Chapter 0020
Clara’s face twisted in disgust as she tried to argue, “But Alpha Elijah, she’s wolfless and had a child out of wedlock with some nameless wolf. She’s a disgrace!”
I felt the heat rise in my chest, the humiliation threatening to boil over. How could she still look at me like that after everything had endured? Elijah’s voice sliced through the air before I could react.
“As a woman,” Elijah’s tone was icy, sending chills through the bus, “you’re using century–old prejudices to degrade another? It
seems someone has forgotten their manners. How unfortunate, James, that your wife is such a disgrace.”
I didn’t have to look at Clara to know her smug expression had melted into one of shock. My father’s discomfort was almost
palpable as he stumbled over his words, trying to apologize to Elijah. It was awkward, forced, and utterly insincere.
I had been around him long enough to know when he meant what he said–and this time, he didn’t.
Clara lowered her head in submission and muttered an apology, though the defiance in her posture remained. Neither of them
believed they had done anything wrong. To them, I would always be the daughter who had defied the family’s expectations, and
they would never let me forget it.
But Elijah wasn’t finished. He turned to my father.
“You. I want you to Apologize to Agnes, too. Now.”
My father turned to me, his lips forming the words, “I’m sorry,” but the emptiness behind them made it clear that this was just another chore for him. I knew better than to expect anything genuine. But still, there was something about hearing the apology- even hollow–that stirred something deep inside me.
It was like a small crack in the armor I had built up over years of rejection.
I met his gaze, determined not to let my emotions betray me.
“I’m glad to hear your apology, but I won’t accept it,” I said firmly, holding his eyes. “I have no right to forgive you on behalf of my mother. And I refuse to forgive you myself, James ”
ny titles or
I’d stopped calling him dad, daddy, or even father a long time ago. Someone that cruel didn’t deserve any
acknowledgement.
The bus fell silent as the weight of my words hung in the air. I wasn’t just rejecting his apology; I was severing whatever fragile tie still existed between us. The memory of my mother, frail and defeated after his affair, flashed through my mind.
My sweet, beautiful mother.
Her illness had drained the life from her, but I knew it was his betrayal that had truly broken her spirit. He could have walked away, given her some dignity, but he hadn’t. That was something I would never forgive.
I didn’t need his approval, nor his apology. Not anymore
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of gasps echoed through the bus–people were shocked. It wasn’t even really about our heated exchange either, just the one topic that was most important in the eyes of the pack: The Alpha’s new mate, the woman riding beside him, was truly wolfless. The whispers were barely contained as they bounced from one person to the next.
But I no longer felt the sting of their judgment. Not after Elijah’s defense, and his reminders to remain confident around the pack.
When we finally arrived at the forest for the Family Running event, the tension hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Around us, wolves were shifting, preparing for the run. The sight of so many wolves–powerful, sleek, and in their natural state–made my heart clench with guilt.
I couldn’t shift, and that reality weighed heavily on me. I glanced down at Thea, her wide eyes full of excitement, and felt a pang.
How could I be the Luna she deserved?
Then Elijah stepped forward. In an instant, he shifted into his wolf form–large, powerful, and unlike any other. His white fur gleamed in the sunlight, marked with the unique silver, almost blue patterns of his royal lineage.
His transformation left me in awe, he was truly marvelous.
Without hesitation, Elijah motioned for both me and Thea to climb onto his back. I hesitated for a moment, feeling the eyes of the
entire pack on me. Normally, only a mate could ride a wolf, and I saw the brief flicker of discontent in Elijah’s wolf form.
But Thea, with her boundless enthusiasm, tugged on my arm, urging me forward. Her joy was contagious, and I couldn’t deny her
the moment.
I climbed onto Elijah’s massive back, my hands gripping his thick fur. Thea followed, her tiny arms wrapping around me as we settled in. The crowd gasped audibly–an alpha wolf carrying not just his mate, but his daughter too?
It was unheard of.
As Elijah took off through the forest, his speed was exhilarating. The wind rushed past us, and the trees blurred into a green and
brown haze. My heart raced, not from fear, but from pure exhilaration
I had never experienced anything like it, and Thea’s excited squeals echoed through the trees, filling the air with joy. For the first
time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t weighed down by guilt or judgment.
I was just… free.
As we raced through the forest, I clung to Elijah’s back, Thea’s laughter continuing to fill the air. Could life truly be this
wonderful? I wondered, feeling the weight of my past slipping away with each stride.
When we finally slowed down, the beauty of the forest around us seemed to magnify. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. For a moment, I wished it wouldn’t end, that we could stay out here, far away from the pressures of pack life, from the rumors and expectations.
But reality called us back soon enough.
After the run, the families began setting up their tents for the camping portion of the event. Elijah, ever the Alpha, insisted on
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setting up our tent himself, brushing off my attempts to help. I stood by, watching him work, feeling a strange mix of pride and
affection.
As he worked, and I “supervised“, a few of the other werewolf mothers approached me. Their curiosity was palpable as they asked about my relationship with Elijah, how we had met, and how I, of all people, had ended up as the Alpha’s mate
Before I could answer, Thea, always ready to speak her mind, chimed in with a dreamy voice.
“I made a wish on my birthday, and then Daddy found Mommy. It’s because Mommy is a gift from the Moon Goddess!”
The mothers sighed and swooned, clearly enchanted by Thea’s story. I couldn’t help but smile at her innocence, though part of me wondered if it was better to let them believe the fairytale. After all, the real story was far more complicated than a birthday
wish come true.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of the moment. I glanced at the screen and saw the caller ID–the DNA testing center. My heart skipped a beat.
The results.
Everything seemed to freeze around me.
I took a deep breath and answered the call.
