Chapter 17

Our secret

Chapter 17

Knox's POV

I literally couldn't stop staring at Melissa as she stood across from me. Her eyes were bright and challenging and yet so full of the strength that had always drawn me to her.

My heart felt like it was being dragged down by the weight of my past mistakes.

The good old memories we used to have began to flood my mind like an unstoppable tide I couldn't control.

It really really pained me to think of how things had turned out for both of us.

Well, things were going well for her, but not for me.

Melissa had gone on to have a great life, but I had played the wrong cards and I had lost a lot.

Melissa was the one I should have chosen in first place not her sister.

She was the one who had always made me feel alive, loved and respected, not just as an Alpha, but as a human being.

I should have fought for her, but Instead, I had chosen her sister, Susie, as my wife and now I was paying the price for that decision every god damn single day.

I couldn't help but remember how happy I used to be with Melissa. Her laughter used to be like music to my ears, and her presence was a delicious rest from the pressures of ruling my crazy pack.

It pained me to remember how Melissa used to always look at me with honest love, admiration and respect, which was a surprising rarity in my position.

I had become used to the fake love people liked to dish out just because I was alpha, but With Melissa, I felt understood and valued. But now, those days felt like a distant dream— like a bitter sweet memory buried under layers and layers of regret.

Being with Susie was an entirely different story.

From the very beginning, it was clear that our marriage was one of duty rather than love.

After Melissa left, everyone especially Susie immediately realized that my heart had gone with her.

I did my best to be supportive for Susie especially because of her pregnancy, but it was obvious even to a blind man that I wasn't in love with her.

How could I be? When I was practically manipulated and forced into that marriage by Susie and the council members?

The last six years of our marriage was nothing but a strategic alliance that had slowly turned into a source of bitterness and unhappiness.

Susie always tried me to force my attention on her, but all I saw was flaws not attributes.

The things I used to see as assets, had become glaring flaws. Her constant need for control, her jealousy, and her manipulative tendencies were suffocating.

Susie was cunning, jealous and materialistic, always looking for ways to assert her dominance and claim over me in our relationship, and it left me feeling trapped in a life I never wanted.

Any time I had these thoughts, I always realized how foolish I had been. If only I had chosen Melissa instead. But that ship had long sailed, and I was left to deal with the consequences of my choices.

Melissa noticed my sudden silence, and her eyes narrowed at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

She tilted her head slightly, and the exquisite corners of her lips curving into a mocking smile.

"What's the matter, Alpha? Were you really too scared to tell your wife you've brought your sugar baby back into the pack after banishing her like she was nothing?"

Her words were like a painful jab to my pride, but there was some truth in them. I was scared of telling Susie that Melissa was back, but I wasn't scared of Susie, I was scared FOR Melissa. Susie could be a jealous crazy bitch sometimes.

Still, I could feel my defenses rising, driven by a need to not look weak in front of my mate. "Don't be silly. How can I be scared when I'm the alpha. I can do whatever I want," I retorted, though even to my ears, it sounded more defensive than authoritative.

Melissa chuckled softly, shaking her head at me. "Oh come on Knox, We both know that's not true. Susie controls you, Knox. She always has. It was her sweet and words jealousy that convinced you to banish me in the first place, let's not deceive ourselves."

My jaw tightened at her words, and my wolf, Hector, growled internally at the accusation that we not as powerful as we claimed.

But I couldn't deny everything she said though. Susie had truly played a significant role in Melissa's banishment, and it was a decision that haunted me every day. Still, that wasn't the full story and I couldn't allow Melissa to think I was a puppet.

"You don't Know what you're talking about Melissa so just drop it and believe me. I'm the Alpha. No one controls me, let alone your sister," I insisted, my voice tinged with frustration.

Melissa's gaze didn't waver though. "Then why did you banish me? Don't lie, Knox. You know as well as I do that it was because of Susie said so. You were afraid she'd get pissed at you." She accused.

Her words finally frustrated me enough to the point that I couldn't stop my lips from moving to lay bare the truth I had been avoiding.

"You're wrong, I did it to protect you, Melissa," I admitted, my voice softer now, almost pleading. "I knew Susie's jealousy could lead to something dangerous, and I couldn't let you get hurt." I blurted out after all these years.

Melissa's expression hardened, and disbelief was imprinted on her face. "Bull shit Knox! You did it to Protect me?" she scoffed. "You banished me, Knox. That wasn't protection. That was self-preservation. You were too selfish to stand up for what was right. You were too much of an asshole to stand up for me!."

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. There was no way to explain myself without revealing how much I loved her. But I couldn't do that now, it'll only get everyone hurt.

So instead of admitting the truth, I let her think she was right. That my actions had been driven by fear, not love. It was a painful decision, but one had to take like all the others I secretly took to protect her.