DOMINIC
I stare down in shock at the wolf, his words still ringing in my ears.
“There was no response from the coalition, alpha!”
It is my mother’s low and sarcastic chuckle that pulls me out of my thoughts
“What,” I begin. “Do you mean there was no response?” I demand.
He drops to his feet, trembling as he answers.
“I… I stayed at their gate… for a… a whole day, alpha. They didn’t let me in.”
“I did! I swear I did. They didn’t respond.”
“What exactly did they say?” I ask
“They… they didn’t say anything. The only thing they asked was who I was and when I introduced myself and the pack and told them my message from you, they just locked up.”
“Who did you tell?”
“The wolves at the gates, alpha.”
“And did they go report it?”
“One of them went in, alpha. And then he retired and just went back to his position. I called out to him. Demanded to know what the response was but they just ignored me. For a whole day. That is why I am late, alpha.”
“And Louisa never showed up once?” I ask.
“No, never.”
That bitch.
“I guess it is not as easy as you thought it would be,” my mother remarks as she walks up to us. “You may leave now, Duncan,” she says to the wolf and I watch as he scurries away.
She closes the door and turns to face me.
“Remind me again,” she says. “How wrong did you say I was going to be again?”
I turn away from her in a growl
How dare she?
Just who the hell does she think she is to ignore my call?
I am her fucking mate.
She is obligated to obey me.
“Actually, she is not,” my mother says And I realize I must have said the last part out.
“What do you mean she is not?” I retort.
“Let us ignore the fact that you are a sexist, misogynistic asshole who has no understanding of what a true, loving, and healthy relationship should be, she is also not obligated to obey you because you mean nothing to her.”
“I am her mate!”
“You keep saying that but I can’t help but wonder, before Louisa supposedly ‘ran away’ as you said she did, did any of you reject each other, and did the other accept?”
At her words, a cold dread fills me as a memory resurfaces.
FLASHBACK
“Then let me make it easier for you. I, Dominic Valor, Alpha of the Obsidian pack, reject you, Louisa Kane, as my mate!”
I grin at the flash of pain that rips through her face, even as she collapses to the floor, her arms being ripped out of those holding them.
“Ugh,” she gasps and groans as she grips her chest in anguish at the hell she must feel right now.
Good. I hope it burns. I hope it is as bad as all those stories we hear about rejection. A blazing inferno that makes it nearly impossible to breathe one that moves in a slow, excruciating circuit around her body, the pumping blood taking the effects of my rejection to the rest of her nerves.
I hope she suffers
“What is wrong?” I croon over her. “I thought you said you didn’t want this.”
Slowly, I watch as she staggers to her feet and faces the direction of my voice. She still can’t see, and her legs keep trying to buckle, but she still manages to stand without help.
“I,” she gasps out through the pain. “Louisa Kane… accept the rejection… of Alpha Dominic Valor and pledge to stand by it.”
PRESENT DAY
“Ah,” my mother’s voice brings me back. “I guess it happens then. Tell me, who was the one doing the rejection? Thinking back at how disgusted she was at you, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who facilitated it. But then again, if that was true, you would have wanted to kill her in sight and not have a baby with her. Your wretched pride comes first to you over any other thing.”
“Get out,” I growl at her. “Just get out.”
She scoffs as she leans away from the door.
“Rather than wasting your time on a woman that will never consider you again. A woman, who despite you -and the way you tried to break her- has managed to land on her own two feet and become someone of note and respect and admiration. You know, rather than trying to get a baby from her, why don’t you ask her how to be a leader!”
“Mother! What is wrong with you?! How can you say that to me?! I am your son!”
“And I wish you weren’t. Oh, I really do wish you weren’t my son. I would rather have had her as a daughter than you, who has done nothing but brought shame and ridicule to not just the pack, but to your father and his ancestors before him. And to me. And the worst part is you have no remorse. Figure out a way to fix this shit you have buried us in. Think of a way to lift the pack out of the ridicule you have flung us into or goddess, help me, I will take it back from you.”
I watch in shock as she walks out of the study.
Is that a threat?
Did she just… did she just threaten me with my pack?!
“What is it with everyone disrespecting me?!” I roar as I throw the table against the wall, destroying it as well as the wall. “Calm down. Dom,” I whisper to myself. “You need to calm down.”
Ugh.