Chapter 43
Reese POV
Fallon pushes to the surface and I don't fight the shift. As much as we want our mate, I can't let her hurt Rosalyn or Beck for that matter. I was selfish once when I wanted what wasn't mine, but I'm not that man anymore. Rosalyn deserves to be happy. Fallon lunges, knocking our mate to the ground. The feeling of tingles where her body touches us is even more intense than what we experienced with Rosalyn.
We shake those thoughts away and bare our teeth at her in warning. I'm not sure what the hell happened but the next thing I know, she is standing in front of us calling Fallon handsome. He c*cks his head not knowing whether to give me back control as she requested. "It's alright Fallon. Let me talk to her." I notice for the first time that everyone around us is frozen in place.
It would be so easy to walk over and snap my father's neck after all he's done, but he doesn't deserve a quick death. Fallon gives me control. I'm standing in front of the woman that the goddess picked as my second chance. A woman that followed my father's orders to hurt someone who has caused them no harm.
I'm not even sure what to say at this moment. Finally, I find my voice. "What the hell just happened?" Hearing her say I deserve my second chance does nothing to slow the racing of my heart. I can't accept her when she was willing to hurt people I care about. Rosalyn may no longer be mine, but she will always be important to me.
I can't help the ache I feel when she says she wants me. I'm just about to tell her that it doesn't matter if she wants me when her next words have my heart damn near beating out of my chest. Did she just say the goddess was testing me? This was a test and I passed. A flicker of hope blooms in my belly. Could it all have been nothing more than me showing the goddess I've changed?NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
Hearing her claim me, has warmth spreading through me. My legs move, and I have her in my arms. I have my mate. A mate that wants me as much as I want her. I'm never letting her go. I lower my mouth to hers, pouring everything I have into the kiss. For the first time in a very long time, I feel whole. The emptiness that seemed to be always present in my chest is gone. Our bond is strong. Fallon is ready to claim his mate completely, but we still have to deal with my sperm donor.
When I finally pull back, we're both breathless. "As much as I want to keep kissing you, I think it's time to deal with Robert and my uncle." "I'm going to send your uncle to the cells. There is a very angry councilman that wants to deal with him personally" she says, waving her hand in front of a man I once admired. How could they both have fooled all of us for so long?
I shake those thoughts away because right now the most important thing is to take all Robert has left, his life. I honestly wasn't sure when it came down to it if I could take my father's life, but the man standing frozen before me isn't my father. "Are you ready, Reese," Mindy asks. I nod, and she waves her hand, releasing her hold on everyone in the room.
My father's eyes go wide when he sees Mindy standing next to me with her hand in mine. He looks beyond me and I know he sees that Beckham is perfectly fine. Turning his eyes, he searches for my uncle before he finally looks toward Mindy. "Where the f**k is my brother you b**ch," he growls.
"Exactly where he belongs. Don't worry, though he won't be there long. Councilman Barrett has asked me to bring him to the Blue Crescent after you're dealt with," she says. "You f**king b**ch, he trusted you and you betrayed him. I'm going to take great pleasure in watching the light leave your eyes after I kill him" he says pointing at me.
I growl ready to be done with this, to be done with him. Beckham comes to stand next to me, his aura almost palpable. If my father was a cartoon character, his eyes would be bugging out of his head as he is forced to his knees in front of a man he thought was human.
"A challenge has been issued for the Alpha title of the Black Rose pack and sanctioned by the council. The fight will take place in the pack yard. If any member of the pack or guest of the pack interferes, the penalty will be determined by the council. The fight is typically to the death. Do you both agree with those terms," Beck asks.
"Yes" my father manages to croak out without a second of hesitation. I can hear my mother growl from behind me. "Yes" I say, ready to put this man in our past. I know we still have to deal with Bryce and Cain, but all I can focus on is the man in front of me right now. Everyone makes their way outside to the pack yard. A large circle is formed and my father steps inside first.
Mindy presses a quick peck on my lips before I step into the circle to face him. "That's a good idea. Best kiss your wh*re for the last time. Too bad, you'll never get to f**k her," he says. Fallon growls but I hold control right now. "He is trying to get you to react. To make a mistake so he can get the better of us. You need to control your anger and ignore his words. His opinion means nothing to us. His words are just that, words."
My words resonate with Fallon and I have never felt more at one with my wolf. "Let's get this over with. I have a mate to claim and a pack to run." This time my father growls, not liking my taunts. He lunges for me clearly angry. I easily dodge his attack, countering with a kick to the back of his knee. He goes down but is easily back on his feet. He starts to circle me and a smug smirk spreads across his face. "Do you really think a pack of wolves will accept a witch wh*re as their Luna" he says.
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye, but I keep my focus on my father. I can't afford to be distracted. Whatever is happening behind me has my father's face turning red as a beet. I chance a quick look and the pack members that surround us are kneeling to their future Luna.
I turn back to my father with a smug look of satisfaction. "Nothing you say is going to change the fact that you will meet the goddess today. I pray she gives you everything you deserve." I watch him start to shift and Fallon pushes forward. My father's wolf Granger bares his teeth and starts to circle us. Our wolves are evenly matched. Both huge, black Alpha wolves who don't do well with disrespect. Fallon doesn't wait to attack. He clamps his jaw down on Granger's shoulder as soon as he gets close enough.
Granger howls and tries to shake us off. When Fallon finally releases his bite, Granger's fur is wet with blood. Fallon doesn't give him a chance to recover and attempts to take the other wolf off his feet. This time, Granger is able to move before Fallon's head connects with his side. He tries everything he can to avoid our next attack. I'm sure it will give him the opportunity to heal the wound on his shoulder.
Fallon runs at full speed and when Granger goes to move, he lands directly on his back. He sinks his teeth into the scruff of my Granger's neck. He pins him to the ground. Granger whimpers again and tries to free himself from our hold, but Fallon isn't letting go this time. He begins to shake Granger like a rag doll.
I expect to hear the snapping of bones with the amount of force Fallon is using, but I don't. Granger goes limp but we both know he isn't dead. Fallon drops him to the ground and Granger rolls on to his back, baring his neck in submission. He expects us to show him mercy, but I know in my heart that he wouldn't show us any if he had the upper hand. He shifts back into his human form. His body is battered and bleeding. "Reese, please, I'm your father" he pleads.
I shift back and look at this pathetic excuse of a man. "No, no you're not. A father doesn't put his own wants above his pups' happiness. After today, you will be nothing but a bad memory. Hopefully, in time, you won't even be that. You'll be completely forgotten." "If you do this the guilt will eat you alive" he says, but he's wrong. I'm protecting my mate, mother, sister, and pack. I'll never feel guilty about that."
Before he can say another word, I reach down, grabbing him by the neck. He starts to claw at my hand, but his injuries are taking their toll on him. "Don't worry Robert, you won't be alone long. Cain will be joining you soon," I say. I extend my claw, digging it into his throat and fear flashes in his eyes.
"Reese” he whispers before I rip his throat out. I release him and his body falls to the ground. A few seconds later, a soft hand touches my forearm and tingles dance on my skin. I waste no time burying my head in her neck and breathing in her scent. I know it's not over, but at this moment, my mate is in my arms and my pack is safe. I'm stealing this moment to enjoy my second chance.