Omega Bound Chapter 80

Thane

This is not how I wanted Little Wolf to find out about Della and Kian's scheming. I wanted to keep this contained until I knew the full scope of Della's plans and if she was behind the poisoning. Now, it looks like I am hiding things from Ayla, and to an extent I am but now is not the time to try and explain the hows and why and I won't be able to get the answers I need from my team about Della if she knows what I am trying to do.

"I don't know what you are talking about Thane." Della stammers out and Little Wolf is concerned for her well-being. I can't believe I couldn't see this whole time how self-absorbed she is. 

"Della, go home now," I say quite sternly, pushing out a little of my aura to get the message across, but Ayla is having none of it. She wants answers and I want to give them to her, just not here with Della on the porch.

"I am not leaving here until you explain this to me. How am I supposed to just go back to the pack like thrown away garbage because you don't want me anymore? Do you know what everyone is going to think? What are they going to say? I look like washed-up, used goods." 

"I didn't throw you away. You were never mine to throw away. We grew up together. We were friends. I found my mate. It is a risk any shifter in the pack takes when they decide to fool around before finding their mate. The mate bond trumps it all. Trumps everything Della. Nobody gives a shit about our situation or lack thereof." I am trying so hard to get Della to see the need to leave before something happens that none of us can come back from.

"What did she do Thane? Tell me." Ayla demands, her tone rising now and I don't blame her. I know how this looks, especially her coming out here. I told Little Wolf she would be safe out here and then this happens. 

"Yeah, Thane. Tell her whatever it is that you think I did because I didn't do anything." 

"Go home Della, now," I growl out, but Ayla places a hand on my arm, forcing me to turn back to look at her. Her eyes are pulsing teal, a clear indication that her wolf is going to take the reins soon and then I have no idea what will happen. 

I don't want Little Wolf to live with attacking Della on her conscience or worse. Ayla's eyes are pleading with me to tell her. I let out a long-held sigh and explained. "Della paid Kian to pretend to be your mate. Her goal was to keep you away from me."

"What? Who told you that? I would never." Della backs up a few steps, eyes darting everywhere but on us. She clearly is lying, but I don't know what else she is holding back either. 

"You mean, she paid Kian to keep me away from you? You told me you took care of Kian. That he wouldn't bother me anymore." 

"Yes, I did Ayla and he won't." 

"Then why is Della any different? She paid him, she knows my secret, yet she got to go to our ceremony and live her life without any consequences. Where is Kian?" Ayla asks me. Her tone has shifted to anger and pain. 

I hate that this information is coming out like this. "I killed Kian for harming you and to keep your secret." Ayla's eyes go wide, and I can hear an audible gasp from Della.

"So, Della is special, but Kian wasn't? What is to stop her from telling everyone about what I can do Thane?" 

"I didn't tell you yet, because I wanted to keep it under wraps until we could figure out if Della was behind poisoning me. I wasn't trying to keep it from you. I didn't want to put this on you with everything going on and not until I had answers. I wanted Della to live her life the same so we could see her reach and influence within the pack. I wasn't trying to lie to you Ayla, I swear it."

"Wait, what poison Thane? Someone poisoned you and you didn't think to let me know?" Della asks, taking a step closer, more determined this time and with a hint of anger. 

"What am I supposed to think? You paid someone to keep Ayla away from me and then I am poisoned? All signs point to you, Della." 

"I would never do that Thane. I would never hurt you. How long have we known each other? I can't believe you would think that of me." Della starts tearing up and I now believe that Della does not know who poisoned me, which would mean we have another traitor in the pack or a rival pack rising up.

"You may not be the one that poisoned me, but you did hire Kian, and he did hurt my mate. I can't forgive that Della." 

"I never told him to hurt your precious little wolf with her ridiculous nickname. He was supposed to keep her busy and away. You are mine Thane, not hers." Della is crying now, and I can feel rage and pain flowing through the mate bond.

"How do we know she isn't talking to others about what I did to her? About my gifting?" Ayla asks nervously. 

"Please, you think I would run around telling everyone that your stupid ass shot me with blue whatever it was? They would think I am crazy. But I will. I will tell every shifter that will listen to what you did. Do you think this pack will want some stupid, little omega shifter that is a danger to others? You attacked me and Cyrus. Nobody will be safe around you. You clearly can't control whatever the hell is wrong with you. The pack will call for your banishment. They won't allow a Luna to lead them that can't keep them safe from herself. You are a disease to this pack. Thane's poisoning was probably someone trying to get rid of you. They know you are worthless, unwanted, and used-up trash. You disgust me. How do you think the pack will feel when they start to realize that the mate bond is something you faked with your stupid magic just to take over the pack once you get rid of Thane? How do we even know you aren't the one that poisoned him? You are nothing but unwanted goods. You don't belong here."

I see red. Ronan is calling for a blood bath to defend his mate, and despite my rage, I can't believe that my childhood friend, who grew up with me through it all, could be so cruel and cold. Has she always been like this, and I was too blind to see it? I know we agreed to no feelings or a relationship with each other, but she lied about that the entire time. I need to do something before this gets out of hand.

I growl and take a step forward to grab Della. To do what with her, I don't know. I am trying not to kill her, but she is too blind to realize it. 

Before I can grab a hold of Della, Ayla turns to me and yells "No."