Alison’s POV
My consciousness was laced with a sudden lump in my stomach, I opened my eyes taking in xander’s room, ever since I got better I have been sleeping in his room, it felt like heaven, turning to see him still asleep and his chest heaving, I began to wonder how he would cope with me far away from him.
“What if Caitlyn warms her way back with my absence” I thought but my wolf surged forward
“Alison, you worry too much, Xander loves you, you have felt it, he’s marked you what other confirmation do you need?” Maya asks making me smile sheepishly at the memories of our sexual encounters, then the smile faded as something else occurred to me
“But I’m still sceptical, what if my parents don’t like me? What if the pack doesn’t accept me?” I thought
“You can’t seriously be thinking this way? Your parents have been looking for you, of course they love you, stop thinking about it, in two days you will be with them and you will be accepted regardless of who you are” Maya assured me making a smile creep up my face.
Then Xander’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You seem to be all smile this morning,” he whispered in his husky early morning voice, he seats up and turns to me
I glanced back at him and offered a small smile. “Nothing much just counting the days,” I said simply.
“Till you leave for Pack?” His voice carried a note of worry, though he tried to mask it.
I nodded. ” You know It’s time. I need to reconnect with my roots, with who I truly am. Know my people so they can know me But don’t worry… I’m coming back to you, once the mating ceremony is completed I will be yours forever”
His relief was evident, and he pulled me close, his breath warm against my ear. “Then I better fix this ceremony for tomorrow so you don’t even go.”
I let out a chuckle at the tease “You are insane, get off me Xander” I shrugged him off jokingly before hitting the bathroom, after shower I decided to fix up breakfast
Breakfast was quieter than usual. Katherine sat across from me, her usual composed self, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that I couldn’t ignore. Xander was beside me, his hand occasionally brushing mine. The warmth of his touch was comforting, but the air felt charged, as though we were all waiting for the storm to break.
And break it did.
The doors burst open, and Caitlyn strode in, her face a mask of carefully crafted devastation. “Xander,” she called, her voice trembling. “I need to speak with you. It’s urgent.”
I tensed immediately, my fork pausing mid-air. Katherine’s gaze flicked to me as if she felt tension radiating off me.
“What is it, Caitlyn, anything you have to say you are welcome to say before my family” Xander asked, his tone cool but polite.
She hesitated, glancing at me before turning back to Xander. “It’s… it’s about us.”
“Us? There’s no us you know that” Xander repeated, his brow furrowing.
Her lips trembled, and she wrung her hands as though summoning the courage to speak. “I didn’t want to say anything, but… I’m pregnant and we both know It’s yours.”
The room went deathly silent. My heart dropped into my stomach for a moment, but I kept my composure, staring at Caitlyn with narrowed eyes.
Xander shot to his feet, his expression a mix of shock and fury. “What the hell are you talking about? Bitch we never had anything”
“I’m sorry, Xander,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “It was that night, the night after you returned drunk. We were both vulnerable, and… I never intended for this to happen, but it’s true.”
I stood, my chair scraping against the floor. “That’s a bold accusation, Caitlyn. I hope you have enough proof to back it up.”
She turned to me, her tear-streaked face filled with faux innocence. “Alison, I’m so sorry you had to find out this way, but it’s the truth. Xander and I… ”
“shut the fuck up,” Xander snapped, his voice cold and sharp. “If you’re going to throw such accusations, I suggest you provide evidence. Otherwise, this conversation is over.”
Katherine cleared her throat, her expression calm but steely. “Actually, Caitlyn, I think it’s time you drop this act of yours, I have had enough, haven’t you?”
Caitlyn’s eyes darted to Katherine, panic flashing across her face. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about my lady.”
“Oh, I think you very well do.” Katherine leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Caitlyn. “You see, I overheard a rather interesting conversation of yours a few days ago. Something about a plan? A scheme to create a bond with Xander at any cost?”
“That’s not true!” Caitlyn shrieked, her mask finally slipping.
Katherine smirked. “Is it? Because I have also tracked down the mailman from that little incident you orchestrated. You remember him, don’t you? The one you paid to sneak into the castle and pretend to have slept with Alison?”
Caitlyn froze, her face draining of color.
“Oh, and let’s not forget the sleeping potion,” Katherine added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “The one you administered to Alison to keep her unconscious while you carried out your little charade. I have all the evidence, Caitlyn. Would you like me to share it now, or should we save it for the council? I initially didn’t want to believe you did all this, I know you were desperate enough to want my son, but you had my support wasn’t that enough? Did you have to result to dirty tactics?”
My blood boiled as the pieces finally fell into place. The humiliation, the doubt, the pain I’d endured… it had all been her doing and now I did not need to prove it further, Katherine had seen it. “You’re so despicable, willing to hand another person’s child to Xander just to have him,” I hissed, stepping closer to her.
She took a step back, her eyes darting between us. “Lady Katherine do not believe her. She can’t prove any of this!”
“Oh, I don’t need her to prove anything because I have enough proof,” Katherine said smoothly, pulling out her phone. “It’s all right here. Shall I play the recording?”
“No!” Caitlyn screamed, her composure shattering. She turned on her heel and bolted for the door.
But Luke was faster. He stepped into her path, his arms crossing over his chest. “Not so fast,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“Let me go!” Caitlyn shrieked, struggling against him.
“Not the slightest chance,” Luke said, his grip unyielding.
Xander stepped forward, his face a mask of cold fury. “Caitlyn, your nemesis has finally caught up to you. I, Alpha Xander Kane place you under arrest, for treason and conspiracy against the Nightfang Pack. Luke, take her to the dungeon, I will seat with the elders to decide her fate.”
As Luke dragged her out of the room, Caitlyn screamed and thrashed, her shrill cries echoing through the hall. “You’ll regret this, Xander! You’ll all regret this!”
When the doors finally slammed shut, the silence that followed was deafening.
I turned to Xander, my heart pounding. “Do you finally believe me?”
He shook his head, his expression pained. “I’m so sorry my love, I never should have doubted you. I would never again”
“I know,” I said, cutting him off. “I believe in you.”
The tension in his shoulders eased, and he reached for me, pulling me into his arms. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Katherine cleared her throat, a small smile playing on her lips. “Well, that was… eventful.”
I laughed, the sound breaking the lingering tension. “To say the least.”
“Come on,” Xander said, taking my hand. “Let’s finish breakfast. We’ve had enough drama for one morning.”
As we returned to the table, the weight of Caitlyn’s plots began to lift. For the first time in since I arrived NightFang, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that the truth had finally come to light. And as I sat down beside Xander, I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.