Free Web NovelChapter 163: Consequences of His Actions
"What I did is not important," Damon grumbled. "The main issue is how to proceed from now on."
I scoffed; his lack of a proper answer was ironically all the answers I needed. Damon must have behaved atrociously for him to side-step the question the same way he side-stepped Dahlia’s attempts to hold his hand. It didn’t escape my notice that Dahlia had insinuated that they had slept together before― that would explain why Alpha Thorton was so insistent on the marriage.
Blaise also seemed similarly unimpressed.
"You’ve run too wild in your youth, and now you’re suffering the consequences of your actions." Blaise shrugged. "I suppose I should be grateful you did not give me a nephew or niece in those years I went missing."
Damon gave Blaise the stink-eye. "Oh, fuck off. You know all too well I was too young for anything like that to happen. Now stop making wisecracks and help me think of a solution to this problem."
"What can I say? The dildo of consequences rarely comes lubed," Blaise said, and I nearly choked on my saliva. I did not need that mental image in my head at all.
Damon snarled, but even he couldn’t hide the glimmer of amusement that came from Blaise’s words.
"I don’t want Dahlia as my sister-in-law as much as you don’t want her for a wife, but it’s not just a marriage between the both of you. Behind her comes a lifetime supply of food. Even if we did not have trouble with Everhaven, we would be hard-pressed to turn away such security for our pack."
"And you would have me give up Harper for food?" Damon demanded, growling angrily. "Is this your plan all this while, Blaise? To get me out of the way so that you can have Harper all to myself?"
"Don’t be ridiculous, I’m trying to help you here." Blaise’s eyes darkened with anger at the insinuation that he might have an ulterior motive. "It was your actions that jeopardized the agreement to begin with. Why couldn’t you have killed her with your magic? Your ice would have melted naturally in daylight, leaving no one any wiser regarding her cause of death."
Huh. Blaise had a point. No matter how you looked at it, a magical ice spear would melt into a puddle of water at the end of the day, but no human would be able to forget the sight of a wolf the size of a car snapping off the leg of a woman.
"Oh, please, do you want every hunter within this country to know about our abilities? Are you that tired of living, Blaise?" Damon argued. "Just because you’re upset with that doctor’s death doesn’t mean you can blame me for it. He was already dead before the hunter attacked."
"I am not blaming you for it, do not put words in my mouth," Blaise hissed. "You’re just trying to victimize yourself."
"You’re saying I should give up on Harper, my fated mate, for the good of the pack," Damon scoffed. "In that case, can I expect you to do the same when another Alpha’s daughter wants to marry you, for the good of the pack?"
"That’s not the same, and you know it. I am just a Beta, who I marry does not matter. But you are an Alpha and you have greater responsibilities―"
"So this is what it comes down to, you’re just jealous that I’m one chosen―"
"Shut up, the both of you!" I yelled out, storming in between them, with my hands outstretched to keep them apart. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
By now, Damon and Blaise were circling each other like wild animals jostling for territory, and they were so close to coming to blows. Rage welled up within me, but it was hard to tell whether it was mine, Damon’s, or Blaise’s.
Regardless, the atmosphere in the room was tense.
"If we’re going to fight among ourselves and accuse each other like this, we should just go back to Everhaven and let the hunters slaughter all of us," I scolded, heaving in anger. "Now, we have to think of a solution. Damon, I know you don’t want to marry Dahlia, but you can only refuse if you have other options for food. Do we have anyone else to turn to?"
Damon paused, and I held my breath. Surely, with Damon’s contacts, there had to be one pack willing to offer a helping hand?
The silence stretched on. Finally, Damon shook his head, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion. I felt my heart sink as the path before us became clear. Damon and I were now on diverging roads.
"Then you’ll have to marry her," I said simply, even as I felt part of my heart ache and bleed at the thought of one of my fated mates marrying another, embracing another, making her his Luna, having children with her.
"No ifs or buts about it," I finished quietly.
"I cannot marry her!" Damon exclaimed, an aghast expression on his face. "Harper, have you lost your mind?" He reached a hand out and tugged at the necklace on my neck; the silver strands and small diamonds glinting brightly under the warm chandelier lights.
"You’re telling me to marry another woman while wearing this necklace around your neck? What’s wrong with you? Did you think just because you have Blaise, you can get rid of me?"
His voice broke at the last part.
"Nothing is wrong with me!" I declared, batting his hand away from my necklace, as I blinked away tears. Damon was refusing to look at the bigger picture, missing the forest for the trees.
"You’re being immature. This matter has higher stakes than both of our feelings; than all three of us. You have to consider Fangborne’s survival too! This is your job as an Alpha, this is why you came all the way here to ask for help, isn’t it? If you’re going to be selfish, then you shouldn’t have come here to begin with!"
Damon’s face drew back as if struck. I scrubbed my hand over my face, rubbing away the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Harper..." Blaise started, trying to embrace me to calm me down, but I threw off the arm he slung around my waist too.
"Leave me alone, both of you," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I’m going to go for a walk outside. And when I return, the both of you better stop this stupid argument."
With that final parting statement, I whirled around and left the room, slamming the door shut.
