My Mate and Brother's Betrayal

59 Proud to Call You Alpha Jayden POV

I get to my feet to face my brother. "I am sorry Jayden. I should have come back." I fight the lump in my throat and the anger that has me wanting to unleash the same pain on my brother that I've endured. "I know you might never forgive me, but I'm not going anywhere, and I'm going to keep trying to show you that I never meant to hurt you" he says.

"Well, whether you meant to or not, you hurt me and Jacob. You're absolutely right. I'm not ready to forgive you and I don't know if I ever will be.I see the hurt in his eyes, but I can't bring myself to comfort him. He wasn't there when I needed comfort or when I was afraid. "I understand, I just want you to know that I love you Jayden," he says. "You don't abandon people you love."

"So are you here to take over the pack? You came back for the title."Do you remember Mindy?" I look at him clearly confused by his question. "Of course, I had a crush on her when

we were pups." The corner of his mouth lifts, probably remembering how I insisted she was

going to be my mate. "I hadn't seen her in years Jayden, but she showed up insisting that the

goddess wanted me to return to the pack and take my rightful place," he says.

"So you're only here because the goddess wanted you to return. Did you even think about us?" "Of course, I did. I thought about you and Jacob every day. I thought you both would hate me for killing that pr*ck. At the end of the day, he was your father. I had this little girl to protect. Focusing on her was the only thing that got me through missing you two. I prayed to the goddess all the time that you were both happy and healthy. If I thought for one second that pr*ck was hurting you I would have come back," he says.

"Beck, after mom died he wasn't our father anymore. I understand why you ended him. No one in their right mind would fault you for that. I don't have an inkling of anger over you killing him I'm angry because you chose to stay away. I'm glad you protected my niece."

He smiles hearing me claim my niece. I would never hold anything against an innocent pup. "What I can't forgive is you not returning? I was never meant to be Alpha. I never wanted the title. I was just happy to be the Alpha's warrior brother. I was happy to support you."

I see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, but I can't let myself feel sorry for him. Not after all the pain I've endured while he was gone. "Well, whether you wanted to be Alpha or not, you are. Barrett has stripped the faux Alpha of his title. The title is yours since I abandoned my birthright. It's time for the true Alpha to decide the fate of those two a**hats,"

he says.

58 Proud to Call You Alpha

He walks over and presses a kiss on our mother's stone before he turns back toward the path. I start to follow but keep a bit of distance between us, so I can think. I meant what I said. I never wanted to be Alpha. I love my pack, and they deserve someone who knows what the hell he's doing. I'm sure I could learn in time, but we don't have that kind of time. "Jayden, remember whatever you decide we are in this together. I'm proud of you no matter what, Atlas says, and I smile.

Something is still bothering me about Beck returning, and only he knows the answer. "Beck," I say, and he halts his steps. He turns to face me. "You said the goddess wanted you to come back and take your rightful place. If I was Alpha would you have challenged me?"He gives me a sad smile.

"Unless you had turned into an Alpha like dad, no. The goddess may lead us, but we make our own decisions Jayden. You are my brother and, despite not being born for this title, you have shown more Alpha qualities by protecting our brother than I ever did. I should have come back when I knew my pup was safe. I would be honored to have you as my Alpha." He turns and we walk the rest of the way to the pack house in silence. His words replay over and over in my mind.

Is this what I want? Do I want to take on a title that was never truly meant to be mine? Am I so angry at Beck that I would spitefully keep him from becoming the Alpha he was always meant to be? If the goddess sent Beck back, doesn't that mean she wants him to lead the pack? I'm broken out of my thoughts by Barrett, who is waiting in the pack yard.

"I was hoping that we could have a discussion before we met with the pack, but it seems they are in an uproar after feeling the bond break with Foster. I have everyone gathering in the meeting hall. Alpha, are you ready to address your pack," Barrett asks, directing the question

at me. "Would it be alright if I address the pack myself before you make the announcement?"

"Of course, you're in charge Jayden," Barrett says.

I know its strange, but seeing the pride in his eyes when he addresses me feels good, and I can tell it has nothing to do with the title. It's what I expect it would feel like if we had a normal father that cared about us. We make our way to the meeting hall and there isn't a

vacant seat in the place. As we make our way to the stage, I'm taken back by the animosity of the pack towards my brother. Beck's mate is standing at the base of the stairs and wraps her

arms around him when he reaches her.

I'm shocked he isn't going to join us when I follow Barrett onto the stage. I turn to face the room and the chatter is overwhelming. Without waiting for Barrett, Atlas pushes forward, letting out a growl that quiets the room. "I know you all have a lot of questions and I'll do my best to answer them." "Why the hell is that traitor back," an older pack member says, pointing

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58 Proud to Call You Alpha

at Beck. 

Despite my anger with my brother, I don't like him being called a traitor. "Why do you call him a traitor?" The man looks taken back by the question. "He killed our Alpha and the Beta's daughter then ran like a coward" he says. I see heads nodding in agreement. "What would you do if someone killed your mate," I ask the man who is clearly sitting with his mate. He opens and closes his mouth a few times.

"I'll tell you what anyone of you would do. You would kill for your mate, no matter the cost. Now imagine that your mate just gave birth to your first pup and instead of enjoying that beautiful moment, a terrible b**ch and tyrant decide to kill her because she is an omega. So I'll ask you again, why do you call him a traitor? I agree he made choices that I don't necessarily agree with, but I won't let any of you question his actions against our father or Corrine Foster. They deserved what the got."

"I have another question, since you have all so easily condemned him without knowing the truth about what happened. Did any of you stand up when myself or Jacob were being abusec by the faux Alpha or his pathetic son? How many of you stood by while your Alpha heirs were abused and did nothing?" A large part of the crowd drop their gaze to the floor in shame. I know some of them never witnessed what happened, but for those that did, they also made bad choices. "I understand that you were afraid, so I hold no ill will, but you might want to remember that none of you are without sin before you condemn someone else. Now I know you all felt the bond break with Corey Foster who, along with his son, will be punished for his crimes. 'I look back at Barrett and he nods.

"I was given the opportunity to become the Alpha of Blue Crescent today and a part of me hac considered what that looked like for me and the pack. The bigger part of me knows that we have all made mistakes and I refuse to make another. The goddess has brought back the rightful heir of the Blue Crescent Pack. Councilman Barrett, will you do the honor of righting the wrongs of the past and announce the new Alpha of the Blue Crescent Pack."

My eyes meet Beck's and though I'm not ready to forgive him, I know in my heart he was meant to lead the pack. I pray that maybe someday I'll find that forgiveness, but for now, I feel lighter in the knowledge that Corey and Waller will be dealt with, and the pack will start to heal. My brother walks on the stage with his mate's hand in his when I move off to the side.

I'm not even sure how I didn't see Fredrick standing behind us with the pack dagger in his hand. Barrett cuts both their hands and has them make their vows to the pack. "Blue Crescent pack I present to you your new Alpha Beckham Forester and Luna Rosalyn Forester," Barrett

says. When I look back over the crowd, most of them are bearing their necks to their new