Crimson Moon Redemption: My Alpha's Brutal Mistake
Chapter 60: Feeling betrayed (Annabelle)

Chapter 60: Feeling betrayed (Annabelle)

An Alpha will always choose their mate above all else. Zion had waited for his mate for a long time, and I knew I had to leave the packhouse. I was confident that if needed, I could face Alpha Zach head on.

My training had been thorough, and I had both my wolf and my Lycan to rely on. If my physical strength failed me, Alpha Zach would not be able to defeat my Lycan.

"Alpha Zion..." I started, but he cut me off. "No interruptions, Bella."

I knew what his decision would be, and I wanted to relieve him of the guilt, but he didn’t want that. So, I waited for him to deliver the final blow, which turned out to be a complete shock to me. I choose my nephew and his mother," he revealed.

A stunned silence took over the atmosphere before the maids broke out in cheers, followed by Madai and Apphia. I was too stunned to react.

After making it clear that he only saw me as a sister, how could he choose me over his mate? This wasn’t right, and I felt sorry for Elisa.

Remembering how Alpha Zach treated Kari in contrast to me, though I didn’t know by then that he was my mate, it hurt too much. Yet, Zionn raised his hand to stop me from speaking when I tried to express my displeasure.

"Z, what is wrong with you? I’m your mate, and yet you choose her?" Elisa looked broken. "No," Zion replied to her relief, right before adding, "you and I are moving out of the packhouse."

Elisa did not seem to be in agreement with the arrangement and did not hide it. "No, the packhouse is rightfully ours. They should leave." Zion appeared deflated, his expression paling when Elisa added, "If not, then I will be forced to reject you for choosing her over me."

"You want to walk that path?" Alpha Zion asked, his voice filled with threat yet strangely calm. Elisa, however, did not seem as foolish as she had previously portrayed herself.

"No, but you leave me no choice. You haven’t even marked me, so you practically do not love me, and I know it’s because of her."

Zion looked sorrowful, but in the next moment, he pulled her into his arms. His love for her was evident, making me realize that everything he was doing was in pursuit of fulfilling his promises to me.

"I love you, Elisa. You are my mate, but I can never let Bella go. She sacrificed her life for my twin brother and is the reason I am still alive."

Everyone, including myself, was confused. What I did for Alpha Zach had nothing to do with Zion and did not justify him choosing me over his mate.

"What are you talking about? Isn’t she just taking advantage of you?" Elisa asked the question on my mind, prompting Zion to finally release what he had been holding back all this time. I was momentarily disappointed because I had started to see him as a best friend and had already shared so much about myself with him.

However, he still kept something hidden from me, leaving me unsure of how to feel about it.

"You are my mate, so I can tell you, but you must promise to keep it a secret. If you don’t, I will end your life, as well as anyone you tell," he threatened. The few maids with us chose to leave, including Madai and Apphia, indicating that they couldn’t trust themselves to keep Zion’s secret.

"Tell me," Elisa insisted, and I was equally curious as he began to explain, starting with how I had saved Alpha Zach.

"It was her? Then where is her red hair?" she asked, revealing that the news of that story had spread further than I had imagined. Zion looked at me, and I removed my wig, revealing my hair, which had grown back quickly after Zeke was born and now reached my shoulders.

"Stunning," she murmured in shock, while Zion added, "I share a special bond with Zach, so if he dies, then so do I. If Bella hadn’t saved him, I would have followed suit."

Now everything made sense as to how he managed to keep Alpha Zach away and why Beta Gaius told me to come here, but what I didn’t expect was what Elisa did next.

"Bella, I’m so sorry," she went down on her knees and held my leg. I was taken aback. "I didn’t know. Please forgive me. I was jealous because Z refused to mate with me since you barged into his room."

Her apology was genuine, so I gave her my hand and helped her to her feet. "It’s alright. I’m not a saint, and I fell in love with him along the way. However, he made it clear that he has you now and only sees me as a sister," I replied honestly. She smiled and embraced me.

"Thank you for telling me."

Zion had a satisfied smile on his face. "I hope to enjoy some peace from now onwards," he hinted, but Elisa dropped to her knees again. "Z, I have a confession, but please promise not to banish me. I’ve changed."

The smile froze on Zion’s face as he asked her seriously, "What is it?"

Elisa stared pleadingly at me before confessing, "Someone had told me before I met you about Bella, and it was because of that I was mean to her and wanted you to send her away. They are hovering around, waiting to end her and her pup. Please forgive me."

Her words were shocking, and I was intrigued, but Zion’s expression seemed to convey a desire to harm someone. In that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of resentment towards the moon goddess for not choosing me as his mate instead of Elisa.

However, the reality was that Sai would have to go. I knew I could never accept Alpha Zach, which meant my time at the tribe was limited. Once my name was cleared, I planned to leave with my pup.

Despite my feelings towards Alpha Zach, I couldn’t deny that he had achieved something remarkable by establishing his own tribe. Perhaps I could do the same with my pup.

Zion demanded that Elisa reveal the identities of my enemies, and I agreed. Knowing who they were would allow me to proceed with caution.

"I honestly don’t know who they are, but they promised me a significant reward if I destroyed you. However, upon meeting you and feeling the strength of our mate bond, I couldn’t bring myself to harm you. I only went along with their plan because they threatened me, saying that if I didn’t comply, I would face dire consequences."

Blood spurted from her mouth, and she began to cough violently. Kneeling before her, I tried to bring her out of her unconscious state, but Zion carried her, and I knew we were headed for the healer’s hut.

Before reaching there, I mind-linked Dina about the problem, and she already had the herbs ready. As soon as we reached there, she forced the herbs down Elisa’s throat, and she vomited more blood.

"The elixir of destruction is in her blood, so we have to extract it. She will need a blood transfusion to replace it," Dina explained. Zion quickly rolled up his sleeves. "Take my blood and don’t let anything happen to her."

I was slightly jealous because previously, Zion would only go crazy like this for me. I just realized that all along, he drew the invisible line I failed to see from the moment I rejected his proposal.

When I needed blood, he never offered his own, instead, he compelled Dina to use enchantment to obtain it from Alpha Zach. While his explanation that he wanted Zach to pay seemed reasonable, it was also apparent that he was avoiding getting too involved with me.

His distancing himself was crystal clear, yet I chose to ignore the fact that his kindness, protection, and assistance were merely out of a sense of obligation towards me.

Now, I acknowledge that he is not mine, as I had initially stated. His mate is now present, and I must give them the space they need.

"I will help oversee the affairs at the factory and packhouse," I whispered. He didn’t meet my gaze but responded, "Thank you."

"Alpha, the blood transfusion will erase every information she might have from them," I heard Dina say behind me but I left it to Zion to handle.

With my strength growing, I will find my enemies and put an end to them.

It stings, even though it was my own doing, but I realize it’s time for me to move on. His mate requires his attention, and soon she will be coronated.

I refuse to be the other woman standing in the way of their bond, and everyone will soon know that Zeke is not his because I won’t accept feeling like a mere obstacle between him and his mate.

Zeke was never his, and his father had already rejected him when he tried to kill him. A few days later, Elisa was fine, and she and Zion mated and marked each other. However, he postponed the coronation for unforeseen reasons, but Elisa wasn’t upset.

The fact that she had her mate was enough for her. As I was heading to work the next day, I heard two familiar voices speaking in the living room. My curiosity got the best of me, but the betrayal was too much when I heard Zion asking Alpha Zach, "What took you so long? Well, it’s too late now."