You Never Series Book 1: You Never Knew Me

ALPHA MARCO DELONG

My son. I watch as Damien walks across the stage and takes his diploma, a smug look on his face. He’s grown into a fine man, but then, of course he would. He’s mine, and I expect nothing less. I dip my head in acknowledgment of his achievement as he looks at me, and he lifts his chin before taking a seat next to his mother. Yes, he graduated, but he still needed a tutor. A tutor! Pathetic. Lyric Johannes is called, and she saunters across the stage to take her diploma. She cleans up pretty well, but she’s weak. She can’t even shift! I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth. The one child I have with my goddess mate, and she’s without a wolf. The only thing she’s ever been useful for is helping my son raise his grades. I look at her again. She is pretty. Beautiful even. Perhaps she can be useful in other ways… The rest of the graduates are called, and finally the end is near. Lyric stands once more and makes her way to the podium for what is bound to be a boring speech meant to motivate. I’m wrong. It all happens so fast that I can’t find the words. In front of everyone, she has the audacity to name me as her father! Livid, I stand to quell her speech, and growling, she tells me to sit down. I see a glimpse of her wolf…but that can’t be! What happens next is a blur. Damien yelling he is her mate, Diana bowing her head in shame, Lyric rejecting the pack, her mate, her mother, me. She shifts right in front of us, leaping over the heads of the crowd and exiting through a rear door. I can’t believe my eyes. Her wolf is magnificent! The most beautiful wolf I’ve ever seen—and powerful. I’ve never sensed such power before. And she’s been here all along, right under my nose. Right under my nose! Howling my rage, I shake as my anger consumes me. That little bitch! How dare she defy me? Me! I’m the alpha. I’m her father! The audience, made up of pack and neighboring pack members, turns to stare at me, and all chatter ends. I can feel their eyes upon me, judgment heavy on their brows— The alpha doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own family! If he kept this a secret, what else don’t we know? His daughter? He can’t even control her! “Leave now!” I command, my voice a roar that echoes in the silence. There’s no need to demand twice. The message has been received. Parents hug their sons or daughters and make their way out of one of the exits. Their glances at me, however, do not escape my notice and only infuriate me further. Christine stands and moves slowly toward an exit, but she stops immediately when she hears my growl. Looking from side to side as if for an ally, she sinks into a chair. Diana slinks over to my side and touches my arm. “Marco, I don’t understand,” she says, her voice filled with false sincerity. “Damien can’t be—” “Enough!” My hands clench into fists as I look into her deceitful eyes. She’s known the truth this whole time, betrayed me all along, put me in the position to turn my pack over to a bastard when it’s time for me to step down. “But I swear I didn’t mean—” My hand flies through the air, landing with a loud thwack on her cheek and creating a blossom of raised red skin. It’s the only time I’ve ever struck her, and the feeling is satisfying. “I will deal with you later,” I say, my voice menacingly low. “Get out of my sight now, or so help me, I will not be responsible for my actions.” Diana shuffles away quickly, taking her bastard son with her. His gaze remains fixed on the exit on the opposite side of the room, as if he expects his mate to return and rescind her rejection. Ha! How perfectly fucking ironic. I unhurriedly walk across the stage, and my footfalls boom in the now-empty room as I make my way over to Christine. She cowers in her seat, and I swear I hear her wolf whine in submission. “Did you know?” I ask roughly, trying to hold on to every scrap of control I can. “I swear, Marco, I had no idea,” she whispers with tears in her eyes. “Dominic!” I yell. The entire room seems to vibrate with my wrath. My beta appears as if out of nowhere and bows to me. He’s good for some things at least.

If the little bitch wants to play, we can play. I’ve learned from the best and know how to take a female down a peg or two. “Find the bitch and bring her to me,” I growl. “She’ll soon learn who’s top alpha in this family.” I throw my head back and howl again. “Bring that bitch back!”