Chapter 29

Osborne “Is that all?” I asked flatly. My father shook his head. “No. You still haven’t told me what I want to hear, Osborne. Your relationship with her must be cut! Besides, she is not your true mate— yet you went ahead and claimed her.” His voice was thick with anger. I knew if I didn’t shut this down, he would drag this argument endlessly. “Neither was my mom your true mate, Dad,” I snapped, rising to my feet, fury burning through me. “Just because you couldn’t fight for the woman you loved—because you sacrificed her for duty—doesn’t mean I’ll do the same. You couldn’t fight for her like a coward, but I am not like you!” I shouted. The words hit him like a blow. My father flinched, his eyes widening in shock. He hadn’t expected me to strike where it hurt most. And in that instant, I knew I had crossed a line. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself, turning my gaze away. But his voice came, low and tense, teeth clenched. “I am no coward, Osborne. I did what was best for my pack. And you will do the same.” I turned back to him, my jaw set. “Never. There is nothing this pack lacks. With or without Bella, this pack will thrive under my rule. I will not marry someone you choose for me. My heart is already set—and nothing will change that.” He nodded slowly, eyes narrowing. “Then you realize what this means. You will ignite enmity between our pack and Waterford. You know Alpha Hamilton does not joke when it comes to his daughter.” I didn’t care. In truth, I had already decided to sever ties with that cursed pack. They were nothing to me. “Then so be it,” I said coldly. Without another glance, I turned and walked away. Normally, I would never cross the line with my father. If there was one person I feared most, it was him. So the fact that I had just spoken to him that way—no, shouted at him—left me stunned. Damn, I had even called him a coward. I must be out of my mind. With long strides, I made my way back to my room, my thoughts restless. How was I supposed to tell Aina that my father didn’t approve of our relationship? All because of his old friend and a stupid promise he made. I thought he had accepted her. Why the sudden change of heart? Why demand I reject her for Bella? Did he truly want history to repeat itself—the same mistake he made with Aina’s mother? No. Never. I clenched my fists as I walked. I would never do that. I loved Aina. She was mine, and nothing—not my father, not his alliances, not Bella or anyone else would take her away from me. When I saw her again, I wouldn’t waste another moment. I would mark her, seal our fate, and bind her to me. I couldn’t wait for the mating ceremony. I needed to mark her now. As I opened the door and stepped inside, I found maids cleaning the room. The moment they noticed me, they froze, their hands pausing mid-task. My eyes quickly scanned the room, but Aina wasn’t there. “Where’s my mate?” I asked, my voice calm but firm. One of the maids bowed her head respectfully before answering, “She went on a walk with the Luna.” I gave a slight nod. For a brief moment, I realized I had forgotten to ask my father if he had ever told my mother about his past with Aina’s mother. The thought alone made everything feel more complicated—the woman I chose as mine, her mother, had once shared some sort of romantic bond with my father. “Where did they go?” I asked. “The Luna took her to the garden. They were having cocoa, the last I checked,” the maid replied softly. I nodded again and turned to leave. At least my mother didn’t seem to have a problem with Aina—that was something in my favor. I needed to speak with her, convince her to talk some sense into my father’s thick skull. As I walked out, everyone I passed greeted me with respect until I reached the garden. There, on a bench, my mother and Aina sat together. It looked as though they were deep in conversation, my mother smiling freely at whatever Aina was saying. I paused, standing at a distance, simply watching. The evening sun fell gently across my lovely mate's hair, making it shine like strands of gold. The way she smiled at my mother—it was the sweetest, purest smile I had ever seen. How could anyone not like her? She was everything good in this world—pure, innocent, the kind of person who could steal the breath right out of a man’s chest. The kind who made love and desire feel real, tangible. I would never let her go. I would never let her out of my sight. If it meant fighting the whole world for her, I would do it gladly. She and I were destined—forever bound. And as she felt my presence like a magnet, she turned toward me. Her eyes found mine, and a soft smile crept onto her cheeks. In that instant, I knew it with certainty— I would burn the world for her. Olivia Sitting with Aina helped calm the storm of emotions from earlier today. Truly, my son Osborne made the right decision choosing her. Her smile alone seemed to brighten my mood, and almost as if she sensed something troubling me, she began telling a childhood story about falling into a pit. The way she described every detail had me laughing without restraint, and she smiled along with me. How could someone so easily lift another’s spirit? She must have noticed that my mood was off earlier, yet chose not to ask further questions about what was bothering me. Instead, she called me “mother,” while accepting my request for her time.  I had always longed for a daughter, and now Osborne, through his mate, had given me one. What more could I want? Honestly, I prefer her to Bella. Yes, Hamilton once showed bravery by saving my husband years ago, but that doesn’t mean my son should sacrifice his own happiness. I love the boy I brought into this world, and furthermore I love his spirit, he would fight for her no matter what others might say.