Chapter 171 Truth Hurts
Calhoun's POV
"Is there such a thing like one person having two mates?" I don't take my seat when I join the elders at the council hall. I just stand beside the power seat.
"I'm not so sure of that, Alpha Calhoun," Elder Adolphus is the first to speak up as usual.
"It was written in this damned book two centuries ago," Snatching the book from my beta, I throw it at the table with a thud.
And for a moment, they exchanged puzzled glances at each other before returning their attention to me.
"Where did you get it from?" Elder Adolphus does the talking once more.
"Does it matter?" My voice isn't raised but I'm sure the look on my face renders them perplexed.
"Answer me!" There, I just lost my
temper which wasn't completely in
check before. Because their few
seconds of silence is worsening my mood.
"You should know he's on the edge tonight," Bruce explains for my sake, with an awkward smile. When he
doesn't even need to
Elder Festus draws the book to his side of the table and skims through it.
When I steal a glance at Aiden, I can see him stretching his lips into a sad pout.
Sighing, I stroke his back through the baby carrier.
Since his mother was taken away by her alleged second mate and I survived the near-death experience I had, I stopped the maids from attending to him. I do everything myself because he's my son. Including feeding and bathing him, changing his diapers, and rocking him back and forth so he'll be at ease.
I must say it's hard, mostly when he yearns for his mother's attention. But because he's my son, I have no choice but to sacrifice my time for his sake.
Sometimes he looks so much like Kristen that it hurts to stare at him.
I'm not okay yet, I don't think I'll ever be until I see Kristen again, and get the truth of it all. Although I'm aware of the lies and deceits.
Lord knows what she's going through at this point.
The sound of Aiden's cries stops the elders from going through the book.
"Do you want me to take him away?" Bruce says from my side like a devoted nanny.
"No, he's going to stay here with his father. He needs me now more than ever," I say.
Taking the hint, Bruce gives me a curt nod before staying silent.
While the council of elders is staring at me like I'm half sane.
An Alpha who called for an evening meeting and stormed in with his son in wails.
As I attempt to stop Aiden from crying, I don't even care about the looks they're sending my way or even what they think.
"You're taking more than enough time
to go through that. Just go ahead and tell me some delusional person wrote this piece," Aiden's cries are so loud that I have to shout so they can hear
me.
"It's true," Elder Adolphus announces.
"You mean Bruce has been right this whole time?" I heard clearly, but I just want them to tell me nothing of such exists.
"A person can have two mates but it happens on rare occasions," the second head elder informs
I grind my teeth until my jaw begins to
hurt.
This just confirms that Theodore is truly Kristen's second chance mate and I am no good for her anymore.
The hurt slamming through my chest triggers me to make a decision.
The decision of not going after Kristen
this time.
I married her, and we had a son
together, yet she was still given a
second mate. This just implies that everything Bruce told me two weeks ago is true, and I brushed it off
thinking he was just bluffing with the stupid book.
"You see, Alpha Calhoun. It's no one's fault when this happens. You can't question the moon goddess either for giving a person two mates. He or she is
left to choose between the two." Elder Adolphus says.
Why the fuck is he reciting the exact
thing Bruce told me two weeks ago? I know it all and I don't need to be reminded.
"Enough," I would have hit my fist on
the table if I wasn't carrying a fussy infant.
"My apologies if it upsets you," Elder Adolphus clears his throat.
Aiden's cries just add fuel to my sour
mood. I've never been with him for this long. He weeps all the time because he's been without his mother
for a full day.
Why in god's name is this happening to me?
It feels like I am a single parent.
And if truly Kristen chose Theodore over me, she's happy with him. What if the whole pack run thing was a
plot made by the two of them, so they could get to be together? Would Kristen ever conspire against
me?
The negative thoughts are detrimental
to my state of well-being. I haven't even slept a wink. The pain and the
fear of losing my mate are enough to keep me awake.
To think I ruined my marriage with
Natalie just so I could be with Kristen. And now, I end up losing Kristen to someone else at last.
I don't want to believe that the sacrifices and everything I have done for her, are all in vain.
A tiny part of me is still holding onto
the last bit of hope that I have left.
But do I even have the right to go after her?
Does she even want me to?
She was sick when she threatened the
doctor, took his clothes, and sneaked out to the dungeon to meet with Theodore.
It just hurts so much the more I think
about it.
The strong urge to smash things up is overpowering, that I don't mind tumbling the whole council hall upside down, after losing my infamous
temper.
Except Aiden is staring at me with huge baby blues, looking so innocent and clueless about what's cutting his father deeply.