Chapter 33 – part 1
Everly POV
I came home from my run to find Valarian sitting at the dining room table trying to use my laptop. My mood had lifted now I had gone for a run, but I was exhausted as I untied my laces and slipped my shoes off. The run really zapped my energy, and I had to take the long way around because someone had fixed the hole in the fence. Tomorrow, I would have to send someone to open it up again or maybe install a gate, which would be ideal because we can lock it off at night. Zoe is watching TV with the volume low and barely audible. She smiles at me and gives me a nod, turning back to the TV and pretending to be watching it when I know she was just keeping an eye on Valarian.
Valarian looks up at me, his cheek rested on his hand as he tried to use the laptop. Walking over to him, I run my fingers through his hair before bending down and kissing his forehead before kneeling next to him and looking at the
screen.
“What are you trying to do?” I ask him before standing and dragging the chair out beside him. He lets out a breath before looking at me.
“I wanna know who my dad is, why he left us. But I don’t kno✓ his last name, and Aunty Zo said to wait for you?” he says. I could tell he had been crying, his eyes were all puffy and red,
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he sniffled before plucking a tissue from the tissue box and blowing his nose.
He folds up his tissue into a perfectly neat square before placing it in the bin and washing his hands. I turn the laptop toward me before typing Alpha Valen Solace. Images and news articles pop up, and Valarian takes his seat next to me and looks at the screen before looking over at me, and I gesture toward the laptop.
“That’s your father,” I tell him, and he turns back to look at the
screen.
“We have the same eyes,” he says, looking at me. His amber eyes peer up at me, his lashes wet from crying. I nod sadly at him.
“Yes, you have his eyes; it’s a genetic trait on the male’s side,” I tell him, and he glances back at the pictures of his father on the screen.
“When I fell pregnant with you, I didn’t know your father was my mate, we met at an Alpha meeting, and we were both drinking, and that is when I became pregnant with you.”
“So you kissed, and I was created?”
I chuckle at his words, and so does Zoe behind me.
“Yep, that pretty much sums it up,” I tell him.
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“So if you didn’t know he was your mate, how did we end up rogue?”
“Because my father kicked me out. Because he thought I was a rogue whore, and I refused to terminate the pregnancy, I chose to keep you,” I tell him honestly.
“So, I am the reason you are a rogue?”
“No, I am. Me being a rogue is not your fault, and I would choose you every time. If I could go back, I would still choose you, you’re my life.”
He pauses, seeming to think, his face scrunched up in concentration. I cup his cheek, brushing my thumb over his
cheek.
“Why were you at an Alpha meeting?”
“Because I used to be an Alpha, I was next in line to take over my father’s pack.”
He looks even more confused.
“So, did you only just find out my dad was your mate?”
I sigh before rubbing my eyes and shaking my head.
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“I have known for a while. When I first found out I was pregnant, I tried to tell your father, and he didn’t believe me. I then saw him a couple of years later, but your dad was a bit tired and had too much to drink so he didn’t recognize me. He was confused, and I think he thought I broke into his house, so he kicked me off his territory before I could tell him about you,” I tell him.
“So, you never had a chance to tell him, how long ago?”
“Nearly four years ago now, when you were just a baby.”
“So, you have known all that time, but I heard aunty Macey say that Grandma Val died from not being with her mate, that not having your mate can kill you.”
+bite my lip.” You shouldn’t listen to adult conversations
sweetie”
“But is it true, did she die because her mate didn’t want her?” I nod sadly, looking away.
“But it won’t happen to me; I have you to live for, I won’t die, Valarian. I have too much to live for, you being the biggest,” I tell him, and he nods, looking at the screen. He clicks on some photos, making them larger so he can see his father’s features better, and the pictures are clearer.
“Am I like him?”
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“You are so much better than he will ever be.”
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“So he is a bad man?”
“No, I don’t think so, well I don’t think it is intentional, I think he is just perceived that way, kind of like how I am perceived to have done something wrong. People believe things about people that may not be true. It’s not fair, but it happens sometimes.”
“I have seen him on the news fighting, and I saw him in the papers. I thought something was off about him; I always felt funny when I saw his picture, but I didn’t realize he was my dad,” Valarian says.
“We recognize our own family. It’s built in us to recognize family.”
“So, he would know I was his son just by seeing me?”
“Yes, and that’s why I can’t let you meet him,” I tell him.
“Because he will take me from you?” he asks, and I nod. Valarian seems to think for a second, and he stares at the screen, scrutinizing the picture of his father out front of the hotel he owned.
“I can print his picture off for you if you want?” He looks over at me and smiles sadly.
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“That’s ok; I think I will go to bed now,” he says, getting up and taking the laptop with him. He kisses my cheek before looking at Zoe, who was on the couch.
“Night, aunty Zo.”
“Goodnight, sweetie,” she replies, and I watch him leave.
“I’m sorry he asked for the laptop…” she says once he leaves.
“It’s fine, Zoe. I should have just told him,” I tell her.
*****
It was the middle of the day, Valarian was at school, and we were in the middle of the lunch rush when the entire restaurant fell silent. Glancing up from the front counter, I internally groan when Alpha Valen walks into the restaurant. A smirk crosses his lips as he approaches me.
Zoe notices him, rolls her eyes before coming over to me. “I will go check the meat delivery has arrived; seeing as the Alpha knob is here, we don’t need any more unexpected disturbances or missing truck interferences,” she says, glaring at him before walking away.
Valen approaches the counter, and I can feel everyone watching us curiously when he leans on the counter, acting like he owned the place.
“Heard you had an eventful day yesterday with Officer
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Richards?” he chuckles.
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“Yes, thanks to you, and you can pay for Zoe and Macey’s fines,” I snap at him.
“I’m sure if you go down to the office and explain I am your mate, the fines will be dropped,” he says, and I roll my eyes at
him.
“Of course, they will be,” I spit at him, and he laughs.
“You already knew that, though, didn’t you? Officer Richards told me something very interesting last night,” he says, and my stomach drops. He said he wouldn’t tell Valen about Valarian, at least not yet.
“Seems I am your mate when it benefits you?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t happen to threaten Officer Richards by using my title, did you?” He smiles, and I glare at him before his words register because I had done that. Heat rushes over my face.
“Lapse in judgment,” I tell him.
“Oh, I don’t mind, but if you want to use my title, I would rather it be because we share it and not just you throwing it around when you want to get out of trouble.”
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“I’m sorry I won’t do it again, but I wasn’t going to stand by and watch him take Casey from Zoe.”
“He wouldn’t have; he is a good man,” I roll my eyes at him
and turn away, only for him to grip my wrist and turn me back to face him.
“Don’t walk away from me, Everly. Are you trying to upset me?”
