“I was sitting in the hospital room with my mate, her sister, and my beautiful pup when my father walked in followed by the b**ch he wanted me to mate. When I continue to refuse to reject my bond and make Deborah my mistress my father attacked me. Stacey managed to get Lily out safely but I couldn’t protect Deborah. I killed my father that day but I lost my my mate. I couldn’t protect her.
I failed her.” I stiffen when I feel soft fingertips on my cheek.
My eyes meet Rosalyn’s as she wipes away tears, I didn’t even know were running down my cheeks. “I know my reaction to finding out you were my mate was sh**ty and I can never make up for how I made you feel but I need you to understand that I want you to be my mate. I wanted you the moment I caught your scent in the bakery.”
Her cheeks flush pink and I realize what I said. “You were never the reason for my reaction. I felt guilty that I’m going to get another chance at happiness when Deborah won’t. She never got to be the mother she always wanted to be to Lily. The other reason I reacted badly was because I’m afraid.”
She tilts her head clearly confused by my statement. “I’m afraid I’ll fail you too, Rosalyn.” “You didn’t fail Deborah, Beck. You are not to blame for what happened and by the sounds of it the two people responsible were dealt with by you. I’m so sorry for what happened and I understand why you reacted the way you did but what’s changed.
Why do you want me now,” she asks.
“Honestly, it was Holly that made me realize I was lying to myself. When I went to the bakery and you refused to talk to me, she said you have the hots for Charlie. The thought of you with anyone but me made me crazy. Besides that, my wolf was more than happy to point out that I was being an id*ot for letting my guilt and fear cost me the chance to have the other half of my soul.”
Rosalyn POV
As far as reasons go, Beck’s is pretty good. It’s hard to hear him talk about his first mate but I know I felt the same way about Reese before it all went to hell. Hearing him say he wants me as his mate makes my heart beat faster. Will he feel that way when he realizes that my first mate didn’t think I was enough. Zora growls but I’m right.
He wanted more than one mate. My eyes meet Beck’s and he looks worried. I realize I’ve been quiet for too long. “This is hard for me Beck because my first mate betrayed me.” He growls and his eyes flash black.
“I grew up with my ex-mate. He is a few years older than me. He actually claimed me at my sixteenth birthday party.” I notice the disgust in his eyes and realize he thinks I mean physically. “Not in the way you’re thinking.
He just announced I was his mate when he saw me dancing with an unmated male.”
“We spent the two years just getting to know each other. A few days before my eighteenth birthday I walked in on him with someone else.” Goddess, why is this so hard to say out loud. I’m not the one who did this so why am I embarrassed that my mate preferred my brother. I look to the sky before I look back at Beck.
“The person he was screwing was my brother.” “So not only did your ex-mate betray you but your brother did too” he says his voiced laced with anger. “Yes, but amazingly that’s not what made me want to leave the pack. Don’t get me wrong I was devastated by both their actions. I wish they had just told me they had a relationship before I accepted Reese as my mate.
The worst was my father and the Alpha of the pack insisting I share my ex-mate with my brother. Comparing it to what identical twins do with their mate.”
“Are you f**king kidding me? What the f**k is wrong with your old pack? That is against werewolf law for ranked members to get involved in mating bonds. Why would the Alpha of a pack even care about your mating? Why would he jeopardize his title,” he asks.
Before I can even answer his eyes turn black as night. “You were mated to the future Alpha of your old pack, weren’t you?”
I have no idea what he’s thinking about what I’ve just told him. I know he’s angry but does he still want me after all I just told him? “Beck” I manage to say. “Give me a minute my love, I’m on the verge of shifting. Gideon and I want to run to your old pack and rip them apart for what they have done to our mate.”
I fight back the lump in my throat hearing him claim me.
“Reese, please talk to me” Bryce pleads once were alone again. “I think you have run your mouth enough Bryce. Whatever we had between us is well over. You are not the man I once thought you were. You have caused your sister, my mate, nothing but pain and you show no remorse.
At least I’m sorry for what I’ve done.” Pain and anger flash in his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it quickly when both our father’s step into the office. “What’s going on Reese? You sounded like it was urgent in the link” my father says, his voice laced with concern.
“Do you want to tell our father’s what you’ve done” I ask Bryce. He drops his gaze to the floor like the coward he is. “Bryce, apparently thought it was a good idea to get drunk on werewolf whiskey and run his mouth.” My father growls and steps toward him only to be stopped by Cain.
Fallon pushes to the surface and instead of stopping him, I offer him control. He wishes my mate dead then he deserves what he gets. Bryce tries to escape me but between the alcohol still coursing through his veins and our rage, he can’t. The first punch we land knocks him off his feet. We straddle him and reign down punch after punch.
The sound of crunching when I break his nose pleases Fallon. He attempts to protect his face but with every punch he weakens more. “Enough” my father growls and his Alpha aura washes over Fallon. As much as he fights against it, he finally gives in to the command. We stand over Bryce looking down at a man we don’t even recognize anymore.
“Bryce Myers, as of this moment you are no longer the future Beta of the Black Rose Pack.” There is a growl from behind me and I know immediately that its Cain. “You have no right to take his title. It is his birthright” he says.
I whirl on the man I have thought of as a second father. “I have every right. I am the next Alpha of this pack. He wished harm to my future Luna and your daughter. Did you forget that she is your daughter Cain?
Does it mean nothing to you he wished her dead?” He shoulders sag and he drops his gaze to the ground. “Son, are you sure about your decision? I’m sure Bryce didn’t really mean what he said” my father says.
I throw my head back and laugh. “You are as delusional as he is if you think he didn’t mean every word he just said. He has been nothing but cruel to his sister since I announced her as my mate and Luna. Since you want to defend him ask him what he told Addie.” My father’s eyes get big and he stalks toward Bryce grabbing him by the throat.
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