Ch. 7 True Mates

Saoirse POV

We were at the council's headquarters to hear their verdict. Mom was shaking, and her eyes were puffy for crying for too long. Dad had the decency to look ashamed as he was sitting next to the head of the council, Elder James. He was getting interrogated. I couldn't help but cry, too. Renzo tightened his hold on me while we listened in a room full of people. Council member Patrick was ruthless as he questioned my dad.

"According to our investigations, Mr. Colin, you found your mate when you turned 18." My mother and I gasped at the same time. " Tell us what happened to her. Remember that you are under Alpha's command, and you can not lie."

Father looked toward us, and he looked older, with dark circles under his eyes. I felt a pang in my heart, but then he spoke.

"I rejected her." The whole room went into hushed whispers. The head of the Council, Elder James, had to silence them.

"And why did you do such a thing if you may enlighten us?"

By now, Dad looked desperate and needed to come clean.

"She was a human! I found her by the river one afternoon, and curiosity got the best of me. I approached her, and I quickly realized she didn't feel the mate bond. At least not like I did. I was angry because all of my life I had loved Aela, and I always thought she would be mine. Instead, I was given a mate who couldn't even feel the bond because she wasn't from our world. I asked her for her name and rejected her right then and there. She only gave me a bewildered look as I left her standing alone. I decided then that I would take what was rightfully mine no matter what."

"What you thought was rightfully yours." Elder Patrick corrected him. "So, what did you do then to win Aela's favor, Mr. Colin?"

"I was a year older than Ronan and Aela. Based on what I could observe, they were bound to become mates once they turned 18. I had fabricated lies and misunderstandings between them, even before I found my mate. When Ronan told me he wanted to ask Aela out, I told him she disliked him. Aela confessed to me her feelings for him as well, and I told her he found her annoying. Nevertheless, they got together at the end for some time, but it was my luck that he was taken away by his uncle when he became an orphan. He sent MY Aela letters that I was supposed to sneak for her without her mother noticing. Instead, I gave her letters I wrote myself. Making her believe Ronan wanted her to forget about him and to move on."

My mom cried the loudest at this revelation, and Ronan, not being able to contain himself any longer, ran to her and held her lovingly. She buried her face on his neck while he hugged her tightly. I could see Ronan adored her.

The council member continued to talk.

"I can only conclude you took advantage of her vulnerable state to cement your place in her life.

Ladies and gentlemen when Mr. Ronan came back, and they realized they were true mates, his mate had had a baby with Mr. Colin. Now, my question is for Aela. Why did you reject your mate back then, and would you willingly go with him this time?"

Mom looked towards Dad and then lifted her gaze to look at Ronan before addressing the council.

"I, I was really hurt by all the lies Colin had fed to me. It was soon after he left that I realized I was pregnant, but the pain of his departure and his supposed rejection made me lose my baby before he even got a chance to live. I never told anyone this. Only my mother knew. I found solace in Colin's company. He showered me with love and adoration, and we soon got married. When Ronan came back and I knew he was my mate, the pain of losing my baby was still there, and I blamed him for it. I didn't give him a chance to explain himself to me, and I wasn't going to risk my newborn baby's happiness and stability. She needed her dad. But now that I know the truth, I wish Ronan could forgive me, and I hope he is willing to give us a second chance."

Dad roared loudly and was held in place by the guards. He kicked and trashed, watching how Mom and Ronan kissed profoundly in front of all of us to watch.

"Aela, baby no! You can't do this to us. I did all of this because I love you. Saoirse, honey. Please talk to your mom. She can't do this to us."

I was silently crying. He was desperate, but Mom and Ronan continued to hold each other.

"With what right, Colin? Haven't you done enough? You caused my mate to lose our child. It doesn't matter how many years have passed, that pain will remain there. But now that we're together, I will make her swollen with my children, and I hope that with my love, she can finally find some peace."

"Fuck you, Ronan, don't you dare touch her! She's mine!"

Dad continued to trash on his seat, snarling and kicking incessantly.

" People order! I Alpha James, now I'm ready for my verdict. The council will provide Ms. Aela and Mr. Ronan with all the necessary arrangements for them to start a new life here or back in their country. Ms. Aela, you need to reject Mr. Colin now and then you and Mr. Ronan will mark each other."

Mom stepped closer to Dad, and he looked at her, hopeful. His bottom lip was trembling.

"Aela, baby... please!"

I, Aela Thorn healer of the Moon Shadow pack, reject you, Colin Thorn, for the crimes of killing my baby and making me reject my rightful mate."

Dad gave a painful roar. It was guttural. Ronan grabbed Mom then and extended his canines, marking her as his. Mom did the same, and Dad looked about to pass out from the pain. Alpha James wasn't done, though.

"Mr. Colin, you will spend 1 year of jail time and will be relocated far away from your now ex-mate. The council will look for your true mate and see if she can take you back once you have completed your sentence. We can not force her to accept you, being that she is not part of our world, but we could try. You are all dismissed now."

I went to hug Mom and Ronan, and we all left the room together. In the following weeks, I could see how their relationship flourished. Mom was glowing all the time. I had never seen her so happy. Renzo had moved me to a room at the Alpha's mansion to give them privacy. 6 months later, Mom and Ronan decided to go back to Ireland to start anew. She was already pregnant, and Ronan was always doting on her. Grandma Maeve was thrilled. I promised to visit soon. I had gone back to high school at the pack. With Renzo here, things were more bearable. I would visit Dad once a month, but every time I went, he looked worse. The Goddess was punishing him for going against the mate bond.