Derrick's pov
"Of course you have my permission Colin! Congratulations!"
Colin beamed, placing a gentle kiss on Fredrick's lips before turning to face me again.
"Thank you Alpha!"
"You've proven your loyal to me again and again, how could I refuse? Now go instruct the Omegas to begin the preparations."
Nodding, Colin started out of my office, pulling Frederick along behind him; when I stopped him.
"I need to speak to Frederick alone."
"But_________________."
"Go ahead Colin, if you trust your Alpha then I must learn to trust him too, right?"
"Alright, I'll be back soon."
The minute Colin's footsteps faded away, I turned on Frederick and he backed away warily.
"You will tell me everything . . . why my pack was attacked . . . who sent you . . . everything."
"I don't know, we were only following orders, we didn't know that we were being sent here to take your mate."
"He's not my mate."
"I don't understand . . . if he's not your mate, why did you claim him?"
"Let's get something straight, just because I agreed to let you mate with my beta, it doesn't mean I trust you in any way. Do not question me again."
"Y-Yes."
"Now I have something to take care of, go to your room and wait for Colin."
Lowering his head in submission, Frederick led the way out of my office and I watched him walk away before I locked the door and made my way to my room where I was holding Ayden. As I got closer, I heard a familiar voice and a flash of anger and jealousy went through me. I told Dr Douglas not to treat Ayden! How dare he disobey me?! I nearly burst through the door, when I heard a story I'd never heard before . . . there was another Luna? My dad had been mated before and they had a son . . . I have . . . had a brother? Why hadn't anyone told me this? Pushing my questions aside, I focused my attention back on Dr Douglas's words and had to bite back a gasp at his next words. My mom had been poisoned?! By who?! Were they caught?! I was so lost in my thoughts, that I missed my chance to hear the answer.
"How were you able to forgive him?"
Huh? Ayden's question threw me off and apparently Dr Douglas felt the same way, I could hear the confusion in his response.
"What?"
"The woman the Alpha loved, she was your mate, right? How were you able to forgive him for stealing her from you?"
Growing even more confused when Dr Douglas let out an amused laugh at Ayden's words, I leaned in closer to hear his reply.
"Because the welfare of this pack is more important than my personal feelings. Now try to sleep and I'll be back to check on you later."
Ayden let out a tired yawn and I heard Dr Douglas's footsteps walking towards me before stopping and when he spoke again, it felt like he was talking to me.
"And sometimes when you love someone, you have to be willing to let them go."
Jumping back at the unexpected opening of the door I would have fallen if a strong hand hadn't caught my arm.
"So now you know the truth."
"How could you keep all this from me?"
"I made a promise to_______________."
"You don't owe him anything! He stripped you of your title and only allowed you to stay in the pack because you're a doctor . . . you're my Uncle, but I can't even acknowledge you . . . you won't even let me consider you family because of some stupid promise that I have nothing to do with! Why won't you just let go of the past, he's dead and you're still here!"
"It was my choice, Alpha. I gave up my position as Alpha of this pack to your dad so I could study medicine. It was my decision to give up my mate for her own happiness and I gave up my life as your Uncle in order to keep a promise to the man who gave up his own dreams to take over my duty. I keep our promise because I owe him everything."
"But that's wrong, you gave up your happiness for them . . . you gave up your chance to have pups and they didn't even stay together."
"I gave up my true mate because she didn't love me. If she showed even the smallest amount of desire for me that your mate has for you, I wouldn't have hesitated to challenge my brother for her."
"What does Ayden have to do with this?"
"Everything. Do you even care how much he's suffering because of you? If you don't want him, let him go. Give him a chance to find someone that will make him happy."
"No, he's mine."
"Then mate him, I know you love him, don't let your fear keep you from your happiness."
"Tara is my mate . . . I will never mate with him."
"You're going to destroy him . . . I just hope you don't regret your decision like I do mine."
Walking away as I let his words sink in, he said something that made my blood run cold.
"There is something you should know . . . the man you killed, he's not the leader of the rogues."
"What?"
"Your brother might not be dead."
"But you said___________."
"The Luna did attack her own baby and at the time, I truly believed he was dead, but before I could be completely sure, she stole him away and disappeared. Before the Alpha died, he told me that he saw the child and he was very much alive. If that's true he is the leader of rogues or at least his mother's second in command and he will do everything to challenge you."
I stared at him, unable to speak, my mind frozen in shock.
"I don't know what you plan to do, but if you don't want to mate with Ayden, you might have to forbid him from leaving the pack house or the rogues will use him as a means to destroy us all."
