The Unforgiven

Lightning’s POV

Seeing that car parked in front of the pack house brought me discomfort. I was never mentally prepared to face her. Each passing day, she had new tactics. But, I had a feeling why she was here. It’s what we’ve been fighting over for months.

I drew a slow breath and opened the pack doors. Lo, and behold, it was just as I thought. My mother, Queen of the Nightwing pack, Ashlyn Sauron was seated elegantly with ten different women lined up in front of her. All with different curves, sizes and skin tones.

I almost rolled my eyes.

“Hello, Mother,”

“Don’t just stand there and give me a cold greeting. Come to mother,” she smiled, stretching her arms for an embrace.

I hesitated. It was very hard to say no to her. She always got what she wanted. Sometimes, she forgot that I wasn’t the little, innocent boy she raised anymore.

I am Chaos, the man who brings death to anyone in his path.

A scourge that burns through packs and leaves only ashes behind. Wherever I walk, nothing was left standing.

“Fine. If you won’t embrace your mother, you can as well give me a kiss.”

She was relentless.

I closed my eyes briefly and opened them. “How’s father?” I asked, staying where I was.

She dropped her arms. “He’s doing fine,”

“Amber?” I inquired, a sudden lump filled my throat.

She smiled cheerfully. “She’s doing well. She in fact wanted to come along,”

“You know you can’t bring her here,” I crossed to the couch opposite hers and sat.

She signaled to the ladies to cover their ears which they did.

“Amber has forgiven you, Lightning,”

“I have not forgiven myself.”

I pushed back the flashes of what happened that night behind my mind.

“Michael…” she began to say.

I hated that name. She knew I did, but yet, whenever she wanted to delve into something serious, she used it.

“I’m quite sure you didn’t come all the way from Glasgow to lecture me. What brings you here, mother?” I asked, ignoring the obvious presence of these women.

She beamed and signaled again. The women dropped their hands and shifted into poses that made my skin crawl.

“These are the debutantes of the mating season. I have brought the finest women for you to pick as a mate,” she smiled.

I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes faintly. Not this again. “Pick a mate? I’ve told you countless times, I do not feel mate bonds,”

She narrowed her eyes. “Your father felt his,”

“I’m not my father,” I replied flatly.

“Yes, you’re not,” she looked around. “He’s proud of what you’ve built. But, he’s unhappy, Lightning. You’ve proven to be worse than he was,”

I let out a bitter laugh. “I am my father’s son after all,”

She sighed and then resumed to her cheerfulness. “Give it a shot. Just take a look at them,” she urged.

I looked lazily at the women before me. They wanted it. I knew the drill, fear mixed with greed.

I knew soon they would begin with their usual lies.

“They’ll feel if I’m their mates, right?” I inquired and she nodded sweetly.

I stood up and walked to the first woman. Her breasts threatened to slip out of her dress. I grabbed her chin hard and she had a slutty smile on her lips like a trained animal.

Typical whores.

They were scared of me, but the thoughts of fucking me usually clouded their senses, pushing the fears away.

Tales of my sexual escapades had definitely traveled far and wide. Everyone wanted a taste of Lightning. None had ever rejected me.

I examined each of them. Same thing. I took a step back.

“Who’s my mate?”

They all lifted their hands and stared at each other. Each glaring at the other to lower their hands.

Here we fucking go again.

“I’ll have you all beheaded,” I turned away in disgust.

Seven immediately dropped to their knees. “We’re sorry, alpha. Please, forgive us. We did not mean to lie.”

I turned around, ignoring their pleas and stared icily at the three that had the nerves to still have their hands up.

“You want me to believe you feel the mate bond?”

“Yes,” they chorused.

In blind fury, I walked to them and slapped each across the face.

“Lightning!” Mother gasped.

I ignored her. I grabbed the woman in the middle by the neck. “Listen here, you slut,”

Her eyes were filled with tears as she choked.

“Language,” Mother said, fanning herself. She didn’t expect me to lose control. Usually, I walked away whenever she showcases women to me.

But not today.

I needed someone, anyone to vent my anger on.

“You’re doing it for the fucks, right? You’re going to get what’s coming,” I pushed her away and stared hard at them. “All of you.”

“Call Damien,” I said. The guard at the door left without hesitation.

“If you don’t want them, just tell me. There is no need for violence,” Mother said.

“This will be a lesson to anyone who claims to be my mate,”

Damien walked in. “Alpha, you sent for me,”

“I’m giving you and your men, spoils for last night’s victory. Take these women and do whatever your fantasies demand.” I ordered.

“Yes, alpha.” He hauled them toward the door.

Mother stood up. “You have no right to treat women this way. They are not sex slaves!”

“It is what they want,” I responded.

“This is not how to treat women. How can you let your men mishandle women? For the moon goddess’s sake, you have a sister!”

I tightened my jaw. “With all due respect, mother. You have no right to come to my home and dictate on how I rule,”

I turned to walk away.

“Lightning…” she called with a heavy sigh.

I paused in my track. “Go home, Mother.”

I walked up the stairs without looking back.