The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 364: THE MANIPULATION

Anna wanted to scream and bark in his face but she was forced to swallow her true reaction.

”What do you mean?” She asked in the calmest way possible.

She had to be very gentle and sweet and maintain the face that she was the good little sister he saw.

”Erik did not tell me about the fact that you two were bonded.” Xaden said. ”He is not just anyone in my pack. He is my Gamma. My second in command. He has no right keeping that from me. He knew since we were away from the pack and I would have never known until you said it. I can’t trust him. Not right now.”

She felt herself go red In anger.

But she suppressed her emotions.

”But it wasn’t just Erik’s fault though.” Anna explained. ”I also didn’t tell you. You should be angry with me too.”

He shook his head. ”How can I ever be angry with you? You are still new in the pack and only the gods know the awful things you have endured in that godforsaken place. So yes I would understand if you did not went to tell me about the two of you. You could never do wrong in my eyes.”

”But Erik.” He said darkly. ”Erik should have know better. If he could keep such a thing from me then what else could he hide? Who knows? I have known him for over a decade now. He knows better.”

She could not further antagonize Erik. It would only push Xaden farther away.

So manipulating Erik was out.

Xaden had said that she could never do any wrong in his eyes.

Perhaps she could antagonize herself and then he would pity her and forgive Erik.

So Anna began to cry. ”Please don’t punish him for my sins. He wanted to tell you as soon as he found out but I told him I didn’t want to yet. I told him that I wanted to spend sometime knowing my brother more and to give me some time to think about it. He wanted to let you know because he respects you. It was I who begged him to keep it from you. If you are going to punish anyone please punish me and not him.”

And then the tears came flowing like a tap.

She wept and wept.

Xaden got up from his seat and held her.

She cried some more and then he gently rubbed her back and wiped her tears.

”I don’t want to ever see you cry.” He told her.

She sniffed. ”Please don’t punish Erik. Punish me.”

He looked down at her and sighed weakly. ”I wish I never had to do this. I never want to hurt you.”

She smiled softly knowing that he was going to change his mind for her.

But he shocked her when instead he said. ”That is why I can not give my blessing to you and Erik.”

”What?” She said her body shaking again.

”You are my only sister. I would want to give you to someone whom I trust. Someone I am with no doubt unsure of. Erik kept such a thing from me. I can not forgive that. Not right now at least. He would have to prove himself right.”

”But it is me you are hurting.” Anna wept in utter disbelief.

”And it hurts me to see that, but I have no choice. This is my final say on this matter.” She felt her body go cold at his words.

Why was he so stubborn?

Why was he so shrewd and difficult.

”Moreover you said you wanted to spend more time with me and that was the reason why you refrained him from telling me isn’t it?” He asked. ”So now we can use this time to spend with each other. I want to experience my sister more before she gets married and leaves my pack.”

Anna wanted to scream and yell at him and tell him that she did not give two fucks about spending time with him.

She cared about her brother yes.

But her mating was more important.

Her entire time in the pack she had lived with the fear that she would never have the chance to find her mate.

Feared that she would never experience the joy of finding her own mate.

And now the goddess had given her one despite how much do a horrid person she was.

And better still to someone like Erik who was kind and gentle.

She had to take advantage of it and make good use to it.

”It was not his fault.” Anna pleaded. ”I just told you that he disobeyed because of me can’t yoy understand that?”

He shook his head. ”No I can’t. You, yes. But definitely not him. He made the mistake not you. You have to believe me when I tell you that I am choosing what’s best for you.”

Anna jerked free from his hold.

Since soft manipulation didn’t work, she decided to resort to a vicious manipulation.

”You hate me.” She said.

”What?” He asked startled.

”You hate me. Because I remind you of the moonlight pack.” She said.

”That is not true.” He said reaching out to her again but she jerked her arm free.

”Don’t touch me.” She said.

”I can see it in your eyes. You hate me.” She said crying. ”You are just like them.”

”I am nothing like those bastards.” He said.

”But you are. You are refusing to have me mated to Erik because you want to sell me off to another pack. You want to marry me into a prestigious family to strengthen ties.”

”I would never do that you.” He swore.

She shook her head and began to cry.

Xaden was about to speak when the door was flung open and Erik himself came in.

”Xaden. Jasmine just collapsed.” Erik said.

And to Anna’s shock she could literally see the hair on his neck stand at attention the moment he heard those words.