The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 34

Alexander’s POV…

I woke up early in the morning to the ray of the sun reflecting in my eyes. This must have been one of the most uncomfortable sleep I have had in quite a long time. I was about to stand up when I quickly recalled that I was supposed to be crippled.

“Good Morning,” a familiar voice sang as I was still trying to shake myself back to reality.

I looked in the direction of the now opened window blinds, and Caleb was standing there, already dressed with one of his renowned smiles on his face.

“When I saw Edwina heading down here as I was going back to my room, I thought you two would have made up, and you wouldn’t have to sleep on that uncomfortable couch.” There was this slight tone that I could tell he was teasing me, but it was too early to get humorous for me. My back is still suffering from the pain caused by the couch. This couch wasn’t designed for a six-foot, four inches tall man to sleep on.

“Well I messed it up again and this time I am not sure she will k**s me again,” the word came out of my mouth before I could restrict it from doing so. I could see a smile form on Caleb’s face. He can be so cocky with his smile.

“So what do you want right now from her, because something tells me you just dived into something you weren’t really sure of the outcome and now don’t know the way forward,” he spoke as he headed to where my wheelchair was and rolled it for me. If only he knew I didn’t need it in order to move. I don’t know why I am still hesitant to reveal that truth to him. I trust Caleb. Honestly, I do, but I don’t know why I am still hesitant.

“I think I have some unresolved trauma with Sonia, and it is causing me a great deal in my marriage with Edwina. I don’t trust her, and it isn’t because she has given me any reason not to but simply because of my trust issue that was birthed from Sonia’s betrayal,” I spoke sincerely. This was the first time I was openly speaking my truth, and it finally felt right to come to terms with it. I have been pretending to be strong all this while and act like Sonia’s betrayal wasn’t a huge blow on my face and ego as an Alpha, then my Luna could she right under my nose and not fear the consequence. No wonder I am considered a joke all around the realm.

“Do you want to go see Sonia and, this time, have an actual conversation with her?” He asked, and I nodded in agreement.

***

Throughout the ride to the prison, I could feel the tension in the air. It was heavier than the last time I had attempted to speak to her, maybe because this time, I knew I was actually going to speak to her, and there was no backing down from it.

It was crazy that I could be scared of this common act when I had engaged in wars.

I decided not to go to the room before leaving to avoid seeing Edwina because I wasn’t sure what I should tell her or the explanation that I should give to her about the way I had been acting.

I took my bath in Caleb’s room and got my clothes brought to me. I knew I had to fix all this mess because, by evening, we ought to be appearing together at the party she would be throwing to honor the new Beta wolf; another thing I feel so bad about. I should have told her about it before making the decision or even announcing it to the public. As my Luna, she deserves to be accorded such a high level of respect. But she most likely saw it in the paper or heard about it from Becca. Ramona had called me to inform me about Edwina’s plan to throw a party. I realized my mistake then.

The car came to an abrupt stop as we reached our destination. I then realized that I had been absent-minded throughout the trip to the penitentiary.

“We are here,” Caleb announced as he rushed out to help me get into the wheelchair, but the guards had already rushed out to help me. I hate feeling this helpless. But I think I need to keep this act going for a little while. I know it would help me and be worth it in the end.

I wheeled myself into the private waiting room, and I could feel my heart racing faster than the speed of light.

F**k!!!

The door opened, and Sonia appeared with her baby bump, smiling and glaring straight into my eyes. She walked towards the table this time, not hesitating. It was almost like she was expecting me this time with the type of certainty in her eyes.

“Hello, Alex,” she greeted with a smile on her face. She still had that hold and grip on me when she called my name and the effect it had on me. Things like this don’t disappear overnight. You don’t go from loving someone one day and hating them the next day. It doesn’t just work like that.

“Hello, Sonia,” I said calmly. I was trying my best to say a few words so that the fear in my heart was not expressed in my looks or heard in my voice.

“I knew you would come back to see me; it must have been hard for you the first time,” she spoke so calmly, and it was so hard to tell if she was pretending or not. The Sonia I knew didn’t show any empathy, but this wasn’t that Sonia.

“Yes, it was hard, especially seeing you with that,” I said, rolling my eyes to her baby bump. I feel bad because I am not able to call it what it is. Instead, I refer to it as that, but I wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I am yet to know the gender,” she said with a smile and reached out her hands to hold mine, which were clenched together on the table, but I pulled out of her grip. I hated that I pulled out that fast, but it was more like a reflex action.

I wanted to stand up and walk away, but that would be blowing up everything I have worked for.

“I know it is hard, but I am truly sorry, Alex. There is nothing I can say or do right now that would make you see it differently. But I truly am,” Sonia muttered as her eyes began to stream with tears.

Seeing her, I recalled back one day when we had made love to each other and the beauty of that night. Whoever knew this would be the outcome of such a bitter-sweet love?

I remember when I had kissed her and held on to her with so much passion.

“I just have one question for you,” I exhaled, ” Why did you cheat on me? When did it start? Did you ever love me?” I knew I said I was only going to ask a question, but my mind was hovering around with multiple questions than to only ask one.

“I don’t know why I cheated on you. I have always been the ambitious type. When I got married to you, I was happy being the Luna, but I wasn’t sure I was happy being your wife then. So I didn’t have a strong will to resist Ben when he came to me,” she confessed.

“So you are trying to say that he seduced you into cheating on me? You want me to believe that bullshit,” I yelled at her in disgust. How stupid does she think I am?

She stood up and moved towards where I sat and knelt before me.

“I am truly sorry, I loved you, and I still do. I was just selfish, stupid, and lacked discipline, and when you got disabled, it got worst. I know I wronged you, Alex but I am truly sorry,” at this point, she was wailing at my feet, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, not because she was repented but because she was looking so pathetic with her apology. And truly, my heart had no space for sympathy for her.

“You would be put on trial according to the law. I have forgiven you, Sonia, and it’s not because you deserve it, but because I need to stop harboring hatred for you in my heart, it is not healthy, but I will never forget what you did to me,” I said, and before she could say anything, I called out the guard to get me out of there, but she held me crying before the guard pulled her away from me.

“I am sorry Alex,” those were the last things I heard her say as I exited the room.