Ch. 31..35: The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate Chapter 31-35

The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 31

Edwina’s POV…

I wasn’t sure at this point what to do, I had just discovered two scary facts and a potential threat, and I felt helpless. I wasn’t sure if I should let the alpha know that because that would mean treason, and that is an offense punishable by death. As angry as I was with my sister and Ben for what they had done, I knew if I revealed this piece of information to Alpha Alex, he would definitely make sure they pay with their life.

And then my mind wandered to what Ben had said about escaping. I wonder if he meant it or he didn’t.

He is a father-to-be, and it is normal for him to want to be with his child, so I can only assume that he would want to take such a drastic step. But he wouldn’t dare? Would he?

I got home in time for dinner, and I was surprised to see Alex already waiting for me. I don’t know if I should let him know that I was aware of his visit to Sonia.

But then, it is none of my business if he decides to tell me or not. We were not yet in the place where we asked each other questions and gave answers. We were still in that place where we have s*x and pretend like it didn’t happen the next day. I don’t think we have ever talked about s*x or what we needed to spice things up.

After a short shower and applying little makeup to my face, I walked to the dining room, where Alex was sitting in his usual seat.

He was waiting for me and had refused to touch his food.

“How are you doing?” He asked briefly as I settled down opposite him.

“I am great,” I answered briefly. I didn’t ask how he was doing because I didn’t want to have a conversation with him that might lead me to spill the beans on what was bothering me. I felt I should just keep to myself and let other things follow naturally. We would probably have s*x and wake up the next morning as if nothing had happened, and to me, that would be ideally what I want.

“I went to visit Sonia today, but I assume you already knew that. Considering you also went to visit her,” he said.

My eyes widened as I realized he was watching my every move. I knew he was, but I wanted to drift the topic away from anything that would make us discuss his visit and make him discuss my conversation with Sonia.

“So you do ask people to spy on my every move and report to you,” I replied. He glared at me and smiled.

I wasn’t sure why he was smiling. Damn this guy, I am trying to pick up an argument with him, but he didn’t want to give any room to it.

I hated that about him, how easygoing he was.

“I am sure you are perfectly aware that you are the Luna of the night howlers. Your every move will always be in the spotlight, like it or not. I do not need to ask to know,” he explained as he took a bit of the crunchy French fries dipped in ketchup before him.

I wasn’t sure this was a fight I wanted to pick with him knowing he was right, and I was already so much aware of it.

“I think that’s part of the job jurisdiction I abhor,” I replied to him as I took a bite of my bread.

A slight frown appeared on his face, and I could see him trying to chew on his words, but it was getting hard for him.

“What do you mean by Job jurisdiction?” he asked me, and I could understand why he would hate that about my statement.

“I mean being the Luna,” I muttered, and at this point, I honestly didn’t want to pick up this fight with him and just wanted everything to slide.

“Hmmm,” he sighed as he took a glass of wine. I assume he was trying to watch down his frustration.

“I hate that you see being the Luna, my wife, as a job you need to fulfill,” he said rather calmly than the gravity of the words spoken. He was being careful with his words, and I was thankful that he had not blown it way out of proportion.

“I don’t say being your wife is a job, but being the Luna is surely a job,” why can’t I just shut up and let all this slide?

“That’s because you see it that way, being the Luna is more like a responsibility, and on your part, you need to invest in being my wife.” He explained calmly. I appreciate the texture of his voice even though it has increased an octave higher.

At this point, no one was touching their food.

“Well, it still sounds like a job to me if you are adding responsibility to it, and by the way, this wasn’t the context of the conversation. I just wanted you to know that I was a person who had always detested the spotlight on me due to the negative label attached. Being the Luna of the night howlers wasn’t an exception,” I explained to him, trying to find a common ground and not further go into conversation with him in that regard. It was already as exhausting as it could get.

He breathed out, “Well, it is one of the things that comes with the job,” he said, throwing air quotes with the sentence to make it more dramatic. “That was why when your sister was cheating, even if she took her cheating a*s outside town, it was still very easy to catch her in the act.” He replied, and I could see him still spiteful by the mention of the act. I hated how he demeaned my sister when he talked about her. Yes, I am aware she caused it for herself but was there no place for forgiveness in all this?

But I didn’t want to bring up the topic with him. At this point, I knew the only thing that could remove his mind from my statement of detesting being the Luna was to bring up the initial conversation I had tried to avoid.

“Is that why you went to visit her?” I asked briefly and immediately regretted asking because I knew I had just opened the wound of countless uncomfortable conversations.

“I went to see if I could be like you, you know, do the whole forgiving thing and talk to your ex. But it was way harder than I had thought, I couldn’t just forget all the hate in my heart and neglect all the suffering I had gone through because of these people,” at this point, I felt infuriated by his comment because I knew he was invalidating my pain and making it insignificant to his.

“Do you think I am not hurt by what they did to me?” I wasn’t asking because it came out as one of those questions that didn’t really need an answer.

“You sure don’t act like you are, considering you had gone to visit the same man that cheated on you by f*****g your sister twice in one week,”

What the f**k is his problem?

“I needed closure, I needed to know why,” I replied, and this time it was my voice being increased, and I was the one sounding so angry.

“Knowing Ben so well, I am sure you wouldn’t get any form of closure from him. I know you won’t because he won’t give you any tangible reason, so why bother, or are you hoping you could rekindle some kind of prison romance with him?”

I can’t believe we were having our first fight over such a trivial matter. Alexander was right; Ben didn’t give me any form of closure. For one, he made me more on edge, and I couldn’t even let that out in the fear of how Alpha Alex would respond to it, considering that he didn’t even respond well to my visit.

“We all have our individual way of dealing with our pain, I confront mine and not f*****g run away from it like you are trying to do now,”

He let out small laughter. It wasn’t pleasant laughter, “in all your confrontation, have you found peace or more reasons to be in pain? Edwina, not all wounds need revisiting, and that’s what you don’t get. And by the way, I forbid you from ever going to see Ben,” he said, dropping his table clothing angrily on the table.

“I am done eating,” he said and paused while he was wheeling away from the table’ and I will be working all night at the study. I don’t need disturbance,” he said as he strode away in anger.

I sighed and let out an exasperated gasp. In an attempt to avoid a conversation, I started one I wasn’t ready for. And who the f**k does he think he is to tell me who to see and not to?

F**k him.

 

The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 32

Alexander’s POV…

I hated the fact that we had just quarreled over something as irrelevant and baseless as this. When I came back from work and was informed she wasn’t back from her visit with Ben, I was agitated, but I also found out that she had gone to see her sister and became a bit relaxed. It wasn’t like I was particularly jealous of Ben, but I don’t know why she would still love him after all he had put her through. Was she being naive, or was she purposely blinding herself to the truth, which was glaring to anyone who would even bother to see it?

But she chose not to see it. She was still naive, weak, and blinded to the fact that Ben used her and never loved her. But what I truly wanted to know was why Ben married her.

I have had conversations with Ben, and he had never had any relationship with any humans, so when I heard he had secretly gotten married to a woman who didn’t have a wolf, I questioned his choice.

He had told me that the moon goddess had revealed her to him, but he lied, obviously. He had always kept her hidden, stating that she was an extremely private person, and that was why I never got to meet her while they were still married. Sonia had also failed to mention to me that Ben got married to the sister she had always gone to visit, and now that I think of it, I realize that I was indeed so foolish. I was doing the wrong thing by not investigating or doing my background check and trusting all they said till it was too late.

Well, here I am now, struggling with grief underneath it all and all the backlash that comes with it. Not to talk more of the fact that I am married to a woman who doesn’t love me, I don’t know if I did that as an act of desperation or vengeance. I can’t tell what informed my decision the most.

I knew when I asked Edwina to marry me, I didn’t like her one bit, well, not in a romantic way, so I can’t tell why I had asked her to marry me. Now here I was, developing an attachment with her, and she was still so much brooding over her cheating piece of thrash husband, and she didn’t even seem to even notice that I like her. I don’t want to use the word love because that would be a little bit much, and I wasn’t sure yet.

I heard a knock on the door, and my head tried to convince me that it was Edwina coming to apologize for us to make up. Why should she even apologize? We were having a conversation, and I blew it out of proportion due to my underlying anger and resentment towards her ex-husband.

But this knock was gentle and definitely not feminine.

“Come in,” I called out after the knock hit the door for the third time. I wanted to be alone here and just ponder on some of my heartaches, but now someone was already disturbing my quiet time.

The door slowly opened, and Caleb appeared.

Of course, it would be him. He was the only one that had that kind of access to me at this time of the night.

“Caleb, I can’t have a peaceful and quiet night without you interfering with it,” I said, and he chuckled.

“You want to have a peaceful and quiet night after arguing with your Luna,”

Damn!!!

Were we that loud? Oh shit!!!

I wasn’t taking into any consideration that the wall to the dining room wasn’t as thick as that of the bedroom, and guards and maids were standing right outside.

“Tell me we aren’t the talk of the realm yet,” I mumbled.

“Well, not the realm, just the night howlers territory. What happened?” He asked immediately with a smile.

“Shit, I don’t know, maybe I am just on edge with all that is happening. And now that the sizzlers are right on our neck again, I am trying to contain the situation so that people don’t get unnecessary stress and worry over it,” I explained. “I guess I took out some of my frustration on her. Because now that I think about it, whatever we were quarreling about was not so trivial and didn’t hold any substantial grounds.” I added.

“Hmmm,” he sighed. “I don’t know what to say to you for the first time,” he shrugged and sat down on the visitor’s leather cushion in the study, close to the bookshelves and a bit far from the desk where I sat.

“Really, for the first time since I have known you, there are no unsolicited words of wisdom coming from you,” I teased, and he laughed. Then I joined in the laughter, and soon I found myself laughing with him for over a minute in harmony, and all of a sudden, the air felt lighter and not so heavy and clouded.

“Ahhhmmm,” we both chorused when we were done laughing and exhaling out.

“I couldn’t sleep truly. I was bothered about all this and this new responsibility you had put on my shoulders. Being the Beta, I would have to be at the war front, making the hard call and decisions. I had always been okay being the middle line man,” he expressed out, and I could see the genuine fright in his eyes. It was understandable too. I was also frightened because I knew if it was based on this capacity of soldiers we have and the potential of more leaving us, we might most likely not win this war, and that was scary to me to face and admit to myself. No matter how I wanted to paint it.

“I understand your worry, I am also worried too, all this had come to my mind since I left that God damn meeting and I can’t lie it is scary.” I also confessed to him in sincerity.

“I know I am supposed to be the Alpha and meant to be strong all the time but why am I to pretend that I am not because honestly, I am scared shitless and so scared of the outcome,”

He shrugged and stood up, moved to the executive chair opposite me before he picked up a pencil and paper.

“But I can’t help but wonder, I don’t know if I am the only one that gets to see it as way odd,”

“What is that?” I asked and turned the table lamp a bit to face directly the window that oversaw the garden and a view of the pool. In that pool, Sonia liked to sit down. I used to love that window because it gave me a perfect view of her, and she would always go swimming in the sexiest swimming suit because she knew I was always watching.

“Why is it that, out of all things they could ask for as their settling bargain, they ask for Edwina? Don’t you see that as odd?”

I did feel it was way off. That was the last thing I had expected the sizzlers to ask for because there was no sort of logical backing as to why they would want Edwina. Their Alpha Bethel had more than four mates and countless concubines. So why would he throw such an opportunity to finally get the night howlers’ territory by settling for Edwina?

“I found it so strange, but I reasoned maybe he just knew I wouldn’t settle for that because I just got married so he asked something that he knew was impossible to give,” I tried to explain, but something in me wasn’t satisfied by the sort of reasoning to it.

“I don’t think that is it. I know Alpha Bethel to some extent, and he doesn’t think that way. There is a reason to why he wants Edwina, and it’s not because he knows you won’t agree,” Caleb replied, and I knew that about Alpha Bethel too. He wasn’t one to leave his chances to the probability that I may give her up or not.

“Hmmm,” I sighed. “I think you are right, as your first assignment as the Beta, I want you to find out with utmost discretion why Bethel wants Edwina,”

He nodded and stood up, ” Yes Alpha, I will do just that.” He stepped back a bit, ” I would be taking my leave now, to retire for sleep. Please do get some sleep and reconcile with your Luna,”

He gave a little bow of respect and left the room. He was right. The fight I had with Edwina was truly pointless, and I didn’t have the right to ban her from visiting Ben if that was her coping mechanism and way to heal.

I began to close the books I had opened but not read when I heard another knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called out. I wondered what Caleb wanted again.

The door opened slowly, and Edwina appeared. She was wearing a short, white nightgown.

She slowly walked to where I sat without uttering a word. And I was speechless. She looked gorgeous. Her hair was packed upward into a single bun and held upward with a silver pin.

“Hey,” she whispered calmly.

“Hey, ” I said and reached out for her waist immediately as she reached where I sat.

Gosh, f**k. She looks so sexy. I wish I could just reveal to her immediately that I could walk and bend her over to this desk and f**k her till she is squirting all over my body. I want to do that and all to her right now. And I am praying I resist the urge.

“I am sorry for the way I acted. I was, __” I didn’t wait for her to finish. I pulled her to me, making her bend a little so that she would be at the same level I was on the executive chair where I sat, and I took my mouth into hers. She tasted like flavored toothpaste and smelt like my perfume. She must have rubbed my oil perfume because she smelt like it. I continued to k**s her, tilting her head forward and my hands caressing through her breast roughly. I was way past the stage of tenderness. I needed her badly. To f**k her so badly, her hands were already going down my trousers to find my hard length. I lifted up her dress over her head and thanked the moon goddess that she was already strapped naked underneath it all.

I cupped her breast into my hands and began to explore and suck them. I took them each and moved to the next while my other hands slid down her legs to find her clits. She was moaning loudly.

And I loved the sound she made every time my hands reached her sweet spot. She quickly brought out my hard length, and without hesitating, she slid my hard manhood into her v****a and sat on me. She began slowly to ride me, and I held her waist to aid in synchronizing all the movement. And soon, she increased her pace, and I went along with her. We were both moaning and breathing heavily, and I knew I wasn’t going to last this round because I was already reaching my climax, and as soon as I did, she let out a m**n as she was also cumming too. We finished together, both breathing huskily.

“That was great,” she said as she stood up from me, wearing her clothes back. And my mind went back to her words about her views on being my Luna as a job.

Does she also see having s*x with me as part of the job jurisdiction?

“Edwina, do you also see having s*x with me as part of your job?” I asked, and as soon as the question went off my mouth, I realized how it sounded.

She frowned, “I came here to make peace with you, but it turns out peace is not an option for you. Think whatever you so please, I don’t f*****g care.” She retorted angrily and left. I banged my hands hard on the table, and I realized exactly what my problem was.

I have been hurt, and I am finding it hard to trust without looking for a reason. I need closure.

And that was when I came to fact with the truth I needed to see Sonia again.

 

The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 33

Edwina’s POV…

I abhorred the fact that I thought I needed to make peace with him that night and went to f**k him in his study room like some cheap stake, and after all that, he still had the nerve to ask me a question that wasn’t called for.

I went back to the room sad and woke up multiple times at night, hoping he would come to bed, but he didn’t. He slept in the study room. Why do I feel bad when it was clearly his fault? I wanted to make peace, and he didn’t.

I am genuinely trying my best to be his wife, but he doesn’t seem to see my effort one bit. I woke up when I could feel the ray of the sun reflecting on my face. I murmured and cursed out because I was aware it was only Becca that could wake me up in such a vicious manner. She is pure evil.

“Good morning, ma’am,” she said with a smile on her face, but I would interpret it as an evil grin considering what she had just done. I needed more time to sleep.

“Why are you waking me up this early, Becca? I don’t have any activity or function planned for today.” I mumbled as I stretched my hands, yawning.

“Hmm,” she rolled her eyes to a newspaper and orange juice sitting at the bedside table, and I could see her contemplating if she should tell me or not.

“What is it?” I asked curiously. Putting on my night robes and picking up the newspaper.

“I thought you knew,” she said calmly.

And I began flipping through the pages of this magazine because obviously, whatever I am to know is in the pages of this newspaper.

I could seem to find exactly what I was supposed to be looking for until I saw a striking headline.

*NIGHT HOWLERS ANNOUNCE A NEW BETA.*

Surprisingly, I am finding out such an important piece of information as the Luna from the pages of a newspaper, but I didn’t want to look offended. If I was at least half as important as the Luna, this was a decision we were supposed to make together before announcing it to anyone. But I guess I am not that important to him. And all he can do is to ask me stupid questions.

I don’t know why I feel offended.

“I thought you knew about it,” Becca said when she noticed I was silent for an awfully long time.

“It is no big deal. I think Caleb will make such a great Beta. He is loyal to Alpha Alex,” I replied, trying to pretend I wasn’t bothered that I was the last one to find out this information.

“So when do we start planning.?” Becca asked, and I glared at her in confusion. I had no idea what exactly she was talking about.

“What are we planning for?” I asked her.

She smiled and walked towards the wardrobe, and started dropping clothes. She always picks out the clothes I wear. She claims she doesn’t trust me to pick out my own outfit because I will end up picking something that doesn’t suit my personality as the Luna.

“As the Luna, it is your responsibility to plan a party to celebrate events such as this. Invite all allies to wine and dine.”

Okay, now, this is something I do not want to do. Why do I want to invite people to come into our territory to ridicule us more?

“And why do I want to do that?” I asked, and she smiled, dropping a royal blue gown on the bed.

“This is perfect,” she triumphed and twirled to me.

“Because you are the Luna, and that is part of your duty, I know you do not love the spotlight, but this is something you need to do to show that the night howler has an active and willing Luna.”

She explained well, and I could see the reason why she would want me to do it.

“Okay then, what do we start from?”

She raised her hands again in triumph, “you just get dressed, and I will set a schedule of things we need to do. I will also call Ramona. She will help us get some of the important contacts and speed up the process. We are already way behind the schedule.” She spoke so excitedly.

“Who is Ramona?” I asked, still trying to process all the information at once. All these were still so new to me, and I needed to get the details one step at a time.

“Oh, Ramona, ” she chuckled a bit. “She is the Alpha’s personal secretary. She can be a lot at times, but she’s competent to get the job done.”

That reminds me of Becca and how overly stressful she could be, but she gets the job done all the time.

“Oh, then, let’s get her and start. When is this party scheduled to hold?”

“Tonight!!!”

I exclaimed. I wasn’t sure how exactly they wanted me to f*****g pull off such a great task in the space of a couple of hours. And being the first event I would be throwing as the Luna, I know that all eyes would be on me, and most of them would be anticipating my failure.

“I don’t think I can pull it off,” I clamoured.

“Of course, you can. I will be here to help every step of the way,” and that was enough motivation I needed to get inspired. Then I realized that Becca wasn’t a handmaid to me; she was more like my friend. And though I had not fully learned to trust her. I feel I could divulge some fairly innocuous information to her and see if I would get some quality advice. After all, she was here when my sister was still Luna, and in comparison to this. I feel she is in the best place to tell me what to do.

“What is it, Luna?” She asked when I was done taking my bath and now seated before the mirror, my thoughts were far, and I couldn’t honestly tell what bothered me the most. Was it this ridiculous unplanned party I was about to throw? Or the fact that I had not seen him this morning?

“I am sure we would be able to pull it off, don’t worry,” she tried again to assure me. She used the hairbrush to gently stroke my hair which was temporary curly from the long bath I had just taken.

“That’s not it,” I confessed and finally decided to tell her. “Alpha Alex did not sleep here last night and had not even come in to check up on me this morning. I am worried I might have pushed him away with my attitude,”

“Hmmm,” she exhaled. ” I noticed he didn’t sleep here too. I wanted to ask but decided that it was none of my business.” She paused and took the hand dryer to plug it into a switch, and began to blow drying the hair.

“And I also heard rumour of the quarrel you two had in the dining room,”

Oh shit!!! We are now the talk of the pack. I shouldn’t have let myself be carried away and have such a conversation in the dining room, knowing well that the wall had a lot of ears.

“Yes, we did. I had also gone to apologize,” I paused and thought of my idea about an apology. I had gone to seduce him to have s*x with me and had ended up picking up another fight with him. That wasn’t really an apology.

“Well, I think you two need to really take time out and go on a vacation or a mini honeymoon. Considering the situation you both were in that led to this marriage, there is a need to do a lot of alignment, else you will never see eye to eye,”

For the first time, I agree totally with Becca. We had both jumped into this thing with unresolved trauma hunting us from the past. I might not want to fall in love with him, but there is a need for peace. I think we need to have our honeymoon.

 

The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 34

Alexander’s POV…

I woke up early in the morning to the ray of the sun reflecting in my eyes. This must have been one of the most uncomfortable sleep I have had in quite a long time. I was about to stand up when I quickly recalled that I was supposed to be crippled.

“Good Morning,” a familiar voice sang as I was still trying to shake myself back to reality.

I looked in the direction of the now opened window blinds, and Caleb was standing there, already dressed with one of his renowned smiles on his face.

“When I saw Edwina heading down here as I was going back to my room, I thought you two would have made up, and you wouldn’t have to sleep on that uncomfortable couch.” There was this slight tone that I could tell he was teasing me, but it was too early to get humorous for me. My back is still suffering from the pain caused by the couch. This couch wasn’t designed for a six-foot, four inches tall man to sleep on.

“Well I messed it up again and this time I am not sure she will k**s me again,” the word came out of my mouth before I could restrict it from doing so. I could see a smile form on Caleb’s face. He can be so cocky with his smile.

“So what do you want right now from her, because something tells me you just dived into something you weren’t really sure of the outcome and now don’t know the way forward,” he spoke as he headed to where my wheelchair was and rolled it for me. If only he knew I didn’t need it in order to move. I don’t know why I am still hesitant to reveal that truth to him. I trust Caleb. Honestly, I do, but I don’t know why I am still hesitant.

“I think I have some unresolved trauma with Sonia, and it is causing me a great deal in my marriage with Edwina. I don’t trust her, and it isn’t because she has given me any reason not to but simply because of my trust issue that was birthed from Sonia’s betrayal,” I spoke sincerely. This was the first time I was openly speaking my truth, and it finally felt right to come to terms with it. I have been pretending to be strong all this while and act like Sonia’s betrayal wasn’t a huge blow on my face and ego as an Alpha, then my Luna could she right under my nose and not fear the consequence. No wonder I am considered a joke all around the realm.

“Do you want to go see Sonia and, this time, have an actual conversation with her?” He asked, and I nodded in agreement.

***

Throughout the ride to the prison, I could feel the tension in the air. It was heavier than the last time I had attempted to speak to her, maybe because this time, I knew I was actually going to speak to her, and there was no backing down from it.

It was crazy that I could be scared of this common act when I had engaged in wars.

I decided not to go to the room before leaving to avoid seeing Edwina because I wasn’t sure what I should tell her or the explanation that I should give to her about the way I had been acting.

I took my bath in Caleb’s room and got my clothes brought to me. I knew I had to fix all this mess because, by evening, we ought to be appearing together at the party she would be throwing to honor the new Beta wolf; another thing I feel so bad about. I should have told her about it before making the decision or even announcing it to the public. As my Luna, she deserves to be accorded such a high level of respect. But she most likely saw it in the paper or heard about it from Becca. Ramona had called me to inform me about Edwina’s plan to throw a party. I realized my mistake then.

The car came to an abrupt stop as we reached our destination. I then realized that I had been absent-minded throughout the trip to the penitentiary.

“We are here,” Caleb announced as he rushed out to help me get into the wheelchair, but the guards had already rushed out to help me. I hate feeling this helpless. But I think I need to keep this act going for a little while. I know it would help me and be worth it in the end.

I wheeled myself into the private waiting room, and I could feel my heart racing faster than the speed of light.

F**k!!!

The door opened, and Sonia appeared with her baby bump, smiling and glaring straight into my eyes. She walked towards the table this time, not hesitating. It was almost like she was expecting me this time with the type of certainty in her eyes.

“Hello, Alex,” she greeted with a smile on her face. She still had that hold and grip on me when she called my name and the effect it had on me. Things like this don’t disappear overnight. You don’t go from loving someone one day and hating them the next day. It doesn’t just work like that.

“Hello, Sonia,” I said calmly. I was trying my best to say a few words so that the fear in my heart was not expressed in my looks or heard in my voice.

“I knew you would come back to see me; it must have been hard for you the first time,” she spoke so calmly, and it was so hard to tell if she was pretending or not. The Sonia I knew didn’t show any empathy, but this wasn’t that Sonia.

“Yes, it was hard, especially seeing you with that,” I said, rolling my eyes to her baby bump. I feel bad because I am not able to call it what it is. Instead, I refer to it as that, but I wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I am yet to know the gender,” she said with a smile and reached out her hands to hold mine, which were clenched together on the table, but I pulled out of her grip. I hated that I pulled out that fast, but it was more like a reflex action.

I wanted to stand up and walk away, but that would be blowing up everything I have worked for.

“I know it is hard, but I am truly sorry, Alex. There is nothing I can say or do right now that would make you see it differently. But I truly am,” Sonia muttered as her eyes began to stream with tears.

Seeing her, I recalled back one day when we had made love to each other and the beauty of that night. Whoever knew this would be the outcome of such a bitter-sweet love?

I remember when I had kissed her and held on to her with so much passion.

“I just have one question for you,” I exhaled, ” Why did you cheat on me? When did it start? Did you ever love me?” I knew I said I was only going to ask a question, but my mind was hovering around with multiple questions than to only ask one.

“I don’t know why I cheated on you. I have always been the ambitious type. When I got married to you, I was happy being the Luna, but I wasn’t sure I was happy being your wife then. So I didn’t have a strong will to resist Ben when he came to me,” she confessed.

“So you are trying to say that he seduced you into cheating on me? You want me to believe that bullshit,” I yelled at her in disgust. How stupid does she think I am?

She stood up and moved towards where I sat and knelt before me.

“I am truly sorry, I loved you, and I still do. I was just selfish, stupid, and lacked discipline, and when you got disabled, it got worst. I know I wronged you, Alex but I am truly sorry,” at this point, she was wailing at my feet, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, not because she was repented but because she was looking so pathetic with her apology. And truly, my heart had no space for sympathy for her.

“You would be put on trial according to the law. I have forgiven you, Sonia, and it’s not because you deserve it, but because I need to stop harboring hatred for you in my heart, it is not healthy, but I will never forget what you did to me,” I said, and before she could say anything, I called out the guard to get me out of there, but she held me crying before the guard pulled her away from me.

“I am sorry Alex,” those were the last things I heard her say as I exited the room.

 

The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 35

Edwina’s POV…

I can’t believe I finally pulled it off with my life intact. It was a whole lot of work and stress, but Becca and Ramona came through for me. They were so proactive and efficient in delivering, so I had less to worry about. It was party time, and I had not yet seen Alex. I was getting worried. Had I pushed him away with my reaction?

I should understand things aren’t easy for him, too, he was betrayed in the worst possible way, and I don’t want to downplay his struggles. He became crippled in the cause of their infidelity, and he doesn’t even know about it yet.

I knew I had to dress extra special today. First, I needed to dress to make an appearance. It will be my first public appearance to the night howlers as the Luna. And as tradition may have it, I am the one supposed to pour the sacred oil on the new Beta after his being crowned by the Luna.

And also, I need to dress beautifully to appease my husband. I was tired of the back and forth, and as Becca had suggested, maybe we needed a honeymoon, it might not make me fall in love with him, but at least we would be at peace.

I can work with peace for the rest of my life, and we can maybe be friends. I think I can settle for that.

I took a good amount of time doing my makeup. I had insisted on doing it myself today and given Becca the rest of the day to rest and prepare for the party, and then I picked a black gown. It had stones on it, and I wore the golden Luna crown for the first time ever. The crown was meant for special occasions, and I think this was one.

I stood before the mirror smiling. I had truly outdone myself.

There was a slight knock on the door, and before I uttered a word, the door slowly opened, and Alex appeared, wheeling himself towards me. He was already dressed and looked dashingly handsome. It was like we planned the color; he was also wearing black with a slight touch of golden and wore his crown also.

Would it be wrong if I told him how handsome he looked? He paused when he was directly opposite me.

“Wow,” he said with a grin on his face, “You look so beautiful,” he complimented, and I tried not to blush, but my pink cheeks were already given that away. “Becca did a great job with the makeup.”

“Thank you,” I replied with a smile on my face, “I did the makeup myself,” I spoke proudly with a smirk on my face.

“Wow, we should consider opening a beauty parlor for you,” he teased, and I chuckled.

“You look handsome, black looks good on you,” I said calmly.

“Thank you,” he replied.

Soon an awkward silence took over the room, and I couldn’t help but be disappointed at how cold we went in minutes.

“I am sorry for what I said yesterday,” he finally said, breaking the silence.

“No, you shouldn’t be, I understand where you are coming from,” I interrupted him. “You have been through a lot and truly that would alter anyone’s ability to trust again,”

“It hasn’t altered yours,” he countered, and I gave a half-smile.

“Who said so, maybe I just can hide my pain better than others,” I replied, and he came close to where I stood, and I sat down on the edge of the bed to put us on the same level. He held my hands.

“You must have been used to the pain of this nature. That isn’t how it is supposed to be,” he spoke, and I could hear the empathy in his voice. There is something about this man that feels so familiar to me.

“Well, what really can I do about it,” I muttered calmly to him, and he breathed out.

“We should head out, most of the guests are already arriving,”

I held his hand, “Alex,” I said, and he smiled.

“I love the sound of your name on your lips,” he held my hands together with his and caressed them gently.

“I was thinking,”

“About what?” He asked almost immediately,

“Since we got married, we haven’t gotten any time to stay together,” I swallowed in a gulp of saliva. I don’t know why it is so hard for me to mutter words as simple as this.

“Alone,” I paused, took a deep breath, and continued, “I think we should take out some time to spend alone and get to know each other more. Far from here, away from the noise,”

A smile formed instantly on his face as I was shamelessly blushing pink. I can’t believe I was proposing a romantic getaway.

“Edwina,” he called my name, and I also loved the way my name sounded on his lips, ” are you proposing we have our honeymoon?”

I lowered my head in embarrassment. What was I thinking? Immediately he raised my head up and tilted towards me, instantly taking my lips into his, kissing me with intensity and passionately. This was the first time we would be kissing this intensely, knowing fully well it wouldn’t be leading to s*x. He held onto me for a while, his hot breath on my face, and I knew if it weren’t that we were already late and it would be so hard to get this stupid black dress off, I would have wanted more. I can’t deny the fact that we were sexually active together and had undeniable chemistry.

“I would love that. I think we need it. We rushed into this thing and didn’t have time to get to know each other. I know you don’t love me, not the way you love Ben.”

I frowned at what he said.

“I am sorry,” he quickly apologized when he noticed the change in my countenance, “but what I am hoping is this marriage doesn’t turn out to be something horrible. You might not love me, but still, I am hoping we can be friends,”

“I am hoping we can be friends too,” I replied with a smile on my face.

“So dear friend, when do you want us to take this trip?” He asked as I stood up to adjust my dress and headed to the dressing mirror to put on my lipstick again, as he had smeared the previous one while kissing me.

“What about tomorrow? Why wait for a week or two?”

“I think I like your impulsive side. We can go immediately after I am done clearing some things at work. It might be tomorrow or next.” He replied, and I nodded my head.

***

We went into the grand banquet hall, hand in hand, with elegant smiles on our faces. I could feel a lot of eyes on us as the crowd split into two, clearing the center of the hall for us to pass through. It was glamorous to see how they honored the invitation even with such short notice. We waved as we passed most people and stopped to greet some of the Alphas who were present and paid our respect to them. Alex introduced me to everyone as his Luna, and I gave a beaming smile whenever he did. It was amazing to be given something so relevant. When we made our way to the stage, a mic was handed to me to make a speech.

Becca had already briefed me on what was expected of me to say, and all I needed to do was to follow the script.

“Good day, everyone. It’s an honor for me and Alpha Alexander to have you in our humble abode, thank you for honoring our invitation on such short notice,” applause submerged from the hall briefly, and I smiled.

“But today isn’t about me. It’s about a great man who would take on the mantle of leadership by being the night howler’s Beta wolf. This man had shown great resilience and battle strength, and we can’t help but give him all due respect which we know he deserves.” I paused and glanced at Alexander, who was flickering with a smile on his face. He couldn’t hide his amazement.

“Without further ado, let’s bring to the stage for his coronation, the man of the moment. Caleb,” and there was loud applause as he walked grandly to the stage, and when he got there, he bowed down to me and Alpha Alexander. Then the coronation started. Some of the elder chiefs helped in the ritual, and then soon, people began to turn back and murmur, submerging the hall once more.

“What is going on?” Alpha Alexander asked. And a group of men appeared wearing black and with skull tattoos in front of them, they wore evil grins on their faces, and you could immediately tell they were bad news.

“Sizzlers,” Alexander and Caleb chorused together.

The sizzlers, the same people we were in a large feud with.

“What are they doing here, did you invite them, Edwina?” Alexander asked, facing me.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied. Why would I when I know they are our sworn enemies?”

“Hmmm,”

The tall, muscular man who seemed to be their leader came forward.

“A party and you didn’t invite the sizzlers, are we that much of an enemy, Alpha Alexander.” He yelled out, obviously wanting all the attention to be on him. He got it already.

“What are you doing here, Alpha Bethel? You are not welcome here,” Alexander replied to him. He was with a mic, so he didn’t need to shout.

“Oh come on, is it because I asked for your Luna in exchange for a settlement,” Alpha Bethel said again in a loud bass voice.

I glared at Alexander, I didn’t understand what he meant by what he was saying, and I was willing to know, but I knew this wasn’t the time I asked him or questioned the authority of my husband in front of everyone.

“I just came here to let you know that the time is ticking. I am waiting for your reply else I will reign hell and water on the night howler territory,” he threatened and, without waiting for a reply, turned back and walked out of the hall. There was a lot of chattering coming from every angle of the hall. We were able to control the crowd enough to complete the ceremony. And after just a few minutes of greeting some people, Alpha Alexander and I retired to our bedroom. As soon as the doors were shut, I cast a glare at him, demanding an explanation.

“I am so sorry, I should have told you,” he apologized.

“Tell me about what, what does he mean by the settlement?” I asked curiously as I was confused.

“They want to start another war and they asked as an exchange for settlement I surrender you to them,”

“What, why will they ask__,”

“I will never do it. I would rather die, the sizzlers will always keep asking for something. Last time they asked for half of our territory and its people and now this,” he explained while lurking his hands through his hair. I could tell he was highly agitated.

“That’s absurd. There is no way we are heading to their threat. Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have organized such a large gathering. Look at what happened now. They just used it as an avenue to create chaos among the pack,” I muttered as I went on my knee to hold his hands and prevent them from scratching off his hair.

“I know, I am sorry, I will have Caleb manage it, don’t worry things will be fine,”

I nodded my head and pulled him into a hug. I don’t know if this was the right time to tell him of Ben’s affiliation with the sizzlers.

No, he already had enough blow for one night. I think I will tell him during our trip.