CHAPTER 5

(Xander's POV)

The moonlight bathed the surroundings as I walked to the dungeon to find my mother. The guards bowed and welcomed me upon my arrival.

I arrived at the cage where my mother was locked up, chains wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Her blue eyes fluttered open, narrowing with rage at me; she did not recognize me as her son.

"Mom…" I tried calling to her, but she acted feral, pulling on the chains used to bind her in place.

"Get lost!" she growled at me.

"Fine. I will go. But know that today is my 27th birthday. I chose Quincy as my chosen mate," I told her as I stood at the front of the cage.

Mom looked away. Her white dress was dirty and hadn't been changed for the past two years. If the guards neared her, she would strangle them. The sedatives didn't work to calm her down, either.

"I don't have any crazy son. I am childless! I am not the Luna! I am me!" she cried. I knew she became worse whenever she saw me.

"Fine. You're childless," I said, and her blue eyes calmed down.

"You're not the Luna Queen," I told her what she wanted to hear, and she nodded.

"Good. Now, leave. I don't care about you. You're all crazy, not me!" She violently pulled the chains, her wrists bleeding in the process, so I turned and left, knowing the sight of me made her worse.

"Alpha Xander, what do we do? Your mother is getting worse and attempting to kill herself. The medicine doesn't work on her," the head warder at the prison let me know.

"Hmm," I breathed heavily as my eyes landed on the emerald bracelet Bailey had given me.

"I hope I find my real mate to stop Mom's madness, but how do I find her? Should I invite all the single girls to the palace? But Quincy will be sad," I said, feeling troubled that Quincy would be hurt.

"Alpha," the head warder lowered his head and said, "I am afraid if we do not do something to help your mother, she could die."

Shutting my eyes as my fist clenched, I told him, "She will be fine. Continue with the food supplements. Ensure you add more psychiatric medicine to her food. I will find a way."

"Got it, Alpha," he replied.

I walked away, shifting into my wolf and going for a run as the night fell.

***

(Quincy's POV)

"Wake up, you slut!" I rushed into my sister's room as soon as I arrived home.

I had a deep feeling that she could be Alpha Xander's mate. He had sniffed my right hand—the same hand I used to slap my sister.

Aurora rubbed her sleepy eyes as she sat up on the bed and glared at me. She never used to glare at me; where did she get the audacity?

"Quincy, what's going on? It's late and you should rest," our mother said as she entered the room.

How could I rest when the memory of Xander sniffing my right palm like a hungry beast flashed in my head? I wore a marigold scent, but Aurora had a jasmine scent. How could I prevent Alpha Xander from meeting Aurora? She would be 18 next Saturday. How could I stop them?

"Quincy, I know you're mad at Aurora for stealing your jade earrings, but you can punish her tomorrow. Just let her sleep tonight; you need rest too," Mom said as she walked up to me and pulled my arm.

"No, Mom. I want Aurora banished and sent away from this pack!" I growled. My father and brother stepped into the room and gasped.

"What?"

"Quincy, how dare you say that you want your sister banished?!" My father growled at me for the first time, and I looked at him sadly.

"Dad, Aurora must leave this house tonight. She will bring more problems to us if we don't send her away!" I spat, unable to tell my father the truth. My body was trembling, my lips quavering.

However, my father surprised us all as he walked up to me and landed a powerful, brain-resetting slap on my left cheek, shocking us all.

"Dad!" we gasped, because my father had never raised his hand on me before, let alone knowing I was Alpha Xander's girlfriend.

"Dad, you slapped me because of this bastard!" I growled, pointing at Aurora. My father raised his hand to slap me again, but Kaleb rushed to hold him.

"Dad!" Kaleb swiftly rushed up to stop him, as he was also shocked by Dad's behavior.

Aurora sat on the bed with wide eyes, watching us. I was sure she was happy seeing me get disciplined by our dad.

"The next time you order your sister to be banished or thrown out, I will disown you. Aurora may be a useless she-wolf or a lowborn Omega, but she is your sister and my daughter. Don't ever say that rubbish to me again!" Dad growled, snatched his hand away from Kaleb, and spat, "All of you, get out of Aurora's room. I don't want anyone bullying her again. Tomorrow, I will investigate who stole your earrings."

"Get out!" Dad pointed at the door. We were all shocked that he was defending Aurora.

Left with no other option, we exited Aurora's room. I was heartbroken that my dad slapped me.

"Quincy, you don't have to get angry at your dad. He's just concerned for Aurora. If we banish her like you suggested, it will bring shame to us. The pack members will look down on us. Just forgive your sister," Mom said, trying to comfort me. I smacked her hand away.

"No way, Mom. You all have to choose between me and Aurora. If you won't send her away, then I will leave!" I declared and ran back upstairs to my room.

"Quincy! Quincy!" My brother came knocking on my door, but I didn't want to see him.

"Leave me alone! All of you!" I cried, sobbing on my bed.

"Calm down, Quincy. I think you should forgive Aurora. Dad and Mom are right. As much as we don't like Aurora, she's their child. They never prayed for her to be useless and without a wolf. Just calm down and try to understand that Aurora will always be a part of us," Kaleb said. That wasn't my fear.

With a trembling voice, I asked Kaleb, "What if Aurora turns out to be Alpha Xander's real mate? She will be 18 soon. I fear she's up to something."

Kaleb's laughter reverberated at my door. "Haha! Get a hold of your insane thoughts, Quincy. Aurora cannot be Alpha Xander's mate. He doesn't like her to begin with."

"But she has a jasmine scent. You saw Alpha Xander sniff my right hand like a hungry beast. After I slapped Aurora, her jasmine scent was on my right hand and he sniffed it deeply. She could be his mate…" I sobbed.

Kaleb was quiet. After a while, he said, "I didn't know about that. You're right. Aurora scents like jasmine. But she's a wolfless Omega. I do not think Alpha Xander will choose her over you. Trust him; he will not dump you. Don't worry about Aurora."

"Alright. Thanks for your words, brother," I said, feeling better.

"You're welcome, sister. Sleep well and goodnight."

The sound of my brother's footsteps leaving my door echoed. I went to the bathroom and paused to look at my cheek. It was past midnight. My left cheek appeared red and swollen, and I knew Alpha Xander would be furious when he saw this.

I sighed, relieved myself, and had my night bath. After that, I donned a long white nightdress and moved to the bed. My heart throbbed as anxiety coursed through my veins. After a while of worrying over my sister and boyfriend, I succumbed to sleep on my bed.