Page 20 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
My dad’s face grew even more pale. “She shouldn’t be saying those things. You two are related by marriage.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, and shame made my stomach churn.
“I agree. But don’t you see, Dad? Evelyn and Ivy can’t be trusted. I think you should change your will back. Not for me, but for your legacy.”
My dad was silent for a moment, then he sighed heavily.
“You just gave me a lot to think about, son,” my dad said and patted my hand. “I promise to consider changing my will again. Maybe I'll call Lyle in the morning to see what he thinks.”
My dad wheezed and rubbed his chest.
“You should get some rest. It isn't good for you to be talking this much,” I said, and squeezed his hand.
He stared up at me, and the sentimental look in his gaze made my eyes water. “You're a good son, Asher. You will do great things, and I want you to know that I'm proud of you. Come here.”
He pulled me in for a hug. My father's embrace was familiar, and it reminded me of all the times he would hug me when I was young. Back then, a simple hug from my dad seemed to fix any problem I had.
Now, nothing was simple.
“I love you, kid,” my dad said when I pulled away. A couple of tears were running down his face. A rattling sound came out of his mouth, and he coughed violently.
My heart cracked in half.
“Hey, stop. This isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you after the mating ceremony. I love you.”
I squeezed his shoulder one last time and left the hospital room, praying to the Moon Goddess that his heart would still be beating when I returned.
The mating ceremony for our pack was always held in the woods at night during the full moon of the fifth month of the year. If a stranger were to stumble upon our ceremony, they might mistake it for awedding. White candles lined the forest floor, creating a walkway to a flowered archway filled with red and white roses. The color of the roses represented our pack name. The red represented blood, and the white signified the moon.
Our entire pack was gathered around to watch the ceremony. I was off to the side, hidden by a clump of trees, waiting for the clock to strike midnight so the ceremony could begin. The back of my neck prickled when I heard the sound of footsteps.
Instinct told me to keep myself hidden, and when I saw who it was, I was glad I did.
Evelyn—who was wearing a form-fitting black dress and a smug smile—moved further into the forest, away from the chatter of the crowd. Then, she looked around shiftily, as if making sure that she was alone.
I froze, not even daring to breathe. She hadn't spotted me, and I couldn't wait to see what she did next.
What are you up to, Evelyn?
Ivy's mother took her phone out of her small black clutch, hit a few buttons, then put it beside her ear. A giant grin bloomed across her face as she waited for the person on the other end of the phone to pick up.
Her smile made my jaw clench with anger. Her husband was seriously ill. Why the hell did she look so happy?
“I did it! I got him to change his will,” Evelyn hissed into the phone.
My blood boiled as vindication flowed through me.
I’d been right. Evelyn was a gold digger.
And she had an accomplice.
It took everything in me not to charge at Evelyn. But I had to wait and hear what else she would unknowingly reveal.
“No, Asher won’t be a problem,” Evelyn continued airily. “Even if he is, I’ll just have my daughter seduce him. She’s already laid down the groundwork. Ivy’s a good girl. She knows her role in this game.”
My blood ran cold as realization hit me like a punch in the face.
Evelyn had just revealed that Ivy was in on her plans.
