Chapter 47

We stood there for a minute before I pulled myself from him and put some distance between us.

“I thought you were dead.” I stepped back and looked at him and to be honest he looked like shit. But it didn’t seem like he missed an ounce of sleep.

“I’m here in the flesh. Alive.” I answered. He sniffed the air and had a distasteful look on his face.

“You’ve been with someone haven’t you?” And here is when things turned sour.

“I was granted a second mate. I am with him and have been for the last 3 years or so,” I said. The hurt that displayed on his face made things awkward.

“Then where is he?” I was afraid that he would lash out and cause a bigger fight, but I also didn’t know him well enough to know exactly what he would do.

“I told him to stay away but he is stubborn and is lurking from the stairwell.”

I looked back and smiled as he was creeping from the side. He noticed and made himself noticed. He came by and stood by me.

“Alpha Anthony.” He put his hand out towards Jax and he was reluctant, but he lifted his hand and shook it. But the tension in the air could be cut with a knife.

“Royal Beta Jax,” he responded.

“You didn’t take the throne,” I asked and caught his attention.

“I did, and they gave it back to Alizac. I am not Alpha material and I never wanted it. Being Beta is all I wanted. You were right.”

But why did I feel wrong? It always felt like every time I made a choice, they looked down on me and saw a kid trying to decide between chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

“Well, I am glad it worked out for you. But you didn’t need to come up here, I am fine. Everything is fine.”

A hint of annoyance started to come out.

“You left with not so much of a word. You had us thinking that you were dead, and it turns out you started an entire life just making sure you got everything you want. I meant what I said about you being selfish. Like mother, like daughter.”

There was the first foot.

“You’re kidding me, right? You basically told me you didn’t want to be with me for thinking of you. I left to make things easier. Not to mention held captive willingly so they wouldn’t harm anyone. You didn’t find me and that’s okay. He found me. He treated me like an equal and not just some young wolf. So don’t insult me. I grew up. I moved on and maybe you should.”

I felt Anthony’s hand over mine not realizing my claws were extended and blood was pouring from my hand.

“You’re my mate!” He screamed.

“I didn’t get a choice to want you! You didn’t give me a chance to breathe before you decided to force your teeth on my neck. That was the issue with you both is you never let me decide. You’re so stuck up your sexiest ways it was never about what I wanted. But hey as long as you had everything you wanted, who cares as long as you tied me down huh?”

my breathing suddenly hitched in anger.

“Okay, maybe we should take a breather.”

Anthony stood in front of me with his hands on my shoulders. And just like that, I calmed down. But that bothered Jax just by his growl.

“I am fine, I just need a second.”

I cut past Anthony and stood in front of Jax.

“You told me you didn’t want me. I understood that even though you were giving me no choice. I am not the person you knew before. Here I am not second-guessing everything. Shrinking myself so small to fit into your world. I am not going to apologize for doing what was best for me. You can feel any way you want because that is your right. But I am happy, and I am in love with this man because he has never once pushed me further than what I was comfortable with. I never have to get angry and yell out my opinions because Anthony is always asking for mine like it matters. Even if it didn’t. He doesn’t take advantage of the mate bond to the point where I have no choice but to agree.”

I took a deep breath not realizing I was crying.

“He saved me from myself and showed me it was possible to be loved without ultimatums and taking part of myself away to be with him. It’s not always easy but it’s perfect. Like he could read my mind. Because I know when the time is right, he’s going to ask me to marry him and I am going to say yes. All I wanted was for you both to take your time and not rush things. But it wasn’t enough. I am finally put together because someone wanted to fight with me and not against me. So yeah, I am selfish but it’s because I am not a basic person.”

Minutes had passed and I felt my hand being grabbed.

“You’ve really changed. Because the Ryleigh I know liked a fight,” he said.

“That’s the Ryleigh you wanted. Not what I wanted. Now you can leave.”

I turned to Anthony who was smiling at me after hearing my little speech. I am a person full of love and I still have so much to give. But when you have the perfect person, it makes it all worth it. I don’t like fighting because quite frankly I had to do that most of my life, but I saw my future in Anthony’s eyes. I think that’s exactly what he needed to hear me say because the light in his just brightened up like a deer in the headlights. Yet something so perfect could be a beautiful disaster.