The Lonely Rogue

Chapter 13 Caspian

"Excuse me?" I laughed without humor.

"Your Gamma left you due to a lack of confidence in your leadership and you have denied the pack a Luna and an heir. You are failing this kingdom and, so, I challenge you for the crown." Malcolm squared up to me, puffing out his chest as he made his declaration.

"Malcolm, don't." Mother gasped, reaching out towards her eldest son.

"The fight is to the death, Malcolm." I replied plainly.

"I know."

"That's not the way to handle this." Alice spoke up for the first time, standing between us, "We already lost our father, our family can't lose someone else." Tears were welling up in her eyes.

Malcolm and I both looked over at her, momentarily forgetting about our anger towards each other. Ally was a soft spot for both of us. She was only a year old when our father was murdered by rogues during an attack on the castle. We were the only father figures she ever knew.

"It doesn't have to be to the death, if one party submits." Granny Austyn points out. Malcolm and I were both too stubborn to do that, and everyone knew it.

"Take the girl as your Luna and I will withdraw my challenge." Malcolm said in a calmer voice.

"I won't force her to be my mate." I shook my head, "She hates me."

"Because you've made her hate you. Change her mind." Malcolm said matter-of-factly.

"No, I won't take a second chance mate." I replied stubbornly.

"Malcolm, listen, he's refusing because of Sabrina. Tell him, son." Lydia begged.

"What about Sabrina?" Malcolm looked at me.

Malcolm loved Sabrina like a sister. She was the one thing we both agreed on, her kindness, her compassion, and her fitness for the rank of Luna. For the briefest moment, Malcolm and I weren't at each other's throats because of Sabrina. She brought us together. Her death was the final straw in our relationship. Malcolm blamed me nearly as much as I blamed myself.

"Leave her out of this." I warned Lydia.

"Don't speak to our mother that way." Malcolm shouted.

"Enough, both of you!" Lydia rose from the chair, speaking in her threatening Luna voice, "Caspian, it's time to tell the truth, to your brother and to yourself." She demands. I bowed my head in shame and nodded,

"Alright," I said in defeat, "I can't accept a second chance mate because I don't deserve her. Junie is beautiful and strong, everything a Luna Queen should be. She's defiant and isn't threatened by me, she feels no dominance from my wolf and doesn't submit to me. Cole has nothing but amazing things to say about her, I have no doubt she would make the perfect mate," I took a deep breath,

"But, I can't have her. I can't dishonor Sabrina's memory by moving on and taking someone else. I can't validate my weakness by taking another mate who I won't be able to protect. I had everything once, a relationship with you, the perfect mate, the crown. Now, all I have is my loyalty to the kingdom and that's all I deserve. Happiness, love, a mate, none of that is in the cards for me anymore." I confessed everything I had been feeling the past few weeks.

Malcolm looked at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Alice was crying, my mother was covering her mouth, and Granny was leaning back in her chair. Everyone was overwhelmed by my omission. My chest was heaving, the emotional toll of spilling my darkest thoughts made me breathless and weak.

"I....didn't know." Malcolm mumbled.

"I did." Mother looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Cassie." Ally sobbed, throwing her arms around my neck, "I loved Sabrina, and she loved you. She wouldn't want you to do this." She cried into my chest. I rubbed her back, looking at Malcolm over the top of her head.