Chapter 75: Rejected by My Best Friend & Alpha

KILLIAN'S POV

"He's back."

"Who's back?" I asked Marcus.

Marcus looked around, making sure no one heard him as he leaned in and whispered, "Caleb."

I set down my fork. "Let's go. You didn't bring him inside, did you?"

"Of course not. He's outside the walls with my men."

"Good."

Standing, I let him lead me, not paying attention to those we passed. Caleb had a lot of nerve showing up here. Vivian had told me about what had happened with Caleb after they'd left, and I had assumed he had either died or maybe run off with his tail between his legs. But he was showing up here for some reason. To beg for mercy? To try some underhand scheme again?

Arriving at the gate, we nodded to the guards as they opened up. Marcus led me to the side, where a group of men was waiting. Right in the center, they held Caleb down on his knees. He looked like he hadn't eaten in a while, and he was filthy. He probably smelled as bad as he looked. He wasn't the pretty boy he was when I first saw him.

Walking straight up to him, I punched him in the chest, causing him to fall over, landing on his side. The two on his side pulled him back up. He looked at me, grinning. "I deserved that."

"You deserve worse than that."

"Take it all out on me. I came back to beg Vivian for forgiveness, not yours."

I scoffed. "You think I'd let you anywhere near her?"

"She'd be upset, not at least to hear me out."

"Doubt it after she kicked your ass in the woods and left you for dead."

He narrowed his eyes. "She was upset."

"You're not going near her, Caleb. And that's final. You'll leave her and never return, or you can be put in the ground. Your choice."

He squared his shoulders as much as he could while being held by two of my men. "I won't stop."

"You'll never leave her alone, will you?"

"She was always meant to be mine."

I looked over at Marcus, whose eyebrows were raised. "Caleb, I don't know if you realize this, but Vivian doesn't want you."

"She'll come around."

I shook my head. "I guess I need to take matters into my own hands."

"What does..."

I walked up to him, placing my hands on his jaw. I looked at him, shaking my head. Then, he snapped his neck, twisting his head entirely around, feeling the bone disconnect from his spine. The life instantly left his eyes.

I looked up at Marcus. "Get rid of his body. And speak of this to no one."

Marcus nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

Vivian already thought Caleb was dead. Now, I just made it true.

*****

VIVIAN'S POV

"Mom!"

My mom embraced me, leaning into my hug as I lay in bed, and my dad was behind her, waiting for his turn. When we'd all finished greeting each other, they found a spot on the bed and looked at me with tears. I grabbed my mom's hand, so grateful to see her.

"I'm so glad you're okay, sweetie," she started.

It'd been so long since we'd all been together, but I'd been so wrapped up in everything that I couldn't focus on anything else. "How have you been, Mom? Dad?"

My mom shot a glance at my dad. "We've been okay. I've been better."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing."

I squeezed her hand. "No, tell me."

"I didn't want to start with my sad news, but...I lost my wolf."

"What?" I stuttered.

"The banishment. I was being on this land. I lost my wolf. I knew being back here would cause me to lose my wolf. It's how Blackmoon handles those they banish. I knew it was a risk and took it anyway to be with you."

I threw my arms around my mom. "Mom, you should have said something. We could have done something to reverse it."

She patted my back. "No, honey. It couldn't be undone. And you were so occupied. There were bigger things that needed to be focused on. But it's okay."

"What are you going to do?"

She looked over at my dad. "Well, we're going wherever you are. If you choose to stay here, we're staying here. If you go back to Greywood, we're going there. We're a family."

I grinned. "I'm so happy to hear that. But is there any way we can get your wolf back?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not. I already spoke with their Elder, and it's no use."

I sighed. "I'm so sorry, Mom. I wish there were something I could do."

"I'd do it again. I just wanted to be near you. I'd follow you again if it meant I'd be with my daughter."

"Why now?"

She stared at me. "What do you mean?"

"For many years, I thought you and Dad didn't care about me. But now, you both actually...care. I don't get it."

She looked down, tears in her eyes. "It's not that we didn't care. It's that...I was ashamed of my past. And your father..."

My dad cleared his throat. "I was an asshole. She doesn't want to say it, but I was. I loved you like a daughter, but I always held some part of you away from me as if you weren't my own. But when the risk of losing you came, I realized how important you were to me."

I nodded. "I just wish we had all been closer."

"We can work on that now. It's not too late," my mom said.

"I'd like that," I whispered.

"We'll make time for each other, and we'll be the family we were always supposed to be," she said, grinning.

I threw my arms around her again, my dad looping his arms around us, joining in the hug. Finally, the loving family I had always wished I had. And they'd follow me regardless of the decision I'd make.

*****

ZEKE'S POV

Overhearing Vivian's parents say they'd follow her to pack or put a damper on things. I needed them to encourage her to come back to Greywood. But apparently, the Lockes weren't as committed to Greywood as I thought. Traitors. Since when did I have such disloyal pack members?

I turned away from the door, not bothering to knock to join their little family get together. Having seen them going into Vivian's room, I had thought to join them, thinking I could butter up to her parents, and we could all have a family reunion, and she could remember how well we all go along and how good life could be again. Instead, I decided to listen through the door.

V was my mate, and she needed to make better decisions. And the Blood Moon was tomorrow. It had come so quickly—drastic measures must be taken before she made a mistake.