Chapter 173

Carol’s POV

Speaking to Allen was not something I wanted to do. But I knew it was necessary. I was so nervous about it though. I hated awkward conversations, and I just wanted to get this over with. I waited until after practice before I called him into my office. I avoided eye contact with him for most of the evening until this point and my heart was hammering as he walked through the door.

He was dressed casually now; no longer wearing his hockey uniform. He wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and I would be blind if I didn’t notice the muscles bulging out of his tight shirt. But my heart didn’t belong to him, nor did my kisses. I was still upset about what happened the other night despite knowing he was drunk and out of his own control.

I watched him as he closed the door behind him and shoved his hands in his front pockets. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground and I could see a hint of redness around his cheeks like he was embarrassed. I knew at that moment he remembered what had happened; so, he wasn’t drunk enough to be too far gone and forget everything.

“You can sit down,” I spoke through the thick layer of silence that consumed us.

His gaze finally shifted to me, and I could see the remorse in his eyes. But then he looked down again as if looking at me physically hurt him. He nodded through hand and took a seat in front of my desk. I didn’t want to be intimidating or come off as a bitch.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat, taking him in.

“We need to talk about what happened the other night,” I told him finally.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob.

“I know,” he finally said, his voice coming out strained. “What I did was unforgivable, and I don’t blame you for wanting me off the team. I fucked up Luna and I’m not sure what to say to rectify it.”

I raised my brows at him, confused.

“What makes you think I want you off the team?” I asked him, my brows furrowed together.

I lifted his gaze to finally look at me for a long while like he was trying to figure out what I was saying.

“Because I basically assaulted you. You are the Luna of this pack, and I let my feelings get in the way. You’re just so beautiful and I—” his voice trailed off for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “I made a huge mistake by doing what I did, and the Beta had every right to kick my ass. I’m surprised he even listened to you and his mate… it’s clear his loyalties lie with you and for that… I’m grateful. But I wouldn’t have blamed him.”

“You were drunk, Allen. I can’t hate you for doing something stupid while you were drunk. We’ve all made poor choices while under the influence of alcohol,” I told him calmly.

“But my mistake was huge and nearly cost me everything,” he said, his eyes narrowed. “I should have never acted on my feelings and kept things professional. You are the Luna… the Alpha’s mate. I’m shocked I’m still alive honestly. Why hasn’t he hunted me down and killed me yet?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced at my hands that rested on my desk before I answered him.

“Because I haven’t told him yet,” I admitted.

His brows were so high that they blended in with his hairline.

“You what?” He gasped. “Why haven’t you told him?”

I sighed.

“Because it would only upset him and you’re right… if he knew, he’d kill you. I don’t think you deserve to die over a harmless mistake. It was just a kiss, and it meant nothing. My heart belongs to Alpha Aiden. He’s my entire world. He’s my mate and my husband and I would never stray from him. Your kiss was meaningless.”

I saw a flash of hurt in his eyes and he said nothing.

“I’m not saying this to hurt you, I’m telling you that it can never happen again, Allen. I don’t think I’d be able to keep it from him if it did. I’d like us to move past this and continue being friends, but I need to be able to trust you.”

He looked shocked by the words.

“You still want to be friends?” He asked.

I smiled.

“Yes, of course I would. I don’t want to lose you over something so stupid. If we can both agree to put this behind us and understand that it meant nothing. I don’t see why we can’t continue to be friends,” I told him truthfully.

He looked uncertain for a moment and then he bit his lip.

“It meant something to me,” he admitted, making me sigh. “I’ve had a small thing for you for some time now. I guess drunk me just thought it was a good idea to act on those feelings. But you’re right, it can’t mean more than that. I’m willing to put this behind us and pretend it never happened for the sake of our friendship. I’d rather have you as a friend than nothing at all.”

I nodded in agreement.

“And maybe we shouldn’t hang out outside of work again,” I suggested, giving him an awkward laugh. “At least not right now. Give it some time. Allen, you are a very handsome guy, and any woman, being human, she-wolf, or witch, would be lucky to be with a guy like you. Maybe if Aiden wasn’t in my life, or a different lifetime, things would be different between us. But it’s just not possible. You’ll find someone meant for you.”

He smiled and then nodded in response.

“Thanks, Carol,” he said. “I promise… you can trust me. I won’t do anything to ever hurt you like this again.”

“I know,” I replied.

And just like that, we were okay, and I was feeling a lot lighter.

….

Aiden’s POV

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get Fiona? She might be able to help calm your wolf while you speak to your father and uncle.”

Oliver shook his head and looked at me

“No,” he answered. “I don’t want to put this on her, and I have no idea what I’m going to say upon meeting my birth father for the first time. I don’t want to scare her if I say something or do something…”

I nodded thoughtfully and put my hand on my Beta’s shoulder.

“Well, I’m here regardless,” I assured him. “They are both in the dungeon. The King is settling into his room and will be joining us this evening. Want to go down now?”

Oliver nodded.

“Yeah, I want to get this over with,” Oliver stated.

I nodded in agreement and together we went down to the packhouse dungeon. Nobody was allowed in the dungeon without my permission except for the assigned guards. When we reached the dungeon grounds, the guards appointed to keep watch of the doorway, bowed to me out of respect.

I nodded at them.

“We need to see them,” I told the guards.

“Yes, Alpha,” he said. “I’m warning you though. It’s not a pretty sight. They’ve both been badly beaten. Mike, you already knew about it because he’s been here the whole time. But the King’s Beta is even worse. I guess the King’s warriors had some fun with him per the King’s orders before he was transferred here.”

I figured the King wouldn’t let the betrayal slide that easily. Oliver looked confident despite knowing how nervous he genuinely was. I gave the guard a curt nod and thanked him for the warming before he opened the doorway for us to enter.

I winced at the scent of the dungeon. It reeked of mildew and old and new blood. The dungeon wasn’t a place I typically enjoyed visiting and tried not to if I could help it. We usually used it for war criminals, rogues, and interrogations. For the most part, we typically just used the jailhouse for most other crimes. It was a lot cleaner and more humane. But in this case. These two didn’t deserve humane.

The guard led us down the dark dungeon halls, passing by many empty stalls. A couple of them held some rogues that were recently caught on territory, stealing our supplies and tormenting some of our women.

We stopped in front of one of the cells, and when I looked inside, I saw a very puffy-faced and badly beaten Mike, sitting on the cot in the far corner of the room.

When he looked up at us, he had an emotionless expression. As if the man he deceived for years wasn’t standing right in front of him. Oliver’s nose flared.

“I thought I’d have more to say to you,” Oliver said through his teeth. “But you disgust me. You’re nothing but a coward. You aren’t the father figure or uncle I thought you were. I hope you rot in hell.”

Oliver turned away and for a moment, I saw a flash of hurt in Mike's eyes. I already said everything I needed to when it came to Mike. He tried to kill my father, and I couldn’t stand the man after that. I respected him at one point… but now he just makes me sick. Some of the bruises on his face that refuse to heal because of the chains around his arms and legs, are from me and I’m proud of them.

I huffed and followed Oliver and the guard to the very last cell.

I’ve seen a lot of messed up stuff in my lifetime, but what I saw in that cell was unlike anything I had ever seen in my entire life.

“Holy fuck,” Oliver whispered.