My Mate and Brother's Betrayal

8 The Talk (Part 1)

Lily POV

I manage to dress in the oversize sweatshirt and leggings that Bridgette left for me. I take a seat on the vanity and lean my head back against the mirror. "Lily, I know your hurt and angry, but I really think you need to let your parents explain everything that has happened. I have been with you for a long time, and they have always been your biggest champions. Some of

the things you just said were said in anger. Do you really believe that your mother and father intended to hurt you?"

"Do you really believe that they are happy with what Colton has done?" I know she's right, but

my heart aches. I never expected that the day I found my mate would be anything but wonderful. My parents are so in love. I wanted that and, if I'm being honest, I wanted it with Colton. I can't stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. "The goddess often does things not to punish but to bring understanding. You are very special to her and, despite all that's happened, she loves you Lily," Ariel says.

"Well, it doesn't feel much like she loves me. Why cause me all this pain if I'm so special to

her? Why make me go through all this? Why make my parents keep things from me that could have prepared me for what happened?" "Lily, I can't answer those questions, only the goddess can. I think for now we should go back to the pack. I don't want you to be in danger because of that little pr*ck" Ariel says. I try not to smile, but I can't stop myself.

"I know he hurt us and the goddess hasn't told me everything, but I guarantee he will regret everything he has done. You are strong, and together we will get through this. You need to hear your parents out, and we need to head back to the pack," she says. I hate that she's right. I'm really not ready to face Colton or talk to my parents, but I need to put on my big girl pants. I'm still angry at them and the goddess, but I know they love me. They have shown me every day that they do, so I owe them the chance to tell me everything.

I get to my feet and take a deep breath before I push the door open. My heart breaks a little more seeing my father cradling my mother in his arms. They both look at me and regret flashes in their eyes. "I will go back to the pack and I will listen, but I want to know everything. I don't want even a minor thing left out. I deserve to know everything. My father nods, still holding my mother in place. They make no move toward me and part of me is glad because need to get through this without falling apart again.

We make our way through the pack house in silence. When we reach the foyer Liam and Carter are waiting. "Thank you, Carter and Bridgette. I appreciate you taking care of me."You never have to thank us for that, Lily. You are family," Carter says. Before I can stop her,

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8 The Talk (Part 1)

Bridgette pulls me in for a hug and the floodgates burst open. A sob rips through me. I'm

pulled from Bridgette's arms and wrapped in my father's protective embrace.

"It's going to be alright Lily bear. I promise that no matter what happens you are going to be alright" he says. I bury my head in his chest as he carries me out of the pack house. He

doesn't let me go even when we are in the SUV. My mind wanders back to when I was a small

pup and I would get hurt. He would hold me until I had no more tears.

The sound of the car door opening startles me awake. I'm still in my dad's arms as he

manages to get out of the SUV. "Dad, you can put me down now." He presses a kiss on my forehead before he sets me on my feet. My mom gets out next and when my eyes meet hers I can see the absolute defeat in them. I walk toward her, taking her hand in mine. She wraps her

arm around me keeping me tucked close to her side.

When we step into the pack house I wish I had stayed at the Golden Leaf pack. The pack is still celebrating Colton's birthday. Many pack members are looking at me with confusion on their faces. I notice my grandmother and Sam moving toward us. What I didn't see until it was too late was Colton heading toward us from the opposite direction. "Lily, please I need to talk to you," Colton says.

When my eyes meet his I can tell he's been crying. I wish I could say that seeing his suffering softens my heart toward him, but it doesn't. My father's growl has the room go deathly quiet. The pack members minus my grandmother, Sam, and Colton all leave as my father's aura

pours into the room. He quickly pulls it back before he stares at Colton.

My mother starts to lead me toward the stairs without another word. My hand is grabbed briefly before its released. I look back in time to see Colton flying toward the wall. Liam is breathing heavily, and I can tell he is on the verge of shifting. I free myself from my mother and rush over to stand in front of him. "Liam, no, don't do this. I know you are trying to protect me, but I will handle him myself when I'm ready. Until then, just let him be."

His eyes return to their normal color before he looks at Colton behind me. "Keep your f**king hands to yourself" he growls before he heads out of the pack house. I go back toward the stairs, but Colton's words stop me in my tracks. "Lily, you can't just leave. I'm your mate. We need to talk this out. We need to get past this.I won't lose you over something that meant nothing." I search the crowd until my eyes find the person I'm looking for. The smug smirk on her face lets me know she thinks she has won and maybe in some ways she has, but if Colton's the prize, she can have him.

I don't want a mate that can't keep himself from f**king someone that isn't his mate even if

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8 The Talk (Part 1)

we haven't claimed each other. I turn back to face the man that was meant to be mine. "I'm

not your mate. I'm just some girl you used to know. You made your choice, and it wasn't me." Without another word, I make my way upstairs.

Rosalyn POV

Colton moves to follow Lily up the stairs and I step in front of him. "You need to respect that

she isn't ready to speak with you yet." "Rose, I need to speak to her and tell her how sorry I am.

It meant nothing," he says. "No, you're wrong. It meant everything. "I'm sorry" are the two mos useless words that were ever spoken. They change nothing. Now you will leave her alone unti she is ready to talk to you."

I turn to go after my daughter when Colton speaks again. "Rose, I'm sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen. I had no idea that she was my mate." I turn looking at my brother. The boy I've watched grow since he was six years old. My mind flashes to Reese's betrayal. To all his apologies and actions. I make my way back toward my brother until I'm standing in front of him. Before I can stop myself, I slap him across the face.

"I love you, Colton, but you are a liar. If you are man enough to betray your goddess-given mate, then own it. You knew she was your mate, and you chose to f**k that wh*re. Now I won' repeat myself. Lily will let you know when she is ready to speak with you, and it won't happen

a minute before. Actions have consequences, Colton."

I turn making my way upstairs with Beck following closely behind me. Before we reach the door to our wing, he turns me pulling me into his arms. "I know how hard that was for you, Rosalyn. I love Colton too, but I'm just as angry with him," Beck says. He presses a kiss on my head before we step into our living room. Lily is curled up on the couch with a blanketThis belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

covering her lap.

I take a seat next to her. "Lily, before we discuss what happened with Colton, I want to tell you about what I went through with my first mate." Lily knows about her birth mother, but she has no idea about Reese being my first mate. "I thought dad was your first mate." "No, dad was my second chance just like I was his. Uncle Reese was my first mate.""No way, I don't

understand" she says.

"I want you to know that I probably know better than anyone how you're feeling right now. Reese and I grew up together. He was older, so he realized we were mates first. He announce me, and we spent time being together because he couldn't claim me until I turned eighteen. I was so happy because I had hoped that Reese would be my mate. I know you don't know this, but I had another brother besides Emmett and Colton." "Two days before our Alpha and Luna ceremony I found Reese cheating on me with my

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8 The Talk (Part 1)

brother, Bryce."Lily gasps and tears start to stream down her cheeks. I pull her hand into mine. "I'm not trying to upset you more, but I need you to understand that sometimes things happen to lead us to the path we are truly meant to be on. If that hadn't happened, I would never have found the man I was truly meant to be with."

"The goddess meddles, but her children have free will. She knew that Reese would be tempte by Bryce, but he didn't have to give in. Just like Colton made his choice."So why doesn't the goddess just make sure we end up with who we were supposed to instead of causing us all this pain" Lily asks. "I wish I had the answers Lily bear, but I don't. Believe me, I wish neither o us had to endure the pain of being betrayed, but as a person who lived through it, I wouldn't change my past."

"The pain and betrayal made me leave the Black Rose and find you and your father. I would endure that pain a hundred times over to have the life I've had with you, your dad, and your siblings. Now I know we said it before, but the truth is we couldn't tell you because, despite not agreeing with the goddess's methods, she has her reasons for what she does. What happened is to set you on your path."