CALIFF
“I refused to believe that. You have so much compassion in your heart. You know it. You healed Tor, and you stopped me from killing the refugees. You did your task and ignored those bullies because deep in your heart, you are stronger than you give yourself credit. You are stronger in defending our pack, not killing one of our own. Look at these people behind you. They trust and believe in you. Prove those who underestimated you wrong.”
She dropped my father. Her chest was heaving. Her eyes were still glowing. “He killed the only family I had. I have been an orphan since I was eight. I don’t have a father to teach me how to shift. I don’t have a mother to teach me to cast a spell. No one. I was rogue for years, hoping to find whoever did that slaughter to my pack. My father gave his life so that an eight-year-old future alpha could run and seek revenge. And now, it was just right under my nose, and I still could not do anything for them. They died unavenged. They lost their lives for nothing!”
When tears fell from her eyes, I couldn’t look her in the eye anymore. I was angry and ashamed of my father’s behavior but couldn’t do anything for my mate. “If I couldn’t seek my life’s purpose, what is my use as your Luna? If I couldn’t exercise the law and give a punishment that he deserved.”
Kindra and Dr. Sallie came to take my father away.
“Revenge will not bring you peace-”
“He took my family away from me! If this happened to you, would you stand there and watch the man who took your family away from you? I doubt that, Alpha.”
“It won’t bring your family back.”
She shook her head. I stepped forward, but she stepped back. “I thought our bond matters to you, but I was wrong. Family does, after all.” She pulled out her necklace and threw it at me. “I can’t be with you, Califf.”
“Shadow, don’t do this.” I grabbed her arm before she could walk away from me.
“Let me go, or I swear, I will come back and kill your father and anyone who stands in my way.”
“Baby, take some air. I will find you.”
“You better not. Goodbye, Califf.”
“Shadow!” Just like that, she was gone.
“I thought so. She just came here to ruin this pack. She wants you to fight with your own father. That woman is a homewrecker.”
Growling, I grabbed Everlee by her arm and made sure my grip was imprinted on her flesh to remind her that she should know her place. I looked her in the eye. “I will tell you one last time. You are banned from visiting this compound from any pack gatherings. If I see your face again, hear your voice, or talk bad about my mate, I will rip your head off myself and send it to your family. Do you fucking understand me?”
She gulped and nodded.
“Good. Keep this in your head. You are nothing compared to Shadow. You can wear expensive dresses but still, look cheap because that’s who you are. That’s how you act, little bitch. Get the fuck out of my house, out of my pack, because you don’t belong here.” I pushed her away. Even if she fell downstairs, I didn’t give a shit.
“Where’s my father?” I hadn’t gotten a response. I was already walking downstairs. My pack stepped back, giving a way to pass.
“He’s in the infirmary, Alpha,” Lyon told me, following me to the infirmary building.
“Zack?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“Find Shadow, and make sure she’s safe. Take Tor with you. Check the cliff first. She might be there.”
“Copy, Alpha.” They left hurriedly.
As soon as we reached the infirmary, I found my mother. “You knew this, didn’t you? You once told me a story when I came to you. You knew the story of a Lycan and a witch and how their pack was slaughtered.”
“I heard the story, but your father’s involvement?” She shook her head. Her body sagged as if all her strength was sucked out of her. “No, Califf. It came to me by surprise as well. And here I thought I knew my mate and everything he did. I was wrong. My only advice to you, son. Never do this to Shadow.”
I went to my father’s room. He was closely monitored, but he was awake. “What have you done, Dad? I thought you were a good Alpha who never broke the rules. I looked up to you. I wanted to be just like you. Everything around you seemed under your control in your leadership. What pushed you to kill that pack?”
“I was ambitious.” He dragged a breath. “I wanted to be feared, vicious. I wanted everyone to respect me.”
“And that murder was your basis to show your people how dangerous you are to gain their respect? Well, Dad, the Moon Goddess just cursed us. You killed my mate’s father, and now I have to carry this burden for the rest of my life. And I’m afraid I just lost my mate forever.”
“I keep this secret for so long. I will pay for my mistake and offer her my life, but you cannot pay for what I’ve done. You have to run this pack and build your own legacy.”
“How am I supposed to do that when my mate just left me?” I could barely talk. My heart was bleeding, and most of what I felt was what Shadow and I shared. She was hurting, and here I was, standing before the man who murdered her family.
“I’m so sorry, Califf.”
“It doesn’t make sense. Why them?”
“Her mother, Aurora, was a powerful witch, but she was fated to the Lycan Alpha. Together, they are powerful and could lead for a long time. They could control our world. Aurora was stripped of her power by The West Coven, but still, her mate was a Lycan. His weakness was his heart, his mate, and his inner peace. He just wanted to be left alone and live in a peaceful pack.”
“Were you bitten?”
“Yes. The Alpha bit me. And the witch did something to me. I thought she didn’t have any more powers.”
“Then how did you find him?”
“I was approached by the leader of The West Coven, who offered me something.”
Fuck. That witch knew all this time, which had bothered Shadow since she came from her errand.
“What did the leader offer to you?” Why do I feel like I was not going to like this revelation? I watched how goosebumps erupted on my skin.
“You were small for your age. You almost couldn’t survive your first shift. The West Coven knew that. She gave me a potion to make you strong in preparation for your training as an Alpha.”
“So you trade lives for my life? Forgive me for not being so pleased about it. That was the most intolerable, disgusting thing you’ve ever done.” I felt sick in my stomach. My wolf was furious, knowing he couldn’t feel his mate around me.
“I’m sorry, son.”
“Don’t apologize to me. Expect your trial next week.” I walked out of his room. I couldn’t even look at him or everyone without feeling so ashamed.
I stopped in the hallway when my anger turned to rage. I punched the wall when I couldn’t do it to my father. One thing was clear to me- I was still weak. I doubt if I deserved to be the Alpha anymore.