Married to the alpha, marked by another

Chapter 9

Drew’s pov

The hallways were too quiet. I pushed open the door to Mother Luna’s office without waiting for permission. The tension from the council chamber clung to my skin like smoke.

She was sitting behind her desk with her hands folded neatly and her posture perfect. Calm and in charge. Always in control.

"You've come back," she said, her voice soft but heavy. "Elara said a lot.""Yes." "She revealed something." I went further into the room and closed the door behind me. The click echoed.

"Sarah," I said calmly. "She talked about Sarah." Mother's brow rose a little. "Sarah," she said again, slowly.

"The girl I showed mercy to now hid things from me." I snapped, "She isn't just a girl." "And she is not a case of mercy." Her look got sharper.

"She hasn't told anyone about the baby yet, has she?" She asked carefully. "No." "Why?" I said, "Because I told her not to." "I promised her that she would be alone. Until she is safe.

Silence. Then "how did Elara hear about it?" Mom asked in a low voice. I didn't like the way you said that. I said, I don't know how she heard about it, mother! " Elara had no right to do what she did."

"The doctor confirmed the pregnancy yesterday." He said she's a few weeks gone.

Mom's fingers started to tap lightly on the desk. "Weeks," she said in a low voice. "So the child was conceived in Lucian's pack."My jaw got tight. "Yes," I said.

So do you like her? Mother asked. Yes! I replied."And you know what that means." "I know," I said. She got up slowly. "That's not allowed, Drew." You are not allowed to like her like that.

I stopped."What do you mean?" "You are starting to get emotionally involved with a mated woman who is having a baby with another king."

I snapped, "She is not his mate in any way that matters." "He made her do it. Took advantage of her. "Used her."

"And that is what you care about?" she asked sharply. "Since when do you get involved in fights between Alphas in their own homes?"

"It's not a fight," I growled. "It's abuse." Mom's eyes lit up. She said coldly, "I let her come." "Because she is the daughter of my late friend." I didn't bring her to this palace so you could start- She stopped herself.

"To start what?" I asked. For half a second, she lost her cool. "To get you to start f*****g her."

The words hit me like a slap. "What?" I took a step back. "Is that what you think this is?" "You are not paying attention," she said."You are going against the council. You are saying no to Elara. You are putting other things ahead of a woman who is legally married to another Alpha.

"She doesn't belong to anyone." "She carries his pup." "I don't care." The words got away from me before I could make them softer. Then her face changed. Not mad, just calculating. "You don't care," she said again in a low voice.

"I care about her safety," I said. "And about that cub being born free." Once, Mom laughed. Soft. Sharp. "You're letting your feelings control you." "No," I said. "I am making a choice."

She moved closer. "You think this is good? Do you really think the pack will cheer when they find out that their Alpha is having a pregnant omega who is claimed by a Lycan King?

"I am not stuck." She looked down at my clenched fists. "You look very tangled up to me." Something broke in my chest. “I will keep her safe,” I said in a low voice. "And you won't get in the way." Her eyes turned cold.

"Be careful what you say to me." I said, "This is my pack, mother.” You led it. But I am in charge. There was silence. A lot and Charged.

"And what happens when Lucian comes to get what he thinks is his?" she asked softly. My wolf got stronger."He won't." "You can't fight a Lycan King with feelings." "I will fight anyone who threatens someone I am protecting." She was now keeping a close eye on me. Learning.

"You care too much." "Yes." The word even shocked me. But it was real. About Sarah- How she stood in that room. How she didn't break down. How my wolf calmed down when she was around. Mom saw it.

"You are changing," she said."Maybe I am." "And what if this attachment makes you weaker?" I said right away, "It doesn't." "How can you be sure?" Because when she's around, the illness goes away. But I didn't say that. Instead, I said, "Because I've never felt clearer."

Mother's eyes darted back and forth. Only for a second. She said softly, "You will regret this." "Maybe." "And what if I told you not to see her?" I looked her in the eye. "You can't."

My tone of finality changed something between us. I had put it off for years. Heard it. I thought about what I said. Not today, I added, "In fact, you will stay away from her, mum" Her face got darker.

"You think too much." "No," I said. "I'm making a limit." The air got thicker. Then- A sound of footsteps outside the door. My wolf stopped right away. Mom saw. Her eyes got sharper.

"Do you feel that?" she asked softly. I didn't respond. Because I did. The draw. The grounding. The strange, steady calm made me feel weird and closer.

"She affects you," Mother said softly. One more step. Now, right outside the door was Sarah. My heart rate didn't go up; it went down. And that- That scared me more than anything else she said.

Mother's voice got so low that it was almost a whisper. "This is exactly what I was worried about." My hand moved closer to the door. For the first time in my life- I didn't ask my mother for permission.