Reckless Regrets
Chapter 13

Morgan

I was numb. Totally and completely. I was with Alaia when Xander linked her, letting know that she was needed to initiate Matt and Tyson as the new Beta and Gamma. It could only mean one thing, and it shattered me.

“What do you want to do, honey? Did you want to stay here while Taylor and I go up, or did you want to come with us? Either one would be okay,” she told me.

“So, it’s over, and he’s the father?” I replied, ignoring her previous question.

“It looks that way, babe. I’m so sorry,” Taylor said as she took my hands in hers.

I shook my head over and over again; it was the only thing I could think to do to keep from screaming.

“Can I stay here with her? I’m not needed, am I?” Taylor looked to Alaia and asked.

“You are, unfortunately. You’re being made the new Beta female, you have to take the oath beside Matt,” she gently replied.

Salt in the wound. Not only was my mate a father who was leaving me to join a new pack, but I was being stripped of my rank. I was nothing now.

“Will I feel it? When they take my title and give it to Tay, will I know?”

“I don’t think so. For a wolf, they would feel the link to the rest of the pack weaken. It would still be there, but not as strong as it is for ranked members. But since you never had that link, you won’t notice a difference.”

“If he would have died when we were battling the vampires last year, or at any time, would I still have been striped like this?”

“No. If a ranked member dies, their mate still holds their title but as a dowager. Matt and Taylor would have been moved up, and Taylor would be acting Beta female while you would be Dowager Beta female. But since he’s being excommunicated, that doesn’t apply. He’s being removed from the pack, almost like banishment but without the shame and dishonor. He’s breaking ties to Blue Moon, and because he was the reason for your title, it is taken away.”

I nodded my head in understanding. Luckily, I had prepared for this moment just in case.

“You two go on, I’ll be fine, I promise,” I said when they looked at me skeptically.

They wrapped me in a tight hug then rushed out of the room and up to Xander’s office. I then walked to my closet and looked around. Kade had this thing packed to the brim when I’d moved in with him, and I never wore half of this stuff.

This was the first time I was happy to have the clothes; no one would notice if a few pieces went missing. I packed my suitcase as quickly as I could and then checked the time. It was almost 5:00, and I needed to move quickly if I wanted to miss the traffic.

When I was done, I called for a couple of members of the house staff to come up and carry my things to the car I’d ordered. They did as they were told without question, but before the young girl named Sophia could go, I stopped her.

“Yes, Beta?” Her words stung a bit; they would be the last time I would hear them, but I pushed through.

“Would you please deliver this letter to the Alpha for me? He is currently in a meeting and shouldn’t be disturbed, but once it’s over, I’d appreciate it if you’d get it to him right away.”

“Of course, Beta. Anything else?”

“And these as well,” I said, passing her the other three which were addressed to Tyson, Taylor, and Alaia.

She smiled and nodded.

“That’s all. Thank you so much.”

When she left, I pulled out one more letter and placed it on the bed. As tears blurred my vision, I set my engagement ring on it and walked out of the room and the house forever.

***

Kade

“Do we have to do this? Why can’t we just fake it?” I asked.

“Because I don’t do anything halfway, and you know that; I never have. We won’t have to keep up appearances if everyone is actually where they are supposed to be,” Xander replied.

He waved me over with the dagger, and I begrudgingly complied.

“After this is over, you won’t be able to boss me around anymore. So, there’s that,” I said.

“True. So, you better enjoy it while it lasts. Palms out.”

Alaia and Taylor walked into the room a few seconds later with Alaia holding a wide wooden bowl in her hands. She came over to me and kissed my cheeks before she moved to stand beside Xander. She looked so sad, both her and Taylor, and I wanted to tell them that everything was under control and would be alright. But I couldn’t; so, I just smiled.

“Don’t worry, Bean. We’ll still see each other. Canyon Woods is just as far away as your old pack, and you still see Aaron and Jordyn whenever you want. It’s not so bad.”

“It is! You’re Angelica’s godfather; she adores you. Do you know how much she’s going to miss you? We’re all going to miss you so much,” she replied.

I wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her head. Even though this was all a show, this s**t still hurt. Alaia and Taylor were like sisters to me, and seeing them so sad sucked.

“Come on guys. We’ve got to get this over with; Canyon Woods is expecting you before 10:00 PM,” Xander said.

Alaia nodded then stepped back, standing to Xander’s right and flawlessly taking on her role as Luna. Yeah, Marisol could never do this shit. She then held the bowl out, and I placed my hands over it.

“Kaden Thomas, today I, Alpha Xander Black of the Blue Moon pack hereby strip you of your rank, title, and link to me and all of the wolves in this family.”

He sliced open both my palms, and I squeezed my hands, letting the b***d pour into the bowl.

“You will no longer be a member of this pack; this will no longer be your home, and any indiscretions performed on your part will no longer have any bearing on Blue Moon. You are to vacate the premises immediately, and upon your exiting of Blue Moon territory, you will officially be excommunicated. I wish you health and happiness in all your future endeavors.”

I felt my brain began to pound and realized that it was the link to the pack being broken. The connection to the hundreds of wolves I’d sworn to protect snapped, and it was like I was being stabbed in the heart. Alaia wiped the tears from her face, then stepped up and again kissed my cheeks.

“Good luck Kaden,” she said.

She’d never called me by full name; only strangers did, so hearing it was a shock. We’d really done it. I was no longer a member of the pack; I was officially off the team.

“You’ll be given thirty minutes to collect your things, then I’ll have a car take you to your new home,” Xander coldly stated.

Alaia looked up at him, clearly disgusted but inside, I was proud. He was playing the cold “by-the-book” alpha role perfectly. The women would have no clue what was happening.

“Yes, Alpha Black.”

I then turned away from him and walked out of the room, heading to my bedroom. I needed to talk to Morgan and k**s those lips of hers. I’d already packed just in case, so I was going to use this time to be with her. It would be two weeks or more before I saw her again; I needed this time.

I walked into the room and was surprised that she wasn’t on the bed, waiting as she’d usually be. I was about to link her when the light danced across the large diamond on the mattress, drawing my attention. It was then that I noticed the letter.

s**t!

I picked up the ring and slid it on my pinky finger. It barely fit past the top, but it was good enough until I could get it back in the box then back on Morgan’s finger where it belonged. Picking up the letter, I saw her beautiful handwriting. “My Love” was scrawled across the front. I ripped it open and inhaled her sweet scent as I read.

Hi, Handsome.

I hope you won’t be too upset with me that I ended things like this; there was just no way I could face you and say everything I needed to say.

You’ve been the best thing to ever happen to me, and I’ve loved every moment I have spent as yours. No man has ever loved my body, mind, and soul the way you did, and I’ll forever be grateful to you for that.

I hope that you find some small amount of happiness in this next phase of your life. You’re an amazing man, and I know you’ll be an amazing father. If you’re ever sad or upset about how things turned out, please don’t take it out on Cameron. He’s an innocent little boy who needs to have his father love him without any fault or negativity. Treat him how you would have treated our children and shower him with all the love you have for me. If I can no longer have it, someone who deserves it should.

Lastly, I love you, and I will miss you every second of every day. But I’ll be strong and keep moving forward for us; I have to. Maybe one day I’ll come back, but right now, the house and pack hold too many memories of us, of you; so, I have to go.

Keep your head up and stay strong; you’re going to be a phenomenal Alpha.

With all the Hugs and K****s,

Your Sugar Bear

I sat on the bed and reread the letter over and over. I couldn’t believe Morgan was gone, and she didn’t tell me where she was going. I jumped up and began to rush out of the room when I almost ran straight into Henry and Raul.

“Good Evening Mr. Thomas. The Alpha has asked that we escort you from the house at this time and to the car that will be transporting you,” Henry stated.

It was hard for him to make eye contact, but being the wolf he was, he managed. We’d grown up together as well, and I could see that this was affecting him. But there was no point dragging things out. I could call Xander from the car to ask him to find Morgan. I may not have been his Beta, but I was still his best friend; I could always talk to him.

The guys grabbed my bags and trailed behind me as we made our way out front and into the truck. Two weeks, I could put on a show and play along for two weeks. Then I’d be back home where I belonged.

As the truck pulled out, I just kept repeating that to myself over and over while I twirled Morgan’s ring on my fingertip. I’d put this back on her finger, and she’d never again take it off.