Betrayed By My Mate Saved By His Rival

---- Chapter 17 Ethan's POV "Get the jet ready," I ordered my Beta. "Alpha, are you going to Julian's territory?" "Right now!" I grabbed my keys. "I'm bringing her back." "But Alpha, this could start a war between the packs..." "T don't give a damn!" I stormed out of the office and headed for the pack estate. The private jet was there. I had to leave immediately. An hour later, I sped through the estate gates. As I walked into the living room, I saw a familiar figure on the sofa. My mother. The former Luna, Elena Blackwood. "You're finally back," she said, gracefully setting down her teacup.

"We need to talk." "Mother, I don't have time right now." I walked past her towards the stairs. "I have to get ready to leave." ---- "Go where?" Her voice was like ice. "To make an even bigger fool of yourself in front of Julian?" I stopped. "What?" "Our stocks are in freefall, Ethan," she said, her voice sharp as broken glass. "Our allies are demanding blood. Our enemies smell weakness. And the entire shifter world is laughing at the name Blackwood." "I don't care about the stock!" "But I do!" her voice rose. "This is about the Blackwood family's honor!" "Honor?" I turned to face her.

"What honor? The kind built on lies?" "Listen to me, Ethan." She walked toward me, her gaze sharp. "Tomorrow, you will hold a press conference and announce that today's revelations were faked." "What?" "You will say the evidence was fabricated, part of a conspiracy by Julian," she continued. "Then you will formally announce Lilith as your Luna." I couldn't believe my ears. "Are you insane?" "It's the only way to save the pack's reputation!" she said ---- coldly. "Lilith is our only option now." "She's a liar!" I roared. "She murdered my pup!" "And?" My mother didn't even blink.

"She murdered a pup, Ethan. A pawn. In our world, that's not murder. It's called politics." "Politics?" I felt my blood boil. "My family is not a political tool!" "What family?" she scoffed. "Seraphina ran straight into the arms of our rival. She belongs to Julian now. She is the enemy." "That's because I hurt her!" "And?" My mother shrugged. "So now she's the enemy. Forget her. Focus on running your pack." I stared at the woman who gave birth to me. There was no motherly love in her eyes, only cold calculation. "You've always been like this," my voice began to tremble.

"You've been controlling my life since I was a pup." "I was protecting you!" she snapped. "Protecting this family!" ---- "Protecting me?" I laughed. "You made me marry Seraphina for her family's fortune!" "Of course!" she said, not even trying to hide it. "Mating alliances are for gain." "And my love for her?" "Love?" she sneered. "An Alpha doesn't need love. He needs power." I'd reached my limit. "Enough!" I roared. "I am sick of your manipulations!" "Then what will you do?" she shot back, furious.

"Ruin this entire family for a woman who betrayed you?" "She did not betray me!" "No?" my mother sneered. "Then where did Marcus come from? And Lydia?" "They are my pup!" "Are you sure?" Her eyes turned dangerous. "Then why did you sacrifice Marcus to save Leo?" I froze. "Because... because the bloodline test showed..." ---- "Showed what?" She advanced on me. "That they weren't your blood?" "Yes..." my voice grew quiet. "When Seraphina gave birth, I performed the blood rite myself with the Moonstone," she hissed, her voice dripping with contempt.

"I saw the truth that day, andI sealed it in the archives. Waiting for the day my son would become an Alpha, not a lovesick boy. Waiting for you to have the spine to look for it yourself." "Why..." I asked, trembling. "Why didn't you tell me sooner..." "Because I was waiting for you to be an Alpha, nota sentimental fool!" she shrieked. "An Alpha questions! An Alpha investigates! An Alpha doesn't let his heart blind him toa lie so obvious a pup could see it!"