Chapter 22 022
Chapter 22
Thalia’s POV
I ought to find him, grab him by the collar, and scream in his face—that traitor! After everything I’ve done for him, he went behind my back to sleep with my best friend. And Shelly... she was not free of blame either. We had been all but sisters. How could they do this to me?
Each step was wobbly, but I managed to pick myself up from my in-laws' manor and get outside to my car. Technically, it wasn’t mine; it was just one of the vehicles owned by the Alpha family, and I had gotten attached to it because it matched my style. It had been delivered to the hospital parking lot after the whole "Shelly fiasco" back then. I had been relieved at the time, but now, just looking at the car made my heart ache. It was like a symbol of everything else in my life—it wasn’t owned by me. It was just an extension of the Alpha name.
All the property I owned, down to my bank accounts—everything was attached to the Alpha name. And it didn’t stop there. My entire identity had been inclined toward becoming the Alpha’s mate, his Luna. After my dream of becoming a healer went down the drain, the only thing I had left going for myself was to dedicate every fiber of my strength over to him, the kids, and the pack. I had not left anything for myself. I had become a mate, a mother, and a caretaker, but I had forgotten who I was outside of that. Or maybe I didn't forget; perhaps those parts of me had to die for the current one to live.
I needed something to help me clear my thoughts, so I went into the woods. After driving as close as I could, I got out of my car and started to run. I didn’t even think of how I was going to retrieve it; I just needed to run some of this madness out of my system. Nothing made sense. My entire world had been flipped on its head without warning. How was I going to confront the man I thought I would love forever, knowing that he had slept with somebody I regarded as a sister? How could we ever fix this? Did I even want to fix this? Were my kids going to grow up in a shattered home? None of this would be on my mind if he had just kept it in his pants.
As I sank my paws deeper into the soil, running through the woods, I thought about all my built-up resentment finally exploding. He had betrayed me. The thought echoed over and over again in my head. I kept running. I didn't want to stop. I felt the wind brushing against my fur like an invisible rake and the occasional stone digging into my paws. All of it hurt, but it grounded me; it kept me in the present.
I had to stop when I realized that I was taking it too far and my paws were beginning to bruise and bleed. I had almost crossed the border, so I started walking back. On my way, I came across the last person I wanted to see right now: Shelly.
Her growing belly was proudly displayed in her tight gown. She had five warriors escorting her, and I scoffed within myself. The way they moved with alert care, regarding her as if she was the one that was Luna—did they know, too? A bitter heat curled up and rested in my chest. Did everybody else know? Have they all been laughing at me while I made a fool of myself?
Shelly approached me, trying to go for an embrace, and I quickly created distance between us, disgust flashing in my eyes. I said nothing, but that simple movement was enough to make her think. She looked confused for a moment and then turned to the guards, moving nothing but her neck.
"Can I have a private talk with Thalia?"
My skin prickled. "In private?" She was allowed to call me by my name because we had been long-time friends—or so I thought—but by pack laws, she was supposed to regard me as the Luna, especially when talking to those who were practically my subordinates. They bowed to her request after a brief moment of resistance. None of them—not even one—decided to acknowledge me or my existence. It was mind-boggling, and I was absolutely floored.
As they gave us some space to speak, she began to fondly rub her belly in front of me, really pressing the salt into my wound.
On her face was the most chessier cat smile I had ever seen, there was no guilt no shame nothing of the salt in fact I wouldn't be speaking out of place to say she looked proud of herself
"So, you know about me and Varian, don't you?"
I thought about how she had jumped so quickly to that conclusion. Then the answer, simple and rational, dropped into my mind before she could say it with her own mouth.
"His mother already called me on the phone and told me that she had told you. And I think it's about time you knew, anyways." She spoke so casually, so calmly, as if we were discussing nothing more than a bag I had been eyeing but she had snagged first. "Let's go home and talk about this. I'm sure we can come to a resolution that will satisfy everyone..."
She tried to touch me again, and this time I didn't just step back; I retaliated. I slapped her hand away as if she was infected with something contagious. She shrunk back for a second, looking at her bruised wrist. I had a brief second of guilt, but it passed as quickly as it came.
Then, like thunder roaring through a storm sending a wave of shivers down my spine, I heard Varian’s voice, inflamed with rage. "Thalia! What do you think you are doing to Shelly? Don't you know that she's pregnant?"