The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 111

Edwina’s POV…

The conversation had been going so well, the food was soul-filling, and my happy state of mind made me feel fly. The s*x even made my day more awesome.

The question he threw next caught me so off guard I would have choked on the food I was chewing.

“I didn’t get to ask you. How did you come to know about the crescent mark?” Came his counterattack.

I didn’t realize I had been staring into space until Xander called out my name.

“What’s wrong, Edwina? Why did you space out?”

“I…I..I’m sorry didn’t mean to.” I gulped hard, trying to find a better way to reveal the truth to him.

“Why do I feel like there is more to this?” His tone was getting serious now. Within a second, he had moved from the sweet voice to a more diplomatic tone.

“Will you let me explain?” I questioned, dropping my cutleries.

Folding his arms against his chest, Xander rested back in his chair, staring blankly at me.

“You should start from the beginning.” He drawled out dangerously.

I shut my eyes, hoping for something unexpected to take me far away from this embarrassing moment.

“So, I had been having thoughts on how I could be useful and not just be redundant doing nothing to help you with the situation at hand. That made me ask Sonia for help…”

“You have got to be kidding me.” He scoffed, cutting me short.

“Please listen…” I pleaded, my voice betraying me. “I just wanted to do something. You look burdened every time you came back home, since I could help I didn’t mind doing what I did.”

I looked at him for understanding, but it was obvious he won’t give a damn until he had heard all I had to say.

I continued, feeling my throat go dry. “Sonia had been adamant at first, but she did tell me. I was skeptical and didn’t want to carry out a lousy investigation and end up with nothing by involving Caleb. It was why I had asked for Carlos help instead, to help find out just in case. But please, Sonia didn’t betray the pack, she just had no idea things are this clustered.”

I felt Xander was staring at me with pure contempt. Instead, he returned his attention to his plate. Tossing his food around with the fork.

“It must have been hard having to beg her for something so important as that.” He uttered. I almost didn’t hear him.

Did alpha Xander just act compassionate towards my affair with my sister? Clouds will fall as rain.

“Thanks for trying. The intel was really helpful.”

“Anything to protect the night howlers pack. It’s my duty as the Luna.”

“How is she doing?” He asked again, still not raising his head.

“Fine,” I responded, sitting up excitedly when I remembered what had transpired between us. “Sonia asked for my forgiveness.” I blurted, staring at him, my eyes hopeful.

Xander’s blank look came up again. “Do you always have to be fooled by everything she does?”

I was short of words, “w..what do you mean?”

“You know Sonia, Edwina. She wouldn’t do anything out of her good heart to you.”

“She begged for my forgiveness, Xander!”

“And just like that, you both are back to being beloved sisters after years of spite against you!” I could hear the taunt in his voice.

It reminded me of what Becca had been talking about two hours ago, all the same, life itself is a risk, and if I didn’t risk being played by my sister, I might have never gotten a chance to know her.

It does sound like the hardest thing to do, but I didn’t need to be discouraged further.

“That’s enough Xander!” I spoke out, tears stinging my eyes. “I have had enough of you all thinking I’m a fool and making a joke of me. Is it so wrong to crave for love from the ones you have tried time and time again to do whatever it takes for them to see you? You wouldn’t understand it, you were only betrayed. I was deprived of love, attention and still betrayed. That doesn’t make me stupid.”

I wiped at the tears rolling down my face roughly.

“I just want to know what it feels like to love a family member, and I don’t think that is too much to want. I have feelings just like every other person. Am I not allowed to be reckless with it?”

My heart clenched as I blurted out my bottled-up feelings. I was tired of everyone thinking they knew what was best for me.

It’s a demeaning attitude when everyone sees one as weak and dumb. I’m neither of such; I’m just a silly lover.

Giving the food one last look, I was tired of it all already. Throwing down my napkin, I left him and ran all the way to the library, locking myself up as I cried my eyes out.

I had thought Xander wouldn’t care about me throwing tantrums. I was surprised when I heard a persistent knock on the door after a while.

Refusing to be tagged as petty, I stood up to open the door. Xander had his hands on his lap with Becca next to him, carrying a tray of plates.

My belly grumbled at the sight; I had been in the room for close to thirty minutes, crying my eyes out.

“Even if you have to cry. You might as well feed yourself to gather enough strength to cry.” He said, motioning towards Becca to take the food in.

I resisted the urge to smile at the joke he was trying to make, nodding towards Becca to leave us. Xander settled, facing me.

“Just so you know; I do not think you are weak or dumb. Instead, I have always admired how strong, loving and forgiving your heart is. It’s your caring thoughts that has enabled me have some heart to let things go. So, now that you know that. Can you eat now? To prevent your belly from rumbling again.”

I smiled shyly, certain he had heard the growl of my belly. Not waiting to be told twice, I grabbed the platter and ate to my relish.