Chapter 4

Elena's POV

How come Michael never mentioned it? Not even once. I instantly berated myself for just rushing down here without a solid plan.

If they were cousins, that meant Alpha Horace might not even believe what I really came here to reveal.

He spoke again.

"Seems like you didn't tell your wife that you and the Alpha were second generation cousins."

"Yeah, well. I didn't think she needed to know that the late Luna was my mom's cousin." Michael said tersely.

"But you thought your mistress needed to know that my son has liver cancer?"

There was no missing the edge to Alpha Horace's voice and it made me wonder if he really had a good relationship with Michael.

On the other side, a muscle twitched on Elena's forehead in obvious anger at Alpha Horace's words.

"You seem acquainted with my wife which is a surprise." Michael broke the tension.

"Well, that's because she's my girlfriend." Alpha Horace's reply came too quickly.

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Michael and Elena had their eyes wide with shock.

Even I was having a hard time standing straight on my legs.

Why did he say that? I risked a glance at him and I realized he was watching me intently—relentlessly.

He was daring me to say otherwise.

But I couldn't, my throat had gone dry.

Colours rose to my cheeks as I quickly averted my gaze and pinned them back on Elena and Michael.

Michael's face had gone white as sheet as he just stared me, his jaws clenched and his face, emotionless.

And I'd be damned if just that expression didn't make satisfaction wash through me.

After what seemed like forever, he cleared his throat.

"A boyfriend? No! The answer is no, Elena." He said with finality. "Goodness gracious, are you out of your mind?"

Anger ignited in me. And before I could think it through, I said the one thing I never thought I would.

"So, you're allowed to get someone else pregnant and I'm not allowed to be with my boyfriend in peace?"

I swear I heard a low possessive growl from Alpha Horace the moment I said boyfriend. And, before I could brace myself, I felt his hand on my waist, triggering a jolt of awareness.

My breath hitched as his heat enveloped me, making me acutely aware of every inch of space, or the lack thereof, between us.

"Cut your losses, cousin." He said. "You wanted an open marriage, and now, she's giving you exactly that. What more do you want?"

I gasped softly. He knew about the open marriage Michael had suggested. Wait a damn minute! Was he spying on Michael?

Because that was way too many details he knew about our marriage.

Michael on the other hand, wasn't surprised. And if he was, he didn't show it.

Rather, his lips were drawn into a tight line as his gaze fixed on Alpha Horace's hand that was holding my waist possessively.

"Even if you're the Alpha King, you have no right to hold my lawful wife that way, Horace!" He finally croaked out.

"You have no right to call her your girlfriend! You have no right to meddle in our affairs!"

A low growl rumbled out of Alpha Horace's throat and I could feel the heat of rage radiating off him.

"You make it sound like I need your permission, Michael Wilmington!" His voice was so frosty it could freeze hell.

But he was only just starting.

"Your soon-to-be ex-wife is my girlfriend! Get that into your thick skull and leave my Mansion while I'm being nice."

The fact that Alpha Horace was supporting me instead of his cousin felt so good and I smiled for the first time since yesterday.

But my smile soon froze as I felt his grip tighten on my waist, almost as if he was telling me that I really belong to him.

But I don't.

Or do I?

"Soon to be ex-wife? Are you out of your fucking mind?" Michael was raving stark mad now as he turned to me.

"Elena, you're my wife. Do not let anybody get between us. I know you're pissed about the stuff with Elena, but I swear to you, it was a mistake."

"I can't even remember how or when it happened. Let's just go home. I'm never going to break our matebond. We can still fix everything."

Elena looked visibly pissed and hurt by Michael's words as she spoke with a tight voice.

"Cal, Elena has already made her choice. Maybe it's hightime we"

"No stay out of this, Elena." He cut her off. "Elena is my wife and she'll always be."

Her face went puffy with embarrassment and I couldn't help but snicker, enjoying her pain.

"Really, Cal?" She gritted out. "Alright then. I'll stay out of it!"

With that, she turned on her heels and started heading out. A look of panic entered Michael's eyes as he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Wait, Elena. I didn't mean to sound that way." He said as he chased after her.

Shameless jerk! I cursed inwardly.

He claimed we could still fix everything but he was chasing after Elena just right after. If he wanted her so badly, why not let me go?

Selfish bastard!

But, oh moon goddess, he would be forced to let me go. I'll do everything within my powers to make him regret everything he did to me.

I turned to Alpha Horace who still had his gaze on me, unwaveringly.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, why he was supporting me instead of his cousin, how he knew so much about our affairs.

But that was only going to waste both of our times, so I said instead,

"I would love to examine your sick son. I'm sure I'll diagnose his conditions correctly."

I hadn't exactly expected him to accept my request, but I hadn't expected this reaction either.

He just smirked and turned, bringing us to a full body contact in a way that made the sliver of space between us pulse with tension.

"Are you still bent on playing hide and seek with the truth?"

His words sent shock through me. What was he talking about?

"You didn't come here to examine my son, did you? You came here because of the text."

Wait what?

He knew about the text? He sent it?

"Alpha Horace, I"

"Horace." He corrected, his eyes glimmering with amusement at my ruffled expression.

"I'm just Horace to you. And yes, I sent the text to bring you here. To let you see your husband for who he truly is."

Shock was an understatement. I was simply flabbergasted. Does that mean he'd known everything that Michael and Elena had been doing all along?

"Why?" The words tore through my lips.

His gaze went dark with a strange possessiveness.

"Are you just pretending not to notice or you just didn't feel it?"

I frowned in puzzlement at first but when I caught the wanton intent in his gaze, I instinctively took two steps back.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Alpha Horace."

"It's Horace!" He rasped as he closed the distance between us until he backed me up against the wall.

"I want an answer. Yes or no?"

I buckled under his suffocating gaze. "To what?"

His fist clenched at his side. "To everything? I know you felt it like I did the first time at the party."

I frowned. "What party?"

"Your mother in-law's birthday party, two weeks ago. I was there under a disguise and you felt the matebond between us, yes or no?"

I gasped softly. Matebond?

I couldn't remember much about Becca's birthday party. I'd been too busy preparing the dishes.

But what I could remember vividly was how my wolf had reacted to him, to his scent, both yesterday and earlier in his room.

Was that really what it was? How could the moon goddess pair me with another mate when I was yet to break my bond with Michael?

I didn't know the answer to that so I just clung to good sense.

"No, I didn't feel anything."

The words barely left my mouth when he jerked me to him, lining me flush against his sturdy chest as his head descended.

But in that moment, a voice sounded behind us, breaking whatever was about to happen.

"Dad? Mom?"