Chapter 3

My answer is instant, obvious. “She changed, and the things she did—”

“Forget them,” Dad groans, his tone bored. “Aeliana is going to be your Luna. You will marry her, and only her if you desire for the handover to proceed as planned.”

My eyes shift to Mom and she nods, of course she’d agree with him. They’re a team, something Aeliana and I can’t be. “Your father is right, you have to marry your true mate, or you’ll curse our bloodline.”

“The bloodline will be fine. I’m not the first to reject a mate.”

Anger flashes in Dad’s eyes, “You will not reject her.”

“I already have,” I argue. He will drop this obsession with true mates, he didn’t think I had a mate until minutes ago.

“And that better be the last time you say it, Son. Unless you want to pass on being Alpha.”

I scoff. “Don’t you think that’s a bit too far?” I ask, an eyebrow raised. I have worked so hard for this pack, I earned the handover not only because I’m his first or oldest. “I can’t just marry her, I have—”

“That lost omega who can’t see left or right without you?” Mom chuckles.

I pause.

Shocked. She loves Audrey, everyone does. But suddenly Aeliana appears, and she’s degrading her? “No, my love. You will drop her. The girl is sweet, but she doesn’t have what it takes to be Luna.”

“And Aeliana does?” I almost laugh. “What does Audrey have to do to become qualified? Is sleeping with random men the—”

My cheek flares up.

It takes a second for me to realise I’ve been slapped. Damien lowly chuckles when I go silent, touching my cheek. My Mom’s gaze hardens, “If you don’t want her say the word and your father will have one of your brothers be Alpha, but if you want this pack still? You will respect your Luna, Kingston.”

Dad rises from his seat with a smirk that says, I had that slap coming the second I disagreed with him. “Come on, my Luna. It’s late.” He says.

They leave the room without so much as a goodbye. Aeliana has only been here a few minutes and everything is falling apart.

My leg swipes one of the chairs and it hits the little table at my left, breaking the glass vase on top of it. “Wooo,” my brother whistles, nursing a bottle of beer. “Kingston,” He calls out, proceeding to get close despite my silence. “Listen, if you’re so attached to Audrey, keep her as your mistress.” The idiot smirks, “Nobody cares, but is that pussy worth passing out on the keys to the kingdom…”

“Shut up,” I groan, caressing my temples. I’m trying to soak in the last hour, and he won’t quit talking.

“I don’t get it, big bro, you’ve wanted this, and not for the reasons I did. You care about this pack, and you’re just going to give it up? For Audrey?” He sneers, “You’re smarter than that Kingston.”

I shoot him a glare.

“Don’t shoot the messenger because he’s right.” He smirks, raising his hands in defeat. “Just take my advice, the pack is safer in your hands. I’d ruin it, Callum would fuck it up. And Rowan could be better but he’s not eligible unless he overthrows our father. Which is highly unlikely, Rowan kisses father ass he can’t challenge him.” He reminds me, his gaze shifting. “Oh, here’s Row now.”

“What’s going on?”

“Aeliana?” I scoff. “Why her?”

“You’ve been obsessed with the girl you were in diapers, you’ve always had eyes for her so what’s the problem now?” Damien asks, once again, unprovoked.

“Shut up Damien,” I growl.

“Yo Rom, wasn’t he obsessed with her?”

“Tread carefully,” Rowan warns him.

“Come on,” Damien chuckles. “Are you going to encourage him to give the pack up to be with Audrey just because she’s pretty?” He pauses, and when no one answers him he speaks again. “And have you seen Aeliana yet? The girl grew into her body.” he whistles, the sound ticking me off. “If I weren’t mated or married already then trust, I’d have no problem pursuing her. Those tit’s? They look so sexy, juicy like something crafted for p**n by a skilled surgeon. I bet they’re better when she’s nak—”

My fist swings before I can think to stop myself. The collision leaves me with a dull ache in my knuckles. Damien chokes, stumbling. “King!” Rowan warns, rushing to aid my idiot brother.

Damien laughs, “Relax, everyone has seen her tit’s although they were smaller back then.”

I’m overstimulated, if he mentions Aeliana’s tit’s again I’m going to cripple him. Rowan must read my mind because he shakes his head. “Leave,” he sighs. “You’re drunk, he’s annoyed, this will get bloody fast.”

To my surprise, Damien listens but instead of going out the door he pauses and sighs heavily—loud. “All I did was try to be a good brother but fuck me and discard me like you will be doing with Audrey…” Damien smirk, “Or is it Aeliana you will discard?” He smirks, “Goodnight brother.” He says, slipping away.

Between Damien, Dad, and Aeliana, I’m losing my mind. And Audrey.

God, what do I do?

She’s dedicated her life to me, and the way she looked at me out there…

Rowan slaps a hand on my shoulder, “You good man?”

“Why her?” I grunt. I’d take a crazy woman over her, although there’s not much difference between the two.

Rowan lets a brief chuckle. “Are you surprised? I mean, it’s Aeliana.”

“It’s not,” I snap. “The Aeliana we left doesn’t exist anymore Rowan, you know what she did.”

“I do,” he nods. “I hate her actions too, but I’m not surprised she’s your mate. Uncle is making you choose between the pack and a Luna of your choice…” he trails off on an unspoken thought. He can’t even find the words.

“I know,” I nod. Aeliana is no longer haunting my dreams, she’s here again. ’Tis cruel of my father to make me choose between the pack and a life without Aeliana.

“So, what are you going to do?”