Mommy, I Want A New Alpha Daddy

Chemical Reaction To Betrayal

AZALEA'S POV

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There's no bandaging up the crack in my heart, nor will the perfect behavior sew the sensitive flesh together to try and make it new.

Elion's eyes are filled with shock, like he forgot that we were surrounded by people, like I wasn't even here. He wasn't even surprised that Ashen called him daddy-- because he knew. "Azalea," He breathes my name innocently, but the guilt swirling in his eyes like shadows are anything but innocent. "Why aren't you denying it? Is he your son?" My feet tremble as I take a step toward my mate, my eyes flitting to the green-eyed boy with light hair in his arms. The silence isn't comforting, it never has been, but this-- this is worse.

"Answer me!" My voice is carried by the wind over the graveyard on the far end of the Storm Blazers' territory, and if everyone wasn't staring at us already, they sure as hell are now. A gust of wind blows my hair back over my shoulders the same second my rage explodes like a dam wall breaking, and the water pours out with force.

"It was an accident," Elion holds Ashen tighter, his hooded gaze locked on mine. "An accident?" I laugh bitterly, shaking my head in disbelief. "Don't hate my son," Bexley steps forward to defend her child, and for that I cannot hate her since it's the only noble thing she has ever done.

"An accident?" My eyes almost pop out of their sockets. "An accident is slipping and falling off the stairs, Elion. Did you land on top of her with your d**k up her skirt?" The more I speak, the more I yell. "How dare you?" Bexley sneers, her face contorted with rage and horror, taking a threatening step toward me, but I stand my ground, staring her dead in the eye. "How dare I? How dare you?" I scream.

I hate yelling, and he has me yelling at my father's funeral. A funeral that was supposed to be perfect. My mother gasps from behind me at my choice of words, and Elion stares at me like he's looking at a ghost. "Daddy, why is the mean lady yelling?" Ashen curls into Elion's chest, and the sight of his head resting against Ashen's to comfort him has my fingers curling into a ball. "She's upset, that's all." Elion reassures, putting Ashen down behind him, as if to shield him from me.

"Daddy?" Ashen tugs on Elion's trouser. A burst of blur flies past my leg, and slams into Ashen with full force, making him cry out as his head hits the ground, hard. "Ashen!" Bexley screams at the top of her lungs like a monster just attacked her son. The sound of her shrilling terror echoes around the trees like wind curling around the bark. "He's not your daddy!" Lyra sits atop Ashen, smacking him in the face. "He's my daddy!" She screams, punching him some more, luring a crowd of curious people.

Before I can even recover from what's happening right in front of me, Elion grabs Azalea under the arms, lifting her off Ashen "Lyra!" he growls, the sound vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. Lyra tenses, her green eyes wide and glassy as her tiny body locks, "What is the matter with you?" he hisses, putting her down without a care. She stumbles, slowly turning toward him as she gathers her balance. "You're my daddy," she whispers brokenly. Rage bubbles beneath my skin as I realize what that was.

My daughter was jealous of another kid because she doesn't get the same tenderness from her father. "You cannot fight people! That is unacceptable for a girl!" He scolds, shaking his head. He glances around, scoffing under his breath, "In front of so many people, how shameful." He tuts, and the anger boils over into everything else.

"Do not blame our daughter for your lack of affection." I seethe, my eyes flicking to Bexley, "And you should be ashamed of yourself," I grit out, but what I didn't expect was how Elion stepped in front of her, shielding her. Choosing his other family instead of us.

This is it, isn't it?

I thought I lost him today, that him being late to my father's funeral was the worst of it, but no...I've lost him years ago, since he laid bare with his...I cannot even think it. He and his step-sister. A shiver wracks through my body as disgust leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I, Azalea, reject you, Elion, and your pack." I spit out in disgust. Elion's head slightly pulls back, his eyes rounding as his lips part. The whispers have fallen into silence, and I can feel everyone's eyes on us like they are using their claws to scrape along the back of my head.

"Reject me?" Elion huffs, rolling his eyes as he recollects himself. "What will you even do without me?" The better question yet is what he will do without me. "Run the pack I inherited, remember my father? The man's funeral you ruined by bringing your mistress s***h step-sister here?" I purposely say it out loud to throw him off. Shame fills his eyes as he glances to the ground, his jaw tightening with tension. The whispers erupt in a wave of gossip as his scandalous acts have light shone onto it.

"You are dead to me." I breathe, blinking slowly to get rid of the burn as tears pool in my eyes. Elion's gaze snaps up and locks with mine, the blazing anger swirling in those green eyes highlight the flecks of gold. "I accept your rejection," he blurts out like he if he didn't say it fast enough, he'd stop himself. The slice through my chest is what has my knees trembling, but the betrayal and the anger surges above the hurt.

Elion takes a step toward me, unfazed and untouched by our broken bond, "Let's see how long it takes for you to come crawling back," he breathes. As the bond severs into nothing, a new bond takes its place. I can feel the link to the Storm Blazers bloom in my chest, healing what has been broken. I step back, keeping my trembling chin up, "Rufus, please take your team and escort Elion and his mistress along with their son out of my pack." Elion's eyes widen in shock, the realization of what I had just done settling into his bones like a cold chill.

The second the guards swarm them, Bexley steps back, "Don't be such a jealous b***h, Azalea. It was one night, a drunk, stupid mistake." Her eyes cry out for pity and help, but she won't find any here. I remain silent, not because I don't have anything to say, but because I'm keeping myself composed as I bite down on my teeth and bury my nails in my palms.

"You can't hate an innocent child for this!" Bexley screams at the top of her lungs as she picks Ashen up, but she has no more time to spew her toxic words around as Elion takes her hand, "Let's go, there's nothing here for us anyway," he snorts, keeping his own chin up. I don't know what's worse-- him acting unfazed, or him being unfazed.

I hate that I can't tell if this is bothering him, not that I ever could before.

"Mommy, where's daddy going?" Lyra tugs at my dress, and I swoop her up into my arms, her own wrapping around my neck, "Daddy has to go, Ly-Bug," My voice cracks under the weight of watching Elion ruin six years of our lives and walk out with Bexley and his son.

Goddess-- he has a son.

"Azalea," A familiar voice draws me from my mate as those cunning blue eyes block my view. He hasn't changed one bit. "My condolences, for your father, I mean." A small smile curves at Corbin's lips, his eyes soft, yet so alive with spark.