Chapter 47 CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS
Edeline
I heard a soft sniffling across the room and saw Tatiana crying quietly to herself. Percival’s words had clearly cut her deeply. She was beginning to understand that he wasn’t interested in her.
“Hey, calm down!” Alpha William’s voice was a mix of anger and desperation. His teeth were bared, and he trembled with intensity. Luna Annabel rushed to pull Percival away from his father, but her efforts were in vain.
“Percival,” Alpha William said through clenched teeth, his voice controlled but stern. “I understand you’re upset, but this is necessary. It’s not that I don’t want a war; that’s not the problem. The problem is that you made a mistake, and now it’s your responsibility to fix it. You can’t have it both ways; it’s just not possible. If that baby is born, you have a responsibility. That’s the bottom line.” He leveled a stern glare at Percival, making it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any challenge to his authority.
Percival managed to rein in his anger, though his eyes shot a fierce look toward Tatiana. “I’ll take care of her once the pup is born if anyone dares to push her on me. You can trust me on that.” His words were filled with a grim determination. Tatiana sat in her chair, quietly sobbing, while Nixx let out a low growl as a warning. It caught everyone off guard. He shot Percival an angry glare, but the tension in the room remained palpable and unspoken.
Nixx would never let any harm come to her, no matter what.
“Hey, William... Percival is right. You’re really stirring up trouble within our pack,” my dad finally spoke, his voice sharp and to the point, breaking his silence on the matter.
My family was visibly uneasy. My mom shot Alpha William dirty looks every chance she got, and I could feel the tension in my dad. He was on the brink of losing it. Darius let out an exasperated sigh. “Dad, honestly, this isn’t the smartest move. And bringing Tatiana’s healer here? Is that really a good idea?”
Tatiana’s eyes widened in fear. She shook her head and whimpered, her gestures pleading with the alpha. It was clear she felt she needed her aunt, the healer.
Alpha William gave us all a quick, uneasy glance. “She’s coming because of Alpha Conors’ demands. I’m not thrilled about her presence, but I have to be accommodating. It’s all part of my strategy. Remember, nothing is ever set in stone!”
“Hey, Dad! That witch is trying to ensure Tatiana doesn’t miscarry, going against the natural order. She’s a witch!” Darius pointed out, his tone casual but firm. “And if she succeeds, it might turn our whole pack against us when it’s your turn to step down. Even though Percival’s wolf is protective right now, he won’t hesitate to harm Tatiana if she’s keeping him from his mate. I’m not thrilled about it, but I really don’t want a conflict within our pack!” He tried to make his point clear.
I felt a wave of nausea hit me. There seemed to be so many negative outcomes, no matter which path we took. I was feeling pretty down.
Alpha William sighed, glancing at us all. “Yeah, I’m aware. Seriously, I know! We’ll discuss this later, just the Alpha and Beta families, one-on-one. But I can’t say much right now because Tatiana is here, and we all know she’ll run straight to her father.” Alpha William shot a fierce look at Tatiana, making her shrink back in her chair, whimpering. She didn’t exude dominance in the slightest.
“Hey, what about me?” Nixx spoke up, silencing the room. Tatiana refused to meet his gaze. “So, what’s the deal with this whole turn-tail thing being my mate? I mean, yeah, I don’t want her anymore because she’s tainted, but shouldn’t I at least have a chance to talk to her about it?” He sounded on the verge of breaking down.
“Hey, Tatiana! Look over here!” Nixx slammed his fists on the table. His eyes blazed a vibrant green with hints of red. Tatiana was startled, tears streaming down her face.
“Why is she even my mate?” Nixx asked, looking up at Alpha William. “I’m definitely not an alpha, and I’m not sure if she is either.”
For the first time, Tatiana looked up at him, her wide, brown eyes filled with confusion. She shook her head, her lips barely moving. “I am,” she whispered, so softly it was almost inaudible.
“She doesn’t really act like an alpha female...” Nixx’s voice trailed off, leaving an uncomfortable silence.
I had to admit, he had a point.
Alpha William sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “I haven’t quite figured that part out yet. Tatiana, have you mentioned this to your father?” His question was directed at her, but she avoided eye contact, shaking her head in refusal.
Percival couldn’t hold back his laughter. “So you go and spill the beans about me and Edeline to your old man but conveniently forget to mention you’re mated to a beta wolf? Oh, how considerate! Allow me to be the first to call him ‘dad,’ pretty please!” His chuckle was laced with frustration.
“Oh, please!” Tatiana’s voice was desperate, her blonde hair falling over her face. Those eyes of hers were the type that could lie even while pleading. It was a trap you could barely escape once you were drawn in.
“Enough!” Alpha William’s voice boomed, cutting through the tension. “Once I’ve thoroughly investigated this matter, he’ll be informed. We don’t have all the details yet, but I agree with Nixx. Tatiana, you’ll talk to Nixx and address his questions. Got it?” His look was firm, clearly stating that this wasn’t up for debate. Tatiana nodded quietly, tears continuing to spill down her cheeks and soaking her shirt.
“Alright, folks. Meeting’s over. Percival and Edeline, I need you both to keep your distance from each other for now. Percival, I don’t want you anywhere near Tatiana either, considering your concerns about your wolf. Let’s hold off on any interactions until we resolve this issue,” Alpha William announced, signaling the end of the meeting. Nixx was next to me, visibly agitated and ready for the conversation with Tatiana. I just wanted to leave as soon as possible. Mom and Dad watched with sadness in their eyes, feeling a deep sense of betrayal as they looked at their two children.