The One He Claimed

The One He Betrayed Chapter 4: Amelia’s Stand

Sophie

My friends have been incredible, being here for me and supporting me during this awful time. If you had told me six months ago that today I’d be mated, pregnant, happy, and with friends that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life, I’d have laughed in your face.

And while I’m horribly sad and wrought with grief, I know enough to realize that not everyone has that, including and especially, my sister. I can’t imagine how alone and lonely she feels right now.

Amelia never re-emerged after she asked to be alone. I took her some food, but she asked me to leave it outside, unwilling to open the door or even to talk to me. That night, I needed my mate, needing to feel his arms around me and his body inside mine. I needed to feel our connection to remind me that I’m happy and that my parents knew that before they passed.

Hunter has been fantastic. He’s been patient, kind, and given me anything and everything I’ve needed during this time. He’s taking care of the pack, making plans with the other Alphas, especially Dutton, to keep my parents’ pack secure when we’re gone and talking about options for this pack in the future. He even offered any of the pack members who don’t feel safe in the interim a place in our pack. When I reminded him that we have no room for any more pack members, Hunter said we’d figure it out.

“Providing safety to those who need it is what we do,” he’d said, once again making me proud to be his mate. I love this man with all my heart, and I know that we have to get back to our own pack. We have our own dead to lay to rest so when I wake in the morning, I decide that I have to push Amelia to make a decision. I know it’s hard, but Hunter and I can’t stay another day. Ezra is anxious to return to Margot and the others need to get back to their packs as well. We’ve all been in a war recently.

I’ve mentally prepared myself to push Amelia to talk this morning, but instead, she surprises all of us by walking into breakfast, looking less like a Luna and more like a queen. When she walks in, Calvin rushes up to her. Unlike Amelia, he looks exhausted, disheveled, and distraught. My sister barely spares him a glance.

“Sophie, may I have a word,” she says, her voice ringing out across the room.

“Amelia, please, just talk to me,” Calvin begins to beg her.

She turns to look at him with something close to disdain. “You’ ve made your decision Calvin, and now I’ve made mine. Step aside and let me speak to my sister,” she says. Her voice is confident and strong, and he jerks as if she slapped him in the face.

Hunter squeezes my hand before I stand and make my way to Amelia.

Walk with me, Sophie,” she says, her voice considerably warmer to me than to her mate. I glance at him, before following my sister out of the room.

She takes me to our mother’s tearoom. Our mother loved this room. She said it was her own little escape from the realities of being a Luna. When I step inside and close the door, Amelia turns to me and deflates. I rush to her, hugging her tightly.

“Whatever you’ve decided, I’ll support you,” I tell her. Her arms tighten around me, and I feel her body shudder as she fights her tears.

“Thank you,” she whispers, taking a couple of breaths before pulling back. I watch my sister stand tall again.

“I’ve decided to stay and take over as Alpha of this pack.”

Hunter told me that it was a possibility, but I didn’t think my sister would ever agree to it. It’s never been what she wanted.

“Amelia, are you sure?”

She nods. “Calvin was correct about one thing. It is my birthright, my place, to take over as this pack’s Alpha. I will raise my daughter here and…if someday I have a son, then he can take over the pack as well.”

I begin pacing, thinking through her decision. She watches me, then frowns. “You said you would support me.”

“And I do, Amelia. That’s not what’s concerning me,” I say, walking to her and taking her hands in mine. “You’re not a fighter, Ame. And you’re pregnant. What will happen is someone challenges you for the position?”

“I’ve spoken to Beta Matthew. He will support me in this, but I need your support too, Sophie.”

“Do you really want this, Amelia?” I ask her.

“Between you and me? No. I don’t. But I’d rather stay here and be an Alpha than return to a pack with a man who doesn’t seem to know me at all, even after more than two years. You heard him, Sophie. He sounded just like I imagine Alaric sounded before he attacked and killed our father. I can’t be mated to a man like that.”

“You’re going to reject him?” I ask, appalled. She could lose her pup, and it would only weaken her more.

“No, not yet, not as my mate anyway. Not until my little girl is born. Then, we’ll see. I’m going to begin training, even though I know I’ll be limited.” She looks down, wringing her hands in a way I recognize as my sister being extremely nervous.

“Can I count on your support?” she asks, looking back up at me.

“Always. You are my sister, and I will always stand by your side.”

She smiles at me, looking at me as if she’s seeing me for the first time. “You really are the Legend, aren’t you?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“UGH! Not you too!” I say, making her laugh. “Do you I have to call you Alpha now?” I ask, jokingly.

“Nah, you’re my sister. You’ll always be my little Soapy,” she says my father’s nickname for me, that one she gave me when she was too young to say my name. My throat tightens and my eyes burn as a tear slides down my cheek.

I throw my arms around her, hugging her as closely as our protruding bellies will allow. When I pull back, she takes my hands in hers.

“Will you stand with me when I tell the pack? Will you stand beside rne?”

“Where else would I be?” I ask her. “But what about Calvin?”

“He’ll go home and run his pack, and I’ll stay here and rún mine,” she says, her lips pressing tightly together. My sister has always been more like my father, kind and gentle, but firm when needed. I was more like my mother, strong-willed and

determined. However, in this moment, I see my mother clearly in the set of my sister’s face.

When we walk out, Amelia still clutching my hand, Calvin is waiting in the wings.

“Amelia, what’s going on? Will you just talk to me?”

She turns and looks at him, emotionless. “I’m about to make an announcement, Alpha Calvin. You may want to be present and hear what I have to say.”

She doesn’t wait for his response but turns and walks back into the dining hall. The moment I step in, my eyes find Hunter’s. He’ s been waiting for me, and I know he felt my range of emotions. I nod, letting him know that I’m okay.