Chapter 36
Chapter 36
"This is Kavan Conley. I was the rightful heir of the Beta position at Emerald Pack, but my younger brother stole it from me. No one believed me when I tried to tell the truth, they thought I was crazy. Maybe my running away will confirm their beliefs even more. But you, whoever you are, the fact that you found this letter meant you were supposed to. I need you to set it straight. Even if it's generations later, I ask this of you: Tell my story, bring truth to the wolves of Emerald Pack, even if they don't know me. Because that will bring justice for my Julia."
I took a deep breath as I glanced over the words scribbled on the paper for the hundredth time, before I lifted my head to the wolves of Emerald Pack who were looking at me expectantly. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
I was finally able to do it. I finally learnt everything about myself, my bloodline and my dad. Even though the man who clarified most of my heritage turned out to be a back-stabbing, power hungry murderer, it was good to know everything for once.
My missing pieces were finally filled in. I'm complete.
I knew now what Clarissa meant when she said I'd have to make a big decision that my mate probably wont like. She assumed I would've reclaimed my rightful place as Beta wolf, since what Edward did was a violation of one of the biggest wolf laws, and so his and his kids' places would've been revoked immediately. However, Alex shouldn't pay for his crimes. Alex was a great Beta.
So, to set things straight for my dad, Julia and my place, I asked Ty to call a Pack meeting where I would do it all. And that's exactly what I was about to do.
It was a shocker to everyone in the house, especially Jody and Alex. They couldn't believe that their dad did that, but they were understanding and accepted it quite earlier than I anticipated. They were all willing to stand by me while I did this, and I was grateful.
It has been two days since I've learnt everything and since Asia saved my life. It was a good thing that she had come looking for me that morning and followed my scent to my dad's old room. I can't begin to imagine what would've happened if she wasn't there.
I found her gaze at the side of the stage with the other high ranking wolves, where I offered her a small smile. I hated her at first, and we still weren't the closest. But I was glad that this could be the start of a new partnership and friendship. She was the Beta of my mate's pack after all.
My mate.
Beside Asia, stood my mate, Niall. After what happened, I knew I had to tell him. Of course, he just couldn't stay away. I didn't mind either. I missed him like crazy, and I felt like I needed him to do this. He arrived this morning, and we would leave today, so he wouldn't be away from his pack any longer.
It took a lot for me to keep him under control. Every time he looked at Edward, he growled and bared his teeth with a look that said 'I'm going to kill you for touching my mate'. Ty had the same reaction when he learnt what happened, but he was more paternal.
He concluded that he wouldn't banish Edward, solely for Alex and Jody's sakes. It's not like they wanted anything to do with him anymore. Alex was even more upset than Jody, simply by the level of betrayal and lies.
However, Ty decided to strip Edward of any title in Emerald Pack, and so he will live in the desolate part of the Pack by himself, only coming out for meetings and gatherings. He would be shunned by every member as soon as I was finished with my speech. If his mate so desired, she was permitted to stay with him. But as for everyone else, he would stay alone.
For the past two days he had been locked in my dad's old room, chained by silver so he had no way of escaping. He was specifically put in that room for punishment. I had to admit, when he came out, I could see that his conscience did its best to him.
He stood a few feet away from me on the stage with his head hung low. Shame on him for all he did.
"These were the words written by my dad over twenty years ago, when Edward Conley, his own brother, killed his mate" I continued, receiving gasps and hushed whispers from pack members. Niall gave me an encouraging smile which was enough to have me spilling the truth like it was nobody's business.
"For those who are seeing me for the first time, my name is Zoey Boysen, or Conley if you may say." More gasps-- that's all I heard. "If you are confused, you have all right to be. But I am here to tell you the truth, and nothing but the truth. My dad, as some might remember, was Kavan Conley, but I only knew him as Reagan Boysen. Kavan was forced to run away from home because of the betrayal and heartbreak caused upon him by this man" I paused to turn to Edward, and everyone's gaze shifted to him in suit.
"Edward wanted the Beta position more than anything, so he killed my dad's mate so that he'd be unfit to lead. Nobody believed my dad when he said it, which led him to leave Emerald pack. Some of you might not know who I am talking about, because this would've happened years before you were born. But for those who remember him, he wasn't crazy. He wasn't weak. He was hurt, but not only by the loss of his mate. His own brother led him to grief. And so, he led life as a rogue for years. However, before he left, he wrote and left this letter in his old room, hoping that someone would find it and shed light on what really happened."
A single tear rolled down my cheek as I chuckled humorlessly.
"Destiny" I concluded. "That's the only logical explanation I could have for all this. Coincidence upon coincidence? Only destiny" More mumbles went around as I continued. "After leaving Emerald Pack, Kavan, as you know him, changed his name to Reagan Boysen and he lived as a rogue in the US for years. It so happened that fate caused him to fall in love with a human from a small town in Brightwater territory. He bore me, and he died trying to get me in a pack. I was too young to remember him"
Ty came beside me and rested a comforting hand on my shoulder. I smiled in gratitude as I prepped to continue. This was all a bitter-sweet experience.
"I didn't know him, but I heard wonderful stories about who he really was. I grew up in Brightwater Pack with wonderful people, but I always felt the absence of my dad. Soon after, my mom died too, and I was cut off from every connection I had with my dad, as she was the only one who knew him. However, he didn't tell her where he was from or why he became a rogue in the first place. So, on my eighteenth birthday just months ago, I was given a letter that was written by him before he died. It was then that I knew that I had to know everything. And I am happy that I went on this journey to know the truth"
I smiled to myself when I thought about what an experience it had been.
"It wasn't easy, but I did it. You don't have to believe me. But I just wanted to see my dad's legacy straight. He was a good man. He would've been a good Beta too if Edward didn't force him to act otherwise. It's just so odd how I was the very same one who found this letter in his room. Don't you see? From the minute it happened, the moon has been working it all out in my dad's favor. It took years, but it happened. My dad was wronged, he ran away and became a rogue for years. Within those years, he met my mom who he fell in love with and had me. In that very same time, my sister was imprinted on by the Alpha of Brightwater Pack, who took me in and raised me into the wolf I am today. After all that, I grew up and found my mate, who is the Alpha of Truemoon Pack, and has been helping me with my quest from the minute I told him about it.
"I then met a rogue who was raised by my dad years before he met my mom, and she led me here. This is the very pack that I had been visiting since I was a child, yet I didn't know that this was where my bloodline was. Nonetheless, I learnt the truth, and I performed my father's request by making it known to you all." I sighed contently as I leaned against the podium.
I met eyes with Alex and Jody from across the stage, and I offered them a quick smile, telling them I hadn't forgotten about them.
"I know this is a lot to process, and I know most of you know the repercussions of this. But I am not here to reclaim the Beta position" I actually laughed at the thought. "I have no intentions to. Alex has been a great Beta--the best. There is no way I would even consider taking that position from him. He isn't his dad, and my goal today wasn't for you to look at him or Jody in a different light. I don't even have to ask that you show him the same respect and love like always, because I know you all will"
A series or approvals and agreeing mumbles went around as they gazed at him lovingly.
It was all true. Since I was a child, Alex had been the BEST Beta for Emerald Pack, and even if I didn't have Niall, I wouldn't have taken that away.
"Besides" I beamed as I looked at Niall. "My mate is the Alpha of the Truemoon Pack back in America, and I wouldn't want anything else but to be his Luna." He returned my smile as he mouthed' I love you', and a number of cheers and 'awes' sounded from pack members.
If the case was different, for instance, if Emerald Pack didn't have a fitting Beta, it would've gone differently. But they do, so I have nothing to worry about, and my job was done.
"So, thank you all for listening. I hope now that we can all move on secret free and happily. I love this pack and always will, and I know that what the future has in store is nothing but joy and prosperity" I took a deep breath as I collected the letter and handed the mic back to Ty.
He proceeded to tell the pack what will happen to Edward and closing remarks as I made my way to Niall. He collected me in his arms immediately when I was only inches away from him and pulled me to his chest.
"I'm so proud of you Zoey. You did great" He mumbled as he squeezed me tighter. I looked up to meet his eyes with a smile.
"I did?"
"You really did" He confirmed before placing a lingering kiss to my lips. I was happy and complete. It felt awesome.
"Now we can go home and finally be happy forever" I told him with a beaming smile as if I was a five- year-old beginning a happily ever after story. He couldn't imagine how wonderful I felt.
I knew my truth; I knew what happened with my dad and I even managed to set a whole misleading incident in place after so many years. It was a wonderful feeling to have the truth out and open. I knew there was nothing else that could hold me back now.
I no longer had questions lingering over my head, and fragments in my heart. I was whole. I was content and free. It felt wonderful. And having my mate with me throughout it all was a great plus.
"Forever, Zoey," he agreed both out loud and through our mate bond.
"Happy forever."