Chapter 5— The Perfect Retribution.

Tristan

As soon as the crowd dispersed and the Ferguson princess was led away, the council chamber turned into a cacophony of hushed whispers. I let them talk, allowing my mind to finally wrap itself around what was going on.

My mate.

My second chance mate. The thought of it made me laugh.

Fate was a cruel mistress and she sure as hell seemed delighted to fuck me over once more. Of all the females in the wolfdom, she chose one whom I hate her bloodline. One whose bloodline I've sworn to eradicate just like they'd done to my sweet beautiful Kara.

“...Not just our enemy, Alpha. You've made her our Luna. You've given her a standing,” Elder Theron hissed, bringing my attention back to the present. “Do you even understand the severity of the blood pact?”

The words clamped like metal against my skull. Luna. The title she's to bore now and it made me shiver. Hell would have to freeze over before I make her my Luna.

“She's not my Luna,” I said softly but with a strong edge that gave no room for doubt. “She's my prisoner.”

Theron barked a humorless laughter, shaking his head. “How long will she remain your prisoner until you decide to give in to the mate bond?!”

“Never!” I yelled. The thought of it alone almost made me repulsed.

My eyes moved from one elder to the other until they landed on Elder Janice. She was a soft and lovely woman but could get cold in the blink of an eye. This was my mother's friend, and also the woman I'd seen a mother figure in, and right now she was looking at me in disappointment. So I looked away, refusing to see that look in her eyes.

At that moment I felt I had to explain to her, to let her understand my decision. “I was thinking how best to protect our people…”

“No, you were not!” Elder Corvin slammed his fists on the round table. “Do not insult us by giving us that flimsy excuse.”

I fixed him with a piercing stare. “If I wasn't thinking about the pack I wouldn't have initiated the blood pact!” I spoke through gritted teeth, trying to hold back the fury that was still burning inside me. I needed to keep my chill and act like I hadn't realized that I'd made a mistake. But fuck! All these could have been avoided.

“Yeah, right. Killing her would have solved all these. Now we're stuck with that… that… goddess!”

It was no secret that Corvin never liked me to take over the Alphaship from Uncle Ferdinand. To him, Uncle Ferdinand was the right one for the position. He didn't care if I'd spent almost five years in the Alpha Academy putting in all my best just so I could be good enough… even better than my father had been.

No matter what I did, I was never going to be good enough, and to be honest, I didn't care anymore. I was his Alpha and he had to suck it in.

“You should have just killed her the moment she was brought here,” Elder Theron hissed his displeasure. “Now you've bound us all to her.”

I looked at them again, eyes moving from each elder to the other. “We've all had quite an unfortunate day today. Let's take a rest.” I didn't need to say more as it was obvious that they were dismissed.

They all filed out one after the other, grumbling and mumbling under their breaths. It was only when the heavy doors shut behind them did I finally released the deep breath I was holding.

Relief had barely settled over me when the door burst open again. I lifted my head to the sight of Callie.

She stormed in with every purpose of a woman on a mission. Fury radiated off her like heat. One look at her eyes and I knew she must have heard.

“I leave the pack for one week and I come back to find out that you're bedding the enemy. Please tell me that I must have misheard.”

She didn't waste time getting straight to the point. Where Kara was shy and soft-spoken, Callie, her older sister, was bold, and sharp-tongued. I could count the number of times on one hand she had to walk away from confrontation.

I sighed. Once again I was going to dance to the same tune. “Callie…”

“No, Tristan. Why is she still alive? She should be dead by now. We should be out there celebrating.”

I turned toward the decanter on the side table and poured myself a drink. I would have offered her one but she didn't have the look or patience of one who needed a glass.

“Because fate is cruel.”

“Huh? What fate?”

I looked at her, downing the content of my glass, and winced at the sharp burn of whiskey burn my throat.

“She's my mate, Callie.”

She shook her head, disbelief marring her face. If she knew how much I wanted all of these to be a dream. A horrible dream that I would wake from.

“It's not possible. It can not be possible. It does not make sense! How did this even happen?!”

I shrugged. “I don't know. The moon goddess keeps punishing me at every turn.”

“The moon goddess… it wasn't… why would she…” she splurted. “You said you saw her that night.”

I nodded. The night I would never forget. The night I'd held pieces of my mate soaked in blood, the night I'd learned that I was this close to being a father. The night I'd faced their killer and was instead mocked and lied to. To this day I wonder what made me not lash out at them. How had my grief not led me to that?

“Then how the fuck did you not know she was your mate then?!” Callie questioned. Her eyes were puffy and red. If there was one thing Callie and I had shared, it was the loss of Kara. Over the years we'd bonded over our loss.

“I don't know. I think the stupid blood pact has something to do with it…” A sharp pain cut across my chest and I winced. I swallowed heavily as I felt something cold coil in my gut.

“What's wrong?” Callie asked but I shook my head quickly.

“It's nothing… I'm fine.” I lied.

She gave me a dubious look and scoffed. “It's her isn't it?” I could deny but I know it's futile, Callie has been a long-time friend and knows when I’m lying. “She's affecting you.”

“It's nothing I can't handle.”

But even as I said it I felt a tightness in my chest like the walls were closing in. I had almost forgotten that mate's connection was something that even the oldies couldn't explain. It was sacred, magical. A bond that connects two and makes them one in a way that they can feel each other.

And damn the Ferguson princess!

“You can't mate with her. You can't make her your Luna. You swore vengeance to Kara. You can't make her killer your mate.”

Kara would turn in her grave if she knew what was happening. I pulled Callie closer, “I know and I would never stain her memory like that.”

“Not even when the mate bond tugs?”

“Not even when the mate bond tugs,” I answered.

“I may know a way to help you get rid of the bond but first,” she leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. Gone were the tears and anger.

“Allow me to do whatever I please with her since killing her will kill you.”

I nodded without hesitation. If there was anyone whose hatred for the Fergusons matched mine, it was Callie and I knew without a doubt she would deliver the perfect retribution.

“Do as you please.”

She smiled. “I've waited for this day for long.” Her hands slid down my chest. “Here's a little something to relieve that stress.” And then she began to unbuckle my belt.