Chapter 77

Lucas’s POV

“My mate… Are you saying that you knew Harper was my mate, and you kept it to yourself?”

The rage that fills me is hot and heavy, and it takes everything in me to stop from killing him right where he lays.

Logan looks me right in the eyes and nods. My claws grow out of my fingertips, digging into my palms as I squeeze my fists tightly.

“Harper is my mate.”

Logan nods again, and suddenly, everything makes sense. The pull toward her, the way I never wanted to be with Sierra when Harper was around, my worry for her, the way I sensed she was hurt that night; it all pointed toward her being my mate, and I didn’t see it.

“So, you wanted to, what? Make me jealous enough to where I would leave Sierra?” I ask, holding back my anger. “Don’t you realize that telling the truth would have saved all of us the pain of what’s been happening?”

I can’t stop my wolf’s anger from surfacing. My body aches with the need to shift and run, to get away from this man, but I can’t. I have to figure out the truth.

“I thought that I could get back on her good side by helping her be with you, but I didn’t… I also didn’t want you to be together. I just wanted my mate back.,” Logan mutters.

“And you think I didn’t want my mate!?” I shout, grabbing him by the collar. His flimsy hospital gown tears as he stares up at me. “I wasted so much time with your mate when I could have been with my mate! What kind of man lets his mate be with another?”

Logan squeezes his eyes closed and groans when I shake him.

“Are you really that pathetic? Just because you were rejected doesn’t allow you the right to decide others’ fates for them,” I growl and release him to ram my fist into the wall. The wall gives way beneath my fist, cracking and crumbling.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough, Logan,” I say, whipping around to face him again. He nods like he finally realizes this. “Because of you, Harper is now facing criminal charges. Do you know what they’ll do to her?”

He shakes his head, choosing to stay silent now.

“They’ll make an example of her. At the very least, they’ll throw her out of the pack, but…” I close my eyes and try to calm myself as many mental images of Harper being hurt or killed fill my mind. “Goddess knows she’s not strong enough to handle torture, and for what you accused her of, she could be executed.”

Logan’s eyes widen at that, and he stutters, “I didn’t—”

“Didn’t think of that, did you?” I snarl, grabbing him by the throat this time. His airway closes under my hand, and he gasps for air. “They’ve already told me you won’t make it through the night, but she has a chance to live a normal life if you admit that you lied about her. For once in your pathetic life, tell the truth.”

As I say this, I release the man and watch as he gasps and coughs while trying to breathe again. I don’t feel sorry, especially after what he’s done. He doesn’t deserve it.

“She wasn’t aware,” Logan rasps.

“Of what?” I snap, narrowing my eyes on him.

“Of the trafficking or the Domain. She didn’t even now me before she came back,” he mutters. “I just didn’t want to be alone and thought I could get revenge for you taking my mate.”

“The only person who you should blame is yourself, and your mate. Not that you’ll ever see her again,” I tell him, my head reeling from the information. I finally have confirmation that Harper is innocent, and now all I have to do is prove it.

“Let me see her one more time,” he begs, reaching out to me.

I shake my head. “She’s no longer in the pack.”

Logan’s face pales to a ghostly white as he stares up at me. His mouth opens several times, as if he wants to speak, but no words come. I can see the worry and confusion in his eyes, though, and it makes me uncomfortable.

“I cannot allow her to stay,” I tell him. “The law is clear on punishing wolves for the crimes of faking mate bonds. She is leaving for exile today and will never be permitted to return.”

Logan slumps back and stares at the ceiling, his heart monitor beeping like crazy. I have no love for Logan or Sierra anymore, but it is sad to see two of my pack members so far off the path because of ridiculous choices like these. If they’d just been truthful and accepted each other, none of this would have happened.

“Do you have anything else to confess?”

Logan continues staring at nothing, so I move closer. “Do you have proof within the evidence I gathered that could prove Harper innocent?”

Again, he stays silent. It’s like he’s already drifted off with those dead eyes. I’d think that very thing, if it weren’t for the monitors still reading his vitals. They beep and flicker with signs of life, unlike his physical body.

Not wanting to waste another minute on Logan, I make my way to the door. The doctor outside bows, and just before I step into the hallway, Logan calls out.

“Wait.”

I turn, and he struggles to sit up. “Th-there’s one more thing.”

“What is it? You’re testing my very thin patience, Logan.”

He takes a deep breath, looks me directly in the eyes, and says, “Harper is innocent. If you were truly the loving mate that marked her a year ago, you would know that she never did anything to hurt others. You would also know that she snuck out of the pack cells two days ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

“Is this true?” I ask Mason, turning to look at my Beta.

“Everyone was ordered to leave her alone, and you only gave Nora permission to deliver her meals,” he says, and I grit my teeth.

“She’s long gone by now,” Logan rasps.

Turning, I storm out of the room and head directly toward the cells. As I rush through the halls, I find myself torn between worry and relief. Harper escaping will mean trouble for everyone and more trouble for her if the Elders find out. At least she wouldn’t be in a cell. Then again, if she’s gone, I don’t know where she is or if she’s safe.

When I reach the cells, my worry grows. Her cell door is closed and locked, and an uneaten meal lays at the front of the cell. By the lack of Harper’s scent, I know Logan was right. She hasn’t been here in a while.

I never thought she would risk running when she knew it could cause her more trouble, but I also didn’t give her any hope that she would be released.

Groaning, I clench my fists. I should never have put her down here. I should have listened when she tried to talk to me, should have kept the elders from butting in, or… or…

I close my eyes.

My mate is gone, and it’s my fault.