Page 24 of Claimed By the Alpha
With his hand resting on the door handle, he sighed one last time. “I failed her, handed you to your father. It was a mistake, and I hope I can fix it now. Claim the throne, Isaac. It was always meant to be yours.”
“Where is she?” My voice broke, an emotion moved through me I only had towards Joanne. Concern. Concern for someone I never met before.
A mother I never had. A story I created in my mind, of what she would look like. How she would read me a bedtime story every night. How she would protect me from the monsters under my bed.
It was all a fantasy, whipped out of my mind by my father. I was never good enough for him, never could I live up to his expectations.
Until I had enough. I took everything from him, his life, his pack. Everything he built, I grabbed it with my claws, and I never let it go until I met Joanne.
My grip on it all had weakened because I chose her. Even before I found out she was my mate.
I wanted her more than my life.
The realization made me smile. I didn’t need to go back, and Emlyn wasn’t asking me for it.
He was asking me to rise up with my mate by my side and grab everything once more. Take everything again.
Only this time, I wouldn’t let my grip falter.
Because this had to be my destiny. Our destiny.
“I don’t know if she is still alive. Don’t try to find her, Isaac. You need an heir, not a mother.”
A growl rumbled in my chest, and I knew I could never give him that. I couldn’t give the world that.
He didn’t wait for another word and got out. His steps were weak, and he gave Joanne one last look and bared his neck.
“Luna,” he said, and my heart swelled with pride.
My Luna.
She nodded back, accepting the title, and hurried into the car as Emlyn strode away.
“And?” she asked, eager to know what had been discussed, and I wondered if I should tell her everything, knowing she would do anything to help. Even put herself in danger by carrying my child.
A task I would never want from her, not if it means I would lose her.
There had to be another way, we had to find one.
Chapter nine
Help
Wesatinsilence,my hand firmly on the steering wheel. Contemplating what to say. I expected the truth from her, no secrets. But how could I tell her this?
It’s a death sentence.
“Isaac, what did he want?” She took my hand, peeling my finger from the wheel and forced me to meet her gaze.
“You first,” I said, knowing all too well she kept things from me.
Her gaze narrowed, and she released my hand. “There is something wrong with me, but he wouldn’t tell before he knew for sure.”
My brows knitted and fear crawled under my skin. “What do you mean?”
She bit her bottom lip and struggled with her breath. “The heat, it destroyed more than my mind.”
I gulped, edging closer, hating that we were still in this car. Raking my arms around her, I hauled her up, settling her on my lap.
