Chapter Forty-Four
We walked into Vince’s office a few minutes later, and everyone was already waiting. Morgan and Shannon were on the left. One chair was empty to the right, and Brandon was standing next to Vince, who was already seated behind the desk, looking stern.
“Alpha Vince.” I nodded once and stood behind my mother who took the chair.
“Vince.” My mom looked to the left. “I assume you know why we are here.”
He nodded. “I did hear. But why don’t you tell me?”
My mom rolled her eyes. “Im here for a quick divorce and a transfer. I already submitted my request to the King.” Everyone stopped breathing.
“You did what?” Vince’s voice was barely a whisper.
But my mom smiled. “Did you think I would stick around here?” She chuckled. “My request to transfer has already been approved, my new pack has accepted, and I just have to finalize everything here.” She looked down at her nails.
“You had no right.” Morgan screamed.
But my mom just swung her head towards him. “Are you stupid?”
Morgan blinked slowly at her. “What?”
“Are you stupid? Did you hit your head? Did you somehow forget everything about me in the span of a fucking day?” She slammed her hand down on the table.
“I, I, I.” Morgan looked at Vince, and I could see the pleading looking on his face.
“What do you mean, Ainsley?” Vince was doing his best to stay cordial, but he was failing. I leaned against the wall and watched everything unfold silently.
“My Goddess given mate cheated on me…” My mom shook her head as if that explained everything. And it honestly did. They were just too stupid to understand what she was saying.
“Yes, I know.” Vince looked at me, but he raised his eyebrow like he was asking for an explanation.
I sighed, and I pushed off the wall. “My mother was almost dying, in pain, and as soon as she found out about the betrayal she asked the King for a transfer, applied to packs, and was gone in a day. Mating bonds are obviously different from a marriage. One is more sacred, but less binding. If she could do all of that while dealing with losing my brother. This is nothing and she is confused as to why you are both so blindsided by her swift actions.”
Vince turned to Morgan. “What happened?”
Morgan’s voice failed him as he fumbled over his thoughts. “It was a mistake.” He finally finished.
“What do you mean?” Vince’s eye twitched.
My mom clenched her fists. “Yesterday, I caught him in a lie. But let’s be honest here. You aren’t stupid Vince, and you know everything that goes on in this pack house.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Ain.” He smiled and did his best to seem like he was on her side. I watched his detached amusement. They were really going to pretend that no one had any idea Morgan was an idiot.
My mom smirked as she pulled out her phone. “Really?” She scrolled for a few minutes before she looked up. “You are sticking to the story. You don’t know what I’m talking about, Vince?”
He held up his hands. “Ainsley, I’m on your side. I understand Morgan lied, but that doesn’t qualify for a divorce. You need a better reason.”
She nodded. “Sure. But he swore to the Goddess that if I could prove he was lying to me, that he was betraying me, that he would give me a quick divorce.” She crossed her arms. “Are you saying that you won’t follow the promise made to the Goddess, because you think my reasoning isn’t good enough to get a divorce?
” Her eyes turned cold. “Is that what you are saying to me, Vincent?”
“Hey now. I understand he made promises and I will do my best to make sure he follows through with them, but I don’t understand. Were there any witnesses to the promise?”
I looked around the room, and Morgan shook his head. “I never made the promise.”
My mother growled and shot to her feet. “You fucking lying piece of shit!”
Shannon came over and grabbed my mother’s hand.
“Mom, please. I know my dad lied to you but you can work past this. Please. Stay for me. Stop making up these lies about a promise to the Goddess. We can’t work through anything if we aren’t truthful.
” She shot me a look, pleading. Then she turned to Brandon.
Everyone turned to him. I could see him thinking through his choices.
“Brandon? What did you see?” Vince prompted him, but his eyes snapped to mine. There was pain there. I could see Brandon turn to Vince and they were mind linking. Vince’s eyes widened. “Ah, I see.” Then Brandon turned and left.
“Hey!” Shannon went to grab his arm, but he spun away and slammed the door. “Where did he go?”
There was silence in the room as Brandon’s steps faded away. Then Vince looked at me. “Brandon doesn’t want to get between his mate and her sister. So he respectfully stepped away from deciding. So as to not hurt either of you.” I wanted to lift my lip in disgust.
He’s fucking pathetic. Megan’s voice was vicious. He can’t even stand by his fucking whore when she needs him. What a worthless male.
Nix rubbed her side against Megan. We got away from him this time around. We don’t have to worry about this pup after all of this is over. I turned back into the office as my two wolves comforted each other.
“What?” Shannon looked back at me. “He left because of you?” I could see she wanted to scream, to pout. I shook my head.
“I already told Brandon, so I might as well tell you here.” I swallowed and forced more tears into my eyes.
Dramatic. Nix scoffed, and I grinned back at her.
“I told Brandon today that I realized he was still in love with you, Shannon. Obviously, he still wants to be with you because he has been on your side, supporting you through all of this. I can’t stand between you two anymore.” Shannon was nearly vibrating with excitement.
“What are you saying?” Her voice couldn’t hide just how happy she was with my words.
Vince’s eyes tightened. He wanted her to say no, to downplay their relationship, but she was too emotional to follow his instructions.
I watched as his eyes burned into the side of her face, but she wasn’t even noticing.
“You made the mating ceremony. You should be the Luna of this pack. I’ll just go to my dad’s land when I’m able to rebuild Silvermoon.” I turned away like I was breaking, and Shannon, stupid, unstable, inept Shannon, screamed her joy to the room.
“Are you serious?” She hopped up and down. “Amy, are you serious?” She ran to my side and hugged me. “Oh my Goddess. Thank you. I love him so much and I know he loves me.”
“Shannon.” Vince called.
“I swear I’ll make him happy. I will be the best Luna.” She continued.
“Shannon.” Vince was a little louder, but still she ignored him. Morgan’s face was filled with fear. He knew Shannon was ruining everything they had planned.
“Shan, baby, Alpha Vince is calling you.” He tried to get her attention, but she was too far gone.
“I can’t believe this.” She cried and her hand dropped to her stomach. I knew instantly that she was about to say that she was pregnant. She wasn’t, I could smell her period coming, but she was going to lie. “I’m preg-”
“SHANNON! THAT’S ENOUGH!” Vince bellowed, slamming his aura out, dropping both Morgan and Shannon to the floor with a thud. My mother and I stood against the waves and stared down at them.
My mom reached back and grabbed my hand. “Oh, Goddess baby.” She squeezed, and I allowed the tears to fall. “I’m so sorry.”
Vince stood and walked over to me. “She is lying.” He was panicked and Brandon ran back into the room.
“What happened?” His words were shallow as he was panting from running full speed back here.
“What happened?” My mother stood, walked over to Brandon, and slapped him. He stared at her with wide eyes before he turned to Vince. But Vince marched over to him and punched him in his face. He stumbled against the wall and fell to the ground.
“Dad?” Brandon cried.
But Vince unleashed his aura again. “Tell us Shannon is fucking lying.” I felt something shift.
What the hell? Nix stood up instantly.
What? Megan looked back and forth between us, confused.
I kept my face blank as I watched the scene unfold in front of me, and I allowed Nix to explain.
She paced. The power in the room making her itchy.
Her fur danced as she spun. When a wolf gives a command, everyone can hear it.
Their aura combines with their words and the command is a visceral feeling in everyone’s chest.
Okay? Megan watched her pace. I don’t understand Vince didn’t give a command.
But he did. Nix came to the barrier. It wasn’t in his aura, or his words, but hidden inside both. It was there.
I don’t know what you are saying. Megan walked closer.
Nix pushed forward, coming to sit next to me, closer to the front. I don’t know how to explain it. He didn’t use his command, but he gave Brandon a command. He sounded like he was pleading with him to say she was lying, but in truth, he was commanding him to lie, to cover up his affair.
How is that possible?
My magic flared in her place, bright, dazzling, and silently answering Megan’s question. I swallowed, and for the first time I felt dread in my gut. He used magic.
Brandon struggled on the ground, but he wiped the blood from his lip. “I don’t even know what Shannon said. How can I tell you if she is lying?”
My mother snarled and tried to attack him again. “You fucking son of a bitch.” She swiped at him but I pulled her back and just shook my head.
I sniffled as I wiped my face on the neck of my shirt, then I turned to face him.
“I told Shannon I was stepping back and canceling our mating ceremony because you guys are obviously in love. She was very excited and said that she loved you. That you loved her.” I let a sob out.
“That she was pregnant with your pup.” I slapped my hand over my mouth and I turned.
I put my face on my mother’s chest and silently laughed.
The shaking thankfully looked like sobs.
“What?” Brandon looked at Shannon. “You’re pregnant?”
She looked down. “I think so.”