Chapter 334
Three hundred and thirty-six
Wesley POV
I headed toward the main house, searching for Anita and hoping this chaos would finally end. She wasn’t in the main hall, and I was about to check the annex when I found the elders dressed in white, singing and clapping. Barbara stood among them as they praised her, calling her their future Luna.
“There he is!” one of the elders said, spotting me. I pretended fiot to hear and kept walking.
Barbara hurried after me, laughing. I stopped once we were far enough from the elders that they couldn’t hear is. Her heels wobbled, and I steadied her until she found her balance. She slipped her hand into mine, falling back
into our familiar act.
“I couldn’t exactly run away from the elders. They wanted to give us a blessing to keep our relationship on the right path and make sure our future together is peaceful. I didn’t want to offend them by refusing p>
“Can things get any more complicated than this?” I muttered.
“You’re their future Alpha. Of course they’re going to have expectations p>
“I think we should end this p>
She stopped laughing. Her gaze searched my face.
“Something is eating you up, Wes. If you’re worried about the blessing, I’ll go home. You said we’d push the relationship until your father announced the date for his handover p>
“He already has. I forgot to inform you p>
“Oh… I see p>
“I’ve found someone. I like her, and I’m willing to give it a real try p>
Her eyes widened. I glanced around, checking that no one stood close enough to listen.
“Wesley?” she whispered. “That’s reckless. If we’re going to break up publicly and you suddenly bring out someone else, what do you think people will say p>
“I’m not rushing anything p>
“It’s strange you’ve gotten over Beatrice,” she said.
“It’s been five years, Barbara. I’ll never forget Beatrice, but it’s time to move on p>
Her brows drew together.
“Of course, I get that. Is she someone I know?” she asked, studying my face. “Someone in our circle p>
“You don’t know her, and she’s not in our circle.” I glanced toward the main hall. “We’ll talk later. I need to find Anita p>
“Wesley p>
“Later, Barbara p>
Anita was in the other hall, surrounded by friends, a drink in hand and laughter spilling from the group. The festival had split everyone into their age groups, with the elders and parents gathered among themselves while
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the younger wolves claimed their own spaces.
“Sorry, guys, I need to borrow my sister for a bit p>
One of the girls smiled at me.
“Of course, Alpha p>
I’d grown used to that look from unmarried women whenever I walked into a room.
Anita linked her arm through mine as we left, already giggling.
“Of course, Alpha,” she mimicked the girl who’d been ogling me.
“If looks could get someone naked, those girls would have done it by now,” I muttered.
“If looks could kill, half of Mom’s friends would have buried me already. Apparently, I’m supposed to wear a long skirt, sit quietly, and look available for a husband. As if I’d wake up one day and develop a taste for cock p>
I chuckled. She was in such a good mood that I hated that I was going to ruin it.
We headed upstairs. It was empty. Anita dropped into a chair and looked at me.
“What’s up p>
I sat across from her and waited.
“I’m breaking up with Barbara p>
The playfulness vanished from her face. Her mouth fell open.
“Why? Is it because I hinted that you two don’t have chemistry p>
“Partly p>
“But that’s not enough reason to break up with her p>
“There is no chemistry because Barbara and I were never really together p>
“What do you mean p>
She leaned closer.
“I lied about us being together,” I said with a sigh. “We agreed to pretend, for the optics. I needed the council to stop looking too closely at my issues p>
Anita gasped.
“What the hell, Wesley?! You lied to everyone? Including Mom and Dad? And Barbara agreed to it p>
I nodded.
“That’s crazy p>
“At least she’s not getting her heart broken,” I said.
“Still, that was careless. You didn’t even tell me. You could have told Emma or me, and we could have figured out how to keep it contained p>
“I guess it’s a little too late for that p>
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“You two actually looked good together, you know. Alpha and Luna. I hope you’re not doing it tonight. Who else knows about this madness p>
“Grandma Cassidy p>
“Of course.” She raised her hand. “I trust you to avoid telling Mom anything that might cause trouble and go straight to Grandma instead. You didn’t even tell Charlie p>
I shook my head.
“There’s something else,” I said. “I’ve found someone p>
Excitement lit up her face. She reached for my hand.
“Who is it p>
“I don’t know how you’re going to take it p>
Her smile faltered.
“Why? Is it that bitch, Tina? I can’t stand her, but if you like her, I mean… that’s your business p>
“It’s not Tina p>
“Oh. Then who p>
“Isabella p>
Her brows knit together. She searched my face, trying to place the name. Then she yanked her hand from mine and burst out laughing so hard she clutched her stomach.
“You’re trolling me,” she said between laughs. “You didn’t actually break up with Barbara, did you p>
“I’m serious. Isabella and Grandma Cassidy are waiting downstairs for you to apologize p>
Her laughter died.
“Wesley, don’t play with me like that. It’s not funny p>
“I’m sorry p>
Her eyes filled with shock and pain.
“Did you fuck her?” she said, her voice level. “When did this happen p>
I didn’t respond.
“She… she has a boyfriend p>
I shook my head.
“She came to your gig with her friend to make you back off p>
Her jaw dropped.
“Anita, I’m sorry. And I’m not asking you to pretend it doesn’t hurt. But Isabella was never interested in you, and you knew it p>
“And you slept with her anyway.” She nodded slowly. “Got it p>
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She rose.
“Where did you say she was p>
“Downstairs, in the backyard p>
Anita headed for the door.
“Anita, wait p>
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She didn’t stop.
I hurried after her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. We had to tell you so we wouldn’t keep leading you on p>
She didn’t stop until we reached the backyard, where Grandma Cassidy stood in front of Isabella. Isabella wiped her face while Grandma Cassidy met my gaze, then Anita’s, her eyes unsettled.
Anita marched toward them and slapped Isabella. The crack rang through the air. Isabella clutched her cheek, and I caught Anita’s hand too late.
Grandma Cassidy blinked, as if the slap had snapped her back to attention.
“You didn’t have to slap her,” she said.
“I’ll slap her again and again until those lying teeth fall out,” Anita spat, yanking against my grip.
“Calm down, Anita p>
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you? What’s wrong with all of you p>
She turned on Isabella.
“You stood there silent, accepting my compliments, while you were fucking my brother behind my back p>
“Anita, honey, don’t p>
“Stay out of this, Grandma. I know you baby Wesley, but this is too much p>
“Anita, Isabella is straight,” I said. “She told you this herself p>
“You insensitive fool!” She struck my chest with her free hand. “This isn’t about whether she’s straight or whether she liked me. It’s about you lying to me, my own brother! How dare you think you can play me? How dare you? You both are so fucking stupid p>
“Anita, you’re angry, and you’re not thinking straight p>
“I’m thinking perfectly clearly. Unlike you, who thinks with his dick p>
She shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes.
“You knew I liked her. You knew, and you kept quiet. Anyone with basic decency would have told me. You could have said, ‘I like her too.’ But you said nothing. You let me believe there was a chance, and now you’re standing here telling me you’ve been sleeping with her p>
“Anita p>
“No. Don’t p>
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Her gaze cut to Isabella.
“And you think you can just walk away from this? You think you can come into this family, wear the dress I gave you, smile at me, let me welcome you, and then walk away like you did nothing p>
“Stop it, Anita,” I snapped, releasing her. “Can’t you see this isn’t about who’s sleeping with who? I like Isabella, and I’m introducing her to Mom and Dad p>
“Oh, congratulations!” She clapped, each clap sharp with mockery. “That’s what you want me to say, right? Go ahead and do whatever you want. But don’t expect a welcome from me p>
She pointed at Isabella.
“You have no idea what you’ve started p>
“Go,” I told Isabella.
She turned and walked away.
“Go ahead and run,” Anita called after her. “But trust me, I’ll make your life hell p>
“You won’t p>
Anita shoved my chest.
“I trusted you, Wesley p>
Her voice cracked.
“You’re so selfish. Everything always has to revolve around you. Mom travels across regions looking for answers about your wolf. Dad rearranges everything around you. Everyone is always worried about what you need, what you are going through, what will happen to you p>
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“And somehow, I became the difficult one. My needs didn’t matter because there was always something going on with you. And now, the one girl I like, you’re taking her away from me too p>
“Anita,” Grandma Cassidy said softly. “Please don’t see it that way p>
“Don’t p>
Anita stepped away from her.
“I hate you. I hate all of you p>
Grandma Cassidy reached for her again. This time, Anita didn’t resist. She pulled her into her arms and held her against her chest as Anita sobbed.
I stood there, silent.
I’d known Anita would be angry, but I hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.
Maybe she was right. I couldn’t see past my selfishness.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.