Chapter 148 UNSPOKEN CHALLENGES
Edeline
To him, it must have seemed as though the two people closest to him had betrayed him. His own son, who was supposed to be a source of pride and continuity, was not even his biological child. Adding to that was the crushing realization that his partner had been with his closest friend. The weight of that betrayal was heavy, and I felt it deeply.
I swallowed hard, trying to control the lump forming in my throat. I wanted to reach out to him, to talk things through. I knew he felt responsible for how he had treated Mom, but that didn’t excuse the pain he had caused. It was clear he felt let down by the wolves he had once held so dear.
I understood Mom’s perspective and William’s too. But Annabel, in her arrogance, seemed to think she knew everything. She had no idea what was truly going on. Neither did Dad. They needed to listen, to understand. Percival, my brother, had always seen Dad as a father figure. The betrayal felt even more intense for him.
Dad’s wolf quietly slipped away into the forest, almost unnoticed by the others. I saw him go and decided I would catch up with him later. Right now, he seemed too overwhelmed by his human emotions to deal with anything. His wolf felt a bit embarrassed, having submitted to the Alpha.
“Annabel!” William's voice cut through the tense air. “Why did you go after Dahlia without a proper challenge?” He walked quickly toward us, his expression one of frustration. Annabel looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain.
Percival's anger was palpable as he glared at his father. He felt deeply hurt, believing that Dad had betrayed him by giving what should have been his to his brother.
Dahlia spoke up, her voice trembling. “I was pretty ticked off. You and Dahlia don’t see me as the Luna. I would never try to replace Nyra. I realized that I was never meant to be Luna.” Her gaze fell to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.
William turned to Dahlia with concern. “Hey, are you okay, Dahlia?”
She looked up at him, confusion written across her face, and shook her head.
William then turned back to Annabel, his frustration evident. “You really shouldn’t have done that, even when you’re angry. And I can’t believe you kept this secret from me! You already knew. Remember when I mentioned the other woman? I never expected it to be her. But you didn’t ask me either. I take some responsibility for how close we got, but let’s be honest, Penny, we never had that kind of love for each other. I’m sorry, Penny, but you know the rules. You attacked a pack member without giving any indication of a challenge. Next time, communicate your challenge properly instead of reacting in anger. For now, you have kitchen duty for the week. And that’s being lenient.”
Annabel's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed up at William. “Hey, given the situation, can you please reconsider?”
William's expression hardened. He knew he had to take decisive action; otherwise, he risked appearing weak in front of the pack. Even those in power had to enforce the rules without exception. With younger members of the pack voicing their anger over Annabel not being William's rightful mate, he needed to address their concerns swiftly and firmly.
William snapped at Annabel. “You know I can’t do that, and you’re fully aware of it. Alright, Penny, you’re free to go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
As Annabel walked past him, tears streamed down her face. Her steps were heavy as she made her way back to their house, her mind clouded with worry about her sons' future. The fear of William's anger over her keeping the truth about my mother a secret had weighed on her for years. She had carried the burden, thinking it was more significant than it truly was.
Percival's voice cut through the tension, his frustration clear. “Are you seriously going to start favoring Dahlia and Nixx over us now?” He stood tall, his gaze locked on William, ensuring the whole pack could hear.
William turned to face Percival, his tone measured but firm. “Your mom is my mate. You’re my kid. I’ve just found out I have another son. I won’t play favorites. I have a pack to lead, and I can’t prioritize one of you over the others. Dahlia isn’t my partner—your mom is. She broke the rules, and I have to discipline anyone who does.”
William's eyes locked with Percival's, a silent plea for understanding. He made it clear that he would not choose between his sons.
“So, Nixx is now the future Alpha?” Percival's eyes narrowed, his fur bristling at the thought of losing what he believed should have been his inheritance.
William shrugged, his demeanor nonchalant. “If he wants it, it’s his. He’s the oldest now. If you want to challenge him for it, go ahead. If he’s not interested, well, you know the rules. You’re familiar with them.”
It was true. In their world, if an Alpha had more than one son, the oldest son would inherit the title. If another son wished to claim it, he had to challenge the eldest. The one who forced the other to submit would become the rightful Alpha. The firstborn was usually the strongest, the biggest, and the most powerful of the Alpha bloodline.
“This is ridiculous!” Percival spat angrily before storming away. The pack watched in stunned silence as he left, their murmurs filling the air.
“Did you cheat on your partner, Alpha?” a voice from the crowd called out.
William’s eyes flared with anger. “Shut up!” he roared, his voice echoing with authority. He flexed his muscles, making sure everyone saw his dominance. “This is a personal issue. It’s a story that happened before my friend was sent to me. I’ll explain everything at tonight’s pack meeting. Make sure you come if you want to hear the details. We won’t address any challenges until after the meeting. So, once everyone’s heard the story, feel free to challenge me if you want. But for now, head back to your homes!”