The Mark of Betrayal (by Cooper) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Request

Samara

Everything about the last two days has been overwhelming. Even Alpha Sterling had seemed like it was all too much. We’d been standing, holding each other in my father’s old office when Luna Devi mind linked me to see if I could help her with the pups. Alpha Sterling came upstairs with me and while he played with Slade, Luna Devi showed me how to change Aria and give her a bottle. The moment I sat down in that rocking chair and watched Aria suckling on the bottle, something inside me

flipped.

No matter how terrible things are right now, no matter how much I have suffered, how much so many people have suffered because of what Althea and Sawyer did, Roman and I have produced something good, something beautiful. This baby inside

me feels like the start of a change in our lives, the start of something positive that will shift us away from all the bad things that have happened. This little pup in my belly is hope for a better future. And when Roman came into the room, I could tell

he felt it, that he too could feel that this is the start of our beautiful life together.

Yes, we still have a lot to overcome. Yes, there will be challenges, with Sloane especially, but also with Slade and Aría. But

we’re finally laying our horrible past to rest, finding the peace that we’ve searched for, for so long.

True to his word, after the pups were in bed last night, Roman made sure that I knew just how happy he was that I’m carrying

last night, Roman m his pup. My mate’s touch is magic and when we connect, physically, mentally, and spiritually, it’s unlike anything I could

have ever imagined. Both Ayla and Pierce once again pushed forward, adding to the intensity of our love–making, making

both Roman and I explode with our passion again and again until he collapsed exhausted beside me, wrapping me in his

arms before we both fell asleep.

This morning, he woke up extra early, sliding inside me and slowly waking me up in a way I hope becomes a daily

occurrence for us.

‘What my mate wants, my mate gets,‘ he purrs in the mind link. He got up after making me come so hard he had to cover my

mouth to keep me from waking the pups. And then he’d done it again.

‘Because I can,’ he’d said.

I’d joke that he’s arrogant about his prowess at making me come, but since he’s not wrong, I choose to bask in the feeling that

I get from him. He’s never felt anything like what he feels with me and every time we’re together, it feels like our bond

solidifies even more.

‘Your mate wants food,‘ I say to him, getting up and heading to the bathroom to shower.

‘Warrior training is almost over. Come down and have breakfast with me. Is Slade up yet? Sloane was up when I got up and I brought her out here with me.‘

I step out of the bathroom and listen to the baby monitor. ‘I don’t hear him. I’ll check once I shower.”

‘See you soon, love of my life, mother of my pups, woman who gives me the most explosive orgasms of my life,‘ he growls, making me laugh as I step into the shower.

‘What are we going to do about Sloane, Samara?‘ my wolf asks me as I shower.

‘What do you mean?‘

‘She needs to know. She needs to know if Derrick is her father,‘ Ayla says.

‘Why?‘

‘I don’t know why, but it’s important. I feel that it’s important.‘

‘Well, Roman said Detective Timothy is going to confirm that those bones were Derrick’s first…‘ I begin.

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‘We both know they are,‘ she says, and I can hear the desperate sadness that she feels for her sister Gillian.

I talked about killing Roman when I first saw him, even after I knew he was our mate. But that was only because I thought he betrayed us. When Ayla told me she wanted us to wait, to have proof, I didn’t fight her on it. I have no idea how Althea could have fought Gillian to kill Derrick. If Roman had been a part of killing our family, Ayla would still have struggled to kill him. Derrick only wanted to love Althea, wanted to be with her. The thought that she killed him in cold blood is so abhorrent to me that I wouldn’t believe it if Gillian hadn’t told us what she did.

I mentally wrap my arms around my wolf’s neck. I love you so much, Ayla. I never could, nor would I ever, betray you like Althea betrayed Gillian.‘

I know you wouldn’t. As Roman said, you are nothing like Althea Maybe if you’d been older and I had come forward, we could have seen it in her, could have stopped it. But you were too young, and I hadn’t appeared yet.‘

‘Do you think Sloane will have a white wolf?‘ I ask her.

She’s thoughtful for a very long time. ‘If she’s Sawyer’s daughter, no. He was not the Alpha that the Moon Goddess made for Althea. I doubt that Aria will have a white wolf, and I don’t think we should raise her to think that she will have one. It would be easier for her if she isn’t expecting a white wolf and gets one, than if she is expecting one and doesn’t. If I’m wrong, it will be easier to explain to her why she’s a white wolf and what that means.‘

That makes sense. But what if Sloane is Derrick’s pup? Could she be a white wolf?‘ I ask.

‘It’s possible. But I don’t know. The Moon Goddess punished Gillian for Althea’s betrayals. She may not be willing to bestow the gift of the white wolf on her daughter, even if she is a child created through the fated mate bond.‘

‘We still have so many questions,‘ I say, getting out of the shower and ready for breakfast.

I’ve just finished getting dressed when I hear Slade’s voice on the baby monitor.

“Mommy?”

I quickly step out of our room and go to his room.

“Good morning, Slade,” I say as I walk in.

“Aunt Samara, is Mommy back yet?” he asks, rubbing his eyes in the cute way that young pups do.

I crouch down beside his bed. “Remember Luna Devi told you that your mommy and daddy aren’t coming back, Slade? You’re going to come live with me and Uncle Roman. We’re going to take care of you. We love you,” I tell him.

He sniffles and his bottom lip begins to tremble. “I want my mommy,” he says beginning to cry.

I scoop him into my arms. “I know sweetheart. I know. I know this is so hard,” I say to him, standing and beginning to walk around the room, bouncing him softly as he cries on my shoulder.

I wonder how many more mornings we’ll have like this. I’m sure once we move, it will be even harder for them. Roman is planning to bring their bedroom suites with us and set them up in the same way in our packhouse, but it won’t smell the same and there won’t be any remnants of their parents there.

Once he settles, I help him go to the bathroom and get changed, then I carry him downstairs for breakfast. Roman is watching for me and he comes over to take Slade from me.

“Good morning, Big Guy,” he says gently. I felt him connect to my mind while I was talking to Slade so he knows he’s having a rough morning.

I look for Sloane and find her picking at the food that Roman must have gotten for her. I kiss Roman quickly. “I’ll get food for me and Slade and join you,” I say.

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“Okay.”

When I go to the buffet to make our plates, I feel some of the pack members lingering nearby. When I turn, I see several pack

members hovering.

“Luna, may we have a word?” one woman asks. They all seem a bit nervous.

‘Is everything okay?‘ Roman’s voice comes through the mind link.

‘Yes, I think so.‘

“Of course. Let me drop this off for Slade and I’ll come right back,” I tell them.

I go put the plate of food in front of Roman, since he has Slade in his lap. Roman’s eyes hold mine, wondering what the pack

members wanted.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, smiling at him. I bend over and kiss the top of Sloane’s head. “Try to eat something, sweetheart. I love you,” I say quietly.

I don’t know if it helps her, but it always made me feel just a bit better when Alpha William would say that to me, especially

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