Chapter Eighty-One

Ronnie’s face was still a mask of confusion. “So wait. You are saying your mother agreed to marry Morgan just to raise Shannon? But then when did he renegotiate, and why?”

I rolled my eyes. “After a few years, he grew to enjoy my mother’s company. He fell in love with her. His mate was actually gone, and his bond had faded. But my mother’s mate was still very much alive.”

“Her bond never faded…” Lynn’s voice was soft, as if realizing what that meant.

I just nodded. “My mother never let go of her mate. She never grew feelings for Morgan and was very content with their friendship. But then, when he brought up becoming a couple in reality, my mom shot it down.”

“He used the threat of divorce to coerce her into it.” Lynn leaned over the seat and met my eyes, then nodded.

“Exactly.”

“That’s why your dad never felt the betrayal pain for years until after you left.” Ronnie sounded a little breathless.

“Yeah. And that’s why she drinks.” I sat back in my seat and sighed. “She drinks herself almost dumb, and then she gives herself to Morgan to keep him happy. It’s not often, and he tries to force her not to drink, but when he tried that last time, she almost killed him.”

“What?” Ronnie sank into himself.

“He tried to force her to…” I gulped and suppressed a shudder. “When she was sober. Her wolf took over and nearly ripped him apart. He never tried again.”

“Why doesn’t she just leave?” I huffed out a laugh.

“Haven’t you been listening?”

“I don’t understand.”

Lynn let out a growl of frustration. “If a female becomes property, so do her pups. Even after they come of age, they are trapped by the law, unable to mate, forever.”

Ronnie snapped his head up and stared at me. I just nodded. “She would never have betrayed my father…even if he did. But it was the only way to save me.”

Ronnie looked between Lynn and I. He was searching for something. I don’t know what, but it seemed like he finally figured out whatever it was, and he broke. I watched him shatter. His eyes shifted, and his hands turned into claws. He surged to his feet and ripped into the seats in front of him. “No!” He screamed. He ripped a seat from the ground and went to throw it. The flight attendant screamed and ran to the cockpit to pound on the door for the captain, but it wouldn’t help.

I jumped up and grabbed the seat. I dropped it and yelled for him to stop. “Ronnie. Stop.” I grabbed him and forced him to look at me. “Uncle Ronnie. You have to stop."

“No!” His tortured voice was painful to hear. “You have to be lying.” He whirled on me, and his wolf’s eyes held so much pain. “Tell me you’re lying, pup.” But I slowly shook my head, and he dropped to his knees. His hands slowly shifted back as he stared up at me. “Please tell me you’re lying.”

“I can’t,” I whispered back, and his tears started.

“We left her.”

“What?” I knelt down and wrapped my arms around him as he trembled.

“We left her, thinking that it was for the best. Your father shed her away, and I turned my back on her. She was his mate, but she was my best friend, too. And we cut her out of our lives and left her no other option.” He pulled away from me enough to stare into my face.

I could only nod. “Yeah.”

“I’ve spent the last fifteen years disgusted with your mom, how quickly she moved on and turned on your father. But she had no choice…” His voice trailed off as his body dropped back to his heels. “We turned our backs on her because we thought we knew what would be best, but we forced her to trade herself to save you.” His words were thick with emotion, and again, all I could do was nod. “We are monsters…”

I felt a tear drop from my eye as I watched my uncle come to terms with his part that he played. All three of them had choices they made. All three of them have regrets now because of them. There was no way to turn back the clock and change what happened. Not even my father had the power to do that.

“The luna has had to struggle with these past years,” Lynn’s voice was angry. “Because men decided they knew better.” She shook her head and stood. “Take this back to the Alpha. Let him understand the repercussions of his choices.”

“Lynn?” I was a little taken aback from the viciousness in her voice.

“No, Amy.” She looked at Ronnie. “People need to realize that the choices they make can ruin the lives they are trying to protect when they aren’t honest.” She stood and left us alone in the mess Ronnie created.