Chapter 424 No One Ever Chose Her

Chapter 424 No One Ever Chose Her
Hope Elara's POV

My heart pounded the moment they arrived at the packhouse.

The omegas rushed over, and so did Rin. Relief filled their faces as they wrapped Hope in warm hugs.

The moment she was close enough, Ophelia, the elder omega who looked after the house, gently placed a hand on Hope's belly.

A bright smile spread across the older woman's face.

Seeing that relief made Hope's chest feel lighter.

"Are you all right, Sweetness?" Ophelia asked in one breath. "Where are the twins? They didn't get hurt, did they?"

"We're okay," Hope reassured her with a small smile. "They're with their grandma."

"I'm so sorry," Rin said quietly.

"Was anyone else hurt?" Hope asked.

Rin shook her head.

"No. You were their only target. They knew it was their only chance." She smiled faintly and glanced at Perry. "Your sister is a really good snoop."

Perry nodded.

"I need some privacy with my mate," Valduz said.

Before anyone could respond, he took Hope's hand and led her toward the stairs.

Perry snorted behind them.

Hope's stomach twisted.

She was in deep trouble.

Even Midnight had completely retreated.

Hope could feel how nervous her wolf was.

This had been Midnight's idea.

Hope had been ready for Ansley's rejection. She had planned to accept it and take things slowly afterward.

Instead...

The moment Ansley said it was over, they both panicked.

Apparently...

Hope still didn't handle rejection very well.

"That's betrayal, Midnight," she muttered inwardly. "You got me into this."

You started it, Midnight shot back.

Then she disappeared again, leaving Hope to face this alone.

The bedroom door closed behind them.

Hope took a deep breath and tried to steady herself.

When she turned to face Valduz...

She froze.

He wasn't angry.

There was no familiar wrinkle in his nose.

No glowing red eyes.

No shouting.

He was simply looking at her.

"I'm sorry," Hope blurted out.

"I wasn't thinking. I thought she was going to reject us. We started talking, and then things got out of hand when she grabbed me. Midnight saw an opening and bit her."

She stopped and sighed.

"That's not completely true."

"I wanted to bite her too."

"She was being mean to me, and I—"

Before she could finish, Valduz cupped her face with both hands and kissed her.

Hope blinked in surprise.

Then she kissed him back.

His hands slipped beneath her hoodie as he helped pull off the heavy protective vest.

Her sweater came off next.

The vest landed on the floor with a loud thud.

Only then did Hope realize how heavy it had been.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Valduz said softly.

He lifted her into his lap before sitting down.

She settled across him as he wrapped his arms around her.

"This is how things were always supposed to be."

He smiled to himself.

"She's just incredibly stubborn sometimes."

His expression softened.

"I was afraid she was going to hurt you."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Hope asked.

"You should've told me sometime during the past year."

Valduz gently shook his head.

"It wasn't my place."

"I've already hurt her enough."

"It had to be her choice."

"I hoped you'd figure it out eventually."

"I knew she would never say anything."

He looked into her eyes.

"Thank you."

Hope frowned.

"Thank you? For what?"

"No one ever chooses her."

His voice was quiet.

"That's what I've been trying to prevent with Zoey."

"That's why I wanted her to have this."

"Zenep will always come first."

"People will always choose her."

"She'll always take the lead."

"It's simply in our nature."

Hope puffed out a breath.

"She was really mean to me."

Valduz laughed.

"She really is."

His hand slowly rubbed her back beneath her shirt.

"But things are going to change."

"Right..."

Hope wasn't completely convinced.

"I mean for all of us," he said.

"Once she marks you, we'll all be connected."

"That connection will include the twins too."

"She'll love them the same way we do."

Hope stared at him.

"Like... a third parent?"

Was this really happening?

Was he truly okay with it?

"Yeah."

Valduz smirked.

"Ans can't have children of her own."

"You don't exactly have the equipment for that."

Hope stared at him.

"I thought you were going to be upset."

He had seriously just made a joke like that.

What an idiot.

"Not about this."

He smiled.

"Your relationship with her is your own."

"All I can do is wish you luck."

His grin widened.

"If you think I'm difficult..."

"You have no idea what you're getting into."

"Shut up."

Hope poked his side.

"That's my mate you're talking about."

Valduz let out a playful growl and pulled her even closer.

Hope rested her head against his shoulder.

She could feel how genuinely happy he was.

It slowly eased some of her fear.

Still...

She couldn't understand it.

"Why are you so excited about this?"

Valduz held her a little tighter.

"If anyone can teach our son to become the Alpha he's meant to be, it's her."

His voice was calm.

"With Ansley on our side, nothing will ever hurt them again."

He rested his chin lightly against her head.

"This is how things were always meant to be."

He let out a quiet breath.

"A part of me wanted to keep you all to myself."

"The part that wanted to stay above her."

"But the more I watched you struggle..."

"The smaller that feeling became."

He looked into her eyes.

"Everything you've been missing..."

"She can give that to you."

His smile was faint.

"I always knew I was never going to be enough."

"Valduz..."

Hope sat up and looked at him.

He wasn't joking.

"You're more than enough."

"You gave me everything."

"Without you..."

"I still wouldn't know who I am."

"Or where I came from."

"That's not what I mean," he said gently, cupping her face.

"I mean as a person."

"I'm not available to you the way she can be."

"All I can do is listen."

"I don't understand many of the things you go through."

A guilty smile crossed his face.

"I'm reckless."

"I love both of my jobs enough to forget that you need me."

"I'm a tyrant."

"That's why I'm King."

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"Ansley is going to drive you crazy."

"She's an even bigger control freak than you are."

"If you think I go out of my way for you..."

"You're wrong."

"She'll do even more."

"And she's a hopeless romantic."

"I'm pretty sure she's going to love having girls' nights with you."

Hope smiled before gently lifting his chin.

"Do you miss her too?"

He met her eyes.

"Vy always talks about how much she missed Vince."

"How hard it was after they lost their connection."

"Was it like that for you too?"

Valduz nodded.

"Yeah."

"She was the one who severed our connection when I ran away with Mom."

"We never talked about it."

"She never once asked to reconnect."

"She wanted to prove she didn't need me."

"And she did."

A quiet sadness settled over his face.

"Ansley proved she was the stronger one."

"It wasn't even close."

"She would've made it without me."

A soft knock interrupted them.

Both of them looked toward the door.

Ansley stood there with her arms folded across her chest.

She didn't say a word.

She simply motioned for them to follow.

Hope already knew.

Ansley had heard everything.

She had felt her coming up the stairs the moment she asked the question.

Hope leaned forward and kissed Valduz's forehead.

"I think she missed you too."

She smiled softly.

"We can finish this conversation later."

"I'm sure she's dying to rub it in your face."

Valduz laughed.

"You might be right, Angel."

He stood, lifting Hope easily before setting her gently on her feet.

"Let's not keep her waiting."

His grin returned.

"Alpha Valduz is very strict when it comes to pack laws."