Chapter 111
65 vouchers
“There is a case,” Alariq says when he places a file between us. “A very technical case, but it’s there.”
“What technicality?” Ragnar all but growls at him. Alariq tenses up and tries his best not to make eye contact with his king. I shoot Ragnar a glare, and he rolls his eyes at me before taking a seat in the armchair.
‘Miss Sophia isn’t a member of the Lycan or the Werewolf race. She is a hybrid despite having a pelt rather than a wolf spirit. She has no ties to either alliance. In fact, technically, she is a rogue. Has been since she swore no oath after he father passed.”
Dammit,” I fall back into my seat.
I don’t see why that’s a problem,” Ragnar admits.
Rogues with alpha mates are usually made to take the oath of their mate’s pack. Whether he’s the acting alpha of a ranked ›ne. Because Rogues, particularly females, are under the gray laws. Those who become rogues for whatever reason are not welcomed back to the packs they left.
If they ever try to be a part of another pack, the reason why they left or were banished is requested, and it is up to the next
pha to decide if the reason is enough to reject them from taking their oath or allow them to.
Females who were banished have to be mated to someone in the packlands, and her mate must take an additional oath to ake on all the consequences regarding the female’s action. Born rogue females, depending on their rank and position, can hoose to take the oath, as long as they’ve never been convicted of a felony.
But all of it comes down to the acting alpha laws. No matter what rank the female rogue is, she must take her place as the icting Luna of the pack region of her mate. In the early stages, the sentate provides a personal guard that not only protects he female but also teaches her the laws of the packlands and makes it clear what is expected of her, whether she likes it or
- 101.
That is the category I’d fall under in this. The technicality. Which is why I prepared the incriminating profile with my nedical records and Therpy sessions. I have screenshots and records that prove he knew we were mated since we were ixteen and refused to mark me because he didn’t want a defective breeder. I also have recordings and screenshots from Poppy and Luna Romano showing they were the ones who encouraged his behavior.”
For the time being, we have a great defence. We have to wait and see what Santiago Romano is presenting. Because you are of age now and part of the Lycan Militia, a simple oath to the King wouldn’t be enough to stand in the trial,” Alariq looks
between us.
‘What would stand?” I ask.
‘A mating. Ragnar says casually. “In the old way.”
“That would definitely hold, Alariq agrees. “The rest of the documentation will be presented tomorrow, just before the case is presented to the council”
“Thank you, Alariq. We should be ready by noon,” Ragnar says dismissively.
“My King.” he stands and bows formally before glancing up at me.
“Thanks for you help, Alariq”
“My lady,” he smiles and leaves the documents behind as he gathers his things and heads out.
“We have a strong case. There is no way in hell I’m going back. I’d rather actually die this time, I rub my temples.
1/3
4:22 pm WMI
Chapter 111
“Do you trust me?” Ragnar asks and takes my hand as he sits down beside me.
“You being unpredictable is part of your charm, but this isn’t the time for you to be taking a gamble.”
609
I 55 vouchers
“I’m going to be honest with you, Little Wolf. The council is a big fan of giving fate the respect it is owed. Even with incriminating evidence, the Senate will vote for the mating. It’s the way of us all. Lycan, wolf, lamia, magic, and incubus. Fate has to come to pass.”
“What about our fate? We didn’t just connect for funzies. This is the will of the Gods just as much as my mating to him was the will of the Goddess. He already threw it away, and our bond is proof that the mating was an empty promise,” I stand feeling like red ants are biting me all over my body.
“I agree,” he says, standing with me and rubbing my arms. I see the scar across his chest light up, but he doesn’t flinch this time or pull away. “Tell me you trust me to get you out of this.”
“That last thing I want you to do is mark me because it’s on obigation. We’re on a rocky path as it is, Ragnar. I don’t want thi to be the start of our mating. We deserve better than that. No doubts or regrets between us,” I reach out for the water in the glass and settle it over his chest. “He’s taken enough from us.”
He pinches my cheeks with one hand and makes me look up at him. His eyes are dark as he stares back at me. I know that’s not the answer he wanted, just as I don’t want something this fucking dumb to be what forces us to mark one another.
I’m afraid that I am too much of a coward to feel the love he has for Clarity, blind what he might be starting to feel for me. I’m afraid that he’s going to see how fucking broken I really am inside. Two years is a long time, but it’s nowhere near enough for me to forget what was done to me by the person I thought was everything.
‘I have no doubts about my feelings for you, Sophia. You’re mine. I’ve known that from the moment we were standing across from one another when we reunited,” he places his hand over his chest. “My regrets don’t have anything to do with
you.
‘It’s something I want to forgive myself for not you. Never you,” he moves his hand to my chin to keep me from looking away from him. “The truth is that I want to erase him from your thoughts,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Your dreams,” he kisses my cheek. “And your body,” he places a kiss on my lips. “I want him to know that he is nothing to either of us. I want to see the moment he goes feral, knowing that he had everything he could ever want in his hands and he lost it to a filthy Commoner dog.
‘I think that after all this time, that has been our common goal. To get rid of him once and for all. I know what he did to you and how much it’s taken from you as a woman. I also know how hard you’ve been fighting to overcome it.” he steps closer. and for the first time in a very long time, my body completely responds to his. “If it comes to it, I am not letting him take you from me. Do you understand?”
I understand perfectly. I believe him, and I want nothing more than to simply agree. But the fact is, I don’t and haven’t trusted my judgment from the moment Santiago shoved me so hard I almost cracked my head against the doorknob I hit when he heard I wanted to leave the city. Everything in my body screams when I put my hand on his wrist and pull away can see the way it shatters him when I step back.
“I understand,‘ I say truthfully. “But I want to do this my way. It’s something I have to forgive myself for. What kind of person would I be if I let you fix everything for me? It’s never been what I wanted, and it’s not what I want now. We’ll revisit this if we have to, but until then, it’s going to be a no from me, my King
2/3
4:22 pm
Chapter 112
Chapter 112
55 vouchers
My stomach hasn’t been in knots like this since I went through with the abortion. My grandmother is here and making sure everything is taken care of the way she left specific instructions for. For someone who has been gathering the Lycan armadas, she seems well rested and relaxed, even.
“Grandma, can we talk in private?” I ask her as we sit down for breakfast.
“It doesn’t get more private than this,” she says, thanking Eliza for her plate.
“It can,” I disagree. She and Eliza have a strange interaction. I think Eliza is glaring at her, and she’s taking it to heart. My grandmother is the one who gives in and nods.
“Take our breakfast up to Sophia’s study. I’m bringing my tablet, granddaughter. You can’t stop me,” she says
dismissively.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I agree and stand. Eliza gives me an encouraging smile as she takes our plates, and her staff takes the
rest.
As promised, my grandmother makes her way to my study with her attention fixed on the screen in front of her. It always has a protective film on it so that no one can eavesdrop on what she’s looking at. But for someone who is usually stoic and cold, she has a bit of a bubbly aura this morning and the smile only adds on to that happiness. I’m already kicking myself because what I am about to tell her might ruin her day.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood,” I say when we finally take a seat. Her eyes gleam with the light of her tablet just as she sets it down.
‘I am. I’ve taken your advice,” she smiles, reaching for the creamer for her tea.
‘My advice?” I ask, confused.
To start dating again,” she clarifies. I smile, loving that she’s decided to leap onto this monumental milestone in her life and the confidence of her announcement.
‘And?” I press.
“When I was in Seoul, I was reacquainted with an old friend of mine from my early training years. His mate passed away around the same time your father did. I told him about you because I remembered that he was also in the medical evacuation program when we were pups, and guess what?” she beams.
“What?”
“He’s a doctor. I told him that you were also pursuing medicine, and one thing led to another,” she shrugs. “We haven’t stopped talking since then.”
“I’m so happy for you, Grandma. It sounds like you’re having fun,” I smile.
“I am,” she one–shoulder shrugs coquetishly. “Tell me What is so private that you wanted all ears off us!”
A part of me screams not to tell her. The smile on her face is so foreign to me because I’ve never seen her side that way But this is something she needs to hear from me. All of it. Because the last thing she deserves is to be blindsided by what might be coming to light during the trial, and I know that things like this are live. It’s a political stance on matings. Experially between alphas.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Santiago petitioned for me to go back to him with the entire Alliance Council I start gently. Her smile immediately vanishes, and her eyebrows furrow,
173
4:22 pm W M
Chapter 112
“What?” she all but growls. Not at me, but it’s not a great sound.
55 voueries
“Yeah, and there are some things that I think you should hear from me before they are made public record,” I add. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat and nods. “Before I say anything, I want you to take into account that this is a very sensitive topic for me.
“I want you to know that this was my choice and that I don’t regret it in the slightest. I thought it through, and nothing anyone could have said to me would have changed my mind. I want you show me the same respect I have always shown you when you made choices I didn’t approve of.”
“You’re scaring me,” she says gently.
“I was scared, too. I am scared,” I sigh, taking a sip from my hot tea.
‘Please, don’t leave me in suspense,” she says, reaching out to place her hand over mine. I turn my hand to hold hers.
The first thing is that, before Ivar showed up, I was held hostage in my apartment by Santiago and his mother. A threat after he heard me tell you I didn’t want to be there anymore. That day, after I called you to tell you I didn’t feel safe, he assaulted me in our shared bathroom.” I can see her jaw lock as her eyes go completely cold. “The day that Beta Prince Malcolm forced the rejection, Santiago cornered me in the bathroom and assaulted me again.”
‘Sophia-”
‘I’m not finished,” I clear my throat. She lowers her gaze and urges me to continue. “Either of those encounters could have been the reasons that resulted in my first pregnancy.” Her shoulders tighten up. I can see tears swell in her eyes as she fights down her urge to shift. “And I got rid of it, knowing that if something as binding as a child tied me to him, he would drag me back and never let me see you again. I wanted you to hear this from me so that it’s not a shock when it is presented in court tomorrow. I’m sorry-”
‘No,‘ she’s crouching down beside me in a flash. She takes my hands and turns me to face her. “You do not have to be sorry about any of that. He did it. All of it. He’s been the cause of all this, even if he was manipulated and coerced by his parents.
The truth is that he chose to do what he did. So did you,” she clears her throat and takes a deep breath. “You made a choice, and the choice was as you said, yours and yours alone,” she tucks my hair behind my ears and stands to tower over me. She leans in to kiss the top of my head before pulling me out of my seat to hug me. “I am sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” I ask, wiping away my tears. “I was the one who hid from you.”
“For being the mother who you were too afraid to tell this to. I’ve come to regret my choices regarding your upbringing. I failed you when you needed me the most because of a stupid grudge I held against your mother. If I had been there more, if I had told you that something felt off about the Romanos, perhaps I could have done more to prevent all of this, she bumps her forehead against my chin. “I truly am sorry, my love”
“I didn’t make it any easier for you either. I’m starting to see why people think we’re so similar. Our ego and pride coukl literally strangle us to death, but it would be the hill we die on”
“Your father said those exact words to me when you were just a pup Your mother was livid that you looked so much like me It’s why she cut your hair short and dressed you in bright, vibrant colors despite your protests,” she sighs and pulls away to look at me. “If she could see you now, she’d see a mirror image of herself at your age.”
“You’re not mad at me?” I ask.
“No,” she shakes her head. “I could never be mad at you for choosing yourself. You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders. I’ve seen you doubt that these past couple of years, but I also see that you are beginning to ground yourself again You have very sharp instincts, and I trust them with my life.
“You’re right. He would have used this against you. Not because he wanted to be a devoted mate and father, but to punish
2/3
1:22 pm W M
Chapter 112
0 |
55 vouchers
you for trying to escape. You have nothing to be ashamed of. No one and nothing should ever make you feel like you’ve done something wrong. I will be by your side throughout this entire ordeal. You have my word. That sick animal will never call you his again, so as long as I may live.”
田
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
