before proceeding." Royce's calm, almost cold voice makes me look at him sharply. 1

The unease that something isn't right about all of this is only growing inside of me.

"I want to know why you put us through this, Royce?" Kenneth's voice is sharp as he watches Royce intently. "What have you been planning?"

Planning? Why does he think that he's planning anything?

"Ken..."

"My mate is not responding. I need to replace her." Royce says quietly. "As for the answer you seek; that is something only Aleric can answer. Unless you already know, Father. Are you really surprised, or is it an act?" My heart is pounding violently at the coldness in Royce's voice, and I turn to Kenneth.

Why is it almost as if Royce is trying to insinuate he knows something or is somehow behind him having to fake his death...

Kenneth didn't know, that much I am certain of from the look in his eyes.

Confusion, annoyance, curiosity, and anger.

"Royce. We may not see eye to eye, but your are my son, and I would, of course, want you alive."

"You only care for me because of the power I hold," Royce says.

Then.... The rumours of a Solaris King mean that you are the..." Kenneth trails off, hist eyes flashing as they lock with Royce's and hold his gaze.

"Correct. You're looking at the Solaris King I've claimed the council and things will change going forward," Royce replies.

"So awesome.

"Charlotte hums, but Royce is clearly agitated.

"Right now, I need to go replace Skyla. Let's do this later," he says, taking my elbow and about to guide me to the door when I pause.

I have to tell him!

"No, you go, Royce, your father needs to know about Victoria-"

"Mom," he cuts me off when Winona speaks.

"No... it's alright... He should know," she says, and I turn to see her eyes blazing, not turning away from the embrace of her mate, and she looks at Kenneth. But there's no sadness or love in her eyes, only.... Anger.

My heart plummets a little more.

Something is indeed very wrong.

"I'm here, go," Marcel says to Royce.

"Excuse me," Royce whispers as he leaves the room, breaking into a run.

"Kenneth... Victoria is not dead, she was found at a human orphanage," I explain,

putting my hand on his chest.

"Victoria?" he asks, looking confused.

"Our Victoria, our baby!" I say, shocked that he doesn't realise what I mean.

His face loses all colour as he stares at her and his heart thuds violently, realization sinking in.

"I don't understand," he says, his heart thudding violently. "There is no way..."

"Of course, you would think there was no way, wouldn't you father? After all, you ordered Beta Quade to kill her." Charlotte's voice rings in the air, making my heart skip a beat. Kill her.

Kill her?

What?

"But he couldn't do it, so left her at the orphanage!" Charlotte says defiantly, her heart thundering.

My breath hitches, and it feels as if time has slowed.

I watch as Charlotte, Winona and Marcel watch Kenneth with clear hostility and hatred in their eyes.

Is this what Royce wanted to tell me?

'I'm sorry Mom, it's the truth. Royce's voice comes through the link.

My heart feels as if it is about to shatter.

Suffocating pain squeezes my heart and I place my hand on my chest.

Kenneth tried to kill our baby?

Our first born Angel?

"Don't listen to them, it's a misconception. Why would I do such a thing!" Kenneth says, grabbing onto my elbows. "Don't listen to them, darling."

I look into the eyes of the man I love, trying to make it make sense, but I am not a fool.

The signs and hints... are beginning to make sense...

He had barely let me hold the baby when she was born, saying it would only hurt more... he had been on edge until she had been buried..:

I even remember screaming that it's not my baby and that I know my baby can't be gone.

Of course, I thought it was my grief, but the look of guilt he always had in his eyes...every time I broke down over Victoria... But above all it was the words he had spoken when I told him it was a baby girl that now makes my blood run cold.

I wrench out of his hold, my heart thundering violently.

"Catherine... are you believing this nonsense?"

"Yes... because when I told you we are having a baby girl, you refused to accept it... you even went as far as to say there is no way that you, an alpha, can have a girl as their first child. You even accused me of cheating... you... you didn't want a daughter... Am I wrong?" I ask, my voice so low and calm it sends a chill down my own spine.

I feel a thousand emotions, but at the same time, I feel numb.

I wonder if this is some sort of sick nightmare.

I've stepped from a dream straight into a horror movie.

The fear that I'll lose Victoria once again suddenly overwhelms me and I take another step back from Kenneth. "Answer me."

I watch him, needing an answer. He's watching me intently, but he knows I mean.

He knows my anger.

"It was..."

"Don't lie, Kenneth, for the truth can be revealed by a simple mind probe," Marcel says, his voice rough and dangerous. I'm not alone.

"I..."

"Answer me! Tell me that I'm wrong... and if you lie..." I leave my threat hanging, glaring into the eyes of my mate.

"It was a mistake, a grave mistake..." His voice is low, almost guilty. "Her aura was so low, she wasn't even up to par of an Alpha's daughter... So I let my ego get in the way and did not want the world to know that I had a daughter, a weak one at that-" "Enough!" I snarl, my eyes blazing brown as I let my aura swirl.

"Without a woman, you would not be on this planet!"

"But she's alive!" Kenneth cuts in, his eyes flashing.

"You as good as killed her!"

"No, listen to me, Catherine!" His alpha command swirls around me and it only fuels the flames of rage that now spread from within me.

"No. You listen to me. Did you or did you not ask Quade to kill our baby girl?"

"I.."

"Yes or no Ken!" I snap.

"I told him to, yes, but-"

"Did you scheme to set it up that she was

stillborn?!" I scream. I don't care about my image anymore.

All I want is to know the truth.

"I did... and like I said, it was in poor judgement. I am sorry, Catherine. I wish I could turn back time-*

"Yes, but the thing is, you cannot!" I shout as I clench my fists.

I have never felt angrier in my life.

How dare he....

"I'm sorry, please - Catherine, don't do this to me. I need you to understand-"

"Understand? Understand that you are a psychotic monster! If you really cared if you had even an ounce of remorse in you, you would have come clean, but all you did was think of power!" I shout in anger.

"Your greed for power is sickening! You tried to have your own daughter murdered! In fact, how dare you be able to look me in the eye after you sent her to her death!" I scream, slamming my fists into his chest and sending him stumbling backwards. "Catherine! We will talk about this later, enough!" He snarls, grabbing my wrists as Marcel moves forward, but I wrench free, motioning to Marcel to stay back.

"You are right. It is enough. But the time for talking is over. I Catherine Arden, Luna of the Shadow Wolves Pack-"

"No, Catherine no! You will not reject me!"

"-REJECT YOU, ALPHA KENNETH HENRY ARDEN AS MY MATE AND ALPHA!" My shrill voice rings in the room as I feel the violent pull of the bond breaking, plough through me.