SIXTY-SEVEN

*VALENS*

'Valens – he – When Redville needed an Alpha, when I needed an Alpha, when my baby needed an Alpha, he wasn't there. He is the Alpha that abandoned his pack.'

Those words played in my head as I sat outside of the inner shrine. The oracle sat facing me, her eyes closed and head lifted to the ceiling as if she was in a trance or asleep.

I was reaping the fruits of my lack of foresight.

'Is it just a lack of foresight?' Zino asked, yawning. I ignored him. He didn't get to feel the brunt of her anger so I didn't expect him to fully understand. I, on the other hand, felt the anger simmering just beneath her skin. And it was more than the anger; there was also resignation, sadness and an obvious lack of trust.

'You subconsciously wanted to punish me!' She'd yelled at me and I knew that was what she believed.

I searched my heart, my mind, and even tried to see into my soul. No part of me wanted to punish my mate when I saw those pictures. I'd been hurt and betrayed. I didn't tr