Alexander’s POV
For a brief moment, everything seemed to slow down around us.
Lex let out a spine-tingling cry. I looked up to see what he was staring at, then grabbed him to keep him from seeing what was about to happen to his mother.
With strength beyond belief for a five-year-old, Lex attempted to escape from my hold and return to his mother. Just in time, I was able to grab hold of him and turn his little face away from the scene.
“Lex, close your eyes,” I commanded. “Don’t look.”
Even though Lex’s eyes revealed his true feelings, he trusted me enough to follow my instructions.
The screams of the pack members reverberated throughout the stadium as I drew Lex nearer, cradling his tiny head against my chest and clinging to him for dear life in an attempt to protect him from the impending horror.
Under my grip, Lex shivered visibly. Thinking that it might be the noise, I cupped my hands over his ears in an attempt to drown out the sounds.
I glanced over in time to witness Angelica’s lips twitch into a menacing grin as she reached out and seized Emily by the throat.
Startled by the audacious action, Emily grabbed Angelica’s wrist in an attempt to break free.
“Submit,” Angelica roared. “Or I will, so help me, Goddess, slit your throat in front of everyone here today.”
As soon as the pack members heard Angelica’s remarks, a furious clamor broke out in the stadium.
“Save, mate!” Ghost yelled, scratching to be released.
“We can’t,” I whimpered. “If we interfere, she will lose for sure!”
My hands balled into fists and anger filled my insides.
This wasn’t fair!
“Think of your son,” Angelica hissed, and little choking noises filled the air. “If you were dead, who would want to raise a bastard child?”
Emily battled to break free from Angelica’s grasp. Yet she continued to fight despite the tears streaming down the side of her face and the blood seeping from the spot where Angelica’s claws were embedded in her throat.
“Is Alpha Alex aware of your bastard child?” Angelica continued.
The pack members fell silent, and they all turned to look at me as I stood there holding Lex securely.
They all displayed a range of different emotions on their faces, including anger, disappointment, and sadness on my behalf.
If only they realized that the pup I was holding was their future Alpha in my arms. He was born out of a night of love and was my blood.
I looked down at the boy in my arms, and my heart ached and tears filled my eyes.
I had never held him before, and the pack had already rejected him.
“I am pretty sure Alpha Alex would not want to raise him.” Angelica went on.
As I lifted my eyes to disagree and correct Angelica, I heard Emily’s gentle voice echo one word in my head. “Don’t!”
A range of emotions raced through my mind as my body froze in bewilderment. I wanted to scold her and tell her I would prove Angelica wrong. The boy was mine; I had accepted him. He will be the future of this pack!
“Don’t!” Emily interrupted my thought by linking again. She sounded worn out, as though she was thinking about giving up. My heart painfully clenched in my chest.
“No one should know,” she whispered tiredly over the link. “We have to protect Lex and keep him safe.”
Before I could even reveal my response, Emily closed the link.
“If you were gone, then who would raise your bastard pup?” sneered Angelica. “Even your parents abandoned you when you ran away, so you do not have anyone who loves you anymore.”
My eyes sprang to Angelica at those words.
“What does Angelica know of Emily’s past?” I wondered.
“She has access to all the pack’s data,” growled Ghost. “You gave her access to everything.”
“But not to that,” I argued. I took great care to maintain Emily’s privacy. The file was secured in my personal safe. Luke and I are the only people who can access it. Furthermore, I was certain that Luke would not provide Angelica with the safe code or leave any papers about Emily lying around.
For good reason, Luke detested Angelica even more than he did Axel. If it wasn’t for Luke, Angelica would have dug her claws into me years ago.
At this point, I was pretty sure Angelica was involved in Lex’s unexpected arrival.
Ghost snarled, pacing my head, “You have no proof.” He was upset, and the smallest thing would tick him off and make him explode.
“I will find you the f*cking proof.” I snarled back at him.
This wasn’t even close to being over. I will get evidence to prove that the f*cking bitch lied and cheated. I will do everything in my power, even if it means going through hell and back. I refuse to mate with that creature!
Emily growled fiercely, drawing my attention back to her as she struggled to free herself by clawing at Angelica’s hands.
I held my breath, praying that she would manage to free herself, but it seemed as though Angelica was concealed behind some sort of enchanted barrier.
When that failed, Emily tried expanding her aura in the hopes that Angelica would give in.
Angelica gave a wicked laugh and threw back her head.
With a sneer, her eyes flashed violet.
“That little trick of yours is not going to work,” she said. “I will drag you down with me. I have already sunk my claws into your throat and begun to extract blood. My claws would rip through the veins and leave you in a pile of blood. I just need to apply a bit more pressure. Would you like that? Then poor Lex will forever remember seeing his mother lying in a puddle of blood.”
Emily shifted her gaze in my direction; there was no longer any fire or vigor in her eyes.
“We will find another way,” she mind-linked me, and without giving me the chance to object, she uttered the words I never thought she would say.
“I submit!” Emily pushed the words over her lips, and my heart scattered in my chest.
The crowd gasped in shock, and for a moment, the stadium was left in a deadly silence.
“We have a winner!” Alpha Zack announced, and he raised Angelica’s hand in the air.
An angry uproar followed among the pack members. They were unhappy about the outcome.
“F*ck!” I cursed loudly, and Lex raised his head to look at me.
“I apologize, little man,” I said, regretting my use of profanity around him. If Emily heard me, she would have my head.
“Is Mommy alright?” With tears gathering in his eyes, Lex questioned.
I kneeled beside him and stroked his hair.
“She is fine,” I replied. “Physically, she is fine.”
I was worried about her mental health. Emily must feel like a failure for losing against Angelica.
“Can I go to mommy?” Lex inquired, looking for his mother, but I intervened, holding his hand and obstructing his line of sight.
“I will take you to her in a bit,” I said, picking him up in my arms. “Let Mommy have some time to herself. She needs some rest after that match.”
With a little nod of his head, Lex let me carry him away.
“Take care of Emily,” I mind-linked Luke.
“On it,” he chirped.
The ranked section was quiet. The majority of the councilors and elders had returned to the pack house. There was nothing much left for them to do but attend the Luna introduction later at night. I shivered at the idea of having Angelica as my mate and Luna.
Surprisingly, my father waited for me, and his eyes widened when I walked in with Lex in my arms.
“Is this Emily’s boy?” My father asked curiously.
“Yes, it is,” I said with a smile, before sitting down and pulling Lex up onto my lap.
“Well, hello, big boy,” my father said, extending his hand to Lex. “My name is Alpha Colt. What is yours?”
Lex cowered down and buried his small face in my chest.
My father laughed, a little amused, but he kept staring at the boy.
“He knows,” Ghost warned.
I ignored Ghost and tried to encourage Lex to meet his grandfather by saying, “Say hi, Lex,” but all he did was curl up deeper and deeper into my chest while shyly staring at my father.
“He is pure blood, and he appears….” My father’s voice trailed off, and I froze in my seat.
“Am I? Is he?” He mind-linked, his eyes growing bigger and his face becoming paler.
“Lex does not know,” I told my father. “And now is not the time to discuss it.”
My father gave me an incredulous look. I suppose he was taken aback that I was aware of the boy’s existence and that I was breaking the news to him.
“Your mom is going to spoil him beyond recognition the moment she…”
“Stop!” I said, cutting him off. “I promised Emily I would not say anything. And even though I adore my mother dearly, she does occasionally spill confidential information. Please do not say a word. I will announce everything when the time is more suitable.”
With a slow nod, my father let out a breath. “I respect your wishes.”
My dad’s gaze landed on Lex, and his eyes softened. He reached out and ran a hand over his hair.
Lex glanced up and gave my father a heartwarming smile.
“I will see you guys later,” my father said and gathered his belongings.
He then stopped and turned to face me as though he had forgotten something important he wanted to say.
“You have to do an official Luna introduction tonight.” He warned.
I became queasy at the thought and said, “I know, but I find this so unfair. Angelica is not fit to be a Luna and I know she cheated. I just need to find the proof!”
With a knowing smile, my father placed his hand on my shoulder.
“I am aware,” he replied. “But I trust that you will act in the best interests of the pack and your family.”
If only it were that simple!
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