Keir’smine.
William’s lips tilt into an arrogant smile, one that makes me bristle. “Where do you think I got the information?”
My hands involuntarily curl into fists, my claws beginning to extend and digging into my palms, as my nostrils flare with anger. “Answer the fucking question.”
He tuts, then rolls his eyes. “Where else would I have gotten it? I called his former pack.”
My body goes cold as everything Keir just told me about his old pack runs through my mind. Thanks to William, the odds are good they now know Keir is still alive, but what that means, I’m not entirely sure. Randall’s dead, but there’s no telling what the cleric might do. Something tells me that sadistic asshole is probably the source of William’s information.
Would the pack come after Kier? Try to finish what they started that night?
“What. Did. You. Tell. Them.” I bite the question out, struggling to control my wolf that wants to rip William’s throat out for likely putting my mate in danger.
“That one of their wayward wolves was here claiming to be your fated mate,” says William dismissively.
“Who gave you permission to—”
“The elders have a right to know the background of someone you’re putting forth as Alpha Mate,” he snaps. “And it’s a good thing I called to check. Did your so-called ‘mate’ tell you about his history of flaunting pack laws?”
I glower at the older man across from me. “I don’t care about whatever laws Keir may have ‘flaunted.’ They probably weren’t worth the paper they’re written on. That pack follows outdated—”
“And did you know you aren’t the first Alpha Keir’s tried to charm?”
I’m stunned into silence for a moment, processing his words.
William smirks at my lack of response. “A month or so before Keir was exiled, he tried to seduce a visiting Alpha, one who already had a mate. It was an embarrassment to his pack, and it was only because of the benevolence of the Alpha in question that Keir wasn’t put down right then.” A smug smile breaks across William’s face. “I guess your ‘fated mate’ didn’t bother to tell you about that little… indiscretion, did he?”
Forty-Four
Keir
Istaredownatthe sheet of paper Remy handed me, the edges crinkling in my grip. My mind is surprisingly blank. Much like Randall’s death, I don’t know how to feel about Ben leaving. There’s disappointment that I didn’t have a chance to get to know him, but there’s definitely some anger, too. What was the point of him coming here at all if he was just going to abandon me again?
Remy leads me to the couch and takes a seat next to me, setting his hand gently on my elbow in a supportive gesture as I open the note.
Unfolding the paper causes the small photo of Ben and Theo that had been tucked inside to flutter down and land on my thigh. I glance at it, taking a moment to study the two young men—neither of them any older than I am now—in the picture before beginning to read.
Keir,
First, I must apologize for leaving like this. Finding out you are alive and seeing for myself the man you have grown into has brought me more joy than you can imagine.
The second thing I need to apologize for is much harder to explain. You’re under the impression that Theo is dead, and that’s my fault because I didn’t bother to correct that assumption.
As far as I know, Theo isalive. He’s just no longer my mate.
For most shifters, mate bonds are nearly unbreakable, but that’s not the case for omegas. I don’t know how it works, but I’ve always thought of it as a way for nature to make sure omegas weren’t forced to stay in a relationship with someone who would use them or mistreat them.
I’m not sure how Theo found out about that loophole, but he never forgave me for your loss. He broke our bond and left me not long after you were taken, but I’ve never stopped loving him. I need to find him to, If nothing else, at least let him know you’re alive.
I’ll be in touch.
Love, Ben
What the hell? I thought fated mateshadto stay together. Isn’t that where the whole ‘fated’ bit comes in? I understand where Ben is coming from and why he left—sort of—but that doesn’t make the situation any less confusing. I silently hand the note to Remy and wait as he skims the words, his brows rising as he reaches the end.
“Is what he says about omegas being able to get out of mate bonds true?” I ask.
“I’m not sure,” says Remy, frowning. “But if the elders get wind of this…”
