Page 218 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

He smiled again, a harsh smile of cruel triumph. “Every wolf knows the story,” he said with a shrug, his casual words and actions contradicting with the glint in his eyes. “But I had inside information,” he added, unable to contain himself.

“Elaborate on that,” she said, her voice calm. “I’m sure it’s quite the story.”

“It is, and one I am quite proud of,” he boasted. “You still don’t even realize the power you hold, little goddess.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, though,” she said, shaking her head and looking at him with something close to pity. “I am powerless. I may have the blood of Selene, the blood of a goddess in my veins, but that is all I have. I have no gifts, no powers, no abilities.”

He cackled. “The power isn’t yours to use, silly girl. It’s the power you give your mate once they mark you. The power that strengthens him, strengthens his pack, and makes them better than any other.”

I blinked and furrowed my brow. “But—”

Haven cut me off with a sharp glare, and I bit my tongue, holding back the words I had been about to say.

“She’s distracting him. Let him talk so we have time to find the witch,” my dad mindlinked me. “Who cares if he forgot that part of the story? That Asteria could only be marked by her mate. It just proves how utterly delusional he is.”

“You see, Conan’s youngest son knew Selene’s daughter would bring power and glory to whoever she was mated to when she came along. His brothers all shunned him for his idea, saying that wasn’t the point of Selene sending another daughter to her warriors. But he knew the truth. He knew what Conan had hidden from his children all those years—that Asteria was the real reason for his prowess.

“This youngest son seduced a young oracle acolyte and learned when the next daughter would arrive. Even then, Selene already knew when she would send you, knew when we would be ready to receive her gift again.

“He passed this information down to his children, and their children, and so on, until it reached me. Of course, I didn’t want to rely on old information passed orally over centuries, so I did my own research. I also formed a relationship with an acolyte and confirmed your arrival during one of my many visits there.”

“The oracles wouldn’t just tell you what you wanted to know, though,” I said. “You or Conan’s son.”

“I don’t know how he learned the information, but I had the help of Gladys. My witch. The thirteen crones shunned her for delving into forbidden magic. I offered her shelter and protection in exchange for her services. And she has served me very well.”

His lip curled at that, and a wave of disgust and nausea rolled through Haven. But she kept her mask up. Kept that cool, indifferent look on her face. I wrapped my arm around her, though, supporting her and giving her more strength to continue her misdirection.

His grip on Maddie had relaxed during his diatribe. But as she squirmed to escape, he tightened it again, glaring down at her and nicking her skin again with his claws. I tensed, and low growls rumbled behind us, but I didn’t turn to see if it was Sebastian, Reid, Nolan or all three.

“So you knew when I would arrive, but how did you know it was me? How did you find me?” Haven asked, trying to bring his attention back to her, pulling it away from Maddie again.

“I stole a piece of a relic from the temple on Selene’s island. A relic that contained her hair. Gladys was able to scry for anyone who shared that DNA, and that’s how we knew where you were.

“Getting to you was harder, though. Social services moved you around so often that forming a plan to take you was difficult.

“But then you found people who actually wanted you, and I could finally snatch you away. All it took was some properly placed poison and a whisper of neglect to the right ears while Jack was in a coma. A little money and a little magic can go a long way in getting an adoption pushed through in record time.”

Haven’s body quivered under my touch, tears of rage pooling in her eyes. Her jaw tightened, and her fists clenched as her anger pulsed through her.

“It was easy to keep you away from other packs. We hid you with magic, making it so no one else would be able to find you by any means.”

He glanced at me, and it was my turn to tremble with withheld rage. He was the reason we couldn’t find any trace of her, try as we might. Him, his bitch of a witch, and Melissa.

“But all of that work almost went to shit. That stupid bitch and her mate let you leave, and John and Mary didn’t even tell me you’d gone. I found out from a mailer sent out by the ballet company listing the company members and their roles in the upcoming performance.

“Luckily, there was time before your birthday, and I was able to get them and Lennox here. I took care of John and Mary and finally told Lennox the truth of what you are. He was even more excited by the idea of claiming you after that.”

I snarled but only tightened my hold on Haven, using her to calm me and keep me from attacking him like he wanted. She gripped onto me as well, and I could feel through the bond she was barely keeping it together. That all of this information was hurting her more than she let everyone believe.

But my mate was strong, and she kept it all in, using me as her strength like I’d told her she could. I was her rock, her anchor, just as she was mine.

“MADDIE!” my mother screamed, and from the corner of my eye, I saw her running with Felix, Benjamin, and a younger wolf running behind them, papers held in Benjamin’s hands.

Sebastian moved on instinct and grabbed our mom, hugging and holding her so she couldn’t get closer and put Maddie at risk. Her body shook as he held her back, her eyes pooling with tears.

“I’m okay, Mom,” Maddie breathed, her voice quiet but strong.

But my sights were on Benjamin. Locked on him. I would kill him if he had double-crossed us.

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