Betrayed by My Beta Mate

Chapter 117

51 To Accept or Not Accept

Larisa POV

“He is our mate” Ara says with a growl. “Calm down Ara, they care about us. They were scared when we were taken and they don’t know that Magnum let us go.” She recedes in my mind and I look back at my dad. I can feel the rage rolling off of him and Eli. “I think we need to give Larisa some time to rest. She just woke up and she is safe” my mother says. “No, I want to talk about this now.” She takes my hand and I’m glad to have at least her support. “I’m going to go let everyone know that your home safe” Lily says and leaves. “Larisa, I know the mate bond can cloud your judgement. You can’t really believe that you should accept a man that took you against your will” my father says. “Dad, I love you and I understand that you are angry, but I’m not a child anymore. I need you to hear me and not treat me like a little girl.” “Larisa, you’re talking about a man that kidnaped you so he could kill our father”, Eli says, and I flinch at his words. I know he is right, but Magnum isn’t the same man that took me a few days ago. My mother stands and looks at my brother and father. “Eli and Lincoln, take a seat and listen to Larisa. She deserves to be listened to and you are not giving her that respect. I know you are angry and scared but we need to know exactly what happened.” She turns and sits back down by my bed. “Larisa, tell us about your mate.” Both men growl low and my mother turns shooting daggers at them. I look at my father and Eli. “You are right. My mate took me because he wanted to hurt dad. He lost his way because he is in pain about losing his own parents. His parents were taken from him even if it was justified. Anger can make good people do bad things.” I take a moment to compose myself as my heart aches for Magnum. A little boy who learned to hate the man who took his family from him.

“In the days I spent with Magnum, he never hurt me. In fact, he protected me against his own coven members that tried to hurt me. He may be the reason I was taken, but he is also the reason I’m here and safe right now.” I can see the confusion on my father and Eli’s face. “A woman that was with my mate when I was taken sent a coven member to r*pe me.” The growls that echo through the room

nearly shake the walls. “Enough, let her finish” my mother says. “He didn’t succeed. You have taught me well how to defend myself. I kicked him in the balls hard enough that they were in his throat.” I see pride in Eli and my father’s eyes. “Magnum came to the room. I don’t know if he felt something was wrong or if it was just pure luck. He killed the vampire and the witch that set it up. When he came back to the room, he walked me outside of the coven. He told me to leave and that the coven was no longer a threat to the Nightfire pack.” There is a long stretch of silence and I’m not sure what else to say. “Larisa, do you want to be with Magnum” my mother asks me. I don’t even have to think about my answer. “Yes, he is my mate and I believe that the goddess chose me to heal him. I believe that he deserves to be happy.” She turns to my father and Eli. “I love you both but this is not your decision to make. There will be no attack on the coven for what is now in the past. Larisa is safe and has come to no harm. If Larisa and Magnum decide to accept the bond, this family will accept him.” Goddess, I love my mother. She may not be Alpha, but she is one hell of a Luna. My parents have always made decisions together and I hate that this may cause a problem between them.

My father stands and leaves the room without a word. My mother turns back with a sad smile. “Everything will work out, Larisa. I’ll talk to him. He was just so scared of losing you. He needs time, but he will come around.” I feel the tears running down my cheeks. She bends and presses a soft kiss on my forehead. Once she is gone, it’s just me and Eli. We have always had a good relationship and I don’t want to lose my family. I don’t want to have to choose. I can’t stop the sob that escapes me. Strong arms wrap around me and Eli slides in bed next to me like we did when we were pups. “It’s alright Larisa. Don’t cry sissy. Mom’s right, everything will work out. We were so scared that it’s hard to see past that, but we will for you. You will always be his little girl and he thought you were being hurt because of him. He wanted me to trade him for you the moment he found out that you had been taken. He will never make you choose or not be there for you.” “I don’t want to hurt you or dad. You guys are my world, but Ara and I want our mate if he will accept the bond.” “Mom’s right, as she usually is. It’s your decision, not ours. We will love you no matter what you decide.” Eli runs his fingers through my

hair. “Go to sleep sissy. I’ll be here with you.” My lids get heavy and I feel safe and loved in Eli’s arms. I just hope my dad is here when I wake up.

Magnum POV Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I wake up but I’m not in the room I fell asleep in. I’ve never seen this place before. I can tell it’s a hospital, but why am I here? I have to be dreaming. I hear a growl and follow the sound. When I look into the room, I see Laura lying in the bed. Why would I dream about her in the hospital? “This isn’t a dream, Magnum.” I turn to see a woman that I have only seen in pictures. “Mom” I say and she smiles. “I don’t understand what’s happening.” “Come with me and you will.” She opens the door and leads me into the room. There is a woman that looks like an older version of Laura sitting next to her bed. I’m sure it’s her mother. Two men who look very angry are sitting at the bottom of her bed. “She is a beautiful young lady” my mother says. “Yes, she is.” “Magnum, I know that you have carried this anger since you found out what happened to your father and me, but it’s misplaced. We made the wrong choices and Lincoln did what he had to do to protect innocent people. The goddess chose Larisa as your beloved so she could heal your heart. So, you could come to understand that the man you hold with such contempt is a good man.” I look at her confused, but then I hear the woman in the room call my beloved Larisa. “She was scared to tell you who she really was. Her real name is Larisa Thomas and she is the only daughter of Lincoln and Amelia Thomas.” My beloved is the daughter of the man I have hated all my life. My mother threads her finger in mine and I feel a sense of peace.

“You know that you don’t feel that way anymore. You and Oscar deserve to be happy. You deserve to love Larisa with all your heart. You are a good man and I’m proud of you. You did the right thing when it mattered most.” I look back at the woman who has made me feel things I never thought were possible. When I hear the woman that I assume is her mother ask her if she wants to be my mate, everything stops. When she says yes, I can’t believe she wants to be with me after everything that happened. My mother reaches up and puts her hands on my cheeks. “You have a choice to make Magnum. The goddess has given you this gift and you can accept it or you can continue to hold on to the hurts of the

past. I want you to be happy and so does the goddess.” I watch as my beloved cries and a man that I assume is her brother holds her close. Her tears gut me and I want nothing more than to take his place. Letting her go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but what if my mother’s right and I don’t have to? Can we really accept the bond? I turn to look back at my mother and she smiles. “You already know the answer, but you have to make it happen.” She wraps me in a hug and warm tears run down my cheeks. “I love you mom.” “I love you to Magnum. Tell your brother I love him and I’m proud of him. He will always be there for you, Magnum.” “I know he will.” I’m consumed in darkness and when I open my eyes, I’m back in the room I fell asleep in. I get up from the bed and pull back on my pants. I need to find Oscar and figure out what to do next.

Lincoln POV

I sit on the bench in the garden. I didn’t know where I was going when I left the hospital, but I needed to step away. I know Amelia’s right, but I thought I was going to lose Larisa. “Our pup is strong. She is just like our mate. They have made us a better wolf and man”, Talon says. I chuckle “that they have. Talon, what if he hurts our baby?” “Then we make him very sorry.” “Are you talking to my favorite wolf”, Amelia asks as she walks toward me. I nod and she comes to stand in front of me. “Lincoln” she starts to say, but I stop her. I pull her onto my lap and bury my head in her neck. “She is my little girl and he took her. How do I forgive him? What if he hurt her?” “We can’t live in what ifs. Your daughter is amazing. She is strong and loving because of you and me. She knows her worth and would never allow someone to mistreat her because she knows how a man should treat a woman because of you. You are the best father to our pups. You are the best mate. This isn’t going to be easy and I know you’re afraid. I’m afraid to, but we need to trust our daughter to make this decision.” “I’m so grateful that the goddess brought you into my life. I was truly blessed the moment I found you. You have blessed me with two beautiful pups and a lifetime of happiness. You have made me a better man.” She presses her head against mine. “I love you so much, Lincoln. You are my blessing and I would be lost without you.” I sit and hold my mate for a long time.

I stand with her in my arms and start to walk back toward the hospital. Once I’m inside, I walk to Larisa’s room. I set Amelia on her feet and kiss her like she is the air I need to breathe. “I will see you back at the pack house, love”, Amelia says. I open the door and see my pups huddled on the bed together. It takes me back to when they were little. Eli’s eyes open and he smiles at me. He slides out of bed without waking Larisa. He hugs me before he leaves the room. I walk over and I slide in next to my daughter, wrapping her in my arms. “Daddy” she says. “I’m here sweet girl. I love you, Larisa, and I want you to be happy. Nothing will change how I feel about you and I will support whatever decision you make.” Her soft sobs nearly break me. “Thank you, dad. I love you.” “Go to sleep sweet girl. I’ll be here when you wake up and we can talk more about your mate.”