CAELLUM’S POV
I had to cut her loose.
Things were turning for the worse and the last thing I needed was to have her here when it all went down. As much as I hated her, I couldn’t bear to have her get hurt.
Not under my care.
“The Japanese have killed more of our men in Moscow.” Matteo reported, “It’s clear that they are looking to war with us.”
Those Godforsaken bastards. “Have all of our properties in Japan under tight security. Tell the men they must be ready in case of any sudden attack.”
“Sure sir.” Matteo said, and I returned to my job, feeling the pressure weighing in on me.
“The full moon is close. Only a few days to go. What do you have planned?”
I froze. Not expecting the question or realizing how time flew.
“You are yet to decide on what should be done to the traitor. She remains adamant and refuses to show remorse for her crimes. We need to dispose of her before the Japanese come knocking.”
I knew what he meant. Keeping Naledi pending without judgment was only going to weary me. In fact, keeping her alive was doing that with her refusal to cooperate and let me clean up the mess she created.
By now we were sure that the Japanese had laid hands on the stolen shipment. That was the only explanation for their sudden boldness towards the Cosa Nostra. So far we were battling them, killing any of their men that came into my territory and now they were returning the favour.
It was only a matter of time before it became a full-blown war. We were tethering towards that deep end and in the middle of the entire chaos, there was Naledi and the Full moon to worry about.
Despite the anger I felt towards her, I couldn’t bring myself to kill her. Or do any more harm than I have already done. I wondered if that side of me was sponsored by the fact she was still my mate regardless of everything or if I was just growing soft.
In fact, I tested that theory of my growing softness on some Yakuza spies found loitering around the house, which proved to be wrong after I pulled their bodies apart and burnt their remains.
I was a bloodied mess that night and after the exercise, I realized I was still the ruthless Alpha I knew I was. I was still Caellum Morello. Everything was the same until Naledi came into the equation. She somehow managed to override all settings and place her throne right in my heart, pressing me down the fiery pits of hell.
Which was why I decided to get rid of her. For my own good. Keeping her by my side was a waste of time, seeing I couldn’t bring myself to hurt even a piece of her hair. The single fact that she has refused to eat and has been locked up for weeks on a roll has done so many disastrous things to my wolf who was losing his mind.
“I will reject her,” I said just when Matteo had given up on me ever answering him. “On the full moon, I will reject her and cut her loose.”
He backtracked his steps, looking baffled then perturbed, “You will let her go? After everything she’s done?” His tone was incredulous.
I didn’t care.
“Round the people on that day. I will be addressing them after settling with her.”
He shook his head, “She can’t just waltz out of here after betraying us! What message would that send to our enemies who think we have grown soft? At this rate, everyone would be in the queue to betray us! Did you forget the golden rule? Rats must be treated as such.”
“I don’t want to hear it, Matteo.” I gritted, “You have no right to dictate what I do with my prisoners.”
“But-”
“Leave, Matteo.” My tone was final.
I was certain he thought I was being silly. Stupid. And maybe he was right. Maybe he was right that this was a ridiculous thing to do, but I had decided and that was final.
With a curt nod, Matteo left my office, sporting a grim look on his face that I didn’t care for.
Days passed quickly and soon, it was time. Throughout the day I felt my wolf’s unrest. He hated the fact I was planning on rejecting our mate. He seemed to have forgotten that the same woman betrayed us and that was unforgivable.
It was getting tiring to be bound to her. To be angry and yet in love with her. To hate her and yet want to protect her. To be at war with my wolf, my mind and everything I believed in because I wanted to give her an excuse.
Every part of me wanted to justify her actions. All because of this fucking bond between us. It was going to end today, I was finally going to be free of her. And she me.
I walked up the stairs with my eyes trained on her. She was held by two men and looked a shadow of herself. Her bones were visible and it was clear she hadn’t looked in the mirror for years.
And for some insane reason, I couldn’t help but think she was beautiful. I watched her from behind my glasses, jaws tight as I began my speech.
“The woman before you all is Naledi Rogers. My mate and the daughter of my mother’s killer.” Gasps erupted from the crowd as I continued. “I found her upon attending the last mating ceremony held in Russia, three months ago, and today, I have decided to reject her as my mate and future Luna of the Cosa Nostra.”
Silence covered the place.
“You have also heard of how she betrayed the Cosa Nostra, and as a result, she can no longer be a part of this pack.” I turned to her. “Today, being the full moon, in the presence of all the members of the Cosa Nostra, I reject Naledi Rogers as my mate and the future Luna of this pack.”
I faced her and said the words despite everything inside of me kicking against it. “You are not to be seen around here or appear in front of me anymore. The day I set my eyes on you, is going to be the day you die.”