"What happened in there?" Betty asked, peeling herself from the lockers as Sweet Pea and Jughead left the principal's office, Jughead harshly slamming the door as he stormed out.
"Why are you here, Betty?" He demanded, swinging around, and throwing out his arms.
"It was an interrogation," Sweet Pea muttered as an aside, "It didn't go well. Jughead told Wetherbee he didn't know who was a bigger dick; him or Keller."
"Jughead!" Betty said, gasping. She never imagined that he'd be the sort to use crass language to adults, even if sometimes they totally deserved it.
"Why do you care? Or is it all just an act, like everything in our relationship was?" He said, dragging his hands down his face.
"It wasn't an act. I care for you, Jug-,"
"Funny way of showing it."
"Look," Betty swallowed, unsure of where to go next, "Your dad is innocent. We just need to keep the faith and…" She trailed off, seeing his expression turn.
"You're something, Cooper. You say it with such a conviction you make me actually believe it. And that's the worst thing you've done," He whispered, fingers clasped on his bookbag, his knuckles white, "Giving me false hope."
"I'm not trying to give you false anything. It's true and you have to know it too."
Jughead shook his head, "I don't know what I believe or who."
"Believe me," Betty pleaded, "About everything."
Jughead almost reached for her outstretched hand, but pursed his lips, holding back what looked like tears, "No. That's not…" He took a few steps away, "I can't be with you right now, Betty."
"What…what does that mean?" Betty asked, feeling her whole body quiver and her heart thump fast.
"Don't make me say it," He asked, "But you don't know when to quit. So I'm quitting for you." He put out a hand, "Don't follow."
Betty stared at the location he'd filled, unable to move, unable to breathe. She wiped her hands across her cheeks as tears trekked down her face, and right as she was about to collapse, Sweet Pea grasped her arm.
"You know he doesn't mean any of it," He whispered, "He's upset and angry, and scared."
"You don't know him. Jughead always means what he says." She said, voice trembling, "He is a master with words."
"Then give him time. Eventually, he'll see it was necessary. And FP'll get out. He has to," He whispered, more for his own sake.
"Sweets, wait," Betty tried to push away her breaking heart, "Have you heard anything? Or sensed anything weird lately?"
"Do you mean... other than FP being arrested and me being made an alpha, which I'm told is the youngest in any history any wolves know?" He asked, "No. Why?"
"Cheryl. She tried to warn me about something. She was either under a gag or her memory's been wiped, but she was scared. She told me to stock up on my potions."
Sweet Pea stiffened, "Exactly what I fucking need right now," He muttered, "I'll keep one ear to the ground. But I'd listen, Cooper," He said, expression as serious as death, "Go home. Now. Start brewing."
"But Jughead! And FP's murder!" Betty protested.
"There's a whole slew of people working on that. You know your friends won't stop. But they can't do anything if they're dead. Maybe she's wrong. Maybe she's trying to scare us. But it would be better to be safe. And out of us ragtag bunch...you're the only one that can make milk that can regrown bones or juice that can sew wounds back up." He tapped his foot, "I'm coming with you."
"What happened to the blessing of the education system?" She asked dryly.
"I need to pick a Beta. And get things settled. And I need to think. Math can wait until FP's out, right?" He asked.
Betty sighed, looking at her watch. It was only noon. She wasn't the type to play hookey, but she hoped, in some twisted way, that Cheryl was right. It would give her a reason to skip. She hated to say it, but if all of this turned out to be nothing and her nearly perfect attendance record was blown, she'd be annoyed. She hoped that the worst of their troubles was Betty having to find a reason to pick the lock and change her attendance record in the principal's office, not apocalyptic life-ending spell voodoo.
"Let's go." She muttered, "I'll text Arch and Vee. Maybe have Archie follow Jughead, just to be safe."
"That kid's a powder keg," Sweet Pea said, clicking his tongue, "I can't help but feel that we're just waiting for him to explode."
"Yeah," Betty agreed, though she hated the idea of Jughead having to bear the trauma of the turn, she almost felt like it was inevitable, "I know."
XXX
"Hey Jughead, let's just hang, alright?" Archie said as he paced his bedroom.
"Fine with me, Arch. Mortal Kombat?" He asked, flopping on a beanbag chair. Archie made a hissing sound through his teeth.
"Ya know, I'm more in the mood for something else."
Jughead frowned, "Seriously? When are you not in the mood for that?" He snorted.
"I was thinking we do something different. Listen to some Enya. Watch a nature documentary about kittens. Practice breathing exercises. Light this soothing candle. How about that?"
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Archie insisted, eyes wide, "I just think that variety is the spice of life!"
Jughead threw down the controller, "You're a shit liar, Andrews. Did Sweet Pea tell you to make sure I don't Hulk out and kill someone?"
"Well, I mean, we're all worried…" Archie mumbled, "You seem…angry."
"Why wouldn't I be? How are you not furious too? That your parents lied to you all your life? That your girlfriend lied to you? That you're not even you anymore!"
"I'm still me," Archie said, shaking his head, "And I wasn't furious. I was confused. I thought I was going crazy. I know you felt that. And it was different with Val. I mean, she left me as soon as she figured it out. But I get why my mom never told me. Same as you. It wasn't ever a guarantee we'd grow into our…" He swallowed, "Legacies."
"And how are you not angry about it all the time, still?" Jughead whispered, "Don't you feel betrayed?"
"I guess I could." Archie paused, "But I just don't. I know my parents love me." He bit his lip, "Your parents love you too, Jug. Your dad most of all."
"Funny way of showing it."
"It is. But he does. And I don't think he'd do anything to hurt you. Even if you don't see it now. And Betty-,"
"Is no longer a concern," Jughead said, fingers grasping the controller off the carpet.
"What do you mean?" Archie asked, startled.
"I broke up with her," Jughead said, "Don't talk me out of it. I've made up my mind. It wasn't just the lying. It was…everything. She doesn't…I'm not…" He looked across the way to her window, the curtains of her room drawn tightly, "It's better this way."
"I"m sure she'd disagree," Archie huffed.
"Yeah. She would." Jughead swallowed, "Wetherbee thinks I should finish the semester from home. For my 'personal safety'."
"That's bullshit! She attacked you!" Archie sputtered, "How is that fair?"
"It's not. Don't you know how it works, Arch?" Jughead asked, "Maybe I should. I dunno. I just am so tired of dealing with all of this. Maybe my dad was right; I already wish I didn't know a damn thing about anything."
There was a long pause.
"Mortal Kombat?" Archie finally offered, picking up the other controller.
"What happened to 'calmness'?"
"Well," Archie shrugged, "Might as well get your aggression out by kicking my ass."
XXX
The night wore on hours past when Betty would normally be asleep, but she knew she couldn't stop.
Hands nicked with cuts, bathed in juices of plants and fruit, callouses forming on her hands from mild burns and from churning at the mortal and pestle all night, Betty made potions. She made as many as she could, setting them all to simmer and be ready by morning.
Sweet Pea had stayed as long as he could, assisting with potions, and bouncing ideas through Betty about who they could use as his Beta. They finally settled on asking Quest. Sweet Pea hated the idea of taking one of the few Serpents to go to college out of that, but he was desperate. He needed someone slightly older who knew and loved the pack as he did.
"Hopefully it's not permanent," Sweet Pea mumbled, "And he can go back soon."
"He'll say yes," Betty sighed, "You know he will."
"I know. That's why I hate asking."
"As you said," Betty had soothed, "It's not forever. We'll get FP out. You can go back to being a kid soon enough."
Betty was glad to help him with his problems. She knew her obsession with creating this was mostly to be able to ignore her own issues. If she thought too much about Jughead dismissing her and all their shared feelings, she may break down.
And if what Cheryl said was true, that couldn't happen.
Not today. Not tomorrow. Not until whatever was coming passed safely.
Then, if Jughead still wanted nothing to do with her, she'd mourn.
In between stirring a wakefulness potion, nine-time counterclockwise, she heard a thumping downstairs. At first, she just imagined it or thought perhaps it was Sweets returning to help her, until she remembered she'd given him a key, just in case, and would have no reason to break in and he had promised her he was going home to sleep at least a few hours.
She crept out of her portrait to find her mother inside the silhouette of her door. She was about to snip at her mother for banging about until there was another loud crash.
"Did you hear that?"
Betty frowned and flicked her fingers until a flame was sitting on top of her palm. Her mother paused, eyes wide.
"Elizabeth! Are you going to burn someone to death?" She hissed shrilly.
"It's for visibility! I'm not planning on killing anyone." She hissed.
"Fine," Her mother snapped, "But get your phone out. Be ready to dial."
They crept close as thieves down the stairs and into the basement, where a figure was rustling around, collecting files into little mountains on the desk downstairs.
"Don't move!"
The figure spun around. As soon as Betty saw it was her father, she clapped her hands and snuffed the light out, hoping he hadn't seen it.
"Hal?" Alice said, face set into a firm scowl, and went to where he was, picking up one of the sheets, "These are Sherrif Keller's files about the Blossom murder. Hal?" She echoed, this time, a demand for an answer.
"I broke into his house the night of the last drive-in and I took them."
Betty frowned, "FP confessed to that."
Hal scoffed, as though offended, "I have no idea why he would do it because it was me."
"Why?"
Hal licked his lips, "Because there's something I need to tell you two about our family. And the Blossoms. Why don't we sit down?"
XXX
"Don't bother calling the cops! We're not staying!" Alice snarled as she slammed the doors open, and for a second, Betty almost wondered if she had some magic somewhere in her too, with how the doors slammed open as though a gust of wind was flying behind her.
"What the hell is going on? It's the middle of the night!" Clifford asked, rubbing his eyes as he grasped the handrail, coming down the stairs.
"Sorry to disrupt the Witching Hour at Thornhill," Alice sneered, and Betty noticed that while their father was in his nighttime robes, Cheryl and Penelope were wearing everyday wear. Polly was in a bathrobe too, confused, a hand laid upon her stomach.
"Polly, are you okay?" Betty pushed her way through.
"I'm fine…what's going on?"
"We're bringing you home, Pol," Betty said, "Enough is enough."
"She's not leaving," Penelope said, standing between the sisters, "She chose to live here, remember? With a mentally stable family."
Betty felt like barfing at the idea of that now, her whole body shivering.
"Oh, I know all about your family, Penelope. About the incest!" Alice snapped, waving her hand, "Polly! With us!"
"What?" Polly and Cheryl asked at the same time, confusion on both of their faces.
" Hal's grandfather wasn't just your grandpappy's murder victim. They were brothers, which made him a Blossom. Just like Hal."
"Which means that Jason is our cousin," Betty explained, trying to hold in a barf.
Alice threw her hands up, "Polly, dear-,"
"So?" Penelope asked, eyebrow quirked.
Betty felt her stomach roll, "What do you mean, so? How are you so casual about it? You don't even care-,"
"Betty!" Polly interjected, "While I'm obviously horrified, it's okay."
"Oh, god, Polly. They've gotten to you too," Alice whispered, hands on Polly's face, "What did you drug her with? What…" She paused, looking heavily at Hal, "Did you give?"
"You mean what spells did we cast upon her?" Penelope asked, "Oh, come now. I know you think your husband to be an idiot, but we give him a bit more credit. No one grows up in Riverdale without suspecting anything at all."
"Magic?" Hal asked with eyes narrowed, "Yeah. That. Whatever."
Betty felt her head reeling. She didn't think she could take all the truths in one night. She understood, in part, how Jughead felt.
"Fine! What did you cast upon her, or what potion did you give her to make her believe you?" Alice demanded, "Betty, can you lift it?"
"It's not that, mom. Jason's adopted! Biologically, it's not…we're not…" She trailed off to the absolute silence that followed.
"What?" Cheryl asked, looking absolutely crushed, "No…that can't be true."
"He told me. I didn't understand all of it then. I didn't know about magic and all of this at the time, but I think I get it now…" She lifted her chin, looking behind Cheryl at Penelope.
"Yes?" Penelope asked, almost eager to hear what Polly thought she might know.
"You adopted Jason not just for his red hair, so it would seem like he was biologically yours, but for his warlock genetics, as latent as they were. And then you did a spell to make Cheryl think they were twins. But he told me you were never a gifted witch, so it probably went wrong. Which led to Cheryl being…" She looked at Cheryl, almost with pity, "Overly attached to him."
"Mommy, she's lying, isn't she?" Cheryl pleaded.
"What a smart girl," Penelope whispered, as though disgusted by it, "And what a dumb thing for Jason to tell you. I thought we taught him to keep his secrets better."
"I bet you weren't happy when he started seeing my daughter," Hal huffed, "Threatening to tell your secrets."
"On the contrary, we're thrilled," Clifford interjected, "Cheryl is a gifted witch, no doubt, but your family carries a different strength. Something Cheryl could never give us. Those babies are our lineage and our greatest triumph."
"What do you mean something Cheryl could never give you?" Betty asked, and then it hit her, with the force of a train, "Oh, god, we're back to incest. You...like that they're related? Seriously...what the fuck!"
"You adopted a son to marry your daughter? My god, you're sick!" Hal sputtered.
"We needed to assure a magical bloodline. Couldn't have any chances. While your initial plan didn't seem to work, magic still found a way," Penelope said, "One way or another."
"Mommy? Daddy?" Cheryl whispered, her voice near breaking, "What do you mean? Jay-Jay and I were…" She stared down, fingers picking at her hem, "I don't understand."
"Oh, don't be daft. It's not pretty on you, darling," Penelope snapped impatiently, "Why do you think we never separated you from your obsession? Why do you think we never corrected all that...talk about you two?"
"Cheryl, come with us too," Betty said, stretching out her hand, "Please."
Cheryl started to walk, but a thick band of magic came down between them.
"I wouldn't, little girl," Penelope warned.
"Let her come with us," Betty said, shoving Polly and her parents away.
"Or what?"
"Or I burn all this to the ground," Betty said, "I know it was you who tried to kill me the night my powers came in," She said, hedging a bet, a feeling she'd felt for a while. Even if she didn't know why. Did there need to be a why, Betty asked herself. Penelope was more than a few marbles short of a set, so whatever the reasoning was, Betty was sure it was convoluted and probably would make her feel gross or weird or both.
"What a bold accusation," Penelope said.
"I will prove it. Just like I've proved everything else." Betty insisted, "Cheryl," She said, her tone pleading.
"I…I can't…" Cheryl whispered, "It's kind of you to try." She leaned in, whispering, a hairs breath above inaudible, "Take Polly. Now. And it's coming."
Before Betty could ask what, try to get more info, her father was pulling her from the house and out into the night.
XXX
"I don't even know why you're here, son," FP said as Jughead paced in the space before the bars.
"Frankly, I don't either Dad. But Mary said this might be the last time I get to talk to you-,"
"Trusting a Grimm." FP sneered, almost disgusted.
"I'm not a werewolf. I have no reason not to see her as someone other than Archie's mom. Or a good layer. You never let me in on our family legacy," Jughead hissed. FP balked.
"Let you?" He echoed, eyes narrowing, "Let you? Yeah, sue me for that, son! For not letting you kill someone at the age of ten or some shit. I'm just a horrible father, aren't I?"
"You could have told me!" Jughead thundered, "Sooner! You could have told me sooner!"
"But then you surely would have triggered the curse. That's always how it goes. You start finding times and places and it just feels like a countdown clock is on your head…don't you feel it now?" He asked.
Jughead locked his jaw, hating to admit it.
"I thought we had talked this out," FP added.
"You used your one chance to talk to Betty. Not me. And then you made Sweet Pea your successor." Jughead whispered, wringing his hands, "If I weren't here, would you even have found a way to talk to me?"
"You listen to me, son, and you listen well," FP whispered fervently, "Everything I do, I do for you. I fucking love you, Jughead. Don't forget that. But I gotta take care of my pack. Do you think I wanted to put this on Sweet Pea? Do you think I wanted to talk to Betty and not you? But I'm a father to hundreds of people. Kids worse off than you."
"That's unlikely," Jughead shook his head, "I tried to apologize today. To Cheryl. And she attacked me. And somehow I was the one that got kicked out."
FP's face was red with fury, "What?"
"Exactly. They called Archie's dad. Not you. You wouldn't even know. I was so excited to think that maybe we'd be okay. That you could be my dad again. Or that we'd figure this out together; a werewolf pa and a normal son," Jughead gave a long laugh, "Guess that was some wishful thinking. I'm just tired of being disappointed by you. And you could go away forever, but I honestly don't have much more to say."
"Leave," FP said, abruptly, with malice, "Now. And don't come back to see me again. As you said," He gave a raw, humorless laugh, "I'll just disappoint you."
Jughead swallowed back anger, fingers twitching as he grasped his book bag, "Noted." He paused at the entrance, looking back, "Bye, Dad."
FP didn't look up, not until Jughead was gone.
XXX
Twelve hours into being alpha and, well, the camp wasn't on fire anymore, so that was something.
Quest, ever good and righteous and kind, came home immediately. He told Sweet Pea they'd figure something out together, like taking a short leave of absence from college, just to help him while he was alpha and FP was gone.
"And if it turns out to be a forever thing?" Sweet Pea sighed, "I can't ask you to put your whole life on hold."
"Being the Beta is hardly that," Quest said, patting his back, "It's an honor. Dude, we'll figure that out too. If it comes to it."
Quest had been born at 7 pm, give or take a generalized time, so later tonight, they'd do the ceremony to make it official; him, Betty, Dolores, and a few others. It made him feel queasy, but also he felt better knowing that if something happened to him - if this growing feeling of dread that was building came to pass - Quest would be ready to take over the Pack.
With the announcement of a Beta, someone who the pack already held in high regard and had great respect for, it seemed people were settling into it. Coming to terms that their Alpha was too young to remember 9/11 and young enough to still be cringe on TikTok if he so wanted. Older pack members were bringing him lasagna left and right like a death had happened. For once, Sweet Pea wished Jughead, who had a bottomless pit for a stomach, was around to help him finish some of this off. As it was, he had a pretty open-door policy to his friends. Most were always hungry too, so at least he wasn't overwhelmed with pre-made frozen dishes.
He'd doled out roles to people too; which made it feel like he was taking over. They weren't roles that always officially existed. But he wasn't FP. He didn't think he could do it all, nor did he want to.
Penny had been retained as their lawyer. He didn't trust her, but then again, neither did FP. Yet the had to be a compelling reason he'd kept her around. Sweet Pea was bound determined to find out what that was.
Toni and Deni were splitting responsibilities of any new wolves, Toni on the adult side and Deni on the kid side.
When he'd asked Toni if she was upset that she wasn't asked to be his second, she'd snorted.
"Are you fucking kidding? That sounds like a literal nightmare. I like my freedom to fuck off whenever I want to, thanks," She'd replied.
Fangs was his receptionist, for lack of a better term. Basically, any issue that wasn't life, death, or fire was kicked to Fangs, who would triage the most important issues to tackle and take a lot of stress from Sweet Pea's shoulders. If there were many issues, he would also consult with Quest before any were presented to Sweet Pea.
And, as far as the pack knew, Betty was on retainer as the resident witch. Of course, Betty's relationship with Sweet Pea was far more nuanced and difficult to describe, but even the idea that they might have someone innately magical at their beck and call (rather, Sweet Pea's) had already made him a popular new Alpha. He'd already heard whispers wondering if he was going to formally add her to the Pack.
He knew if he asked for anything, Betty would do it. Literally nearly anything.
Didn't mean he wanted to use her for every little magical squabble.
But did he want to make her part of his world in such a magical, hard-to-describe way? Something that would bind them? The thought was tempting, and the reason he relented was he knew it would be for selfish reasons.
Yes, things were shaping up. Sweet Pea desperately wished that FP was around to ask questions to. Sure, this was no different than if FP had died, but somehow knowing that a source of knowledge was so close yet unreachable tickled the back of Sweet Pea's mind. It was aggravating.
It wasn't like there was a book on this shit. And even if everyone took his ascension with little fuss, since it was obvious that he was being prepped to be the next Alpha anyway, Sweet Pea never thought he'd be taking over this young, so far from being done learning.
For example; even when Sweet Pea wasn't changed, he could still hear the pack's consciousness. It wasn't loud, but it was like a radio always quietly playing in the background. He figured it was something you got used to.
Nothing was precise unless he focused on it, just mumbles and faint conversations or streams of thoughts running behind every present thought of his.
It made sense, he supposed. He couldn't be changed into a wolf 24/7, even though he felt the urge to change more strongly than usual, his wolf far more present than it often was, he still needed to be on high alert for any troubles within the pack.
He could also still feel Tall Boy's presence, though far duller than anyone else. He wasn't sure if it was distance or a literal magic spell that was needed to sever this connection, but for right now, he was glad to keep tabs on him.
Tall Boy and his other defectors were holed up in a cabin closer to Greendale, and for right now, causing little issues. They were licking their wounds and staying low.
Good.
And although Sweet Pea had been under the influence of an Alpha Command more than once, and now himself had given quite a few, he still was figuring it all out. Like, the fact that as soon as Joaquin turned into a wolf and entered pack territory, coming from school in Greendale, he was hit with an alpha command that he so far had been avoiding.
Any information about Jason was time to be ponied up.
He sensed the distress and frustration from Joaquin right away.
"Toni! Text the group," Sweet Pea said, bolting up, "You guys stay here and finish eating. I gotta deal with something." He said. He motioned for Toni to join him.
They found Joaquin in the woods, barking and snapping.
"How'd he avoid it?" Toni asked as they motioned for Joaquin to go back to his trailer.
"Distance? Didn't phase? I don't know. Might be locational; like, it's stronger and unavoidable as soon as he got here."
"Something like that," Joaquin sputtered, turning human again, "And this is a strong pull. Glad to see you're wielding your power right away, Karan."
"I'm going to take that at face value, so, thanks," Sweet Pea said, eyes narrowed. He was glad he was able to now shield his thoughts from everyone else. It was like being the Alpha took his already pre-set instincts and powers and turned up the dial. It was so easy to hide thoughts now or to push fogs onto other people, or between conversations. The point being, Sweet Pea wondered if Joaquin wasn't a tad bit upset he wasn't asked to take over. Joaquin, in many ways, was closer to FP, if only that he was literally like a lap dog. Personally, Sweet Pea never thought Joaquin was up to the task, and not just because he wanted it himself. Joaquin was a follower, through and through.
"Want some lasagna? Hungry?" Sweet Pea asked, "I'm drowning in it."
"But I-,"
"We're waiting," Sweet Pea said, "Toni, run back and grab him some food while we wait."
"Aye, aye, sir."
By the time Toni returned, the whole gang had arrived; Kevin, Archie, Veronica, Jughead, Betty, Midge, and Josie. Sweet Pea was glad that maybe this time they were going to forge better bonds and be stronger and kinder to each other than their parents.
Wouldn't that be quite the achievement under his young Alpha scorecard? Unite the magical beings of Riverdale as not enemies, but friends?
"Why are we here?" Jughead huffed, in a pissier mood than usual.
Toni had been smart enough to bring back a whole pan, so Sweet Pea offered everyone food. Jughead was still enough of himself to take the first piece.
"I told all wolves to tell me anything they know about Jason. Joaquin knows something. He's been holding out." Sweet Pea said with his eyes narrowed in on the skinny blue-eyed wolf.
"How can you know he'll tell the truth? If he hasn't all this time?" Veronica asked.
"Alpha command. It's unavoidable," Toni chirped.
"Okay," Sweet Pea said, metaphorically lifting the gag, "Time to talk."
Joaquin tried to hold it in as long as he could, but finally winced, "Fine! Fuck." he growled, grasping his hair, "Promise you won't exile me."
"Of course not," Sweet Pea murmured, confused, "We just want to know what you know."
"What did you do?" Kevin asked, inhaling sharply.
"Did FP kill Jason?" Betty asked, directly, pointedly.
"Yeah," The words fell like a waterfall from his lips, "I mean, well, I assume." He added.
"Fuck!"
Jughead turned and kicked a chair, fingers grasping the knit of his hat, his eyes prickling with tears.
"You sure you wanna be here, man?" Archie asked.
"No, I need to hear it. Sorry, Betty. Guess your endless hope just ran dry."
Betty tried not to, but she flinched at his tone, pulling her arms around herself, as though to comfort her own sadness.
Sweet Pea noticed the venom. Apparently, he'd been serious about the whole breakup. He realized that Toni noticed him noticing them, and averted his gaze.
"Did you see him pull the trigger?" Josie prompted. Good. At least one person here was focused. He needed to be, he scolded himself, pushing aside any thoughts or opinions on the Jughead/Betty situation.
"No! God, no," Joaquin shuddered, "But, well, in July, I got a call in the middle of the night from FP, an Alpha Command. Said he needed help with some clean-up at the Wyrm. Thought he meant a spilled case of beer or something."
"And it wasn't," Veronica grimaced.
"It was in the basement," Joaquin whimpered, and Sweet Pea winced involuntarily. Even though he couldn't be Alpha commanded anymore, he still remembered the residual feelings. And FP had made it so anyone wanting to go down there got an eerie, dark feeling, and they were made to steer clear. Off-limits to everyone, except for FP. Even before Jason went missing, it had been that way, but it had been bumped to an Alpha Command after.
And Sweet Pea felt so fucking stupid for never putting two and two together.
Maybe, like nearly everyone else here, he hadn't wanted to think…
"And when I got down there, I saw that Jason had been shot. I never asked if FP did it. He wouldn't let me. Banned me from asking or telling. I was also scared shitless. But I did it. Stashed the body in the freezer. Cleaned up. God rid of the evidence-,"
"You're a criminal!" Kevin sputtered, horrified.
"I'm a wolf. We're predators," Joaquin snapped back, but Sweet Pea could tell Kevin's words hurt him deeply, which is why he lashed out to protect himself.
"Why not Sweet Pea?" Jughead demanded, "Why ask you, entrust you with this?"
"Probably because Sweet Pea isn't one to just blindly follow. He'd be like a dog with a bone, literally, trying to circumvent the Alpha Command." Toni snorted, "Joaquin is…" She trailed off, trying not to be rude. Joaquin bared his teeth at her. Apparently, he didn't have to be a mind reader to know what Toni was thinking about him.
"Do you think that this was a clean-up for my father?" Veronica asked. Joaquin snapped back to the question, sighing.
Joaquin shrugged helplessly, "I dunno. I'm sorry. I really don't."
This was more information than they'd gotten in all their days of searching, and it was clear everyone was satisfied. As they finished up their lasagna and started leaving, Joaquin let out a long sigh, like he'd been trying to hold something in, but failed.
"He knows more," Sweet Pea said, narrowing his eyes.
"There is," Joaquin ground out, frustrated with himself, "The contingency plan," He said, slowly, like the words were being drawn from him by a string, "But he told me it was too dangerous. Told me to forget it."
"Ahah, now we're getting somewhere!" Toni said, eyes wild and excited.
"What is this?"
"A jacket. Stashed. Jason's. I don't know anything else about it, or why it's a contingency, or what! I swear!"
Sweet Pea met his gaze, intensifying his unspoken command. But nothing more.
"I'm not gunna be exiled, right?" Joaquin asked again.
"No," Sweet Pea cooed, almost in a paternal way, "You're a Serpent. We take care of ourselves. Always. And we'll keep you safe. I swear it."
"I can stay here," Toni offered, "Just in case. With Joaquin."
"Good."
As the group left, Joquin reached for Kevin, but the boy pulled back.
"I just…need time," He mumbled.
"Right, sure, of course," Joaquin played it off, but it was clear that this hurt him too.
Outside, Sweet Pea stopped Kevin.
"You're breaking his goddamn heart, you know?" He snarled, "And he's my pack now. So don't make me tear you limb from limb."
"I know, but…he helped dispose of Jason's body. I can't just…" Kevin was shaking.
"He's not cruel, or violent. We both know that. Take your time quicker." Sweet Pea said and then pushed past, focused on finding out the truth.