HE USED MY HISTORY AGAINST ME

CHAPTER 2: HE USED MY HISTORY AGAINST ME

CATHERINE:

“You can be my mistress.”

When I heard Denzel say that to me, a rush of anger filled every nerve in my body and before I could stop myself, my palm connected with his face. The sound cracked through the room.

“Go to hell, Denzel,” I spat, my voice breaking. “I won't stand here and be humiliated by you.”

Denzel rubbed his face with his palm, his eyes darkening dangerously. Giselle rushed to his side and began rubbing his back. “She's such an ungrateful bitch. You can tell your guards to teach her a lesson.”

Denzel didn't respond to her. He only glared at me.

I turned and started walking away.

Giselle laughed as she watched me storm out of the office. “You should be grateful he's willing to keep you as his mistress,” she called after me. “You're wolfless and have no pack to call your own. Being Denzel's mistress is a privilege if you ask me.”

I didn’t look back.

Tears filled my eyes as I stumbled out of the building. The warm morning sunlight felt cruel against my skin. My chest hurt like someone had dug claws into it.

I couldn’t believe how cruelly life keeps treating me.

Denzel had used my family history against me. And I hated him for that.

As I walked home, I thought about my father. About how he’d been exiled from his pack just because he chose love over some stupid mate bond. And now I understood what that choice had cost him.

It was hard not to think about Dad in moments like this. George Blackwood was my father and he was once the Alpha’s son, who grew up proud, ambitious, and larger than life. The name alone used to mean something in New York’s werewolf circles. But that was before everything fell apart.

He had walked away from the pack when he chose Mom, a human, over his fated mate. I was told my grandfather, Alpha Richard, disowned him that very day. And just like that, we were cut off.

I wasn't born when it all happened but Dad told me he left New York with Mom, and moved to Vegas. Dad had been full of hope then. He worked at a casino, made friends with the Italians who ran the place, and somehow managed to open his own. And that was when I was born.

For a while, things were good.

Then came Lorenzo Vitale.

Dad said Lorenzo was powerful but charming at first—suave, generous and super expensive. But he was a man everyone feared. When Dad borrowed money from him to expand the casino, he didn't know what kind of man he was dealing with.

The casino flourished, and money flowed in. But Dad wasn’t satisfied. He got into arms dealing with Lorenzo. When a shipment went missing, everything went to hell. Lorenzo blamed Dad.

The fire came next. The casino burned to the ground. The cops called it an accident, but my Dad knew better.

He started struggling financially but every effort he made to recover his wealth and status, came to a dead end. Lorenzo was determined to frustrate him.

Tired, with no one to turn to, Dad gave up. The light in his eyes dimmed. He drank more, talked less. Until one day, he didn’t come home.

The next morning, his body was found on the railway tracks.

I still remembered Mom’s scream when she got the call.

Sigh.

This was my family history and Denzel has just used it against me. He said he didn't want to end up like my father. How dare he refer to my father like he was worthless?

Werewolves worshipped the bond like it was holy, but what about love, loyalty, and choice? None of that mattered when fate played its cruel games.

I clenched my fists, wiping away angry tears. By the time I got home, my feet were heavy and my head was pounding.

“Morning Mom.”

Mom was standing on the porch, her face pale with worry. “It’s almost ten, Catherine. Where the hell have you been?”

I forced a weak smile, trying to hide my broken voice. “I went for training.”

Her eyes softened. “You look terrible, honey. What happened?”

“It’s… nothing, Mom.” Without waiting for her to see the tears in my eyes, I hurried up to my room.

Mom didn't waste time as she came after me. She stood by the entrance of my room, her curly hair tied into a messy bun, and her pink robe hung loosely around her shoulders. She stared at me as if she was trying to read my mind. “You came back so late today, honey. Are you sure you're fine?”

“Yeah,” I said, breathing out as I leaned against the wall. “I trained very hard today. And my knees are killing me.”

Mom's health has been on the decline lately and I didn't want her to worry about my failed relationship.

She chuckled softly. “That’s what happens when you run too much, Cathy.”

I grinned. “I’m a wolf, Mom. And I'm supposed to have shifted by now. I will be nineteen next month and haven't shifted yet. Dad said he shifted at the age of fourteen.”

Mom gazed at me for a moment. “Your wolf will eventually manifest. Some are late shifters. Maybe because you're mixed. Half human, half wolf.”

“A wolf is a wolf, Mom. I have Alpha blood. I'm an Alpha by nature.”

Mom stepped inside the room. “Nobody is arguing that you're not an Alpha. But if your knees are starting to give you aches, then you need to slow down, honey.” She paused for a moment. “So how is your fiance, Denzel?”

I froze, then quickly shook it off. “He's doing alright. He sent his warm regards,” I lied.

“Good,” she said. “Denzel is a nice guy. You too would make a good couple.”

I rolled my eyes inwardly but nodded at her.

“Now, go clean up and come eat before breakfast gets cold. You know the rule—breakfast by seven. And it's almost ten.”

I turned my gaze away. “Mom, I'm sorry if I made you worry about me.”

“It's alright, honey. I'm happy you're home safe.” She smiled, but then her expression shifted slightly. I noticed the little wince she tried to hide when she turned to leave.

“Mom?” I asked, my smile fading. “You okay?”

She hesitated. “Yeah, honey. Just a little headache. I didn’t sleep too well last night.”

“Again?” I sighed, setting the glass down. “You’ve had that headache for months, Mom. You need to get it checked.”

She waved me off with a tired smile. “I’m fine, Cathy. Don’t worry about me.”

“Mom, come on. It’s not normal to have a headache every night. We need to go to the hospital…”

“Hospital means bills,” she cut in gently. “And we don’t have money for that, sweetheart. I’ll be okay.”

I stared at her for a moment, frustration and worry battling inside me. “You said that last month. And the month before that.”

She sighed. “I don’t want to be a burden on you, honey. You’ve already done enough. Working double shifts just to keep us going…”

“Stop,” I said quietly. “You’re not a burden. You’re my mom.”

For a moment, she didn’t speak. Then she smiled again, softer this time. “Go take your shower. We’ll talk about it later, okay?”

I nodded and turned to head toward the bathroom, my chest feeling tight.