My mate is in prison and I put her there. Normally it would be villains who would do this and the hero saves her but in this story, I was the hero as well as the villain. My wolf certainly agrees with me as it is still cross with me for my lack of cooperation to save my mate.
The bugger is happy now since she is saved thanks to my Secretary who assumed I sent her a random text asking her to save Angela. But she expressed no regret in what she had done because what she felt at the moment resonates with my text so she read it there. According to her, she was innocent. But no one shared her thoughts but she was young 21, she didn't know what had happened before and what prompted my people to withdraw their support for Luna.
I sighed the weight of my action, as well as my Secretary, was weighing me down. She was working hard on my behalf. She was used as a pawn by someone against me. But it was a half-hearted attempt because they had left the entire choice up to her. They didn't force Lana to say those words. It was as if they knew that she would make the right decision or they would have done something extreme to bend her will like a solid threat instead of a harmless suggestion which she may or may not accept.
I was not the one to dwell on my sorrows for too long. You didn't get to be an Alpha for mourning your own mistakes. "I think you should go to the funeral ritual ", reminded my secretary. I nodded my head and went home to get ready. I changed into my traditional robes and headgear and went to the funeral area.
Everyone was gathered there. We were preparing for our wedding day before how things changed. How powerless I felt right now. I couldn't even look at Reed right now he was heartbroken. If only I hadn't brought him here. I could have spared him the sight of his dead mate. I went to him and his eyes were still wet. He wept to see me and I died slowly inside. I want the land to engulf me right now. How shameful it was for me to do the funeral when it was my mate who killed her. Even though she denies it, I knew she was the person to be blamed. It was a shame I once trusted her. Even after her betrayals I still broke my engagement for being with her.
It's because of my people's goodness that saved them from my actions. If I continue to be careless I would be doing atonement for my sins my whole life. It wasn't their fault that my mate Luna, the one person who should protect them, was hell-bent on hurting them. It was damaging to call her my mate or their Luna. She looked very beautiful tonight. She would be happy seeing her mate here and he should be one to send her away. I stepped back and beckoned him to come forth. He came to me with confusion in his eyes.
" I have taken enough from you already and I can't do it anymore. It should be you who has to send her away. It still pains me that I was the reason for her death in some ways. This is my redemption. I hope she forgives me and accepts the ritual", I said. Reed nodded his head and conducted the ritual beautifully. It made me sigh in peace. I have done at least one good thing which I was very proud of.
The funeral was over fast and everyone left to have their food. Only me, Greta and Reed remained. I didn't get any real chance to talk to her. I went to her and she was dabbing her eyes. I hugged her close to me and she cried quietly. "My poor child will be all alone there. She wanted to be Luna and your bride so much. She sacrificed her mate for it", she said.
I consoled her not getting any words to inform her. She was in agony losing the only living relation might have hurt her so much. I had nothing to say to her which defeated her sadness. I only wished to give her some sort of comfort to ease her pain. " I will accept whatever punishment you will give me", I said.
"It's not your fault Alpha, we all know who did it. But she escaped because of her luck which won't be with her for long. " I couldn't punish her because of the witness", I told her. "I'm sorry because of what she had to endure", she said and broke down immediately. I held her tight and called the security to carry her out of there. My conscience wasn't clear then and it isn't now.
I went to see Reed next and he was deep in thought. I gently touched his shoulders to bring him back. " What did you think of doing now"? , I asked him. "I didn't want to be here anymore, I have come for Annabeth only", said him. " You can go back if that's what you want. But I would like to remind you there's no running away from grief ", I said. " I know Alpha. I know", he said.
I saw everyone was having the food her sudden death had robbed everyone of their appetite, words and sometimes smile. I made sure that everyone remembers Annabeth as she was a great woman everyone wished to be their partner. Her smiles and childishness made her unique. She wanted to be with her family but her mate wanted to be away from her. She made a decision not to follow her mate. She was courageous even then. I wanted to know who was behind her death besides my mate. I knew she couldn't pull this off alone. Maybe she had a lover. It won't be the first time it has happened and it won't be the last.
Once it was over I walked back to my office. I was tired of being the one to attend my people's funeral. They would be better off with another Alpha. Anyone better than me. I was powerless to stop what's happening to my tribe. Only if I finish my mate maybe my wolf would go crazy but my tribe would be saved. If I was courageous enough to do what no one had done before. But there are chances of it getting backfired. My wolf would turn against me and kill my entire tribe. My wolf had one loyalty that's to my mate.
When I reached the office I saw a tired Lana. Maybe all the action was taking a toll on her. "You can go if you want. There is little work left which I can do myself", I told her. She was very grateful for my words and nodded her head. She showed me the list of my meetings for tomorrow. " You want a leave"? I asked her. "No, I'll just do the work for tomorrow today if possible,'' she said with a smile. " You must be crazy", I said to her. "Nah just a lesbian who has no life", she murmured. Like any community, queers were not common. Though we have gays, lesbians were even rare to already our mate scarce tribe.
I wished her goodnight and she left immediately with a yawn. I sat before my computer to do my routine check-up but was interrupted by my security. " What's it?'' I asked, annoyed. "It's your mate Alpha", he said. I immediately grew tense. " What has she done now"?, I asked him. "She is refusing to eat. She hadn't eaten anything since morning", he said. I rubbed my head and the headache was waiting to happen. " I will be there soon", I told him.
I closed my laptop, irritated at everyone, especially now, when I was trying to get some work done. I dragged myself from there. I was ready to give her ass-kicking because of what she was doing now. The next time I might as well as put her on suicide watch. This was sick and is getting sicker with every passing second.
I reached her prison. She was in a woman's nearly empty ward except for a few women who might have done some petty crimes. "Why aren't you eating?", I asked her. " Why do you think?", she shot back. I shrugged my shoulders just to enrage her. She shook the bars and said, "Because you have put me against my will. I have no way of proving my innocence from here", she bit out. " It doesn't sound like that before people rush to save your life including my secretary", I said sarcastically. "Get me out of here ", she growled. " No. If you don't eat your food I will force it down your throat", I threatened her.
"I hate you asshole. It could be you who killed her to escape the wedding", she taunted me. I held her arms through the bars. " I don't care if you live or die as long as you remain here. But the wolf inside me was giving me hell these days so I want to shut it. " I told her and took a heavy breath. "I, Aidan Alpha of the Northern tribe, reject you as my mate and Luna", I said.
" Our last tie is also severed", I said noting for the first time my wolf has gone quiet. I heard her unsteady heartbeats and she countered with equal ferocity, "I reject you as well Alpha of Northern tribe a thousand times more".