Chapter Forty-Three
My mom reeled back and spat next to him on the ground. “I never want to see you again.” Then she spun around and stomped halfway back up the stairs. “Remember, divorce, tomorrow.”
Morgan rallied the fool. “And what if I say no?”
My mom ran back into the room. Her finger poked straight into his chest. “You fucking bastard. You swore to the Goddess.”
“And what if I changed my mind?” He smirked. “What if I decided I would rather keep you than let you go?”
My mom screamed, but it was my quiet words that caught everyone’s attention. “Then you die.”
Everyone froze. A pin could drop, a leaf could blow a block away, and we would all hear it. Shannon chuckled awkwardly. “What?”
Brandon furrowed his brows. “Amy, you can’t mean that.”
But my eyes were focused on Morgan, and only him.
Morgan stepped back a step. “What did you say?” He looked at my mom, but she was stepping closer to me. “You can’t mean that, Amy.”
I sighed, as if this was all too much. “You swore to the Goddess, Morgan, in front of witnesses no less.” I cracked my neck and stood.
“You cheated on my mother for years. You have apparently been abusing her all this time with the power dynamic between the two of you that Shannon and I obviously missed.” I threw her a look, adding her name to make it seem like I didn’t think she was involved.
“But if you refuse to follow the promise you made to her, and the Goddess. If you use your power again to torment her any more. Then I mean it.”
“Amy.” Shannon gasped.
I forced a pained look on my face. “Shannon, please understand. If this was your father that was cheated on, if it was flipped and you had to protect him from us, you would do the same.” I turned to Morgan.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Please understand that.
But for my mother, I will do everything I can to give her what she needs. ”
“She needs?” Brandon interrupted. I nodded. “She doesn’t NEED to be divorced.”
I leveled him with a look. “Who are you to say?” I tilted my head and I allowed my anger to enter my eyes.
“My mother left my father the very night he cheated on her. She was covered in blood, losing my brother, and she crawled away and requested a transfer. Once the miscarriage was finished, she was gone before anyone else woke up. If she couldn’t stay one day after that betrayal from her Goddess-given mate.
If she couldn’t forgive my father, who are you to say that she doesn’t need a divorce?
” I turned to Morgan. “You can’t make her stay with you. I won’t allow it.”
“Allow it? It’s the Alpha’s decision to grant a divorce.” Shannon tossed out.
I nodded. “You’re right, which is why I didn’t say I would make him divorce her. The Alpha has the final decision on divorces but not challenges.”
Morgan scoffed. “You can’t challenge me.”
I leveled him with a look. “Are you sure?” I tilted my head. “Are you one hundred percent sure that a female can’t challenge you for a position in battle?”
Morgan hesitated, but then shook himself. “Yes, I am sure.” He shook his head and gave a short laugh. “Females can’t challenge a male for his position. Rank in pack is based on the male counterparts.”
I smirked. “Correct, a law I think is archaic.”
Shannon smiled. “See.”
“But I never said it was going to be a position to challenge. I would call for a Cath Báis.”
Shannon gasped and staggered back a step. “No.”
Brandon reached for her but then stilled, like he thought better of grabbing her in front of me. “Amy, you can’t be serious about asking for a death battle over this.”
My mom came over and kissed me. “It’s not necessary, my love.”
I huffed out a sigh. “I’m over this. You have until tomorrow to make your decision.
Either you follow your vow and divorce. Or you forsake yourself and I request a Cath Báis.
” I nodded towards the stairs. “Make your choice. Or don’t I honestly don't care at this point. I’m tired and I have a guest that I need to send home.
” I moved towards the door. “Please, leave.”
I swung the door open and waited. Brandon walked to me first. “Baby.” He tried to grab me, but I pulled away.
“I understand you came here to stand up for Shannon and your father’s Beta, but I’m not dumb enough to believe you were truthful to me.
” I looked at him and hurt made my eyes well up with tears.
“I honestly don’t even know what to say to you.
I just need time.” Brandon sat there, stunned. “Please, just leave for now.”
Shannon ran over and grabbed his hand. “Amy, how can you say that?”
“Because he is supposed to be my mate, and even though we are friends, he chose you over me.” I looked her dead in the eyes. “That seems to happen more and more frequently, don’t you think?” A tiny threat entered my voice.
Morgan caught it. I saw him twitch. “Fine, we are leaving.” Then he stormed out the door, pushing the others. I slammed the door and locked it with magic.
I turned to my mother. “They won’t be coming back here.” My mom sighed.
The next morning, my mom came with me to the pack house.
We walked in and everyone froze. A few whispers could be heard in the back, but my mom kept her head raised high and headed straight upstairs.
When she reached the second floor, I grabbed her before she could head to Vince’s office and anything happened.
“What are you doing?” She hissed back at me.
I smiled. “Did you think I would make you face them alone?” I shook my head and nodded toward the hallway. “Come to my office, so I can drop off my stuff. I’ll let Rick know where I’ll be and then come with you.”
My mom shook her head. “I can do this alone.”
I snorted. “Of course you can, but I won’t let you.” I pulled her to my office and walked in to find Brandon pacing the floor. I felt my face stiffen for a minute and I looked away quickly, like I was fighting tears. “Brandon, I told you I needed space.”
“Babe.” He came towards me but stopped short when he saw my mom.
“Brandon.” Her voice was cool. “I’m surprised you managed to get away from Shannon.” Her words were like knives and I saw them hit their mark. Good. I want him to be on shaky ground. I need him to be unsure, but not clingy. It was a balancing act, and I hadn’t found the sweet spot yet.
“Ainsley, I didn’t realize you were coming in today with Amy.” Brandon was trying to recover.
My mom scoffed. “I said I was coming in for my divorce. The earlier, the better.”
Brandon raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not your enemy.” He looked to me for help but I just looked away and wiped at my dry face. “Amy, I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“Yet again, you chose your ex girlfriend instead of your supposed mate.” My mother glared at him.
“You keep acting like you are the victim here, Brandon. But I was cheated on, I was betrayed. And then you sided with your ex girlfriend. Amy did nothing to deserve what you did. AND YOU HAVE DONE IT OVER AND OVER.” She shook herself and dropped her voice back down.
Her arm came around my shoulder. “I have been Morgan’s victim, but Amy has been your and Shannon’s victim. ”
Brandon came over to us and tried to grab my hands. But I pulled away. “Amy…please.”
I finally looked at him, and I made sure I had tears filling my eyes. “I’ve been thinking…maybe we should cancel the mating ceremony.” He stumbled back a step. “I love you but it’s obvious you still have feelings for Shannon. And I don’t want to come between you two.”
“But we are supposed to be mated in less than a month.” He looked a little lost.
“I know, but since Shannon spent most of the time creating the mating ceremony, maybe she will be okay stepping in as your mate. It’s obvious you want to be together.
” I looked away. “Please excuse us. My mom needs to speak to your dad.” I smiled sadly.
“I’ll let him know so that everything will be handled today.
” I turned away and walked into Rick’s office.
“Amy?” He looked up and saw my face. “What’s wrong?
” He stood and walked over to the door, and saw my mother glaring at Brandon.
I watched his face cool. “Alpha Brandon, I know I don’t have the right to ask, but I think it’s better if you leave.
Could you head to your father’s office? I’m sure you will be present in the meeting Amy was just talking about. ”
Brandon looked like he wanted to argue, but my mom growled. His eyes cut to her and I heard him swallow. I had to cover my mouth like I was holding in a sob, when in reality I needed to keep my smile hidden. “Yeah. I’ll go. Amy…we will talk later.” Then his steps faded away.
I made it a show to wipe more of my face and sniffled for the camera wherever it was. And then I walked over to Rick. “Thank you for that.” I gave him a watery smile. “I came in here to tell you I was going with my mother to handle her divorce, but hopefully I will be back to finish the day.”
Rick shook his head. “No. I think after the meeting, you and your mom should head home.” He gave me a look. There was something I needed to see, and he was giving me an excuse to disappear for the day.
“Are you sure? I can still work.” I let my smile waver. But Rick shook his head.
“Go for a run, reconnect with your wolf. Your entire world is about to shift. Take the day, take the night, and then come back tomorrow and work. I was able to do my work before you got here. I can manage a day.” He patted my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
Something was happening in the forest today and I was going to find out what it was.