Chapter 159 The End Of Us

Chapter 159 The End Of Us

Dorian's POV

I took in a deep breath as I made my way into the dungeon. Never in all my life would I have imagined that I would be coming down here to talk to my mate. But remembering all the atrocities she'd committed, I wasn't sure I recognised her anymore.

Immediately she saw me, she stood up and held the door. “Baby, thank goddess you're here." She said, and for the first time since we met almost thirty years ago, I felt nothing.

"I have a question." I told her instead, and watched as the smile on her face disappeared.

"Just get me out of here first,” She pleaded, "Zayne wouldn't listen to anything I say, even when I told him I'm innocent.”

I crossed my arms in front of me, if it was before, I would've taken her side blindly. Something I did and it almost cost me my entire family. It made more sense now why Zayne had been so mad when I took her side after hearing only what she told me because she was my mate.

"Did you ever love me?” I asked, and she paused.

She let out a laugh that didn't reach her eyes, “what are you talking about? Of course I love you." She replied, “You're my mate." She said but my expression didn't change.

"Don't tell me you believe Tristan…it was a misunderstanding.” She tried to explain, "he just assumed and made up stories. None of it is true."

“So why were you there?"

Her eyes widened for a brief moment, “uhm…about that." She trailed off, “I-I followed a trail and it led me there." And I have to say, I was impressed with how fast she came up with that.

"A trail?” I asked and she nodded repeatedly.

"I would never cheat on yo–"

“And this trail had nothing to do with the fact that he's your first son's father?” I asked again, my eyes trained on her.

The colour drained from her face. "W-what are you talking about?" she stammered.

"Answer me." My voice remained calm. "Viktor, he was your first love, wasn't he?"

She stared at me for a long moment before looking away. "Who told you that?" She asked, like that was what the problem here was. At least, she wasn't denying it.

I let out a bitter laugh. "So it's true."

"Dorian baby, please..." she reached through the bars. "It's not what you think."

"Then tell me what I'm supposed to think." I asked. "Because every time I give you a chance to explain, you replace the truth with another lie."

She swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears. "I was scared, I wanted to tell you."

"Scared of what?" I asked. "You hid the fact that you had a son with another man while we were together and as if that wasn't enough, you went ahead to plan about taking your own daughter in-law out of the picture."

She shook her head, “That wasn't what–”

"Stop the bullshit, Valerie.” I said, now getting angry. "And your son, who has absolutely no claim to the throne, was behind the recent attacks on the pack…still, you chose to stick to him."

She put her hand together, “I didn't know about that." She begged, “I swear. I've not seen him since I left him. You have to believe me baby."

“I'm going to ask you one more time," I started and she nodded.

“Anything." She replied, “I'll tell you anything, just let me out of here. You know I'm not used to this kind of life."

“Did you think of your child…other children? What you put them through with the stunt you pulled."

“Everything I did was for them." She said, "It was to make sure nothing ruined our family line. I was doing Zayne a favour but none of you could see it."

I ran a hand through my hair, unable to believe that she still believed she was right despite everything that had happened. After losing the same people she was trying to protect in her own twisted way.

“That girl is your son's mate!” I told her, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. "She makes him happy and you're the only one who can't see that.”

"Makes him happy?" She scoffed, “she's with him because he's the Alpha. Once she gets what she wants, she's going to leave.”

I scoffed, unable to believe my ears. "Is that why you were with me? Because I was Alpha?”

"Why would you say that? I love you.”

"Apparently not enough." I said. "Did you ever stop to ask yourself why Viktor and Lisa were after Alyssa?"

She frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Answer the question."

She looked away. "I don't know."

"Exactly." I took a slow breath. "You were so blinded by your hatred and greed that you never stopped to ask the obvious question. Why would two people risk everything for someone you believed was just an ordinary Omega?”

Her brows knitted together. "What are you trying to say?” She asked, but I was done.

"Only the most powerful werewolf to have ever been born.” I told her, taking a step backward. "The one the werewolf world has been hoping for. But you were blinded by your own greed to see what was right in front of you."

She let out a shaky breath, "that's not possible." She insisted. “She cannot be–"

"She is." I said simply.

Her eyes searched mine, looking for even the slightest sign that I was lying. "No..." she whispered. "If that were true..."

"Then none of this would've happened?" I finished for her.

She lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the bars. "I didn't know.”

I looked at her for a long moment. "Would it have changed anything?" I asked and she frowned, but I already knew the answer. Valerie had always been drawn to power. If she knew Alyssa had possessed it from the beginning, perhaps everything would've been different.

She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. "That's what I thought." I nodded slowly. I said, as I turned to leave.

"Dorian baby!" She called after me. “Just let me out of here, I swear I'll treat her better."

I paused at the doorway. "Too late, and I hope it was worth it, Valerie." I said without looking back. "Every lie, all the choices you made. I hope it was worth losing your mate... your children... and your family."

Without waiting for a reply, I walked out, leaving her alone, ignoring as she called out several promises behind me but I was done listening to the words coming out of her mouth.
Once I was out, I rested my back against the wall, the realization that the relationship I handled with so much care for most of my life was completely over, finally got me.

"Dad, are you okay?” My daughter's familiar voice asked. I looked up to see a frown on her face. "You should probably sit down.” She added and led me away from the hallway. I followed without putting up a fight.

"I thought she loved me,” I started, "I thought all the years we spent together meant something.”

Aileen nodded, "that must've hurt, but at least, something good came out of it right?” She grinned and I turned to face her.

I knew what she was trying to do, not dwell on something that wasn't going to change anytime soon.

Despite the ache in my chest, I let out a small smile. “You're right, my beautiful daughter came out of it."

She slipped her hand into mine, just like she used to when she was little. "Come on," she said. "You still have us."

Whatever I had with Valerie might be over. But as I looked at Aileen, I realized I hadn't lost everything. I still had my children and a growing family I couldn't be more proud of.