Reckless Regrets
Chapter 17

Marisol

“I see that you and my fiancé are getting close. What the hell is up with that, Gabby?”

I was pissed off, and she was the main person feeling the sting. Kaden was friendly with everyone in this place, even the f*****g help, but still, he treated me like shit. I couldn’t get him to say more than three words to me, but all through dinner, he and Gabby were talking like old friends.

“Is he your fiancé? He hasn’t proposed or given you a ring. This is an arrangement, Mari. Chill the hell out and just accept that he’s never going to want you like that.”

“Oh, really? Is it you who he wants then?” I spat.

She laughed and continued to file her nails.

“You really are a b***h sometimes. He has a mate, one he had every intention of marrying. No one will ever be her, and I’m not trying to be. I have my own mate out there to replace.”

“Then what were you two talking about? What has he told you that I can use to get close to him?”

I was desperate for anything at this point. I needed to have a relationship with Kaden; it was the only way my plan would work.

“When are we telling your dad about Nathan?”

I was taken aback by her question. Who was even thinking of Nathan right now?

“I don’t know. I still need time to figure it out.”

“Time? How much time? Maybe you plan to tell everyone after you’re already married and made Luna? After Kade’s life is essentially over?”

“Maybe! I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m going to tell him, Mari. Both of them; this has gone on long enough, and he doesn’t deserve to be used just to serve your selfish desires.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My best friend wouldn’t betray me like this. She was just bluffing to get me to make a move; that had to be it.

“What are you going to say? You don’t have proof of anything; it’s your word against mine.”

“You sure about that? Either you tell your dad about Nathan being your mate in the next three days, or I’m going to tell him everything I know. Him and Kade. It may not be much, but it will spark doubt, and there is no way that bullshit plan of yours will succeed after that.”

I didn’t know what to do, so I just screamed at the top of my lungs. Why couldn’t anything go my way? Ever?! After my tantrum was over, I stormed over to Gabby’s bed and threw myself down next to her.

“I just want to be happy, Cameron and me. Is that so wrong?”

“No. It’s not. But you’re willing to step all over so many other people who don’t deserve it. That’s what’s wrong, and it can’t happen. Karma will come back to bite you, and you won’t like it.”

Why was she always so damn considerate? Of everyone! It didn’t matter who you were; Gabby automatically felt that you deserved the benefit of the doubt and happiness in all forms. So f*****g annoying. But all of this sneaking around and plotting for my happily ever after was exhausting, and I hated it. It would be nice if it were all over.

“Fine. Let’s go talk to my dad. What’s the worst he can do? He won’t banish me; then he loses his successor, so let’s give it a try.”

Gabby squealed for joy, then grabbed my hand and rushed down the hall with me praying the entire way.

***

“Hi Uncle Bill, can you spare a minute for your favorite niece?” Gabby sweetly asked when she popped her head into my dad’s office.

He wasn’t really her uncle, but her dad and mine were just as close as any Alpha and Beta should be, so the familial bonds quickly followed suit.

“Sure I can, Peanut, what do you need?”

And that was another thing. Dad had been calling Gabby “Peanut” for as long as I could remember, but I was always Marisol. Never had I had a nickname from him. I always felt that he loved her more than me; it’s probably why we never got along.

She pulled me in behind her, and his smile dropped a bit. Screw you too, Dad.

“So, Mari has something important she needs to tell you. I know that it will be a shock, but it can’t stay hidden forever. So, will you listen? Please?”

“Let’s have it, Marisol. What have you gotten in to now?”

“Thanks so much for the vote of confidence. Anyway…”

My mouth went dry, and I couldn’t speak. I’d been avoiding this moment for an eternity, and now thanks to the ever-optimistic Gabby, here I was. Dad looked exasperated in his seat, annoying the hell out of me. I guess I’ll just annoy him back.

“I found my mate as soon as I turned eighteen. I knew who he was before, but I didn’t want to accept it. So, there you go…”

“Nathan?”

“Yes. It’s Nathan,” I confirmed.

“How dumb do you think I am? I’ve known this entire time. But because you’ve become such a spoiled brat, I knew you wouldn’t let him mark you. I made sure of it every time I told you that an omega would never lead my pack.”

“What do you mean you knew? Why didn’t you say anything? We’ve had to hide how we feel about each other for almost four years. Do you know how miserable that is?”

“You want to know what’s miserable, Marisol? Losing your mate during childbirth then seeing that the child who stole her from you wasn’t a boy who would one day take over, but a girl. A girl who grew up to be entitled and self-centered. Then after hoping for years that this child would replace an equal mate, she gets an omega who can’t even wash the car without leaving water spots.”

“You said my mother left when I was a baby; that’s what you’ve always told me.”

“Who wants to grow up knowing they killed their mother? We may not see eye to eye on most things, but no child needs to carry that burden. And in a way, she did leave. She’s with the Moon Goddess now.”

This was too much. Dad knew about Nathan this entire time and had been planting seeds to keep me and him at arm’s length, and I’d somehow caused my mom’s death before I’d even taken my first breath? No wonder he could barely look at me; whenever he did, he saw the person who took his mate from him.

I needed to get out of here, but I had to finish what I’d started first.

“We’ve never had a decent conversation, but I’m sure Kaden is an incredible man. But I have a mate and so does he. I intend to allow Nathan to mark me tonight and release Kaden to go back to Blue Moon. You can either accept Nathan and me and allow us to take over or wait for Cameron to come of age. That’s it.”

“If that filth marks you, I will end his miserable existence. On my honor.”

The chill that washed over me made my bones shiver. I couldn’t believe he’d just said that.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. If you allow Nathan to mark you, I will kill him. Slowly and painfully. After the marking, you can feel each other’s emotions, so you’d feel every minute of it. And when he lakes his last breath, you’d live knowing that it was your fault.”

Tears ran down my face, unchecked. I’d never in my life heard my dad talk like this; ever!

“Uncle Bill, can we take a step back and think rationally before anyone does something that can’t be taken back?” Gabby calmly stated.

“It’s too late for that, Peanut. I’ve been planning this for years. Marisol will marry Kaden, and that’s it. I’ve done way too much to see my work go down the drain just because you now have a conscience.”

“What are you even talking about? What plan?” I yelled at him.

“Come on, Marisol. You didn’t think Kade was Cameron’s father, did you? You two never even slept together; I drugged both of you that night. I knew you and Nate were f*****g around, and it was only a matter of time before you got pregnant. I made sure that when you did, at least you’d be taken care of.”

“But the test. It was positive.”

“That’s true. But it wasn’t Kade’s DNA; it was Nathan’s.”