The Delta's Daughter Chapter 334

JONDA

I sat, somewhat patiently, waiting for Kellen or a doctor or even a nurse to come tell me what was going on. I couldn't hear anything from the other side of the door. All I could do was pray that my recently discovered sister and the baby were doing okay.

I had been here for hours; It was now close to becoming Saturday morning. In the next two hours, the sun would be peaking up over the horizon announcing the beginning of a new day.

Tala came into our lives six months ago. An illegitimate sister of our long-lost father Teal MacTire. At first, I didn't know what to make of her. Everything I had been told about my father, the image he had been painted in, had crumbled when I found out he had a child with another female.

Once I had heard her story of how she came to be, once my mother and brother had accepted her as a MacTire, I too accepted her. With that acceptance came a new friendship, a sisterly bond that I had been forever grateful for since I let my walls down.

Tala was strong, brave, and everything a queen should be. Her kindness outshone the best of them. Her eagerness to live life to the fullest and her almost 'too innocent' demeanor- a breath of fresh air since the death of King Alexander and Queen Sarah.

Never once have I seen Tala look down upon a lesser wolf or weaker race. After the way she grew up and everything she had endured in Bhakhil, she represented a beacon of light and hope.

My leg shook and my foot tapped incessantly, anxious for news of my sister and nephew. I couldn't wait to meet the little pup. I loved children and hoped that one day, in the not-too-distant future, I would have my own.

Whether that was with Mike or not was yet to be determined. I promised myself I would confess my betrayal to him. The fact that I had cheated on the man I love would never sit easily with me. It was just a matter of finding the right time to tell him. Before he marked me and completed a mate bond.

I knew there was a chance he wouldn't want me when he found out I had made a mistake.

The elevator dinged from the far end of the corridor. Heavy footsteps sounded out and I lifted my head to find the person of my immediate thoughts walking towards me with weighted steps and shoulders. Mike had shed his suit and wore a pair of dark jeans with a white tee that hugged every single one of his perfectly defined muscles, like a second skin. The sight of him had my mouth watering and a fluttering in my core had my skin heating and arousal peaking.

The feeling quickly fled at the look of pure rage that painted his face, and his eyes were dark, black with the mark of the queen's knight. A sure sign that his wolf was at the forefront.

Mike didn't smile at me like he usually would. His eyes trained on me, heated and full of anger. The closer he came, the more the darkness in his eyes faded. By the time he was standing in front of me, they had softened and morphed back to the gentle hazel I was more familiar with. A look of iniquity clouded them.

I opened my mouth to greet him and ask him what was wrong, but the words dried up when he gathered me in his arms, his nose pressing to the crook of my neck, and he inhaled deeply. Breathing in my scent. His large arms wrapped around me tightly, squeezing like he hadn't seen me for days, not hours. Pulling me against him until the only way we could possibly be any closer- was if he was inside me.

"Baby," I said, dragging my nails through his short hair. "Tell me." Part of me feared what he was going to say, the other part was desperate to share his burden. Whatever it may be.

He groaned into my neck, the vibrations on my skin causing a new wave of arousal and desire to flood my lower region. "We got the suspect." He mumbled.

My brows gathered in confusion; I pulled back so I could look at him. Mike lifted his head, his eyes finding mine, and the sorrow I saw in them almost broke my heart. I wasn't used to seeing these emotions in my man, he was always the jubilant, carefree Beta, who rarely lost his shit and only a few times let his anger take over. "If you got him, then why the sadness, why the tension?" Did they lose a warrior, did something else happen?

"She. We got her." The sadness in his eyes changed, morphing into a look of guilt, and shame.

I shook my head at him, "I don't understand?" My hands dropped from his hair, sliding down his stubbled jaw, over his shoulders, and down to grasp his hands. Waiting for him to clarify not just his words but his expression and why he looked so forlorn if they got the criminal.

"The suspect not only murdered two people, one being an Alpha's son but she's a thief too. She stole Tala's crown. Rhett is questioning her now." His chest rose and fell quickly as he spoke about the female crook. I gasped at the facts.

"What else, Mike?" I could see there was more. Something he was holding back from telling me. Something that has jarred him from his usual persona. "Tell me." I implored.

"She's, my mate."

I was sure my heart stopped for a moment before it kicked into overdrive. Beating so erratically I thought it would burst from my chest. Tears welled up in my eyes, I bit my lip to stifle the gasp and moan of a breaking heart at bay.

We knew this was a possibility. I knew it was only a matter of time before his mate appeared. I also knew I had no room to be mad. I had committed a travesty against the man I loved. Here he was telling me the truth when I had kept secrets from him.

His hands let go of mine just to cup my face, "My love, it's okay. We're okay. I will reject her before she is executed for her crimes. Nothing changes. Not my feelings for you. Not our future. I love you." He stoops his head to catch my watery eyes. "You believe me, don't you?" He asks, looking for clarification and assurance.

I couldn't give it to him. I had to confess. This wasn't fair to him. I couldn't let him make a rash decision without knowing the full facts of what I had done and how I had betrayed his trust. My body began to tremble, my hands shook violently, and my legs barely kept me up.

I was afraid but it was now or never. He deserved to hear the truth about what I did. My shame.

Tears streamed down my eyes as he looked at me with concern. Gone was the somber look of guilt, replaced with a fear for what he thought I was feeling. "Mike," I sobbed out. "I'm so sorry." Was what came out of my trembling lips.

I didn't know how to tell him. I expected him to be disappointed, and mad. But if our relationship was going to go any further, he needed to know and needed to hear it from me. "Jonda, what's going on? What's wrong? I promise you she means nothing…"

"Stop!" I cried out, not being able to take hearing his promises, sure he would feel differently about me once I confessed. I looked around to make sure we were alone. This wasn't the best situation to lay it on him but… "I cheated on you." The words came out as a mumbled sob.

I flinched when he reared back stepping away from me and his hands dropped to his sides. "What?" he asked with disbelief, creases forming across his head and eyebrows dipping to form a deep V.

"I cheated on you, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to. It just happened." My heart clenched with the darkening of his eyes and the twist of his features as he absorbed my pleading words.

"When? Who?" He growled out, taking another step back from me. His outrage became more visible by the second.

"When I left the bear kingdom last month. I - I don't know who." My words dropped off laced with shame and all I wanted was for him to take me in his arms and forgive me. Tell me everything was going to be okay and that we still had a future.

But it wasn't okay. I could see it written all over him.

Mike's eyes glazed over, receiving a mind link, when they cleared, his hardened stare bore into me. His expression was cold, emotionless. And before I could utter a word, he had turned his back on me, forgoing the elevator and taking the stairs.

I fell to the floor letting the tears fall as pain engulfed my heart, spearing it like a sharp dagger that twisted, digging in deeper.

I had no one to blame but myself.

The elevator dinged and Rogue stepped out. He gave me a questioning look as I pulled myself up off the floor and wiped away my tears. I shook my head at him, silently telling him not to ask. "I'm gonna get coffee. You want anything?" I asked him.

"No, thank you."

It was all I could do to save face. I wanted to run far away or chase after Mike to explain but I also wasn't going to leave my sister here. She would never forgive me if I missed the birth of my nephew.

*****

MIKE

Early the next morning

Like a madman, I stormed into the lobby of the holding cells. I burned with heat, seething and reeling. My Jaw clenched so tight I could feel my teeth crack. Duke's fangs dug into my lip and my fists clawed and curled. My wolf was just as pissed as I was.

Our anger fueled the inferno that battled to be let loose from within. Duke felt the betrayal of Jonda's confession just as hard as I did. He shared my heartbreak.

I had no words, no comprehension of how to deal with… with… 'Fuck Duke,' I reached out to my wolf who silently simmered on the surface. Just waiting to take out his anger on the first person that pissed him off. 'I don't know how to deal with it.'

Everything was too jumbled. Too many complications. I needed time to put everything in order. To compartmentalize the events.

I hadn't slept. I don't know if I even could.

I had just come from the palace where I had to confirm with Alpha Jacobson that his son had died and we had no witnesses, no motive, but at least we had a suspect in custody. Convincing him that we couldn't release his son's body just yet, due to the investigation, had not gone down well. I don't blame the Alpha for his outburst. He felt the snap of his bond with his son, he wanted answers just as much as the rest of us.

I left my father to handle the older Alpha, they had known each other for years. I hoped my father's influence would provide his wolf with some kind of calm during this difficult time for him and their pack.

I had to leave because Rhett had sent me a mind link stating that Hunji had detained Kolby Crimson and had held him here all night. Just one more fucking thing to deal with.

I was also informed that Tala had given birth to a healthy baby boy, and I had missed my nephew's birth. Just one more thing for my anger to latch onto.

Rhett walked out of a side room, as I passed the reception area. "What's the deal with Hunji and Kolby?" I asked before Rhett could get a word out.

I'm sure the expression on my face said it all. I was in no mood to fuck around right now. Rhett got straight to the facts. "Right, so… Kolby came back from Abner Brooks - got into a crash. Hunji found the crash on his way from the Kodiak Kingdom, Crimson disappeared for two days - Hunji had him detained when he crossed into New Moon. He doesn't trust Crimson, so he wants to hold him here. But." Rhett scratched his nose. A telltale sign he was apprehensive about something. "and uh… yeah, Crimson is Tawny's mate. She's -"

I was about to cut Rhett off and reem him out for calling me down here when this clearly should have been Tawny's call. Except the words died on my tongue as two loud and dominant growls filled the air. One I recognized as Hunji.

Walls shook from the direction of the holding cells. I quickly strode towards the ruckus. Rhett, hot on my heels.

Just as quickly as the fight started it stopped. I rounded the corner, "Room seven" One of the guards called out, coming from the opposite end of the corridor.

I reached the holding cell. Not knowing what I would find on the other side, knowing two Alpha males were in some kind of fight, I lift my foot kicking the door with a fierce force. It slammed open, cracking the wall and the door.

My temper was flaring, and Duke was itching for a reason to throw a punch. I cast my eyes around the room. I see the witch protectively held in Hunji's arms. The sight of her was only a reminder of Jonda's confession not even an hour ago. She was coming back from the bear kingdom because she had been to visit Morgan. Hunji's mate.

I looked at Hunji "We good here?" I grit out between clamped teeth and a set jaw.

"We're fine Mike," The purring voice of Tawny draws my attention. My eyes skit to hers and she gives me a small reassuring smile. Crimson and Hunji were calm, and I could see that was due to their mate bonds.

I needed to get out of there, and quickly. I was a ticking time bomb. Seeing Tawny and Hunji with mates only served as a reminder that my goddess-given mate was currently being detained in another holding cell. And the mate I had chosen, the woman I was in love with, just confessed that she had stepped out on me.

I didn't know what to do with the development of the feelings that were whirling around inside me. Like a tornado, my emotions were a devastating destruction that was threatening to bring me down. I could feel myself unraveling - falling apart at the seams. I needed order to the chaos that threatened to break free.

I found myself heading down the corridor in the direction of where the Jewel Thief and murderer were being contained. I wanted answers. I wanted Tala's crown back. I wanted a redo of the night - to start again. I wanted the woman on the other side of the door I stood in front of, gone.

I wanted Jonda to take back her words, to pretend like none of this shit happened tonight.

My hand reaches out for the handle of the holding cell door. I can smell her scent. The mouthwatering smell of peaches calling to my wolf. I hate it. Duke doesn't.

A hand clamps down on my shoulder, stopping me from opening the door. "What are you doing Mike?" Rhett pulls at my shoulder, and my wolf snarls in my head at his interference. "I don't think you going in there is going to do any of us any good. Especially you right now. You look like you could murder someone."

I turn to face Rhett who studies my face. I can see the concern written all over him. "I want answers." I grit out through a tight jaw.

Rhett shakes his in defiance. "Not in this state. You have a conflict of interest. Let me handle her. I want answers too. We all do."

My body trembles with the same rage that has been simmering on the surface since I caught the suspect. My instinct is to go in there and tear the woman down piece by piece. Mate or not. The logical side of me says that Rhett is right. I need to step back and let him handle this. I am in no emotional state to lead an interrogation. He doesn't even know what happened in the hospital corridor only an hour before with Jonda.

With much reluctance, I step back, away from the door, my hand still hovering over the handle. "Okay. Do it your way. But I want to know what that bitch did with the crown, why she murdered the Alpha's son, and who the unknown is. Torture her to get the answers. Do whatever you have to do but get me some fucking answers."

"Will do Beta," Rhett replies with determination in his voice. "Now go be with Kellen and Jonda. Go meet your nephew. I got this covered." He taps my shoulder in what I think was meant to be a comforting way, but it provided me with nothing but irritation.

"I understand Tala has delivered, but we need to discuss some things." Both Rhett and I turn to see Hunji leaning against the wall halfway down the corridor. His eyes are a golden brown which means he has his wolf under control, but he looks anything but calm. Much like myself.