The Delta's Daughter Chapter 340

JONDA

I left the dungeons more confused and frustrated than ever.

Originally, I wanted to see Mike's fated mate, to know who she was. Because as much as I love him, I couldn't, wouldn't, believe that the Moon Goddess would fate him someone that was a murderer and thief.

He was too good to be fated to someone who wasn't. He deserved better. Better than me.

I didn't want to let go of Mike, but I couldn't keep him. Not now. Even if he said she means nothing to him, the bond would have already snapped into place. Now it was up to fate.

Any chance of him and I had, had slipped through my fingers the night I betrayed him.

I certainly wasn't expecting to see the man I had a one-night stand with. And I sure as fuck wasn't expecting it to be Rhett. I had heard so much about him from Mike and Kellen, but I had never laid eyes on him myself.

I was in shock. Time slowed down as my eyes focused on his face. When he introduced himself, his name ringing in my ears, I could do nothing but freeze. I couldn't believe it was happening. I felt humiliated and ashamed.

My mind and body were torn in two as I watched Mike repeatedly punch him. Wanting to comfort the man I loved but also concerned for the man who had made me feel so much more in between the sheets.

The guy I cheated on with Mike was my mate? Not just my mate but a good friend of the wolf I was in love with. I just couldn't wrap it around my head.

So, I did the only thing I could think of. I ran back to the palace, not stopping to greet anyone. Once I was in mine and Mike's apartment, I grabbed a bag and frantically shoved it full of clothes.

I couldn't be here. I could take the rejection from Mike; my heart wouldn't stand it. And Rhett? I didn't know what to make of him. My body surely responded to him but in my heart, it wasn't right.

I just couldn't be here. With that in mind, I zipped up the bag and dragged it downstairs to my car. I just had to get away. I thought if I put some distance between myself and them, I would be able to think clearly.

Everything was a mess and just couldn't take it. I couldn't grasp ahold of myself or suck it up. So I ran.

I was going home. Sometimes a girl just needs her mother. Sometimes a mother's love is all it takes to heal a broken mind. My heart was another story. Space and distance would be good for me though. I could message Tala later and explain, no doubt Kellen will have filled her in by now.

Throughout the drive to the docks, the place I had first met Mike, I couldn't help but compare Rhett to Mike. It was wrong, yet it was the only way I could make sense of my emotions and feelings toward the two men.

Rhett had been an amazing fuck, the way my body responded to him was out of this realm but… He wasn't Mike. Mike, who had captured my heart with his smile and love of life. Mike, who was playful and always knew how to pleasure me in the most exquisite way. I'm sure Rhett could do that too, but it was too late. Even if he was my real mate and could break my curse, my heart already belonged to someone else.

By the gods I didn't want to lose Mike! Except a gut feeling told me I already had.

I was a few hours from the docks where I could catch a boat home, back to the Sea Dogs pack, when I noticed my car was low on fuel.

I stopped once the familiar refuel station appeared and hopped out to fill my car. The fuel station was attached to a diner, and I figured I could grab a coffee to go.

Walking in I paid no mind to who was there, I was too focused on thoughts of going home and having my mother wrap her arms around me and tell me everything was going to be just fine.

I placed my order and grabbed a muffin, even though I didn't think I could swallow it down. Amazingly I had managed to keep the tears at bay while driving, despite my thoughts being all over the place.

I fumbled for my keys once outside again, only to find a strange looking man leaning up against the driver's side of my car. "Can I help you?" I scowled at him.

The stranger offered me a wide grin, his yellow eyes were dull, and his skin looked pale, almost grey. For a second I wondered if he was human and sick. Until his creepy as shit smile broadened and a pair of small pointed teeth poked out.

I glanced around, looking to see if there was anyone else, but the station was empty. I half turned, ready to go back into the diner, knowing there were people in there because this man was giving off stranger danger vibes big time.

The man pushed off the car and I shuddered at the way he moved forward. He sniffed the air and his beady yellow eyes snapped to mine with a predatory gaze. A sickening feeling churned through my gut but before I could even turn to run, he had me in his grasp.

"You smell like an Alpha female, but I don't smell a counterpart." His words slithered out and over me. His hand coiled around my neck squeezing tightly, and his tongue poked out licking my cheek.

I gagged. "Let go of me or you will be sorry!" I tried to sound tough and tried to make my words powerful but he just laughed. A low sardonic laugh.

"You can't do anything. You belong to master now." He chuckled again. "he will be pleased when I bring him a hybrid."

I wasn't going to correct him, instead, I focused on how I could get out of this. I opened my mouth to scream, at the same time I brought my knee up between his legs. Really fricking hard. He grunted and his hand loosened around my neck.

I dropped the coffee and muffin and took the opportunity to turn and run, but he was fast. Too fast and a cloth covered my face. the stench of chemicals seeped up my nose and into my mouth. My head became cloudy and dark spots appeared in my vision before everything turned black.

The last thing I remember hearing was the stranger mumble "Master will be pleased I brought him the Beta's mate."

*****

MIKE

2 Days Later

Hunji had just sent word that he had entered the kingdom's capital and would be at the New Moon palace shortly. He had secured the child along with the Aunt he had been left with.

I had mixed emotions and my thoughts were a mess. I hadn't seen Jonda in two days and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. My wolf was worried about her as her scent was fading from our apartment. I had gone back to collect some clothes and thought I would run into her.

We need to talk, it was just starting off the conversation. I wasn't sure if I was in the right frame of mind yet, but I was much calmer since the night she told me and much calmer than when I beat the shit out of Rhett.

I mentally groan and look at Rhett who was casually sitting on one of the couches in Kellen's office as we waited for Hunji and my mate's pup. Things were not good between Rhett and I. I could hardly look him in the eye. And it agitated me that he was taking everything so well.

Not once had he mentioned Jonda, but then why would he? If she was truly his mate, he had not voiced his pull to her, he didn't have a wolf to feel the mate bond. Neither Jonda. Or at least her spirit animal wasn't present to acknowledge her mate.

I still can't believe none of us saw it coming. What really hurts, is that I understand why Jonda would have cheated on me with Rhett if they were truly mates. Even if neither of them could recognize the other as their mate, they would still be pulled together.

I clear my throat, "Has Tala spoken to Jonda?" I ask Kellen, my voice cutting into the silence of the room where the three of us wait. Curiosity getting the better of me.

Duke perks up at my question and waits to hear what Kellen has to say. Kellen frowns and I watch as he opens up a mind link. "No," He shakes his head after a few moments. "Tala said she isn't answering her phone either.

"Is she still in New Moon territory?" Rhett sits up and forward, elbows resting on his knees with a complex look on his face.

I too shift in my seat, because I had also tried to call her. As fucked up as everything was, I missed her. So did my wolf, but Duke was also anxious to see his mate again. "I don't think she is, some of her clothes were gone. Unless she is staying somewhere else."

"Where would she go?" Rhett asks, his interest peaking and I could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Much like mine. This is the most we have spoken to each other in two days.

Before I had a chance to reply, Kellen announces Hunji has arrived and the three of us walk out of his office and into the main foyer.

Hunji stands there and the first thing I notice is the pained expression he wears and the look of worry in his golden eyes. Immediately my guard is up because I can tell something is a miss. Kellen feels it too by the way he shifts on his feet.

Next to him stands a much older she-wolf, her arm stretched out behind Hunji's back and I can the tiny hand in hers. Hunji steps to the side, revealing my mate's pup and I understand the expression on his face so much better. My jaw drops open and my eyes widen with what I can only explain as surprise and shock.

"Is this a joke?" Kellen growls out.

I don't turn to look at him as my eyes are fixed on the little boy and his icy blue eyes. There is no mistaking who his father is. They have the same eyes and the same jet-black hair. Except the little boy I'm staring at has a blond streak in the front of his hair.

I rub a trembling hand over my face. "I suddenly feel sick as a dog. I can only imagine how Kellen is feeling at the sight of the pup that stands before us. "How old is he?" I ask because the math is adding up. This child must have been conceived right before Lamia turned eighteen.

"I'm three!" The little boy pipes up. Not scared of the three wolves standing before him, well two and a half because Rhett isn't really a werewolf.

I dare to look at Hunji and his pained expression, "It was a shock to me too."

No shit, I think we are all dumbfounded. Even if Lyric Swift had disclosed his name to us, I don't think any of us were expecting the reincarnation of Zane Noir to turn up on our doorstep.

I shake off my stupor and take a step forward, bending down to the pup's level, My wolf encouraging me to make friends with the boy. "Is that so, you look like you should be five." I smile and hope it's as genuine as I want to it to be. "My name is Beta Mike," I stick my hand out and without hesitation, he takes my hand and with his much smaller one, shakes it with determination.

Duke lifts his nose, as do I, and scent him. I cock my head to the side and look up at Hunji, *He doesn't carry his mother's scent* I mentally connect with him.

*I noticed that too* He gruffs back through the link.

"My name is Zane. And this is my Aunt Lizzy." The pup interrupts our private conversation. His beaming smile is contagious and I can't help but smile back at him.

"Would you like to see your mother, Zane?" I ask him. Immediately his pale eyes grow wide and he vigorously bobs his head up and down. "Ok, we can arrange that." I stand and ruffle his hair, then curtly nod to the older female. "Beta Mike ma'am"

"Elizabeth Velaz." She bows to me and then I introduce her to King Kellen and Rhett. "Give us a few moments and we will be happy to let you see Miss Swift," I tell them.

I mind link an omega staff member, who takes the Aunt and boy to a conference room, asking the omega to prepare some food for our guests.

"Holy shit! You could have prepared us Hunji!" Kellen huffs out, tilting his head back, as soon as they have been escorted elsewhere.

"Am I the only one majorly freaked out?" I ask looking at the three men.

Hunji holds his arms out and then lets them drop just as quickly, in a show of giving up. "I didn't know what to say. I was just as dumbfounded when we located the pair."

"I can't stop thinking about what Lamia's reaction is going to be when she finds out," Kellen admits.

"What the fuck am I missing, now?" Rhett interjects.

We all look at him, and whatever expression we are all wearing, he swallows hard. It's Kellen that supplies him with an answer. "That kid is the spitting image of Zane Noir, Lamia's dead mate."

"Oh shit!" Rhett gasps like a little girl, hand covering his mouth "I know who he is, but I have never seen him." He admits. "Wait how is that possible?"

Folding his arms over his chest, Hunji clears his throat, "Lamia will see him soon enough. I need to take Morgan and head back to Riocht. Lamia is on her way here," He nods at Kellen, "She coming to see the little prince."

"This is a cluster fuck. This is freakin' wild!" I declare.

"And it's your mate's pup." I shoot Kellen a look of daggers. Even though my mate claims him as her pup… I'm not too sure he is. "And what's up with the streak of blond in his hair?"

"It's time we got some answers from our little thief." I say to no one in particular, "Things just got a whole lot more complicated. Let the thief see her kid then she owes us an explanation." Now more than ever I wanted to know where and when this pup happened. The thought of her crimes was now pushed aside as my curiosity over the boy took priority.

"Rhett, go get the prisoner ready to see her son. Make sure she is showered, I don't want the pup to be traumatized more than he already is." Kellen orders. "Morgan is with Tala in the nursery," He tells Hunji who hurries off to find his mate.

Once alone Kellen and I share a look, no words are needed. No words could describe the thoughts and feelings we were both sharing.

"Lamia will be here by tomorrow. I want to be able to tell her something, answer her questions she is no doubt going to have." Kellen shakes his head in disbelief. "Once your mate has seen her pup, get me the answers, Mike. Make sure she discloses everything."

I begin to protest that maybe I shouldn't be the one to question her, "She said she would only speak to you. I'm not asking Mike, I'm ordering you to find out about her role in the murders, the theft, who she was working for and that Goddess damn walking talking reincarnation of Zane frickin' Noir."

"Yes Alpha," I replied unable to disagree with the King's order. My wolf submitting who his superior.

Kellen turns to leave, no doubt to check on his mate, "What about Jonda?"

"I will have Tala try to get a hold of her again. A lot has happened Mike, maybe she just needs time. I don't think she was expecting Rhett to be her mate. And I don't think he was expecting it either." He sighs, pausing but not turning around. "Jonda will turn up. Maybe she went home."