The Alpha And His Rejected Fae Princess

No Son of Mine

Third Person POV

He stared morosely at the gravestone, the wind whipping through his hair, his eyes closed in grief. Although it had been a year, he still missed his mother with a fierceness that made his chest ache. He had struggled to let go of her, missing the warmth of her smile, the comfort of her hugs, and the musical sound of her voice as she'd told him stories or memories of her childhood. He found that it was becoming harder and harder to remember her these days, the image of her hard to conjure up in his mind, having to rely on photographs more and more in order to bring her face back to life in his mind. It didn't help that his father seemed hellbent on getting rid of anything that reminded him of Liam's mother Carissa, destroying all her clothes and personal items to Liam's disgust and personal dismay. His mother would have been deeply upset to know that his father hadn't even waited a week to clear out their bedroom, thought Liam angrily, and rid himself of anything that so much as smelled or reminded him of his wife that had departed from this earth.

He placed the flowers he had gathered onto the gravestone, a simple concoction of roses and tulips, the colors vibrant against the depressing gray of the headstone, touching the hardness of the stone with his hand. He spoke softly to his mother, hoping she could hear him from up above, or wherever she was and that she was finally happy.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Mother" he murmured, his voice carrying in the wind "I'm sorry I didn't realize just how sad you really were."

He didn't expect an answer. Liam felt like he'd failed her. He'd done his research and he'd since learned that when a mate has s****l intercourse with one that is not their mate, their intended mate if they are marked, feels it. His mother had felt it every time his father had been unfaithful. The pain must have been excruciating and she'd done nothing but grin and bear it. For who knows how many years. His father had promised to love her, to be faithful when they married, and then promptly forgotten all about their vows to each other.

The last year had been hell. His father, who was already foreboding and determined for Liam to be the best, had stepped up his training sessions to twice a day. He was permitted to attend school, which was his only relief away from the pack. He had become a fierce warrior even at twelve years old and his eyes constantly flashed to dark when he became angry, a sure sign that he would shift early, something that made his father proud. As though he was personally responsible for it, thought Liam sourly. The training regiment was difficult too. Liam was forced to fight the head warrior on a daily basis, while his father watched, shouting out angrily whenever Liam made a misstep or lost. It was hardly the encouragement a young, almost teenage boy needed from his father.

He crouched down and kissed his index and middle finger, pressing them to the headstone, tears pricking the corners of his eyes, which he promptly blinked back. His father would be furious if he saw Liam showing any signs of weakness. "I love you Mother" he whispered, his voice hoarse from grief "I'll come to visit you again soon" he added. He put his hands in the pockets of his black overcoat and began to walk away, grateful no one had noticed he had slunk towards the gravesite, fully aware that his father disapproved of him visiting it. His father was not the type to dwell on the past, thought Liam bitterly. The wind whipped across his face as he trudged back to the pack house, his feet clad in boots that sunk into the softness of the lush green grass that surrounded their territory.

He entered the pack house, inhaling the aroma of something fresh being cooked in the kitchen, his stomach growling loudly. Whatever it was it smelt delicious. He could smell fresh bread baking in the oven. He put his coat on the coat rack by the entryway and was about to head into the kitchen when his father came out, looking displeased.

"I've been looking all over for you," said Alpha Johnathon annoyed "Where have you been son?" he asked with his eyes narrowed.

Liam fought to keep his heart rate even. If it sped up, his father would know something was up.

"I was out for a walk," he said quietly "I didn't know you were looking for me" he added calmly.

His heartbeat remained the same. His father frowned. But there was no look of suspicion on his face. Liam was grateful for that at least. His father looked dressed up today, clad in a black suit, with a white dress shirt, His brown hair was neatly groomed back and was that a nervous look on his face? Since when did his father, the big bad Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack get nervous about anything? His father was even fidgeting slightly with his hands.

"Was there something you wanted Father?" asked Liam boldly, taking a step closer to the man who towered over him.

His father met his eyes, startled at his son who stared back at him bravely. He gave Liam a small smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. "Actually," he said gruffly "there is something that I want to talk to you about" he growled "and I think it would be best if we spoke about it in the privacy of the study, where it can't be overheard."

That made Liam's heart skip a beat. He hated the study. His father used it when he wanted to berate Liam or shout abuse at him. Whatever he wanted to speak to Liam about, it couldn't be good. He swallowed hard but refused to show that he was frightened or intimidated.

"Certainly Father," he said pleasantly, following along behind his father as he led him upstairs to the first floor and into the study.

Upon entering the study, Liam halted in his tracks, as he saw a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. Her long hair was loose down her shoulders, her pale pink lips curved in a wide smile. She was of short stature, her figure trim with pert little breasts that were almost spilling out of a little black strapless dress she was wearing. She sat in a chair opposite the study desk, her ankles crossed demurely, hands in her lap. Her complexion was a honey-golden color, the kind that comes from a tanning salon. Liam was about to give her a friendly smile when he stiffened. Something about this woman was oddly familiar but he couldn't quite place her. Where had he seen her before? He wracked his brain as his father moved to take a seat behind the desk.

"Do sit down already Liam" he barked.

Liam nervously sat down in the seat next to the woman, trying to hide his distaste for her. She pursed her lips at him.

"He's so cute" she cooed to Alpha Johnathon.

Liam scowled at her in response. He was almost ready to snarl at her. His eyes flashed dark. His father noticed and thumped the study table, a heavy, walnut antique one, with his hand, startling Liam and the woman out of their seats.

"Liam" he hissed "Cool your temper" he snarled "I will not have your eyes turn dark in here, is that understood?"

Liam wanted to shout at him. It wasn't exactly easy to control, he wanted to argue. He would have liked his father to be more understanding. Instead, he gave his father a tight nod. "Understood," he said a bit snappily.

His father raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on the tone of Liam's voice. He sat back in his chair and surveyed his son thoughtfully. Liam felt uncomfortable with his father's gaze directly on him. He began to peer around the room in the hopes of distracting himself. Alpha Johnathon cleared his throat. "Ahem," he coughed "As you can see we have company," he said, smiling slyly at the blonde woman "This beauty right here is called Cordelia" he added "and I have wanted the two of you to meet for quite a while" he added, stroking his chin.

Cordelia mused Liam, the name meant nothing to him. She was just another pack member as far as he was concerned. But there was something in the way that Cordelia and his father were looking at each other that caused a sinking feeling in his gut.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you Liam" gushed Cordelia, with her lips curved in a beaming smile that looked completely fake to Liam, "I've heard such wonderful things about you," she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.

Aware of his father's eyes on him, Liam took hold of her hand and shook it, albeit a bit roughly. "Funny" he muttered "because he didn't mention anything about you" he snapped.

"Liam" boomed Alpha Johnathon.

"Johnathon, it's okay. You have kept it a secret after all so you can hardly blame this reaction" Cordelia said sweetly. His father relaxed back in the chair.

"I suppose you are right" he murmured "We should have told him well before now, but for the sake of decorum, I thought it best to leave him to grieve that b***h Carissa" he added.

Liam glared at him. "Don't ever speak about my mother like that" he advised him.

His father just smirked. Liam felt hatred for his father welling up inside of him.