Chapter 173: You’re a Monster

"You abandoned her!"

I abandoned her!

Keenan staggered backward. His hands fell from his chest. The emerald pendant bounced as his fingers let go. It spun quickly, the twist coming undone.

Blood had dripped down the sides of his neck and onto the gold chain. It splattered around as the twist came undone.

"I did, I know," he mumbled with a pained expression. "You should have something more to tell me than just a strange woman."

"I don’t even know if she’s alive," she whispered. "She lost a lot of blood and the—" Winnie let the words die in her throat. She didn’t think it was her place to tell him about the baby.

"The what?" He staggered some more, looking like he might fall any moment.

"The ice. Using that much power took a toll on her."

His face crumpled some more, and he swayed. "What did this strange woman look like?" His voice didn’t have its usual cadence.

"Why? Do you want to go after her?"

"Ha! I deserve it, you know." He lifted his head. "I should have known. I know that. Looking back, it is obvious. So obvious that I want to bash my head against a wall." He grabbed a few strands and pulled hard. "Now that I know, do you expect me to turn a blind eye? Please, Winnie!"

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. His grip on his hair loosened, and his hand slipped downward to grab the necklace again, pulling and twisting.

It was hard to be cruel when he looked like he was falling apart. The revelation was taking a toll on him, far exceeding her expectations.

She knew she was important to him, but she hadn’t foreseen this. She could only imagine how he felt knowing he had abandoned her.

Despite her pity, it was hard to forgive him. He could have asked more questions, done a proper investigation. He should have known better than to take Alaina’s words as the truth.

"She said she was her mother," The words rolled off her lips. The information meant nothing to her, and it would likely mean the same to him.

"She also had black hair and blue eyes. She didn’t sound like she was lying. She was in a terrible state, Alpha. Richard wouldn’t have been able to help, but she assured me she would."

His eyes widened in fear. "What direction did she head in?"

"I didn’t see. They were gone in an instant, just like they had appeared."

"Black hair, blue eyes," he mumbled under his breath as he pulled on the necklace

"And a gray wolf. She was riding it when she first appeared."

"Just what is going on here?" Richard’s voice echoed in the room as he walked in, his eyes scanning the room. "Alaina!" He yelled as he saw her propped against the wall. "Were you attacked?" He asked in horror.

"Richard, you’re finally here." Agnes looked relieved at the sight of the physician, but it was pretty clear she had not fully recovered.

"Richard," Keenan called and turned to look at him.

His eyes popped as he saw the deep cut in Keenan’s neck that he was still digging into with the necklace.

"Keenan, you’re hurting yourself," he made to step forward, but the look in Keenan’s eyes stopped him.

He ignored his words and turned to look at Alaina. "You may treat her, but the next time I see you, it will be the last breath you take. Get out of my town!"

"Alpha Keenan, please." She leaned forward, dropping to her knees and palms as blood spilled out of her mouth. "She knew who you were and tortured you still. She deserves it! I did it for you. Who she was in the past doesn’t change that! You can’t simply forgive all that because—"

His green eyes burned. His grip on the necklace tightened while his other hand formed a fist. "You seem to have made yourself the judge. This is Penn. It is irrelevant what she has done. What’s relevant is I will kill you if I lay my eyes on you again. You’re a monster that deserves to be exterminated."

Alaina froze at the disgust in Keenan’s gaze. He turned away and marched out of the room without another word. Not much had changed. Penelope did far worse than she. He had a scar on his chest. Yet, she was the monster.

"Just what happened? What did you do to the Alpha?" Richard cried as he rushed toward her with his bag.

"It’s a lot, Master Richard. For now, could you treat her? I think she has some broken bones," Agnes said as she stepped to the side to give him room.

"Of course," he replied and dropped to the floor. "Stay on your back, Alaina. I don’t want you to move too much. When I have wrapped you up, you can move."

"How could you say that?" Theo suddenly asked as the physician wiped the blood off her. His jaw was tight, and tears filled his eyes. "Did you plan this? Are you the reason my brother is so badly hurt?"

Alaina glanced at him as she lay on the floor, her eyes indifferent. If he had been just a little smarter, things might have gone differently. It was her fault for putting up with someone so stupid.

"No," she whimpered, leaning into the pain from her broken rib to sell her act.

Winnie started to laugh as she got out of bed. "She really sees you as nothing but an idiot. It’s a pity the moon goddess made her your fated mate."

Theo’s face hardened. "We are—"

"Where are you going?" Alaina interrupted.

"Is that the question you should be asking? I don’t see how that’s any of your business." She took a step from the bed and staggered a little.

"I don’t know what is going on, but Winnie, you should remain in bed." The physician sent a glance her way.

"Don’t worry, Master Richard. I am fine. I am not going far."

"Let me help you," Palmer offered and rushed toward her.

Winnie smiled appreciatively at her and leaned against her. "Goodbye, Alaina," she said as she hopped toward the door. "I hope I never see you again."

"How can you say that to your only family? Please, Winnie. I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. I was just doing what was best for our Alpha. Are you really going to leave me, Winnie? Bleeding out on the floor."

Winnie rolled her eyes. "Save the act for Theo. You don’t regret any of your actions. You only regret that you were caught! Right now, you’re still trying to justify yourself. I’ve already made peace with the devil I have as a sister—no need to lie to defend yourself. I am just glad everyone can see who you are now."