Taking Down the Alpha

36 Still Crying

The expression on Liana's face was difficult to interpret and even more difficult to describe. It wasn't unusual to see nervousness or sadness in those huge eyes, but this was something else, maybe panic tinged with understanding as she stared towards the former alpha.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, although I already had a horrible suspicion.

"Alpha Hudson's my mate," she whispered, her voice so low I could barely hear her, and certainly no one around me caught even a syllable.

"He can't be." This was going to mess up everything. He was supposed to leave Huntstone so he wouldn't cause any more trouble to the pack, but if he was Liana's mate, I couldn't kick him out.

Why did people have to keep messing up my beautiful plans?

Liana looked like she was ready to cry, and that reminded me that it wasn't just about me. She was the one who just found out she was fated to be with a complete man whore, one who we'd been plotting against for months and who had already broken her heart.

And he had told her that he thought she was his mate.

Did he know all along? The bastard!

My wolf snapped my control, and I stalked forward. People were crowding around my mate and congratulating him, and in their excitement they had cut off his path to me. He was in the process of trying to escape the crowd diplomatically, but I walked straight by the mob leaving him to his own devices as I stalked towards the defeated alpha.

"You son of a bitch!" I said loudly, my wolf's snarl leaking through. "She's your mate and you still did that to her!?" I gestured back towards Liana, and he took one more glance at her and started shifting. He stayed on the ground, his hands on his still bleeding neck, the picture of misery and defeat. I didn't feel bad for him. He had everything and he took it for granted.

The former beta walked up beside Hudson and tossed him his clothing. Apparently he wasn't going to accept the change of leadership willingly. I didn't care, I'd deal with him if I had to.

And I wasn't finished with the alpha. "Look at her. She's been miserable, and no wonder why. Her mate took advantage of her and dropped her like she wasn't worth anything to him."

He'd listened to my rant without responding, but he flared up at my final accusation. "I didn't know!"

I crossed my arms. "Right. You sweet talked your mate with mate talk without knowing anything at all."

"It was just a line."

"So you lied to a vulnerable pack member."

"I didn't lie. I did think she could have been, but there were no sparks or anything... Ah, shit."

I hadn't noticed them come up behind me, but Denise and Andrew had apparently followed me, Liana trailing behind them like she was using Denise as a shield. He interjected helpfully, "Maybe that's why her wolf came out so late. Probably didn't feel safe with her mate banging every female within reach."

"Shut up, you filthy rogue," Beta Nate snarled, apparently also feeling the need to interfere.

Andrew stood up straighter. "Make me, Beta. Or, I guess it's just Nate now..." He looked towards me. "Is Nate keeping his beta position?"

They both already knew the answer. I just laughed harshly.

"So yeah. Come at me, Nate. It didn't go that well for you last time, but you never know, maybe you'll get lucky."

"You're the one who got luck—"

"Stop it!" I looked at both of them in turn. "There's been enough fighting today."