My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret novel Chapter 194

85

+25 BONUS

85

CHAPTER 85

RYAN’S POV

“Alpha, the men are ready to confess.”

That was the first thing I heard when my phone vibrated on the small table next to me. I was only half asleep, my body slumped in the chair by Anna’s bed, one of my hands still holding hers like I’d been doing all night. I didn’t even realize I’d drifted off, but the minute that phone buzzed, it pulled me out like a snap. It was still early, and the room was quiet except for the soft hum of the heart monitor. I picked up the call without thinking twice. Alex’s voice came through, low but clear.

“I’ll be there soon,” I told him, my voice rough from sleep. I rubbed my eyes and looked to the couch. Mom was there, half awake herself, wrapped in a blanket.

“I need to go check on something,” I whispered. “I’ll come right back. Don’t worry.”

She nodded, her voice soft. “Be careful, Ryan.”

I left the room as quietly as I could. But by the time I was heading down into the dungeon, my whole body felt tight, as if something inside me was building with every step I took. I didn’t want to think, but my thoughts were racing. If these men were ready to confess, then it was worse than we thought.

When I stepped into the cold, dim room, I saw them. They were still tied up, bruised, beaten, and completely broken. They looked as if they’d been through hell, but I didn’t feel even a drop of pain for them. Nothing. They deserved every bit of it.

Alex, Jim, and Saul were already there. Alex looked up first. “They said they’re ready to talk, Alpha.”

“Good,” I said, my voice flat, without emotion. I pulled up the metal chair and sat down right in front of them, folding my arms while I waited. “Then talk.”

The one with the piercings looked up, his lips dry and blackened. “It was Sophie,” he said, just a whisper. “She told us to do it.”

My jaw tightened. “Sophie?”

“She told us to push your girl,” he said again.

My teeth gritted. “Why?”

“She hates her,” the other one said, voice rough. “Said she didn’t deserve you. Said she was in your way.”

I leaned forward, staring hard at them. “That’s it? That’s the reason you tried to kill her?”

They exchanged a look before the one with tattoos said, “She was told to.”

“Told to by who?”

They hesitated.

1/4

85

+25 BONUS

“Her father,” the pierced one said.

I blinked. “Her what?”

“Alpha King George.”

I just stared for a second. My whole body went still as the name settled in. “You’re lying.”

“We’re not,” the pierced guy said quickly. “He’s behind it all. Sophie’s just his puppet. He’s been pulling every string.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” I said. “Why would George want Anna dead?”

“Do you even know what happened to her parents?” the one with tattoos asked. “The full story?”

“Don’t ask me stupid questions,” I snapped. My voice was cold, my eyes fixed on him without blinking. “Just talk.”

They hesitated for a moment, looking at each other like they needed courage.

“Promise us,” the pierced one said in a quiet, shaking voice. “Promise you’ll save our families from him… if we don’t make it.”

“Where are they?”

“In George’s estate,” the tattooed one said. “Beneath it. He has dungeons… his own.‘

I turned to Jim without wasting another second. “Get their locations. Fly a team over there before sunrise.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I turned back to the men, my voice sharper now. “Start talking.‘

The one with the tattoos nodded slowly, then began.

“Anna’s father, Daniel, was supposed to be the Alpha King of Europe,” he said. “But Alpha King George hated it. He was taken in by Daniel’s parents when he was young and they couldn’t have kids. They loved him, raised him as their own. But then Daniel was born. Everything changed. He was the real son. Heir. And George couldn’t stand it. He got jealous, furious. Tried to kill Daniel and his parents. But Daniel got away. Everyone thought he died with his parents in a fire. But he didn’t.”

“He survived?” I asked, though the words barely came out.

“Yes,” the pierced one said. “He survived. Walked away. Went into hiding. Lived as a human. Fell in love with a human woman. They had Anna. But George found out. And he sent men to finish the job.”

“The car accident,” I muttered.

“Yeah,” the man said. “It wasn’t an accident.”

“And now he wants her dead too,” I said, feeling my heart twisting in my chest.

“He never stopped watching. He stayed close. allied himself with your father. Made sure he was always near. He

2/4

85

+25 BONUS

didn’t just want her gone, he wanted to make sure there was no one left to challenge him.”

“And Sophie?”

“She’s a tool,” he said. “He messed her up. Killed her mom. Raised her on lies. Made her believe you were hers and that Anna was the enemy. He broke her mind. Every step she’s taken, every time she’s come after Anna, was his plan. He built her to be his weapon.”

Alex shifted beside me, his fists clenched so tight, I thought he’d break his own skin. “H–he used his own daughter?”

“She doesn’t even know,” the man whispered. “She thinks she’s doing everything on her own.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify