The Mark of Betrayal (Samara and Roman) novel Chapter 75

Roman

I knew that surprising Samara by bringing Alpha William early would make her happy and I absolutely love the feeling of her happiness that washes over not just me, but the entire pack. What I didn’t expect was Sloane’s reaction.

I realize that Sloane is almost the same age that Samara was when she got to William’s pack, but there’s obviously something about him, something different than me, that makes her feel safe.

During lunch, Sloane was practically attached to Alpha William’s hip. He didn’t seem to mind at all. If anything, he seemed to enjoy bringing her peace and comfort. While he talked to Samara and got caught up on our life here, carefully avoiding any discussion of Sawyer and Althea, I watched as he’d casually pull Sloane in for a side hug, or run his hand over her hair while he asked her how she liked her lunch and if she wanted anything else. Maybe it’s because he’s not part of the family and he played no role in killing Sloane’s parents, but I don’t think that’s it entirely. He’s just a special man. Samara saw it being raised by him and now I can see it for myself.

By dinner time, Luna Jasmine has somehow managed to get Slade out of my lap and into hers. She is talking to him quietly, teaching him a new game.

“Your parents are incredible,” I say to Alpha Will.

“I’m very lucky to have them. Some aren’t as lucky as I am. Or, as is the case with my sister, they aren’t lucky enough to have them as long as I do.”

“How old are you now, Will?” I ask him.

“I’m twelve, Alpha.”

“How do you feel about being the Alpha heir?”

“It’s a heavy responsibility, one that my father takes very seriously. He is teaching me the same responsibility not only for our pack, but for those in need, just like Samantha ... I mean, Samara, was. I intend to be a great Alpha, just like my father.”

“I expect you will be as great an Alpha as he is. I’m going to ask your father to meet with me in the morning. Would you join us?” I ask him.

He looks at me, surprised. “I’d be happy to.”

I lean forward. “And if you call her Sammy, it doesn’t matter if you meant Samantha or Samara, it works for both,” I say conspiratorially.

That night, Sloane insists on Alpha William joining us for family movie night. Slade shocks me by sitting in Luna Jasmine’s lap and even Alpha Will joins us, relaxing as we all watch a movie together. Because Aria is already in bed and the other two are snuggling with Alpha William and Luna Jasmine, I get to snuggle with my mate during the movie.

When we go to bed that night, I pull Samara against me. “I knew Alpha William was an incredible man because of the way he took you in and protected you, but I had no idea that he was this special.”

“He’s definitely magical, like sprinkled with pixie dust, magical. Luna Jasmine is the same, but like Sloane, I was always drawn to Alpha William.”

“I’m going to meet with Alpha William and Alpha Will in the morning. Will you join us?” I ask her.

“What are you meeting about?” she asks.

I stroke my fingers over her beautiful face, watching her closely.

“I want to create an alliance with them. And I intend to announce our alliance at your Luna ceremony so everyone knows that if they go against Alpha William in any way, they go against us.”

I’m rewarded with a look of awe that breaks into her gorgeous smile. “You would do that?”

“I would have anyway, but now, truly seeing and understanding what a great man he is, I can see why you were willing to give yourself to protect him. He is worth protecting. He is the kind of good that we need in this world. It doesn’t make him weak, but strength isn’t his focus, kindness is. We can put a cloak of protection around him and let him continue his good deeds and hopefully allow Will to do the same once he takes over as Alpha.”

“Goddess, I love you,” she says and then proceeds to show me just how incredible it is to be loved by a woman like Samara.

The next morning, feeling energized and happy, I meet with the two Alphas. Sloane struggled to leave Alpha William’s side, but I promised that she could show Alpha Will around the pack lands after we are done.

Once we’re seated, I begin.

“Alpha William, I know our time together wasn’t great during the Alpha meeting. I know I took a harsh approach to force Samara’s hand in leaving with me. I don’t regret it because it’s brought us together and we’ve finally been able to achieve our goal of avenging her family. However, once I knew that my mate was Samara Brenner, I realized just how much you risked to protect her. Now, getting to see you with our pups, seeing how easily Sloane has attached to you, I have a much better understanding of what you did for Samara during her darkest days. With all of that in mind, I would like to offer you an alliance.”

He blinks a few times, looking from me to Samara and back again.

“An alliance?”

“Yes.”

“I mean, I get what our pack would get out of it, security unlike anything we’ve ever had, but what do you get out of it?” he asks me.

I pull Samara into my lap, making her yip in surprise. “I already have it. If it weren’t for you, Samara wouldn’t have survived. If it weren’t for you, she might have be captured by Sawyer and Althea and killed to keep her quiet. If it weren’t for you, I would never have found my mate. I owe you everything, Alpha William. This is just me trying to repay a debt that I can never truly repay. I’ve also invited Alpha Will to this meeting because I would like our alliance to continue once he takes over as Alpha, if you both would like that. And if you do agree, I would like to announce our alliance at the end of Samara’s Luna ceremony so everyone will know that we are allies and that going against you means they go against me and the three packs that I now control.”

I watch Samara hug her adoptive father. “Thank you.”

“It’s what any good Alpha would do,” he says, hugging her back.

“Since we’re on the subject of Sloane, I may as well tell you what we found out about Althea and her fated mate,” I say. I proceed to tell him about Derrick and that his father, Alpha Waylon, is coming to Samara’s Luna ceremony.

“Sloane hasn’t agreed to the DNA test?” he asks.

“No, and I don’t want her to feel pressured to do it, either,” I say.

“Understood. Have you considered that if he feels she’s his granddaughter, that he might fight you for custody?” he asks me.

“I’ve already warned him that if he tries it, I’ll decimate him. She’s ours. We are going to raise her. I won’t allow him to use her to try and resolve his guilt over his illegitimate son,” I say.

“And yet, he’s bringing that son’s mother with him, not is chosen mate,” Alpha William says.

“Correct. I have no idea why that is or what is happening with him in his pack. It’s not my business unless he makes it my business.”

“Well, even before we were allies, I would have helped you protect her. But now, as allies, you can rest assured that if you need to hide Sloane away, I’m more than happy to take her,” he says.

“We’ll keep her safe, Alpha Roman, no matter what,” Alpha Will says.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling at the young Alpha. I like him already.

“Well, shall we go? Sloane has been standing out in the hallway for the last twenty minutes waiting for this meeting to end,” I say to Alpha William.

He smiles and goes to the door. Sure enough, Sloane is waiting for him.

“Ready to show me the pack lands, Sloane?” he asks.

“Let’s go. Bye Aunt Samara. Bye Uncle Roman. Bye Alpha Will,” she says, taking Alpha William’s hand and smiling up at him with a smile that is bigger than any I’ve seen on her face since the death of her parents.