Page 30 of Alpha's Redemption

John tilts his head and bares his neck to her in submission while I try to figure out what just happened. I look at Marcus to see if he just witnessed the same thing.

John submitted.

Nixon curses and yells before storming out, shoving past his people, while Claire rushes onto the field with shorts and a towel. Everly reaches forward and brushes John’s fur. He whimpers and Claire throws a towel over him while I gape. What the fuck just happened? Once the towel is over him, he shifts back and is on his knees in front of her. Everly gets to her feet.

When it’s clear it’s over, I walk into the center of the arena, wanting to know what happened and why he suddenly caved to his daughter. Confusion is evident in the crowd as murmurs break out in a chorus—this wasn't what anyone was expecting, especially after all the fighting between packs. Everly's mother is talking in a hushed voice, and as I approach Everly, I catch the end of her mothers words to John. I halt my steps.

“You did the right thing, love. We lost one grandchild and daughter, we don't need to make the same mistakes again. You did the right thing; she’s carrying our grandchild,” Claire whispers and Everly tenses as I stop beside her. Claire is trying to console John, yet I can't take my eyes from my mate. They drift over her briefly before going to hers.

"Pardon?" I ask Claire and she gasps, taking a step away from me.

“You’re pregnant?” I ask, looking at Everly, shocked. Everly looks at me and clarity hits; what Ava meant when she told me to drop the Command, why Everly wouldn't shift, why she asked me not to be angry after the challenge. I look at John on his knees, then at Ava.

“They knew?” I ask Everly and tears shine in her eyes as she takes a step toward me, but I take a step back.

“Valen, I–”

“That’s what you were arguing with Macey and Zoe about, isn't it?” I ask her and she reaches for me but I take another step back from her. I feel betrayed. I can't believe she would go through with the challenge and risk our unborn child.

“Don’t!” I warn her when she reaches for me again.

“Valen–”

“No, Everly. That wasn’t just your secret to keep from me,” I told her before turning on my heel and walking away from her. Never have I been so angry at her, betrayed by her. I’m furious she would keep that from me. Needing to get away from her before I do something I regret, I go looking for Valarian. Marcus rushes over to me and grabs my shoulder but I shove him off.

“Did you know too?” I snarl at him. He puts his hands up in surrender but shakes his head. I growl at Zoe and Macey as they pass me; I feel betrayed by all of them.

My father walks over to me when he sees me walking in his direction but I don’t stop, instead, heading for my son, who’s on the swings.

“Valen? What happened? Did she win?” Dad calls out to me when I walk past him. I growl.

“John submitted,” I fume, too pissed off to form proper words.

“That’s a good thing, why are you upset?” he asks, trying to keep pace with me as I move toward my son.

“She lied to me!" I snarl, my entire body trembling with rage.

"Who did?"

"Everly. She’s pregnant!” I tell him and he grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. I glance in Everly’s direction to see her chasing after me.

“What?” he asks, before holding his hand up at Everly, telling her to back off. I’m glad he did because I want to slap her for what she did. She stops, looking torn between ignoring him and obeying. He shakes his head and I growl at her.

"Valen, please. Let me–"

"I don't want to hear it! Just get out of my face!" I snap at her.

Valarian rushes over, looking between his mother and I. He stops a couple of yards away from me.

“Can Valarian and I stay at your place tonight? I can't be near her right now,” I ask my father.

“Yes. Of course,” he says. I stalk off, grabbing my son and picking him up. Everly rushes over, trying to take him from me. Tears streak down her face and my canines slip out as I push her hands away from him.

"Mom!" Valarian screams while twisting in my arms.

"Valen, give him to me." she says, reaching for him. Dad gets between us. Valarian cries out for her when I start walking away, heading for my car. My father, I can hear, is talking to her and trying to calm her down, but I ignore her and make my way to the exit.

"What about Mom?" Valarian cries, still twisting in my arms.

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