028 SHE IS NOT A HUMAN WOMAN
Farrell
“So, how was your trip?” I asked my brother and Beta, Raymond.
He had just returned from Texas, where most of our investors were withdrawing their support. It was devastating our wilderness retreat and adventure park business. The drop in revenue was not just troubling–it was catastrophic.
Raymond’s shoulders sagged under the weight of failure, his expression clouded with frustration. “It didn’t go well,” he said quietly.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, though I knew it was a futile gesture. He carried this burden as deeply as I did, maybe even more.
“Our tourist numbers have dropped drastically,” Raymond continued, his tone bitter. “And with sales so low, the investors are cutting ties. It’s why we’re losing them.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, though the words sounded hollow even to me. “Everything will be fine.”
“When?”
Raymond snapped, stopping in his tracks. His voice trembled with restrained anger. “When will everything be fine, Farrell? Because from where I’m standing, everything fell apart the moment Delilah left this pack. You knew we needed her for this business, and yet you sent her away!”
I winced at his words, the guilt resurfacing like a wound I’d tried to ignore. “I know I messed up, okay?” I said, my voice low. “I shouldn’t have sent her away. But you can’t blame me for everything. How was I supposed to feel, knowing Sandra is my true mate? Especially on the night of the mating ritual?”
Raymond’s lips pressed into a thin line. He turned and walked ahead without another word. I sighed and followed, climbing into the passenger seat as he slid into the driver’s seat.
The car ride back to the pack house was tense and silent, the air heavy with unresolved tension.
Raymond had been distant ever since Delilah left. They were close…best friends since college…and I knew he cared for her deeply. I understood his anger, but he didn’t understand the turmoil I was in.
How could he?
I was trapped in a situation that felt impossible to untangle. Delilah was my mate, but she wasn’t mine alone. She was also King Maxwell’s mate. The Moon Goddess had made a cruel joke of my fate, and I couldn’t make sense of it.
To make matters worse, my bond with Sandra had all but disappeared the moment I realized Delilah was my mate. The connection that once tethered me to Sandra had vanished, leaving nothing behind.
I hadn’t slept in the same room as Sandra in weeks, but it wasn’t just guilt keeping me away. It was the ache of Delilah’s absence, the unbearable pull of our bond even though she was far from me.
“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?” Raymond’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.
I blinked, realizing we had arrived outside the pack house.
“Yes,” I admitted quietly. “I miss her. I’m suffering without her.”
Raymond turned to me, his expression unreadable. “How can you miss her when you have a mate?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to explain. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but it’s the truth,” I said finally.
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028 SHE IS NOT A HUMAN WOMAN
+25 BONUS
“Then explain it to me,” he demanded. “Not just as your brother, but as your Beta. Whatever this is, it’s bigger than you. It affects the entire pack.”
I took a deep breath, knowing I couldn’t keep this secret any longer. “Delilah is my mate,” I said, the words tasting bittersweet as they left my mouth.
Raymond’s eyes widened in shock. “What?” he asked, his voice was so low I almost couldn’t hear him.
“It’s true,” I said. “She’s my mate.”
“That’s impossible,” he said, shaking his head. “Male werewolves are destined for one mate. Women might sometimes have more than,one mate, but I’ve never heard of a man having two.”
“Neither have I,” I admitted. “That’s why I’m so confused.
Raymond stared at me, his mind clearly racing. “There’s more,” I added, steeling myself for his reaction.
“More?” His tone was incredulous.
“Delilah isn’t just my mate. She’s also King Maxwell’s mate.” I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. ” And she’s with him right now.”
“What?” Raymond’s voice rose, his shock giving way to anger. “How is that possible? How can a Lycan King share a mate with a werewolf? I’ve never heard of anything like this.”
“There’s even more,” I said, bracing myself. “Delilah isn’t human. She’s… something else. I don’t know what exactly, but she’s not human.”
Raymond stared at me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and anger. “When did you find all this out?” he asked sharply.
“A few days ago,” I admitted. “The King summoned me personally.”
Raymond let out a bitter laugh, opening the car door and stepping outside. He rested his hands on the roof, staring into the distance. I followed him out, knowing I should have told him sooner.
“You might be the Alpha of this pack, but I’m not just your brother. I’m your Beta. You should have told me this immediately,” he said, his voice firm. “The elders need to know.”
“I know,” I said, nodding.
“And if Delilah really is your mate, then something is wrong. We need to find out the truth about your bond with Sandra. Something doesn’t add up.‘
I nodded again, knowing he was right. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t normal, and the answers wouldn’t come easily.
