Rejecting, Your Broken Promises
Chapter 34

Sebastian’s POV

Royal Knight Pack

We got packed up quickly, and we were on the road in less than 20 minutes from me getting the call from Heath. We all have a jump bag halfway made up so we can be ready to go at any time. Christian had Amanda make one up after he had marked her so she would be ready quickly as well. I am really glad that we are so close to Elk Creek now as this trip will only take a little over an hour to drive. We are taking two SUVs and 6 warriors with us. We have 4 warriors in the SUV with me and Deanna. Christian, Amanda, and Bryson are in the second SUV with the other two warriors.

I was expecting to get a call from Heath about Jasper trying to come and get Peyton. What I didn’t expect was for him to call me and tell me that he had been shot by Jasper. Heath’s pack is strong, and we had both expected Jasper and his people to try to get Peyton and fail miserably. But to hear that someone had managed to infiltrate their pack and send pictures of my baby girl to that monster. It sickens me. I didn’t tell Deanna the whole story. We were traveling with my trusted men, and I knew I was going to bring her up to speed as we drove there.

Deanna was just as upset as I was, and I was glad that my men were making excellent time on the road. We will probably get there in an hour flat. I cannot believe he shot Heath. He must have a death wish or something. This will be answered swiftly. My pack will be involved in whatever action the council allows us to do. I had already gone to them to get the investigation on his first two Lunas dying from mysterious circumstances started back up again. Luckily, I kept the reports from the coroner saved, as both women were healthy and had not been involved in any battles or fights. They both had been poisoned by the same poison, Belladonna, better known as Nightshade. Both of them had complained of headaches, blurred vision, and even hallucinations to the pack doctor before they died.

No one realized that either of them had been deliberately killed. The first, Luna Carrie Kershaw, was the daughter of a friend of mine. He was a Beta in another pack. She was a beauty, she was a skilled fighter, and Jasper had married her when they were both 23. A little over two years later, Carrie mysteriously died. It was sudden and unexplained, and when my friend reached out for me to look into it, I told him that I would. I would have wanted someone to do that for me. I had noticed that Jasper started coming here more often for various things after his Luna passed.

Until I got confirmation of Luna Carrie’s death not being an accident, I hadn’t thought anything of it. But I had overheard Jasper in the hallway on his phone speaking to someone. He said that he was going to claim our daughter as his mate because he saw that she was a healer, just like her mother. I was scared for her life and sent her away a few months later because of it. A year later, Jasper took another Luna. It was about three months after my daughter’s death, or at least we thought she was dead at the time.

This young woman was also the daughter of a Beta, and her name was Jasmine Mixon. Jasmine had a slim build and was 5’7” tall, she was petite for a she-wolf. Brown hair, and blue eyes, she seemed like the friendly sort, but I didn’t know anything about her. Jasper stopped coming here so often after Peyton was gone. This Luna was in place for almost 3 years, so we all assumed that everything was going fine. Until Jasper turned 30 and Jasmine died a short time thereafter, from the same symptoms that had killed Carrie. I also had her body exhumed with her parent’s permission, as both girls’ bodies had been returned to be buried in their parents’ perspective packs.

No one told Jasper about it, and we successfully found poison in the bone marrow in both bodies. The exact same type of poison. Jasper was getting sloppy. I just had Jasmine’s body dug up this week. I was not surprised that the poison was the same. I have believed that Jasper was guilty of killing both of them, but I have no idea why he would. They doted on him, and couldn’t wait to have his pups, both of them. He created deep feelings in both of those ladies, and they would have done anything for him. He was the most likely culprit, and I have no idea why he would have killed either of them. He seemed to actually care about them both, for over two years each, and then a few months later they were dead.

I just knew that it made sense that he would have killed them both, for whatever reason. They were not actually true mates, they were chosen, mates. But it was just weird that they seemed pretty happy before they died. Everything was going smoothly, and then the Luna was dead a short time later.

I glanced over at Deanna and was glad that she was calm and ready to arrive at Ever Green. Deanna was very upset and demanded to know if Peyton was OK. She calmed down when she found out that Peyton had been secured with her mate to protect her, and was fine. We both wanted to see her as soon as we got there. We had tried to stay away for her first two weeks so she could become acclimated to her new pack, and I hope everything was going well for her. I have known Heath for a number of years, well over two decades, and I trust him with my life.

We arrive at the gates and are waved through the security checkpoint quickly. There were additional guards at the gate, and they were all armed. I see that the events from tonight have the whole pack stepping up. I was glad to get to see Gabi and Tanner in front of the packhouse. They filled me on catching 5 members of Jasper’s pack, including the Beta and the Gamma here at Ever Green. I have three of my men using one of the SUVs to take them to my pack for questioning when I get back. It was just a formality, we already knew why they were here. I will be waiting for the werewolf council to come and speak with them, to determine their sentences. The Beta and Gamma should have known better than to come here.

I asked for Peyton, and we saw her coming out of the elevator with a large group of people. I already knew Vincent was here, but I was surprised to see Beth and Moira here too. I see Dawson with a lovely young lady, and I can tell that they are mates as well, with Peyton and Percy following closely behind them. Von and Elena were the last ones off the elevator and Von immediately goes to Heath, and Elena to her parents. Something is off with Peyton. I can tell something is wrong. I go to step towards her, and she then sees us and gives a strangled sob, and runs to us both, for Deanna and I to hug her. Her brothers and Amanda stood behind us waiting to hug her.

I was so glad to see that she missed us so much. What I didn’t expect was for her to start crying so hard. I am immediately on alert. Peyton didn’t cry, telling us what happened at the B***d Claw pack, and so I know she is hurt by something else. I look over her head at Heath and he gives me a nod, that lets me know that we will be having a talk. I saw Percy keeping his distance like he didn’t know how she was going to react to him if he approached her. I am already piecing the puzzle together. I am calmer this weekend than I was last weekend, but I am not going to stand by and allow my daughter to be hurt. I do not mind letting people know that I am not the Alpha King right now, I am her father.

I was the reason that she was abused all those years, and the guilt is killing me. I should have done what Deanna suggested and allowed her to take the children and go to a secure place while I sorted Jasper out. She missed out on so much, and we lost so much time with her. I am actually worried that my anger is going to be explosive when I hear what happened. I can tell by how stiff the whole group is that the problem is well known to the group, and I don’t like that at all.

“Baby, what is the matter?” Deanna cooed at Peyton, who was still crying lowly in our arms. Peyton calms down a short time later and stops crying, but the tears are evident on her face, and I want to get this sorted now.

“Here, come with me, we can get you some hot tea and you can tell me what you need to,” Deanna told her in a soft tone and led her into the dining room. I could see Percy go to follow her, and then stop. He was looking at her, and then back to our group and then back to Peyton again. I could tell that he was struggling with whether to go with her or stay with us, as he was going to face me like a man and face this head-on. I was proud of him for manning up, but I needed to know what the problem was to try to help them fix it.

“Let’s go to my office,” Heath said, and I nodded and followed him and nodded towards Peyton and Deanna for the boys and Amanda to stay with them. I am in no danger here. Gabi and Tanner followed us as well, and we entered the office with Heath behind his desk and Percy and I in the two chairs in front of it. Gabi and Tanner took the sofa and relaxed, with Tanner putting his arm around Gabi and them settling in. I can tell that they are going to let Percy handle it.

“OK, who is going to tell me why my daughter was crying?” I asked, and I tried to keep my tone even. I was really upset, but I knew that I was intimidating already, and I was trying to stay calm out of respect for my old friend. There was no sound for about 30 seconds until Percy cleared his throat and then started to speak.

“We had an incident here last Sunday when I brought Peyton back to the pack. I had been dating a girl here for a little over two years. I had told her before I left here to go to the B***d Claw pack, that I was looking for my mate, and for her to look for her own mate too. I thought she was going to let it go. She wasn’t. I forgot about her after the excitement of last weekend and my finding my mate. It wasn’t until we almost got back here that I even thought of her. Heath wanted me to come back the day before with him to deal with Stephanie, but I didn’t want to leave Peyton right after I found her. I love her and didn’t want to be away from her”, Percy told me.

He then paused, and after it went over a minute I asked him, “So, I take it that it didn’t go well?” My voice was dripping with sarcasm that I just couldn’t stop. Obviously, it had gone badly.

“I messed around with Stephanie. I never slept with her, but we had been hot and heavy for over a year. Stephanie didn’t listen to me when I told her to leave Peyton alone, and to respect her soon-to-be-Luna. I hadn’t told Peyton about her because I didn’t want to hurt her. She had just gotten free from B***d Claw. She had been through enough and I was trying to protect her. I didn’t tell her the full story, and what happened in front of the packhouse was viewed by a number of people. She was probably embarrassed, but she had no reason to be. It was my mess up, my mistake. I only love Peyton and would die protecting her. I don’t know if she is just overwhelmed, or what, but seeing Stephanie back here at the gates, she has refused to allow me to comfort her. She won’t let me touch her. I can feel her emotions because she allowed me to mark her earlier tonight. She was about to mark me when the alarm went off with Jasper arriving. I want her to mark me and accept this bond fully. I will talk to her and get it straightened out, I swear it”, Percy told me, and I relaxed in my chair.

She is just upset, jealous, and probably embarrassed. That was not a great experience for her. Especially to be introduced to the pack like that, it had to have been hard on her. She has to be overwhelmed. I mindlinked Deanna to make sure that Peyton is OK now. Deanna assured me that Peyton was fine, she was just emotional and upset. I can tell that Percy is holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. But he was direct and honest with me, even though he didn’t want to be having this conversation, at all, and neither did I, if I am being totally honest. I can calm down now, and I can help this young man out. I remember how it was when Deanna and I got together.

For some reason, healers have a lot of empathy and sensitivity. They have very deep feelings and when overwhelmed, they can hyperfocus on one thing, and it brings all of their emotions to the surface and it can overshadow everything. She can’t help it, she had a difficult time last weekend before she got rejected and ran away. It is no surprise to me that she is going through this. So many things have changed for her this week. I nodded to Heath and turned towards Percy.

“She is struggling internally, with her new power. I remember Deanna having the same problem. With healing comes a lot of powerful feelings, whether they have used their powers or not. This will be an easy fix for you, and I will help you do it” I told him, and he couldn’t stop the expression of surprise that crossed his face.

“But Peyton is angry with me. She doesn’t want to forgive me”, Percy said.

“Percy, don’t give up on her. Peyton is dealing with a lot right now. She is overwhelmed. Just give her some space, and Deanna and I will help you. I believe that you love her and that you are the best thing for her. She is your mate, and you did change when you met her. I am actually glad you are my daughter’s mate. You come from good stock and I know that you will always take care of her. Everything will be fine son, don’t worry”, I told him and then got up to go to find my family. I will get started on this tomorrow to get it worked out between them.