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“I thought I’d never see you again,” she murmured.
“I would have gone to the ends of the world to find you,” I mumbled back.
“You’re hurt,” she cried out, full of concern, helping me to my feet.
I had no choice but to lean against her, my body aching too much. My strength was only granted to me from the pure adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “No matter. I’ve found you,” I replied.
“I can’t believe you, Alyson. How can you give her to this . . . thing,” growled the Alpha.
“The word you’re searching for is vampire,” I replied with a tone of annoyance.
Esmeralda’s mother retorted, “I had no idea he was her fated mate when we attacked the mansion.”
A lump formed in my stomach at the mention of the mansion. “You killed my butler,” I accused.
Alyson bit her lip, but Thomas spoke first. “He got what he deserved.”
Rage rose in me, but I was in no state to show him what I thought. One-on-one would have been fair. But a pack against me? I would forever resent him for the death of my butler. To think it was Esmeralda’s father—well, that would complicate family meals.
“I’m sorry about your mansion and butler,” said Alyson. “We thought Esmeralda was a prisoner against her will and badly treated.”
I thought back to the moment she’d tried to escape on the first night at the mansion and immediately felt a pang of guilt in my stomach. She’d indeed been a prisoner then, but things had changed. She was choosing to stay with me.
Alyson continued before I could answer anything. “You say you’re her fated mate? The one given by the moon goddess?”
I nodded, and she added, “If that’s the case, you’re the one she should be with.”
Esmeralda turned to look at her. “Thank you, Mother!”
The Alpha’s face tensed, visibly displeased. He spoke to his Luna. “That’s the thanks I get for trying to protect my own.”
She bit her lip, but he turned to me and continued. “The Moon Goddess chose poorly. After her death, you’ll have to live alone for hundreds of years in mourning.”
I growled at his contempt. “Then I’ll just have to turn her into a vampire, and she’ll live as long as me.”
“No!” barked the Alpha.
“Yes!” cried Esmeralda.
Her mother approached her. “Are you sure, my daughter? There’s no going back.”
Thomas clenched his fists. “Are you willing to abandon your daughter that easily? I bowed to protect everyone in this pack the day I became Alpha, and so did you.”
Alyson softened her stare. “It breaks my heart, but at the same time, I must accept the decision of the Moon Goddess.” Then she added to her daughter, “If you turn into a vampire, you won’t be able to lead the pack.”
Esmeralda nodded. “That’s okay. My brother has always wanted to lead the pack anyway.” Then she turned to look at me, those big brown eyes full of so much certainty. “I love him.”
My heart leapt at these words. “I love you too,” I whispered back.
“For the pack’s safety, I can’t allow vampires to visit,” the Alpha acknowledged, tone devoid of sympathy.
“Then I’ll come visit you in Ichoryllia,” Esmeralda’s mother replied. “I’m not scared of rogue vampires. I may not have a wolf, but I can defend myself with my magic if necessary.”
No more words were said. The Alpha shifted into a wolf, clearly frustrated, and even the transformation appeared more savage this time around. He turned and bolted out of sight. All the wolves followed him, heading back to their pack.
Alyson stayed a few moments, her eyes scanning the area, clearly resolved with the situation. “Don’t mind your father. You know how stubborn he is. He’s just over his head, but I’ll change his mind.”
Esmeralda sighed. “Yes, I know how he is.”
