21 Secrets
Ace POV
I wrap Della tighter in my arms, carrying her back toward the pack house. I’ve never felt like as much of an outsider as I do at this moment. I grew up here and have always thought of this as my horne, but walking with guests back to pack house is a sharp reality. “Daddy, will I have a wolf when I get big?” Della’s question brings me out of self–pity. A smile spreads across my face. “I’m sure you will, sweet pea. You will have a beautiful wolf.”
I step into the pack house just in time to see Candace and Alpha Roman. I had hoped she would keep her distance, but the moment she spots us, she starts to stalk in our direction. Roman gives me a look of disgust, but thankfully he doesn’t join her. In fact, he walks into the banquet hall. Della tightens her hold on my neck when Candace finally reaches us.
“Hey sweet girl,” she says like she didn’t abandon our daughter. “Hi mommy,” Della says, but makes no move to reach for her. “Aren’t you going to give mommy a hug,” Candace asks. Della lifts her head from my shoulder, looking into my eyes silently asking for permission. I press a kiss on her forehead before setting her on her feet. Watching my daughter turn to Candace makes me hate her even more. Leaving me was one thing, but discarding our daughter is another.
Della wraps her arms around Candace’s legs as she places her hand on Della’s back. My fists tighten by my sides, but I keep myself quiet for Della’s sake. “She will never be Della’s mom,” Candace says. Her words shock me at first before anger spreads through me when I realize she is talking about Olivia. I notice Melissa, one of the omegas that often watches Della while I’m working, is walking toward the banquet room. “Melissa, could you take Della with you. I need to finish speaking with Luna Candace.”
She glares at Candace before she offers a smile to Della. “Come on sweetie. Let’s see what kind of cake they have,” she says. Della squeals, immediately releasing her hold on Candace. Without a backwards look, she takes Melissa’s hand. My eyes focus back on the b**ch I once thought was my mate.
She looks like she swallowed a pack of lemons as her eyes are still focused on the direction my daughter just went. “How dare you say anything about who is Della’s mother?” “She is my pup. I will always be her mother, Ace. Nothing you do will change that. Your little mate is just a substitute,” she says. “You stopped being her mother the day you walked out on us. As far as Olivia goes, who she is or isn’t to me and Della is
none of your business.”
Her eyes study me for a minute before a sickly sweet smile spreads across her face. When she throws her head back and laughs, I’m ready to walk away from her. I don’t have any desire to stand here and deal with her selfish a**. I step past her but her hand gripping my arm stops me. Her touch has a shiver of disgust rolling through me. I shake her hand off and take a step away from her.
“I feel sorry for you, Ace. Not even your real mate wanted you. You are just a human living among wolves. That is all you will ever be,” she says. “I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense, Candace. I’m well aware I’m human. It’s not an insult. As far as a mate, I’m perfectly fine without one, so I’m not sure what the f**k you are going on about. I wish I had been smart enough to realize that as a human I wouldn’t be given a mate
because I would have seen through your bulls*t.”
“Although I would never take back my time with you because of Della, I can honestly say I hate you with
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everything I am now. You are a selfish ich who only cares about herself. I was just too blind to see it. I never expected you to le about us being mates. I should have known that my feelings for you were forced.
Tk you, Abe” she growls, taking a step closer to me What the hell is going on here? Connor’s voice has her taking a step back. “Nothing Alpha Connor I was simply speaking to Ace about our pup,‘ she says in her best reductive voice 1 toll my eyes just as Becca comes to stand next to Connor Last time I checked Luna Candace you no longer have a pup. Now if you can’t stop causing problems at our celebration, I’ll have you
escorted from our pack,” Becca says.
1 fight the urge to fist pump as Candace’s face looks like her head is about to explode. “No disrespect Luna Becca, but what is said between me and Ace is none of your business. As far as Della is concerned, she will always be my pup even if she resides in your pack with the human,” Candace says. Something flashes in her eyes as she stares at Becca.
“Tell me something Becca. You act like you care so much about Ace, but I’d bet my title you know that his mate didn’t claim him, don’t you? I would also bet my title that you didn’t tell him despite calling him your best friend,” she says with a smug smile on her face. Before I can even ask Becca what the hell the crazy b**ch is going on about, she lunges at Candace, knocking her to the ground. Connor quickly moves to pull his mate off Candace. “What the hell is happening here,” Roman’s deep voice fills the space.
“Alpha Roman, your Luna has once again caused a problem in my pack and what’s worse with my Luna. I think it is time for you both to leave. I refuse to align my pack with a man who chooses a mate that is so disrespectful. She is not only disrespecting a member of my pack but my Luna,” Connor says.
“You are making a mistake, Connor. This is all about a pathetic human who shouldn’t even be allowed to be in a wolf pack, let alone a member,” Roman says. “That is Alpha Connor, Roman. Ace Morris is a member of my pack, and he is just as important to the Red Moon as any wolf. Now I don’t like to repeat myself. Leave my pack and don’t return,” he says. Guards filter into the foyer.
“You are making a mistake by making an enemy of the Black Rose pack, Alpha” Roman says. “Honestly, Roman, I don’t think I am,” Connor says once again, not using Roman’s title. I smile when Roman grabs Candace’s arm before dragging her toward the door that leads to the pack yard. The guards follow behind
them.
“Ace,” Becca says, pulling my attention back to her. When my eyes meet hers Candace’s words about Becca knowing about my mate settles like a rock in my stomach. She takes a step towards me but doesn’t reach out to touch me. “Ace, can we go some place to talk in private,” she asks. “She is right, isn’t she? I’ve known you since you were a pup Becca. I can see the guilt in your eyes.”
“Ace, please just let me explain. I promise you that if you let me explain, everything will make sense. I consider you family, Ace,” she says. “No, you don’t keep secrets from family. Especially not something like this. I had the right to know if my mate didn’t want me,” I say before turning toward the door that leads into the banquet hall. I need to get Della and go home. I need to be alone. It was bad enough when Candace lied and then left me, but to know my goddess–given mate didn’t want me has my chest aching.
I scan the room and find my daughter spinning like she is a ballerina around Melissa. A sad smile spreads across my face. No matter what happens in my life, she is my heart. I cross the dance floor and scoop my daughter up into my arms. She squeals as I dance her around. I turn to face Melissa, who is smiling at the
scene in front of her.
“Thank you, Melissa! No problem, Ace. Don’t listen to anything that w**ch said to you, Ace. Any she–wolf
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that can walk away from their pup isn’t worth the spit in her mouth, she says low enough so only I can hear I. offer her a smile before I turn to leave the celebration. I take a few steps when I notice Olivia, Rain, and Kevin
step into the room.
They look upset, and my first instinct is to rush to them and find out why. After two steps in their direction, I realize that they probably saw that Becca is upset. I change direction, intending to leave without having to them. Ace, stop,” Kevin says. I stop and turn to face him. “Rain and Olivia, take Della while I talk to my friend, please, Kevin says. “No, I don’t want to talk. I’m leaving with my daughter.”
“Daddy, I didn’t get any cake,” Della says. “I know sweet pea, but it’s time to go home.” “No, it’s not. Let the girls get her some cake and get your a** outside to talk to me” Kevin says. “Uncle Kevin, are you mad at daddy, Della asks, worry in her little voice. I set her down and crouch to talk to her. “Of course not, sweet pea. Go ahead with Auntie Rain and Olivia to get some cake. I won’t be gone long.”
I press a kiss on her forehead before I follow Kevin out of the banquet room. I’m grateful that Becca and Connor are no longer standing in the foyer. I didn’t see them step into the banquet hall, so I wonder where
they went. I wonder if Connor knew that I had a mate that didn’t want me. I step out the door into the pack yard the cool night air feels good against my skin.
Kevin turns to face me, his expression unreadable. “Why the f**k did I just walk into the pack house after the pack run and find a woman I consider a sister crying? Not only crying but saying that you hate her” he says. “I never said I hate her.” “What the hell is going on, Ace? Becca is your best friend. She wouldn’t stop crying. Connor had to take her to their room to calm her down,” he says.
I feel a twinge of guilt, but it’s quickly replaced with anger. She is the one that kept secrets from me. I don’t
know what is worse. The anger at being kept in the dark or the fact that my mate didn’t want me. That’s a lie.
Not being wanted by someone that is supposed to be my other half is so much worse.
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