Chapter 21

ALEC

Times froze at that second. He was looking at me, and anger just shot over his face. I knew what I was doing, but then it dawned on me that this was all to hurt Vanessa. She hadn't even made a choice, she wanted me to fight for her. FUCKK!!! I screwed up once again. I lifted myself off of the girl and threw a blanket over her. Alpha Steele was waiting until we were alone.

"Leave Sarah" I commanded.

"It's Sasha" The sound of her hurt was in her tone. She scrambled to grab her clothes, before exiting out. As soon as the door closed. His fists connected with my face. I deserved that.

"I came here to talk to you about fighting for your role, but honestly you aren't man enough to rule a kingdom. You are not man enough for my daughter. You don't have a lot of people on your side, and I am not there either. Stay away from my grandson and stay the hell away from my daughter!"

"Alpha—" But before I could rebuttal, he darted out the door. Crap, I knew she was going to find out. I don't know why I wanted her to feel what I feel, even my wolf has disconnected from me. He was angry with me too. I knew if she was going to hear, she was going to hear it from me. I can't believe I allowed myself to betray their trust, and she won't forgive me for the second time.

VANESSA

I laid quietly asleep when a knock appeared on the door. I looked over to the clock, on the nightstand. 3:30 A.M. I swear someone better be dying. I tied a robe around my body and opened the door. Alec was there. He smelled really good, like burning wood.

"What are you doing here so late?" I scanned over his face, and this time guilt shadowed over. Maybe he wants to fix things, maybe he wants to be my mate. My wolf was purring the idea of having my mate.

"Can we talk, it's important?" I nodded my head and looked back at Drew sleeping peacefully.

"Let's go to the kitchen, I don't want to wake him up" He walked towards the kitchen and began to pace. The fear that was seeping through him. I am starting to think that by his body language this wasn't good news. I grabbed his shoulder, have him face me. Tears were rolling down his eyes. I immediately went into mate mode. I sat him down and wiped his tears with my thumb. I was in the middle of his legs.

"Alec, what's wrong?" He leaned his head against my chest, sobbing.

"I fucked up Vanessa, I really fucked up" I lifted his head, and he was hurting. I needed to set my differences aside.

"No, No it's okay. We will fix whatever you broke." He tilted his head to the side.

"I don't think anyone can fix what I am about to break" So nothing has happened yet. Now it's not making sense.

"Tell me please, I don't understand" He tears started pouring out of his eyes.

"I was hurt, and you hurt me. All you wanted was for me to fight for you. Because here you are now that way that I love you, and I betrayed you" Riddles, he was speaking riddles again.

"What is it you mean?" I cupped his face in my hands, and he looked at me. I think he was having a hard time telling me, as we were sitting here for 10 minutes, and he just hugged me. Like it was the last time he will ever. I made things easier for him. I grabbed his hand and pierced it with my fangs sucking the blood. I released, and it hit me.

I immediately stepped back, catching my breath. Tears were forming in my eyes, and a piercing pain was shooting through my heart. He laid with another, to hurt me. My father caught him. I backed up, until I felt a wall stop me. His red, puffy eyes were staring at me watching me fall apart.

"I hurt you to the point of betraying me?" He just stared at me, and just looked down in shame. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on you. I took the high road. I walked over to him, stopping in front of him. I cupped his cheek to look at me.

"I forgive you, as you are my mate" His eyebrows furrowed. I knelt down and connected my lips onto his. It was a long, and deep kiss that I was melting too. It was heated, and heavy. I pushed away and looked at him.

"Goodbye Alec Callister, I wish you nothing but the best" I went to walk away, and he reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Please Vanessa, don't leave me. I screwed up, and I will never do it again. Please let me make this right" The tears started to form in my eyes again. He was pleading, and it ached me. I faced him, seeing it with my own eyes.

"I cannot trust you with my heart, and fore that I don't trust you with my kingdom. You have not grown to maturity."

"I fucked up, hell Alias killed you and you forgave him!" I tried to be the bigger person, but he shall not speak badly of a warrior. My son's father.

"You shall not speak about a King, who saved me. He may have killed me, but he didn't fuck a wench even when he found his mate. He never did it out of hate, he did it out of love and respect for his mate. So, you don't speak his name. You are the venom to my heart, and you've broken me. So, save the blame game. You did this to yourself. Now your punishment is someone else taking care of your mate. Once again." I looked and saw nothing in my eyes. I took this time to start the mind-link.

"The trails shall begin for the position of The King and my mate. Anyone who thinks they're worthy needs to get approved from Alpha Steele. Alpha, Beta's and mates, warriors are to meet me in 30 minutes in conference." I did this out of spite. I watched as he winced in pain.

"You've proven to not be worthy over and over. I can't trust you to keep it in your pants when we fight. You think I want my son to see how mom is treated. You're toxic is what they say nowadays. I cannot be in your war path, as I have a kingdom to worry about. My wolf will hold you forever, but as of now I am Vanessa Steele. Alpha. Luna. Queen of the wolves thereby reject you as my mate, my king, as my friend." I walked away. I felt his heart break, and this time my heart was breaking. I meant this one. I cried, and cried...

I heard him weeping was I away, and soon it became silent. He has to live with this the rest of his life. I went back to my room and laid next to Drew for a bit. He woke up and looked at me.

"Mommy, you are sad. Why are you sad?" I held onto him, and couldn't hold my tears in.

"I am a sad baby, but I am going to be okay." I kissed his forehead and brought it to mine.

"Drew, I need you to promise me something." He looked at me and nodded his head.

"When this is all yours, don't ever let a woman keep you from being a good king. And if you find that good woman, you treat her like the queen she is. You make your mate happy." He looked at me and just smiled.

"I promise mama, but I want my mate to look like you. You're the prettiest girl I know." I laughed at how wrong that is, but he's a kid, it was the sweetest thing ever.

"I need to have a meeting soon; would you like to come and see the hard parts of being in charge?" He nodded his head and shot out of bed to get ready. I did the exact same thing, slipping on some blue pants and a long sleeve. Attached with the back boots.

"Alright mommy, let's go tell people what to do!" I loved this kid more and more, and he will be the greatest king when I step down.

I walked into the conference room, and by the looks of everyone they are not happy with a meeting at 4 in the morning.

"This must be an important daughter." I know he is trying so hard not to launch across the room to kill Alec. He was sitting there with his head looking down. It broke my heart, and I wanted to stop that hurt.

"Alpha Callister, you handed your son your position taking over. However, you've been doing all the work. Your son is not up to par to be an Alpha." Everything has to be for the pack.

"My Queen, my son is still learning the ropes. But he is a great leader, he is your mate." He pleaded. Alec looked up to me, and now he was mad.

"He's a rejected mate now, as I don't know where his loyalty lies. And for this Alpha Alec steps forward." He looked at me, and hesitated. Before making his way to me.

"Alpha Alec Callister, we have war coming. You do not have what it takes to be an Alpha. So, I hereby relieve you as one. You will be downgraded to a Beta."

"Vanessa—"

"You will address me the right way, first and last warning." He took a deep breath in.

"My Queen, I have put my blood, sweat, and tears into my pack. They know, they're trained by me. You cannot let personal matters cloud your judgement. That isn't fairly." Now he was getting angry, and ready to defend his pack.

"You show no loyalty in your Queen, and proven time, and time again you cannot be loyal to your mate. How could you be loyal to a pack, that you have abandoned before. You have 200 wolves to protect, and yet you spiral out of control when things get a little hard. So yeah it is personal, but it's also business. Your Alpha bloodline ends with you. You may take a seat now" He knew he couldn't last out, but he went back to his seat never making eye contact with me. His father was angry, and fuming and he stared at his son in disappointment.

"Beta Asker, do you plan on entering the trails?" I looked over to the beta of the Creed Pack.

"My queen, as it would an honor, I do have a mate. So, I will not be in them" He stood with pride.

"Can you and your mate approach please?" He laced his fingers with his mate, and he made his way to me.

"Beta Asker, you have always shown true commitment to the pack. Always being the first one there, and first one to leave. To take care of those who are in need. Beta Asker I am not upgrading you to Alpha of the Creed pack, do you accept?" He looked shocked as well as his mate. He looked back at Alpha Callister and then Alec.

"I accept My Queen" He responded.

"Beta Asker, I am giving you the honor of being a leader. You have to make hard choices that make things better for your pack. You will have to be front line and put others above you. Can you do that?"

"Yes, my queen, I will put my pack above me. I will be the best leader" I saw the excitement that he was containing.

"What is your name?" I asked, turning to the lady.

"My name is Isabelle, My Queen" She responded with a stutter.

"Isabelle, as your mate is stepping up, that means you will be the Luna to the Creed pack. Can you step up to the duties and be the woman's voice to the pack" I asked her.

"My Queen it is my honor to be the voice of my pack. I will be the Luna they deserve and put myself front line with my mate."

The tension in the room was heavy! People were mad, some were happy.

"I hear by announcing a new reign of the Creed Pack. With Alpha and Luna Asker. You both will report to Alpha Steele and Luna Steele for training. Congratulations." They both bowed before returning their seat.

Drew was at my side, and I think he knew how bad things were. I may come off as selfish, but it wasn't the betrayal that led me. It was how blind I was for the love of him. He just wasn't good enough.

"After Trails, there will be a mating festival once again. That tradition won't die. Natalia will be in charge of it. Prince Drew, ages by the month. In 8 months, he will be old enough to take over. It'll be a long road, but this is your future king." The silence in the room was deadly.

"This is a lot to take in, so you are dismissed. There will be no training. Have fun with your families." Everyone started scrambling out of the room. When my father stayed behind. I looked at him, and honestly. Every girl needs her father. The tears started leaking from my eyes again. He grasped me in his arms. I fell apart in his arms.

"Daddy, he hurt me so bad. I don't know how I could ever forgive him" I cried harder and louder.

"I know babe, I know. And you don't have to. You my angel deserves more than this pesky world can give you" I needed my father, I needed to know someone cared. I cried in his arms for as long as I knew. Drew was at my waist holding me too. I took family for granted, and for now on I will open my mind to this new world. I will change not for anyone but myself. I deserve my happy ending. Alec wasn't my happy ending.