Haunted by the Sins of the Mother

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Anger, murderous rage took over my mother’s face. She leapt toward the bars of the cell that she was confined to during her trial. She attempted to get her arms out as if trying to strangle me! Her hands flailed towards my face. Nails sharpened. Fingers clawing. Trying to rip at my skin.

“You ungrateful bastard!” she snarled. “Everything I did, I did for you! All of it.  I did it for you! You wanted Laney, I made it happen! I gave you life. I gave you a position! I married the Alpha, so when I gave birth, you would be King! I murdered that simple, too trusting, meek girl that was his mate.” She pointed at my father. “She was a weak Luna. I did the Pack a favor when I poisoned her.” The look on my father’s face was something I’d never seen before. Something between shock, rage, and extreme grief. 

Mother continued to scream. “I did it all for you! Years of living with a man I loathed. Of having to let Jacob touch me when I hated him. Listening to his weak plans. I was strong, and willing to do what was needed to make us stronger. To make you powerful, Zander! And this is how you repay me? Utter BETRAYAL?!!”

I sat up, struggling to breathe. Her hand had been grasping for my neck. The look upon her face haunted me. Sweat poured out of every pore. I did it.  I made her do what she had done. I drove her to lie. To kidnap. Then I betrayed her. When she needed me to lie. I was the reason she was dead. 

I was just a dream, but it was all what had happened. It ended with my father strangling her. This life, this family was a mess. It was a disgrace, and it would end with me. Having a mate made you crazy. Made you weak. Made you do things you’d never thought you’d do. 

I threw myself back onto the bed. My bare chest still heaving. I felt like I was drowning. I threw an arm over my head and stared at the ceiling. I wouldn’t be like them. Crazy like my mother. Weak like my father. I was Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. I was strong! Stronger than them. Stronger than love. I’d almost let my love for girl who wasn’t even my mate destroy me. What would love for my actual mate do?

 I couldn’t let myself find that out. I’d never allow myself to be tat vulnerable or weak again. 

The Dark Moon had a history of ruthlessness.  My grandfather was tough. His father before him, even more so.  And on and on it went back for centuries.

Right then and there in the darkness I vowed to never take a mate. NEVER. Even if that meant Dark Moon dies with me. I’d never give anyone that much control over me. 

If I decided to sire a son, it would be with some meaningless woman. Cast her to the side and be done with her. I would rule alone. Live alone. Die alone. I’d needed no one.