Alicia's POV

Mom and I exchanged meaningful glances before Dad spoke.

"Come in," Dad said before turning away from the door as he headed to the sitting room.

Mom and I stood up from the dining table to join him in the sitting room.

"Thank you," Theo's family chorused as they walked into the room.

"You can have your sea-"

"Don't do this, Alicia," Theo's mother interrupted Dad, as she grabbed my hands the moment she stepped inside.

My eyes widened in shock at her sudden behavior, I watched as her reddened eyes stared at me pitifully. I tried stepping away from her but her grip was too tight that I couldn't let go.

"I have no plan to change my mind," I muttered, struggling from her grip.

"No," She answered sharply. "You have to reconsider this, daughter." She added, shaking her head negatively. Her grip tightened more on my hands.

"Ahh," I winced quietly in pain.

"Let her go." Mom yelled and disengaged her hand from mine.

Maya stepped back a bit while she remained staring at me with her pleading eyes.

I could tell she didn't mean to hurt me, I could only feel pain because she was tightening her grip on me. My eyes darted from her and landed on Theo's who stood beside Alpha Derek, giving me a 'soft' look.

The foolish me from before would have thought he was remorseful and he was in pain of rejection but I could clearly see his pretence.

"Theo has realized his mistake," Maya said. "He is ready to fix every issue you both have, Alicia. Please forgive him just this once and let this marriage hold," Maya pleaded.

"I thought we concluded on this already?" Dad asked, facing them but Alpha Derek shook his head.

"Alicia can still reconsider this," Alpha Derek said. "It can still be reversed. We all stayed up all night thinking about how to make amends and that is why we are here to plead with your daughter to consider her mate once again," Alpha Derek added.

They stayed up all night just to return here to plead with me to stay with their son? What were they thinking when they concluded on that?

"Alicia?" Dad called facing me. He nodded for me to speak, smiling at me in assurance that he was there and I could tell them what I felt truly.

"I won't reconsider, my decision is final," I replied, reaffirming my words.

"That cannot be," Alpha Derek shunned. "Why will you just end things like that after the long-standing alliance between our families?" He asked, facing Dad, his eyes reddened in anger.

"This is my daughter's decision," Dad answered calmly.

"Her decision?" Alpha Derek asked before turning to face me. "How can you let the bond we have just get broken over a small misunderstanding?" He asked.

Small misunderstanding he said?

I wouldn't blame him for viewing it that way. Did he really have no idea what his son was capable of or was he also blinded by his own need?

Without doubt, I could tell what Alpha Derek only wanted, he was more concerned about making me his son's Luna.

"You call this a small misunderstanding?" Dad asked. I could tell how hard he was trying not to raise his voice.

"Yes," Alpha Derek answered. " This is a thing we can settle but you're only making it seem impossible." He added.

"We promise to keep Dahila out of sight and limit her from having contact with Theo. I'm certain that my son is also willing to do that," Maya said, facing Theo.

He walked closer to me, Lowering his head in a posture of remorse. "I promise to stay away from Maya." He said quietly. "Alicia, please remain my Luna." He said, his eyes giving a pleading look.

The foolish me would have thought he was sad and remorseful but I could see his pretence vividly. He was never willing to let go of Dahila.

Their display of hypocrisy made my stomach churn.

"This is my promise to you, Alicia,' Maya said. "Let us forget the past and start afresh. I promise to keep him in check." She rambled.

"I know we can't compensate you enough but I want you to know that this will be the end of this issue," Alpha Derek. "I promise to get Theo punished for acting that way,"

I scoffed inwardly. I had already seen through their schemes.

I let out a cold laugh, and they all raised their brow confused at why I had laughed that way. "Is this all meant to make me marry Theo? If you all believe I will marry Theo for this, then you're wrong," I said angrily.

"Alicia," Maya called in surprise with her mouth wide open.

"Yes," I answered affirmatively. "This is only for your own will, all you want is a Luna with a noble bloodline to strengthen your pack’s power," I added.

"I'm sure you know that's not the truth," Alpha Derek said calmly, pissing me more. He tried walking closer to me, but I stepped back immediately.

"I do and I know all you want is just a breeding vessel for stronger offspring," I said, and their eyes widened in shock but I didn't care about that. "But I'm done playing your game," I snapped.

"I won't watch you talk to my parents like that," Theo snapped unexpectedly, raising his head up. "You should apologize to them this instant!" He demanded angrily, walking closer to me.

His eyes were still on me while I also remained staring at him. The tension exploded in an instant, and all the resentment I had been holding back came pouring out.

"You shouldn't do that." His parents chorused immediately, alarmed by his outburst.

"You shouldn't be doing this, Theo. We are here to plead, not to do this," Alpha Derek reminded him.

"Alicia, I truly understand how you feel," Maya said. "We promise to make Dahila leave." She added, pleading.

"You won't need to do that again," Theo said, and everyone in the room turned to him. "Dahila is my mate and I'll never abandon her," Theo said. He stood firmly, meaning every of his word.

"What?" His parents froze in shock, their expressions shifting rapidly between anger and disbelief.

"What did you say?" Alpha Derek asked in disbelief.

"You should leave now." Dad said upon hearing this, his eyes turned icy immediately.

They could no longer argue as they exchanged glances, leaving in disgrace.

I sighed, finally feeling a sense of relief as they stepped out.

"Do you-"

My phone rang, interrupting me as I was about to ask a question.

"Hello, Alicia," Candy called over the phone. "I'm sure you had an exciting encounter last night," She added.

My face instantly burned as memories of Williams surfaced—Candy had no idea I had slept with her brother.

"Seriously," I muttered flustered. "I'm planning to stay in Burning Fang Pack for a while."

"Yeah," Candy squealed in excitement. "Finally, I can now introduce you to some handsome men and you will totally forget about Theo.”

"You don't have to," I said. "I'm over him," I firmly stated.

"That's it girl," She said. "He is a bastard, I have known him to be one and he will never change. He can just continue his shit with his second mate," Candy said.

"Hmmm," I muttered.

"I'm sorry about Williams." She said calmly over the phone, her tone shifted immediately. "He is someone with a very cold personality, you shouldn't take his rudeness last night to heart," She said, and I nodded.

"I understand," I answered, nodding like she could see me.

"You should feel comfortable while staying with us. Williams is cool," She said.

At the mere mention of Williams’s name, images of his dangerously sexy presence flooded my mind, and I felt an unexpected warmth pooling inside me again.