The Shadow Alpha novel Chapter 24

I’d imagined this so many times before, but nothing could have prepared me for the shock that ran through me as he spoke the words.

I wasn’t sure what he was apologising for, but my heart panged hearing the words from his lips.

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know I hurt you more than anyone else, but for what it’s worth; I am sorry. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish that I could take back the hurt that I caused you and I hate myself for it.” It was like I could feel his emotions, the honesty that he spoke with made tears prick the back of my eyes and I fought to hold them back.

Not knowing what to say to him, I simply smiled.

“I forgive you.”

It was all I could say, but judging by the look on his face he was not expecting those words from my mouth.

“What?” he asked incredulously, which made me smile and nod. He probably expected me to lash out at him.

“I haven’t forgotten what you did and it’ll never be okay in my eyes, but I have forgiven you, because I deserve to not be a victim of that pain any longer.” His eyes fell to the ground and he nodded solemnly.

In a way it was never about forgiving him, it was more about forgiving me for allowing myself to be treated in that way without standing up for myself for all those years.

“No, you don’t.” He lifted his head and sent me a smile, which for some reason felt like a weight off my chest so I returned his smile.

I frowned as I surveyed the room, “Where did Hunter go?” Devin shrugged looking surprised that he wasn’t there either.

“Damned idiot left me to tell him the worst part alone.” I mumbled to myself with a scowl on my face, already cooking up a revenge scheme against him.

‘Hunter you idiot! Get back in here, Devin is gonna freak and you need to calm him down!’ I mind linked the little traitor, seconds later Hunter came strolling through the door with a smirk on his face causing my glare to harden.

The air became tense the moment Hunter sat down and his face turned serious, “Devin, what we're about to tell you is going to make you angry and a whole lot of other things, but we need you to trust us and let us finish, Okay?” Devin frowned deeply at us, but nodded hesitantly.

“Tatiana was not a regular rogue prisoner. She unlike the rest was not kidnapped and forced into becoming a rogue.” Devin’s suspicious look morphed into one of confusion, I could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

“She was handed over to them.” His eyes widened.

“She met her mate when she was eighteen years old, when he came to her pack for a meeting with the Alpha since he was one himself. Soon after they met she fell pregnant and so he stayed with her at her pack until it was almost time for the pup to be born, that was when he asked for them to go back to his pack for the birth of his son and she agreed. However, instead of taking her back to his pack he took her to a run-down motel and kept her there until their child was born; afterwards he took their child away and handed her over to the rogues to kill her and dispose of her body, but the rogue leader took a liking to her and offered her a deal that would allow her to live if she obeyed him. Tatiana’s mate found another female to take back to the pack as his mate and mother of his child.” His eyebrows were furrowed deeply.

“That’s awful, what kind of a mate would do such a thing.” He sneered in disgust, “And he’s working with the rogues, that goes against everything an alpha is.” His jaw was set in anger. “What pack is he from? We have to do something.” He stood up and began pacing.

I looked at Hunter for help. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find it in me to say it out loud to him. Hunter seemed to understand the look, because the next thing I knew he was saying the words I failed to say aloud.

“The Full Moon pack.”

Devin’s eyes flew to Hunter; he didn’t seem to comprehend his best friend's words for a few seconds.

“Excuse me?” I saw anger building in his eyes.

“Devin, you’re Tatiana’s son. Your father was her mate.” I placed a hand on his arm, but instead of comforting him, he shrugged it off.

Devin’s eyes searched our faces for signs that we were lying, his face paling when he saw none.

No…” his voice trailed off. “No! He is capable of many horrible things, but this?” he said in a steadier voice, but I could hear the weakness behind his protest, no matter how much he denied it; he was struggling to believe himself.

I placed a hand on his shoulder which caused him to flinch, I hastily withdrew my hand feeling hurt that he reacted that way a second time, but before I pulled it all the way back he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

“I know this is a lot to take in already, but there’s more.” I wanted so badly to just gather him in my arms and shield him from the hurt and pain that was evident on his face, but he needed the full truth before it all set in.