Defiance

2.3

Chapter 23

A L D R I C

The world seemed to crash before my eyes as my father pulled me away from Elysia. I couldn't understand what to do - I didn't know what to do. Hunter grabbed Elysia back against him. I saw her struggling. She's covered in her blood, she's in pain. Her face was wet from the tears. 

Moon Goddess. 

It was my father. 

The wolf that ruined her life - was my father. On top of all of that, I told her she was my mate. In the back of my head, I could hear my wolf aching - he was in pain - he was frustrated. I turned back to Elysia. For once, she looked defeated.

I won't let anything happen to you. But Hunter holds her back, he's gripping her so tightly her skin was turning red.

Then I realized the crowd that has gathered. My pack wolves were surrounding us - they were confused but they watched my every action. They watched me defend Elysia, hug her while she was crying, hold her, call her my mate. 

My actions were traitorous. They might never forgive me, I realized. But they were afraid of me. I turned back to Elysia. Her eyes were just as confused. I told her I was cursed, I wasn't lying. If I didn't do this, she would die. They would kill her, they wouldn't think twice.

"SHE IS CLEARLY BEWITCHING YOU ALDRIC!" a wolf suddenly yelled.

"IT'S A TRICK!" Another yelled.

"WOLVES AND WITCHES DON'T MATE." The third yelled.

Stop. 

I wanted my wolves to stop but they keep yelling the things I once told myself. Strangely, my father was silent. When I turned to him, he stared at me in uttermost anger, hatred? I didn't know what it was but I could see him trying to remember the son I was - a wolf that hated witches. He believed I would never accept a mate if she was a witch but he didn't know Elysia. His eyes went from me and then back at Elysia.

"She's bewitching -" He hissed.

"I can prove it. Elysia is my mate. I can prove it," I cut him off and turned to another wolf. "Get Seraphina."

"Get Seraphina," I yelled when I realized no one was listening. I pulled out of my grip my father held me in.

"Witches have no control over mates - that is one type of magic they can never reach. Only the Moon Goddess -" I was trying to explain myself but I wasn't good at explaining. I didn't know how to make them understand.

"The Moon Goddess wasn't there to protect you, boy! I told you what happened - you will never have a mate and whatever spell she is doing to you -" My father was yelling. His voice was laced with so much hatred - so much anger. I had disappointed him, I had let him down. But I didn't care.

"She's under Maji right now! She can't -" I snapped back.

"Then she cursed you too! I thought you were smarter than this - I can't believe I have to explain it to you like a child. YOU. WILL. NEVER. HAVE. A. MATE!"

The words almost stung. 

You're wrong. You were wrong. Every wolf in existence has a mate, including me.

"I already do. I can prove it - The mating spell proves it. Seraphina will get the knife and you can see that when our blood matches, it becomes silver - I have seen it. I have felt it."

There was anger in my father's eyes. His eyes were glowing Alpha red. There was hatred in them. In no time, he was lunging at Elysia. Hunter let Elysia go as my father approached. At the same time, I ran and grabbed the arm he was about to claw through Elysia. I used all my strength to stop him. I pushed him back.