Chapter 118 Summoned by Blood and Judgment

Chapter 118 Summoned by Blood and Judgment
POV Asher:

"That's not what people think... What my father thinks." The smile on Therak's lips sends chills through me. "You already know I was born in animal form. That means my instincts are, first and foremost, animal. It took me a long time to think like a human. To learn to look human. I'm an aberration."

"No. You are not an aberration!" I say firmly, interrupting him before he continues talking nonsense. "If you were, then Una would be too. You are different. That doesn't make you a monster, but special."

"You're right." Therak lightly kisses Una's nape, asking forgiveness for the words he said. Then he throws me a grateful look for having helped him regain his reason. "The thing is, my father wasn't very satisfied with having a special son... I don't know if he was angrier because I was born as an animal, showing everyone that his blood wasn't as pure and perfect as he claimed, or because my mother died in childbirth, which made it impossible for him to punish her."

"Were they mates?" Una whispers, fearful.

"No. Their marriage was arranged. Most Alpha marriages are," he explains, adjusting her so she sits facing him, straddling his lap. "However, I promised not to follow the same path. I always wanted my mates. I knew nothing would bring me happiness, if not you."

"But you were going to marry Felicia." Begay frowns, sounding confused.

"Wait, you were going to mate with that girl we met in the forest?" Una's eyes widen as she questions. She is completely shocked.

"Yes. That happened seven years ago. At the time, I thought Felicia was my mate. You have very similar smells because of the blood you share."

Una doesn't seem satisfied with the answer, for she growls. The smell of her jealousy sours the air around us.

"Don't be like that, pretty little thing. You know I belong to you." Therak gives her another little kiss. "It just so happens that I still hadn't managed to find you."

The bear strokes our female's chin, who looks at him as if she's going to send him to sleep in the doghouse tonight. Too bad we don't even have that...

"But you had already seen Felicia. How did you keep thinking she was your mate? Didn't you notice there was no fit?" The lynx continues questioning. He also seems to want to hit Therak.

"I didn't know what the fit was, baby. No one knows until it happens." The blond shrugs. His face reveals that he finds as much amusement in it as I do, because of the two's jealousy fit. "She smelled right enough and was an omega. Besides, the marriage would be advantageous politically, since Moonclaw Ridge is the largest territory in Canada, and Bethal was a very powerful Alpha. We got along well, so… why not marry his daughter and still gain influence? It made sense at the time."

"Who is Bethal?"

"The worst Alpha I've ever known." Begay answers Una, sounding angry. "I don't know how you got along with him. He was worse than your father!" he completes, turning back to face Therak.

"Bethal was a narcissist. In certain aspects, it was possible to manipulate him, since he believed he deserved greatness." The blond explains. "Dealing with him wasn't exactly difficult. You just had to make him think we were following his will."

"Felicia said I was lucky not to have grown up with him." Una recalls the encounter in the forest.

For the first time, she seems interested in the subject.

“And it really did happen. Felícia suffered greatly at her father’s hands. She was being forced into marriage, and when she ran away to be with her mate, she was humiliated and tortured in front of the entire pack. He could pretend to be a good man, but Bethal was a monster!” The lynx spits, trembling with hatred at the memories. “He used his power without limits, forcing people to become his slaves.”

“Was that what happened to you?” Therak’s question makes Begay stiffen. “I know you’re a friend of Orion’s partners, but your anger goes beyond what would be considered ‘normal.’”

“I was one of the betas in his army. That’s why I know the less pleasant details.” Begay smiles, but it’s an ugly smile. Full of resentment. “He used me like a puppet. Controlled my mind so he could use my body. That was one of his powers.”

“He was truly very powerful,” Therak murmurs thoughtfully.

“Yes, and that’s the only reason Orion was able to bring Dalton back. Morana wouldn’t have accepted the soul exchange if it weren’t for a strong alpha.”

“Something about this story bothers you.” It’s Una who speaks, frowning as she picks up on what neither Therak nor I can.

“Everything bothers me, beautiful. I was the reason Orion couldn’t resurrect his daughter, Rosa.”

“You weren’t the reason, Begay. We’ve already talked about this,” I remind him, even if it doesn’t help. Begay is drowning in self-blame.

“If I had fought against Bethal’s control and thrown the blood on the ground—which was one of the main ingredients of the potion…”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything.” The Alpha cuts him off gently. Therak hands Una to me so he can pull Begay into his lap. The red lynx tries to resist, but he can’t compete with the strength of a two-meter-tall man who radiates pure power. In the end, he gives in, allowing himself to be comforted like a plush toy.

“If you had thrown the blood away, he would’ve gotten more. Nothing you did to stop him would have actually stopped him,” Therak says softly, holding the redhead’s chin so he won’t look away. “Men like Bethal always have a plan B to keep doing their evil. And when plan B fails, they have C. Then D, and so on. They don’t think like us. Their humanity has faded. It was consumed by their cruel actions.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Una wipes away the tears that trail down our companion’s cheek.

“I know, but I still feel guilty. Orion, Dalton, and Felícia did so much for me.” He sniffles, placing a small kiss on the worried omega’s hand. “It’s horrible to know that, whether I meant to or not, I got in their way. I stopped them from achieving something they wanted so badly.”

“Orion made his choice. He could have resurrected his daughter, but he chose to bring Dalton back. That decision was his alone. You had nothing to do with it.” Therak’s words are a perfect blend of firmness and care, and I realize he’s using his powers to push the message into Begay’s mind.

Unfortunately, it’s necessary. I know very well how hard it is to let go of guilt, how it eats you alive from the inside.

I fight my own as well, even though Begay and Therak always make it clear that everything I did and said in the past has been forgiven.