Chosen By Fate, Rejected By Hate

Chapter 12

Alpha Magnus Pov

"What? The woman you had a one-night stand with at the bar before is now living in your house? And you even have a child with her?" my best friend Alex exclaimed in disbelief after I told him everything about Mavi and Moses. He had just arrived back from a vacation abroad, so this was the first chance I had to tell him what I had been dealing with these past few weeks.

"Yes, Alex. They are living with me now. And my son actually wants me to marry his mother," I said before taking a slow sip of wine from my glass.

"What does this woman look like then, Magnus? Is she beautiful? Sexy? Is she a normal human or a werewolf like us?" The shock faded from Alex’s face and was replaced by obvious excitement. He has always had an eye for beautiful women, a habit he has never been able to control. I often wonder how we even became best friends considering how different our personalities are. But perhaps it is because we both lost our parents at a young age. And what is more, they were both killed by the very same person.

My hand clenched tight around the stem of my glass as that painful memory surfaced. To this day, I have not been able to avenge their deaths. Aside from what Alex’s father, who served as my father’s Beta, told me before he died, I have no solid proof that Alpha Meynard is the one responsible. But I know the truth. And I know the day will come when I will finally make him pay for what he did.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?" Alex nudged my arm when I did not answer right away.

I poured myself another drink and took a sip before speaking. "Yes, I heard you. She is very beautiful. And she still looks stunning even after giving birth to my son."

Unexpectedly, Mavi’s face played clearly in my mind. I pictured her dark, mesmerizing eyes framed by long, soft lashes that lowered whenever she was shy or thoughtful. Her nose was perfectly shaped, and her naturally rosy lips looked so tempting.

To be honest, the very first thought that crossed my mind once my anger cooled was the urge to kiss her. It happened right after I found out she was the woman from that night and that she had hidden my child from me. I wanted to confirm that she was indeed the one I had spent those hours with in my car. But I forced myself to hold back. Under these circumstances, something like that between us is impossible.

"Wow. Now I really want to meet her. I want to see the woman who caught your attention apart from the daughter of the Alpha you despise. Between the two of them, who do you think is more beautiful?" Alex’s tone grew even more eager. "And you know what is funny? It is such a huge coincidence that they share the exact same name. Didn’t you notice? Both of them are called Mavi," he added with an amused grin.

As he spoke, the image of Mavi, the mother of my child, was replaced by the face of Alpha Meynard’s daughter. In my eyes, the daughter of my enemy was far more beautiful and appealing. Even though she dressed simply and modestly, she stood out more than the Mavi currently living under my roof.

I frowned slightly as a strange thought struck me. This was the first time I truly noticed how similar their eyes, noses, and lips actually looked. But that was impossible. Alpha Meynard’s daughter and the woman living in my house could not possibly be the same person. They may look alike, but their personalities and styles are completely different.

Alpha Meynard’s daughter dressed plainly and carried herself with grace and shyness. She had a gentle face and seemed so kind, the type who would retreat to a corner and cry if she were scolded. Meanwhile, Mavi, Moses’ mother, was sharp, dressed fashionably, and carried herself with a fierce, unyielding confidence. There was no way they were the same woman.

I took another sip of wine and let out a long sigh. I had not seen Alpha Meynard’s daughter since the night I rejected her publicly. I had heard nothing about her whereabouts either. All I knew was that her father had disowned her right after that ceremony. My rejection had been a deep insult to Alpha Meynard. If he had not expelled her from the pack, it might have shaken his authority as their leader. To be honest, one of my reasons for rejecting her was to damage his standing. But my plan failed. Mavi was cast out instead, and now she had vanished without a trace.

In truth, a part of me felt guilty when I learned what she had gone through. To be disowned by her own father, betrayed by the man she chose and the friend she trusted. I had even sent my men to look for her, but they found no trace. Perhaps she went into hiding to escape the shame and pain.

"If I had to choose, I would say Mavi, the mother of my child, is more beautiful," I answered Alex after a long silence. To someone like Alex who judges beauty by appearance and style, I am sure he would agree that the woman living with me is more attractive. But in my own eyes, Alpha Meynard’s daughter holds a beauty that far surpasses hers.

"I am even more curious to meet her now. Come on, I will drive you home later so I can finally meet your son and his mother. Besides, you have had enough to drink. You should not be driving," Alex said with a wide smile.

I gave him a sharp, warning look. "You better behave yourself, Alex. She is not like the other women you casually chase after."

"Relax, Magnus. You are getting far too protective," Alex teased. "Remember, you only have rights over your son. You do not have any claim over her. I simply want to get to know the mother of your child."

"I know I have no rights over her," I replied seriously, my tone sharper than I intended. "But she is the mother of my son, and Moses loves her deeply. If you ever hurt her, it is Moses who will suffer the most. And I will not allow that to happen."

Alex chuckled softly and shook his head, but his expression turned serious again a moment later. "Speaking of which, how can you be so certain that Moses is truly your child? What if she is just deceiving you?"

I shook my head firmly and set my glass down on the table. "Once you see his face, you will not doubt it for a second."

"So what do you plan to do now? Will you grant your son’s wish and marry her? What about Sonia? Did you not make a promise to her mother before she passed away? You swore you would take care of her and never abandon her daughter. That is the main reason she became your chosen mate, is it not? She fully expects to marry you and become the Luna of the Iron Pack one day," Alex said gravely.

"That is exactly the problem I am stuck in right now, Alex. My son has threatened to leave my house if I marry anyone else. Yet I cannot bring myself to break the promise I made to Sonia’s mother." I had always wanted an heir, someone who would one day take over my business and lead the pack as the next Alpha. I truly love Moses, and I am grateful that he is my son.

For the third time that night, I let out a heavy sigh. For the first time in my life, I had absolutely no idea what decision to make without hurting the people who mattered most to me.