17

Finn

“Are you sure you don’t want to know anything about her?” His voice trailed after me as I walked back into the pack house. I didn’t answer.

“Alpha,” I heard his voice in my head. What kind of nagging wolf was David? Why couldn’t he just let me be? With my alpha speed, I rushed to my office.

‘I think we need to listen to him,’ my wolf said.

‘Storm, are you thinking of living happily with her when you know her father was the one who destroyed our once-happy home?’ I yelled. ‘Tell me.’ My anger was evident as I trembled. ‘You’re right, I should have killed her to save myself from this stress.’

‘Finn, I didn’t mean it.’

‘You know how hard we worked to rebuild everything from nothing. The endless training, hiding from everyone’s eyes just to get where we are today. I refuse to show weakness now.’ I clenched my fists. ‘Yes, I still feel something for her, but how could I make her my Luna? How could I face her every day, looking into eyes that remind me of the murderer who slaughtered my parents?’

‘Finn, please—’

I was still talking to my wolf when he rushed in.

“Alpha, you need to listen to me, or you are going to regret it,” he noted, approaching me. I sighed in frustration.

“Nothing could change even if I listened,” I muttered, resting my back against my seat.

“You should listen first.”

“Fine,” I muttered. “Tell me what’s so important that I need to know, Beta Daniel.”

His eyes glowed with intensity. “Your mate isn’t what you think. She’s nothing like her father.”

“Is that so?”

“Her mother died years ago, and her father married the Beta’s daughter from the neighboring pack.”

“Ah. This sounds like Alaric,” I scoffed. “He will do anything just to be in power.”

“Exactly. The new wife seemed kind at first,” Daniel began. “She was so nice to her, and her father was proud of his daughter because she shifted at a very young age.”

“You mean the omega?” I straightened. “How is that possible?”

“Everything is possible, Alpha. She was never an omega, Alpha.”

“What?” I slammed my fist on the desk. “She’s an Alpha?”

“Yes. A very strong one. I don’t know if she knew…”

“But what? Say it fast.”

“She fell ill, and everything changed. She became an omega.”

“Ha.” I sank back, remembering how her scent had been different when we first met, only changing that fateful morning. Regret gnawed at me. I should have listened to what she’d tried to tell me.

‘Even if we had listened, we couldn’t accept her. Her blood is tainted,’ Storm whispered carefully. He was careful with his words, trying not to anger me.

“Where did you get this information?” I demanded. “How can you be sure it’s true?”

“I got the information from a spy I planted in her father’s pack,” he informed.

“You planted a spy without informing me?”

“It was because I was worried. I knew you loved her.”

“I don’t,” I snapped. “I don’t love her.”

“You do. You’ve been unhinged since rejecting her.”

I forced a smirk, trying to mask my emotions. “I will never love her. You get it?”

Daniel looked at me, studying my face before he spoke. “I understand,” he replied, not pushing further.

“Was that all?” I asked.

“No. There’s more.”

“Continue.”

“Everything changed for her. Her life. She was hated by the father who once loved her. She was mistreated by her stepmother and eventually turned into a maid. The day of the ball, she was assigned to be a maid to Nina, her stepsister, by her father.”

“A maid?” I growled. “His own daughter?”

“Yes. You know her sister, don’t you?”

I let out a pained howl as something twisted inside me. How could he do that?

“Yes. I thought she was the only daughter of Alaric until the day I met Scarlett,” I admitted, her name feeling like honey and poison on my tongue. “I got to know she was his daughter.”

“Did you notice anything wrong that day?” he asked

I fell silent, remembering. “All I saw was her joy.”

“She must have hidden her pain well,” he murmured. “Poor girl.”

“I blame myself for not listening to her. Even if I can’t accept her as my Luna, I could have helped her.”

“Well, it’s too late now. She’s getting married as we speak.”

“What the heck are you talking about, Beta?” My voice turned deadly quiet. “This isn’t funny, Beta.”

“I’m not joking. She’s marrying Alpha Dickson.”

A familiar rage coursed through my veins—one I hadn’t felt since my parents’ death. “Why are you just telling me this now?”

He responded. “I only just found out.”

I raked my fingers through my hair, burning with fury. “That bastard,” I snarled. “Giving his daughter to a monster who treats his pack like a harem.”

“I told you she is nothing like her father. She probably hates him as much as we do.”

“I didn’t know this,” I whispered. “Maybe it’s for the best.”

“What! Are you just going to turn a blind eye to this?”

“What would you have me do?” I snapped.

“Do you think I’m telling you this just to turn a blind eye to it, Finn? We need to go take back the Luna.”

“Take her back?” I laughed bitterly. “Such noble words.”

“Finn.”

“Leave. I don’t want to spill any blood of my members just because of her. She’s already married, and I hope she’ll forget me as soon as possible.”

“We are strong,” Daniel said, trying to convince me.

“Strong? Against two packs? You think I’ve been training our warriors just to fight over a woman?”

“Finn.”

“Don’t use my name, Beta,” I growled, the sound echoing dangerously through the room. “Address me properly as your Alpha.”

He immediately bowed his head in submission. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”

I turned away, staring out the window. “Let it be. It’s better this way.”

“I understand. Please excuse me.”

As he reached for the door, I called out, “Daniel. Never speak of my mate again. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.” He opened the door and walked away. I could still hear his footsteps before they faded.

‘She’s getting married,’ Storm said, his voice filled with shock.

‘You heard him clearly.’

‘That Alpha she’s marrying is a monster.’

‘Why should I care, Storm? Why should I care who she marries?’

‘You should,’ he howled, ‘because she’s our mate.’

‘The mate we rejected. This conversation is over.’

With a final whimper, Storm retreated to the depths of my mind, leaving me alone with my thoughts.