Betrayed by My Beta Mate

51 To Accept or Not Accept

Larisa POV

“He is our mate” Ara says with a growl. “Calm down Ara, they care about us. They were scared when we were taken and they don’t know that Magnum let us go.” She recedes in my mind and I look back at my dad. I can feel the rage rolling off of him and Eli. “I think we need to give Larisa some time to rest. She just woke up and she is safe” my mother says. “No, I want to talk about this now.” She takes my hand and I’m glad to have at least her support. “I’m going to go let everyone know that your home safe” Lily says and leaves. “Larisa, I know the mate bond can cloud your judgement. You can’t really believe that you should accept a man that took you against your will” my father says. “Dad, I love you and I understand that you are angry, but I’m not a child anymore. I need you to hear me and not treat me like a little girl.” “Larisa, you’re talking about a man that kidnaped you so he could kill our father”, Eli says, and I flinch at his words. I know he is right, but Magnum isn’t the same man that took me a few days ago. My mother stands and looks at my brother and father. “Eli and Lincoln, take a seat and listen to Larisa. She deserves to be listened to and you are not giving her that respect. I know you are angry and scared but we need to know exactly what happened.” She turns and sits back down by my bed. “Larisa, tell us about your mate.” Both men growl low and my mother turns shooting daggers at them. I look at my father and Eli. “You are right. My mate took me because he wanted to hurt dad. He lost his way because he is in pain about losing his own parents. His parents were taken from him even if it was justified. Anger can make good people do bad things.” I take a moment to compose myself as my heart aches for Magnum. A little boy who learned to hate the man who took his family from him.

spent with Magnum, he never hurt me. In fact, he protected me against his own coven members that tried to hurt me. He may be the reason I was taken, but he is also the reason I’m here and safe right now.” I can see the confusion on my father and Eli’s face. “A woman that was with my mate when I was taken sent a coven member to r*pe me.” The growls that echo through the room nearly shake the walls. “Enough, let her finish” my mother says. “He didn’t succeed. You have taught me well how to defend myself. I kicked him in the balls hard enough that they were in his throat.” I see pride in Eli and my father’s eyes. “Magnum came to the room. I don’t know if he felt something was wrong or if it was just pure luck. He killed the vampire and the witch that set it up. When he came back to the room, he walked me outside of the coven. He told me to leave and that the coven was no longer a threat to the Nightfire pack.” There is a long stretch of silence and I’m not sure what else to say. “Larisa,

We were so scared that it’s hard to see past that, but we will for you. You will always be his little girl and he thought you were being hurt because of him. He wanted me to trade him for you the moment he found out that you had been taken. He will never make you choose or not be there for you.” “I don’t want to hurt you or dad. You guys are my world, but Ara and I want our mate if he will accept the bond.” “Mom’s right, as she usually is. It’s your decision, not ours. We will love you

Magnum POV

in the room I fell asleep in. I’ve never seen this place before. I can tell it’s a hospital, but why am I here? I have to be dreaming. I hear a growl and follow the sound. When I look into the room, I see Laura lying in the bed. Why would I dream about her in the hospital? “This isn’t a dream, Magnum.” I turn to see a woman that I have only seen in pictures. “Mom” I say and she smiles. “I don’t understand what’s happening.” “Come with me and you will.” She opens the door and leads me into the room. There is a woman that looks like an older version of Laura sitting next to her bed. I’m sure it’s her mother. Two men who look very angry are sitting at the bottom of her bed. “She is a beautiful young lady” my mother says. “Yes, she is.” “Magnum, I know that you have carried this anger since you found out what happened to your father and me, but it’s misplaced. We made the wrong choices and Lincoln did what he had to do to protect innocent people. The goddess chose Larisa as your beloved so she could heal your heart. So, you could come to understand that the man you hold with such contempt is a good man.” I look at her confused, but then I hear the woman in the room

be my mate, everything stops. When she says yes, I can’t believe she wants to be with me after everything that happened. My mother reaches up and puts her hands on my cheeks. “You have a choice to make Magnum. The goddess has given you this gift and you can accept it or you can continue to hold on to the hurts of the past. I want you to be happy and so does the goddess.” I watch as my beloved cries and a man that I assume is her brother holds her close. Her tears