Mated in the Shadow of My Sister novel Chapter 46

Chapter 0046

(James POV)

The drive back to West Mountain Pack felt like it took twice as long as the original drive to Red River.

I was dreading having to explain to my father that two important treaties were being rescinded, much less

that one of his good friends now seemed to hate him.

I was also having trouble wrapping my mind around what Alpha Brett and Dr. Hyder told me about why it

was all happening. I really had no idea what to think.

Were they really suggesting that females had been abused in our pack? And that we had allowed it to

happen? Or that our pack had intentionally used the mate bond as a form of torture?

I mean, Lily had not had an easy life for the past six years, and I did threaten to use the mate bond to get

revenge on her. But that was punishment for her actions that led to Stephanie’s death. Surely, they could

not blame us so severely for simply punishing a wrongdoer… even if they had a soft spot for her. 1

No, I was certain that whatever had triggered them, it went beyond Lily. But what was it? Was this Tyler

person somehow connected?

Or was it possible that Lily set all of this up as some sort of bizarre revenge? Had she found a way to

fabricate evidence and turn our allies against us? If so, why would she do that? Her family still lives in

our pack. Even if she wanted to hurt me, why would she hurt her family as well?

I could not figure out what made more sense: that my father would have allowed abuse to occur in our

pack unchecked, or that Lily would fabricate evidence against our pack in an effort to get revenge on me.

Honestly, I had no f&&king idea.

And unfortunately, I knew it was going to be a while before I could find out. Ultimately, we did not get

back to West Mountain pack until around 2 am. Although my brain was still spinning and I was not tired,

it was far too late to talk to my parents and get any answers.

It was also too late to call any of my friends and go out drinking, which had been my regular go-to in the past when I needed to take a “brain vacation.” Eventually, desperate for a distraction, I decided to make

I

friends with two large bottles of wolfsbane vodka.

The vodka bottles ended up making for fabulous company. In fact, I was so enthralled with them that I took them to bed. That, of course, is why Nick found me the next day passed out in my bed, hugging one

of the empty bottles as I embarrased myself by moaning Lily’s name over and over.

“Dude, not u

I groaned as I rolled over. “What time is it?”

“It is 3.30 in the afternoon. Get up!”