94

94
Vanessa’s POV

Alfie's stare bore into me, a mix of disbelief and fury swirling in his eyes. He couldn't fathom the words I had just spoken, couldn't believe I would dare to challenge him so directly.

But I didn't waver. I held his gaze with steely resolve, refusing to let him intimidate me. Evie was ready to attack whenever I wanted her to. She might be hurting, but she wouldn't mind hurting him more. I was so ready for that.

I could sense the anger radiating off him, a palpable heat that seemed to envelop us both. It was the kind of rage that threatened to consume him, to drive him to rash actions he might later regret. And yet, despite the storm brewing within him, I remained rooted in place, unyielding in my stance.

I knew Alfie well enough to anticipate his next move. He would retreat, seeking solace in solitude as he grappled with the tumultuous emotions raging within him. But even as I prepared for his inevitable departure, I vowed to stand my ground. In all rightful senses, I was his father's mate and had a rank higher than his whether he liked it or not. I was the Luna of Blood Moon Pack.

"I'm not saying that with pride, just stating facts," I thought. "If Alfie thinks he can drag me down by being the Alpha's son, then I'll show him just how the game is played. He doesn't know this Vanessa nor the hidden side of his father. But he will."

"You are a liar, Vanessa. I never expected you to stoop so low," Alfie sneered, his hands clenched into fists. "You want something better, so you went after my father? Two decades older than you, and you're lying that he’s your mate? Aren't you ashamed, whoring yourself like that?"

His accusatory words pierced the air, and I felt a surge of indignation rising within me. Evie growled in my head, trying to release the shield she had kept firm between us. I felt a sudden onslaught of hurt in my chest before she put it back in place.

"What the hell was that, Evie?" I wondered.

How dare he question the validity of my bond with his father, dismissing it as nothing more than a desperate ploy for status within the pack? But before I could respond, his gaze shifted to my tattoos, his expression contorting with disgust.

"Liar?" I echoed, my voice laced with barely contained fury. "You think I would stoop so low as to fabricate something as sacred as a mating bond? You may reject me, Alfie, but you cannot deny the truth of our connection. Your father can't either."

I held his gaze unwaveringly, refusing to let his judgmental scrutiny intimidate me. My tattoos, each one a testament to my journey and resilience, seemed to gleam defiantly under his disapproving stare. They were a part of who I was, a reflection of the trials I had endured and overcome.

Another reason why I believe Alfie and I were never meant to be. A blush crept behind my ear, remembering how Alpha Alexander—or should I just call him Alexander in my head?—kissed every single one of them. Even traced them in fascination.

"I think I'm gone," I mused.

"You may not understand it, Alfie," I continued, my tone cold and resolute, "but the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways. She saw fit to grant me a second chance at love, even if it wasn't in the form I wanted or desired. And I will not apologize for embracing that bond, no matter how much it may offend your delicate sensibilities."

I wasn’t truly embracing the bond, but he didn't need to know that. I wanted him to think that his father and I were a thing, even if we weren’t. I wanted to hurt him as much as he had hurt me.

With each word, my anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment. But I held it in check, channeling it into a steely resolve to defend myself against Alfie's baseless accusations. I refused to let him diminish the significance of my relationship with his father, to reduce it to nothing more than a scandalous affair in the eyes of the pack.

Even though we had no deeper connection than the mating bond.

Alfie bristled with determination, his eyes ablaze with righteous anger. "I will get to the bottom of this, Vanessa, and I will expose your slutty soul!"

With a sardonic twist to my lips, I countered his fervent proclamation. "Oh, by all means, Alfie," I retorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you're so eager to air our supposed 'secret' to the entire pack, be my guest. That is your father's reputation, not mine."

I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, the gnawing doubt that lingered just beneath the surface of his bravado. He knew, as well as I did, that his father and I had no intention of publicizing our bond until we had found a way to navigate the tumultuous waters of our relationship. If we ever would.

But his pride, wounded by the revelation of my connection to his father, drove him to seek retribution, to assert his dominance and authority within the pack. He wouldn’t tell anyone.

I watched as Alfie hesitated, his resolve faltering in the face of my defiance. There was a motive driving him, of that I was certain, but it was not one born out of contrition or remorse for his past actions. No, Alfie's motives were rooted in pride and insecurity, a desperate attempt to salvage his wounded ego in the wake of my revelation.

But as he turned to leave, his footsteps heavy with the weight of unresolved tension, I knew that this confrontation was far from over. Alfie may have retreated for now, but the simmering animosity between us remained, a volatile undercurrent threatening to erupt at any moment. Until the truth was laid bare for all to see, our tumultuous relationship would continue to hang precariously in the balance.