Violet’s POV
I couldn’t breathe.
My heart was racing as I stood there in front of her–Charlotte.
The female Alpha I had met at Asher’s challenge with the
former King.
So she was my mother.
The one I had only ever heard about in stories.
The one who had been keeping secrets from me all along.
The one who had abandoned us.
The one who made me believe that I didn’t matter and not
loved.
I had been looking forward to meeting her, picturing her face in
my dream. But when this moment finally come, all I felt was
anger.
She tricked me! She had known exactly who I was when we
met but hadn’t said a damn word!
How could she stand here now and claim that she never
abandoned me? HOW DARE SHE?!
“You-”
I stopped myself, taking a deep breath, trying to hold back the
tears. I didn’t want to break down in front of her.
“… You knew. From the moment we met, you knew who I was,
and you didn’t say anything. What kind of mother does that?!”
Pain flickered across her face, “I…I didn’t know what to say. I
know you are angry at me right now, but I only did what I had
to do.”
“What you had to? Oh do you mean your power?!” I snapped,
“You chose power over us. You chose your people over your
children! And you think you can just—just show up now and
tell me that you didn’t do anything wrong? No, you don’t get to
call me your daughter. I’m done with you. I’ll never give you
another chance to be anywhere near me. EVER!”
My three brothers all looked as shocked and angry as I was.
Michael was the calm one among us, surprisingly. Maybe
father’s last word had really changed him–he was now trying
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to control his temper.
“What about our father? You say you didn’t abandon us. But
why did father have to marry another woman? Why have we
never met you before? What you said makes no fucking sense!”
Philip snapped.
“We deserve to know what happened in the past!” Jayden
agreed.
“Your father was a good man, but I couldn’t be with him…He
wasn’t strong enough to lead my people.” She said, looking
heavy–hearted.
“Bullshit! Father is a strong warrior! A capable Beta! That’s just
another lame excuse of yours-”
“What I meant was that your father wasn’t an Alpha. He was
just a Beta. He didn’t carry any royal blook in him.”
I laughed bitterly, “So what? Just because he wasn’t an Àlpha,
he wasn’t worthy of you? Is that it? And we weren’t even
worth sticking around for? He fell for you crazily and you had
3 children together! What more do you want from him!”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, and she said it as if it was the most
obvious thing in the world, “I want a qualified mate by my side!
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If my mate isn’t strong enough, the entire pack is at risk. I
couldn’t let my pack fall apart just because I had children with a
man who couldn’t hold the position. I can’t sacrifice thousands
of people’s lives for the lives of 4 people. I had to think of the
bigger picture.”
4 people.
That hit me hard.
So that’s what we were in her heart–4 PEOPLE. 4 goddamn
strangers. We were no more special than other members in her
pack.
I swayed on my feet, and Asher quickly held my shoulder. He
didn’t say anything, but I could feel his presence beside me,
steady and protective. And that gave me some strength.
“So…that’s it?”
I asked. My voice wavered, but I didn’t care.
“We’re just collateral damage in your grand plan to lead? Your
own blood, your own children. And we didn’t matter. Father
married the wrong woman, but at least he fought for our
happiness once. You didn’t do shit. So don’t stand here and
make it sound like he didn’t deserve you. You can’t! You’re just
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a selfish coward.”
“Tradition can’t be overturned!” she snapped. “My pack, the
Nightshade Pack, raised a long line of seers. And magic exists in
our land. Your father is fundamentally an outsider. Even if I
had fought for him, it wouldn’t have worked. He wouldn’t fit
- in. And the Royal Council wouldn’t have approved either. They
made it clear to me: if I didn’t make a choice, my people would
suffer. The seer also said that if I didn’t let go of the past, the
future of the pack would be in jeopardy.”
I stared at her, trying to wrap my head around what she was
saying.
Magic? Seriously?
I was reluctant to believe in it. But I had seen what a witch and
a seer could do.
“I don’t buy it.” Jayden said grimly, “The reality is you left us,
leaving father to struggle with the life of raising 3 children
alone while you were out there being that mighty Alpha. It
sounded to me that you picked the easy way.”
“Yeah, and don’t pretend that you were forced by the seer and
the council. You knew we are your children, but you couldn’t
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even be bothered to send a birthday card to us. You are just
cold. And power–hungry. You can’t justify that,” said Philip,
crossing his arms with a sneer.
“You are a Queen now, Violet.” Charlotte said quietly, her eyes
locking with mine. “Surely you can understand the pressure
and responsibility on my shoulder?”
I stared at her. Now she looked more like a stranger than the
woman I had once admired.
“No. I will never understand you.” I shook my head, my voice
quiet but firm. “Screw the responsibility. I’m willing to do
anything for my Mia. Kill or get killed for her. And she’s not
even my own blood. So don’t try to get me on the same team
with you. It won’t work.”
C
