The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

Rodger

POV

"Deal with it, but that mother fucker's life here ends."

Alpha Miles was firm on one thing. Cindy had to go. After what happened with my daughter, I needed to take responsibility for this one thing more than all my other mistakes I had made throughout her life.

Cindy betrayed us all because of me. Because of some warped sense of possessiveness he had over me. I was the cause, the reason for his betrayal. I needed to be the one that dealt with this. No matter how much it would hurt me.

Cindy was tied to the floor with a coarse fiber rope. Usually a rope wouldn't be enough to hold one of them down, but Cindy had been given wolfsbane to cut him off from his wolf. He didn't even fight the dose. He sat with his head down, looking completely defeated once I woke up in that clearing.

He was never much of a fighter, even with his wolf, and never aggressive. Never had I seen any side of him showing any hint of malice. I still can not believe that the broken young man that showed up at my doorstep all those years ago, who had never known family or love but had grown to be a pivotal member of ours, would show this great betrayal.

"I can't believe this," Winnie snarled from the other side of the cell door. "NO FUCKING WAY!"

"Hush, Winnie. Please. You're making this so much harder." Alexi has been trying to get him to leave, but he's refused Alexi's every attempt. Even the guards have given up trying to detain him. Winnie is the one taking this the hardest. At least openly.

"I can do this for you, sir," Lenny told me as he gently rested a hand on my shoulder. "It doesn't have to be you."

"It does," I muttered, hanging my head. "It has to be me."

I felt Chloe's magic flickering back to life. I knew her wolf was present. It was just a matter of time before she woke up. I had to do this if I wanted to face her ever again. Cindy put not just my daughter in jeopardy, but the lives of the twins she is carrying too.

When I said I was going to deal with this before my daughter woke up, almost everyone followed me down to the cells. Lenny and Kai were the only ones I wanted there with me. The only ones that I knew could handle what needed to happen, and finish the job if I couldn't. One flick of my wrist. One burst of my magic, and it would all be over. Cindy would never feel a thing.

Why couldn't I do it?

A knock sounded on the door. Then Darrel poked his head in. "She's awake, Rodger. She's asking for you."

Damn it. I didn't have time to waver, but still, I couldn't bring myself to get up off this folding metal chair and do what I came here to do.

"We can do this for you, sir," Kai knelt down in front of me. "Please, let us do it."

"NO!" I yelled. Tears started to burn behind my eyes. "It has to be me!"

Cindy whimpered, cringing back against the wall, and all the ferocity I showed vanished again.

How could I do this? How could I kill someone that was in every way like my son?

Lenny and Kai stepped back, exchanging looks with one another as my tears began to pour from my eyes. Why did it hurt so much? Why couldn't I detach myself from this task?

Another knock, much softer, came from the door and I hung my head. It was another one of them telling me they would do this for me. Almost everyone has offered, but how can I push this responsibility onto someone else?

"I will do it," I mumbled in a rough whisper as I rubbed my hands over my sore eyes. "Please, just give me a moment."

Then, I felt the most delicate hands engulf me from behind. I felt the familiar buzz of magic, stronger than ever before. I felt the tender touch of the one person I never wanted to let down again.

"You don't have to do this," Chloe whispered in my ear as my shoulders began to shake. "If you think you're doing this for me, then stop. The only thing I want from you right now is to leave this room and let me handle this my way." No. I can't. I can't fail her again.

"Chloe," I breathed. "Please. I have to."

"No," her voice was soft and kind. "You don't." She kissed my cheek, then I felt a warmth rush over me. A warmth that beckoned me. It was pulling at some deep instinct inside of me, telling me to trust her.

As I lifted my head and met her gaze, I knew I wasn't going to disobey. I knew I had to listen.

I failed, yet again, but I knew at this moment that leaving this room was what I was supposed to do.

"Everything will be okay," she rested her hand on my face, itching the corners of my unkempt beard. "Trust me."

I did. I trusted her.

I nodded and slowly got out of my seat, hugging her tightly before turning to the door.

"Thank you for being okay. For waking up," I whispered as I touched the knob.

"Thank you for fighting for me," she answered. "You're going to be the best grandfather soon."

I couldn't meet her eyes as those words sunk in. It choked me to think about all I would have lost if she had been lost to me. All because of Cindy's betrayal.

But still, I couldn't help glancing back at Cindy one last time. His eyes were on me, looking so lost and broken. I couldn't help myself and the heartache I felt for him. He was like my son. One day, I hope the guilt that brought me would go away.

As I left the door, I wiped my eyes while the door shut behind me. The hall was packed but as my eyes cleared, I recognized one face that did not belong with the rest.

Paulina had disappeared soon after the battle ended, coding to Driana that she had something she needed to do. Driana was puzzled by her sudden insistence on leaving, but we conjured it up to just one of her strange behaviors. Paulina was always a little different from us, even when she had her tongue. She had some sixth sense we did not possess, so we learned ages ago to let her be.

Now, she was standing in the hallway with someone I hadn't seen in many years. The very friend that helped bring Cindy to Broom StiXXX years ago.

"Theodore?"

The magic-wielding being with dread-locks and more smile lines than anyone I had ever met was beaming at me.

"Hello again, my friend."

"What are you doing here?"

His smile faltered as he glanced at Mick and Miles, then down at Paulina. She nodded to him, and he pasted that broad smile back in place.

"I'm here to help young Dycin find his way. An old friend told me it was time."

An old friend? I thought he was talking about Paulina, but the way he kept stealing glances at the twin Alpha and then at the door that led to my daughter, I started to think that there was some other meaning to his words.

~

Cindy POV

Everything was over for me. Rodger had been given orders to kill me, which I thought was bad enough, but now the cause of all of this was here to finish the job instead herself.

Even this last moment with Rodger is being taken from me. I was willing to accept the end if it was by his hands, but not like this.

"Cindy, Cindy, Cindy," Chloe clicked her tongue, crouching down before me.

I refused to look at her, turning my head away in a final act of defiance.

"We can do it, Luna," Lenny said. "I've been trying to tell Rodger I would be the one to kill him. You shouldn't have to-"

"Kill him?" Chloe cut off his words with a puzzled expression. I hesitantly glanced her way to see her staring up at him. "Who said anything about killing him?"

Lenny looked bewildered, as did Kai.

"The Alphas said-" Kai started to say, but Chloe waved her hand at him in dismissal.

"Things change. No one will be killing anyone today." She then smiled at me, tilting her head to the side. "I guess you will be dying in a way!"

"What do you mean by 'in a way'?" Lenny asked her. "Luna, I-"

Chloe snapped her fingers, making Lenny and Kai both freeze in place. I thought it was just them, but then I saw a fly perfectly suspended in the air, its wings unmoving.

She froze time. This witch fucking froze time completely.

"What the hell are you planning on doing with me?" I sneered.

She shrugged her shoulders, then a devious look lifted her lips. "You fucked up majorly. You know that, right? You know I can not keep you here, and leaving you alive with your warped way of thinking isn't an option either, which had me thinking....." She tapped her finger to her chin. "How can I ensure Cindy doesn't hurt any of us again without killing him and causing those I love to hurt? Then I remembered a handy little thing Rodger used to do to the women that were obsessed with Mick."

My eyes widened realizing what she planned on doing. "You're going to take my memories? Of what?! Of Rodger?!" That would leave me with... Just with the memories of my first pack. Of the abuse I endured growing up.

Chloe's smile softened as a sad tension creased the corners of her eyes. "I'm afraid that wouldn't do you any good either. I know enough to know you did not lead a good life before Rodger. I'm not cruel enough to only take the good from you."

"So.... So what the hell else are you taking?"

She sighed, resting her hands on either side of my face. "I'm afraid I'm going to be taking all of it. Every last memory you have, leaving you as an empty shell. You can start fresh, but will never be a threat to me or anyone else again." What she was saying didn't make sense. "Your mates will let me stay here without my memories?"

"Oh, no. They were not entirely on board with this, but it's okay. Everything has been arranged."

She kept her hands on my face as she looked at the door. I knew time was still frozen. The fly was still in the same spot, along with Lenny and Kai.

Even with time standing still, the door opened and closed. It looked wrong, morphed in a way, watching the door open and close, but the person that walked in walked like he was completely unaffected.

He smiled at me, and I recognized him right away. He was the one that led me to my freedom. He led me to Rodger and Broom StiXXX.

"Theodore," Chloe smiled sadly up at him. "Thank you for coming."

"Anything for you, little one. Your wolf called for me."

Chloe laughed softly. "She did? After centuries apart, the connection was still there?"

"Just enough for this," he answered, looking grieved for whatever reason. He was staring at Chloe like she was a lost loved one. It was strange, being that he was so old. Maybe her whorish sex acts even reached the elderly. Watching them though, I didn't think that was it. There was remorse in her expression and a pained smile on him.

"With Dycin in tow, I can finally return to my nest to live out the rest of my life. I will ensure he is set up nicely there in the town that used to be our village. Everything has been arranged. I will watch over him so you can finally know peace."

"I wish you would find your peace too," Chloe whispered.

Theodore laughed softly. "Your peace is my peace, little one. My dragon is finally at rest after all this time."

They were talking in riddles, but I felt like I was intruding on some sort of closure between them.

"Dragons never die," Chloe whispered roughly. "I hope your next mate can bring you the happiness you have always deserved."

I gasped as his image flickered and faded to that of a young man, no older than me. He was the same man, but without any wrinkles. His dreadlocks didn't have patches of white and gray and his skin was glowing. Only the smile lines on his handsome face remained. "I'll be sure she does."

ལ་

Chloe seemed more at ease seeing him in this form. Even as he faded back to the image of the old man I knew him as, she didn't carry that same sadness in her eyes.

She then looked back at me. "It's time, Cindy. Goodbye and I wish you happiness in your new life too."

Then I felt this buzzing electrifying my skin. A pounding warmth seeped into my cheek where her hands were until it wrapped around my head. They had dosed me with wolfsbane instantly on the battlefield, cutting me off from my wolf, but Chloe managed to pull him out of the darkness.

My wolf was the first thing she took from me. Tears burned my eyes as I felt my wolf leaving, being ripped from my consciousness and given back to the goddess. Chloe was coaxing my wolf, comforting him before I couldn't feel him any longer at all. I knew though. I knew my wolf had returned to the moon.

She told me she was making me a blank canvas, wiping out everything. I didn't know that meant my wolf too.

The thrumming of my memories hurt as they passed behind my eyes, leaving me for good. I was weeping as the ones of Rodger and Broom StiXXX flashed into my mind, then disappeared forever. I knew something was missing with every memory stolen, but could not conjure anything. That filled me with fear and longing.

Soon, I didn't even remember who the woman in front of me was. I knew she was doing something painful, feeling the ache throbbing in my core, but didn't know why she was hurting me like that.

Then the memories of my childhood came. I screamed, having to relive them, but then there was a relief when I forgot why I was screaming.

Everything was gone. My mind was blank.

"Wh-who are... Who are you?" I whimpered as the beautiful woman let go of my throbbing skin. She had this sad face that made me want to cry, but I couldn't figure out why. "Hello, Cindy," she whispered roughly, kindness glowing behind her eyes. "I'm no one. I'm just here to help you prepare for your departure with Theodore here." "Theodore?" I looked up at the gentle-looking older man standing behind her. He had the nicest smile, stretched from ear to ear on his weathered face. I liked him instantly. "Hello, Cindy," he said softly. "Let's get you home."

Chloe POV

"You called him?" I asked my wolf.

Cortina solemnly watched the scene through my eyes. "He's been waiting for this. He's known for centuries, since we last saw him. He's just been waiting for the right time."

Time was a painful thing. I can see now how much had to fall perfectly in place for this cycle to end. This cycle started by saving Mr. Smith thousands of years ago. Seeing Theodore was a reminder of how painful those past lives have been, and I'm sure being here and seeing me in this new life like this wasn't easy for him. Still, he came to close the last painful part of my past, so time could continue forward.

I will have to tell Mick and Miles about the origin of my magic soon, but not today. Not right now.

I stood back and watched as Theodore led Cindy to the portal at the end of the field. Cindy was a blank canvas. There was nothing of the man we had once known left in him, but he was alive. That was the only mercy I would grant him.

It wasn't for Cindy, but for Winnie. For Riley and Dave. For Beau, Alexi, Boyd and Jamie. It was for Lenny and Kai. For Darren and Mick.

More than anyone, it was for Rodger. For my father who had lost so much in his life. He already carried so much guilt for so many things out of his control. Mercy may have been out of his control, but it wasn't beyond my limits. Cindy would never be himself again. He would never have his memories, or be able to live among Setting Sun members, but he would be alive, and that would help what was left of my family heal.

Theodore nodded to me, a longing look in his twinkling eyes. I knew he wished to speak more with me, but I also knew that wouldn't be good for either of us. This will be the only time we meet. At least, it should be. I shouldn't say never, considering I didn't expect to be reaching out to him for this. It felt right, and I know I can trust Theodore with this.

I watched as Winnie fought against Alexi to follow after Cindy and Theodore. Alexi didn't let him go until the portal was already closed. Winnie fell to the ground, crying, and then turned his furious glare to Alexi.

Alexi looked so broken, but not because of Cindy. He was feeling for Winnie, and the more I watched them, the more I noticed something that I think Alexi had been hiding for a long time.

Winnie threw punches at Alexi's legs, then threw his head back and let out an ear-splitting scream. Everyone covered their ears. Everyone except Alexi, who fell to the ground and grabbed hold of Winnie's sobbing form. He held on to the crying wildcat until Winnie eventually hugged him back. It was heartbreaking to see Winnie mourn the loss of one of us. He was taking it the hardest, but Alexi looked ready to help him put all the pieces back together. "Are you okay," Miles whispered in my ear, resting a hand on my flat belly. "You didn't over-exert yourself, did you?"

I smiled warmly at him, gently shaking my head. He kissed my forehead, snuggling me close to his side. He stayed with me to watch from a distance as Cindy and Theodore left. Mick went to take care of another pressing matter.

My eyes moved from Winnie's tantrum to someone else. Retreating back away from the others, wiping under his eyes, was Rodger. He went into the forest, hiding in the shadows of the tree while the others continued to watch Winnie. When I saw my father's shoulders begin to shake, I couldn't stand by and watch anymore.

"Go," Miles whispered in my ear. "Mick and I will come get you in a bit to handle that other thing."

I nodded, and he kissed my head one more time, rubbing my belly before watching me walk down the hill towards my father.

Rodger was leaning against a tree, his whole entire body shaking from his silent tears. He's trying to mourn in silence. He doesn't need to. Any one of us would be there for him, but right now, I feel like this has to be me.

"Rodger," I said quietly, resting my hand on his shoulder.

He let out a small sobbing choke, then his shoulders started to shake harder.

"I know," he choked out. "I know I shouldn't be like this after what he did to you but-"

"Dad," I cut off his attempt at apologizing. "He was your son," I pulled my father away from the tree, coaxing him to turn around. His face was a mess of salty tears and reddened skin. I held that face between my hands, staring up into his deep brown eyes, like mirrors of mine. "He was your son." Cindy, despite everything, was still one of Rodger's children. All of us were. He needed to quit holding on to the guilt and realize loving Cindy was not a sin.

As I held his head in my hands, I let the good memories I took from Cindy filter into Rodger's mind. Starting with the day that Cindy appeared at his doorstep. Rodger was the first person to show Cindy unconditional love.

I filtered through, showing from Cindy's perspective every precious moment between them. The day Cindy graduated. The pride Cindy felt going around LA and running mundane errands with Rodger. Something so simple and meaningless to most meant the world to Cindy. Seeing Rodger through Cindy's eyes, I could see why Cindy became obsessive. I could see why he tried to go to such extremes to hold on to those feelings. What Cindy feared most was losing what was most valuable to him. Rodger's unconditional love.

Even with the loss of his memories and after everything he put all of us through, Cindy still had that. Rodger still loved Cindy, and I never wanted Rodger to feel guilt for saving him.

As the last image flickered through to him, I whispered with tears running down my cheeks, "You were his father. Mourn, but don't ever feel guilty for loving him." Rodger's lips shook as he pulled me close. The ferocity of his emotions, of his love poured over me.

I rested my arms around him, rubbing his back soothingly.

"I love you, dad."

The choking sound that left him cut off his sobs as he sucked a ragged breath back in. "Chloe," my name left his lips in an airless whisper. "Oh, Chloe. I love you. I love you so much."

We stood there in the shadow of the forest, holding and hugging one another. He held me like his life depended on it, and I held him like I would never let him go. After remembering so much of my past lives, of all the heartache I experienced and all the ones I had lost, I knew life was too short to let this man spend another day carrying the guilt of things that we couldn't change.

Eventually, I felt another set of arms wind around me from behind, then saw Dave and Riley on the other side of Rodger. Riley hugged around our waists as Davey rested his large hands on Riley's shoulders. Looking back, Darrel smiled down at me before Kai and Lenny appeared beside him, joining the overbearing hug too. Then came Jamie, making Dave growl as he squeezed between him and Riley. Beau and Boyd came into the mix before Alexi and a very blotchy-faced Winnie. Winnie hissed and grunted his way to the middle of the pack, squeezing in between me and Rodger.

"You're all assholes," he growled weakly as he snuggled into Rodger's chest.

I laughed softly, seeing my dad smile for the first time since I woke up. He rested his head on top of Winnie's while still staring at me with that deep loving look.

"Can I have my mate back yet?" Dave snarled, trying to push Jamie off Riley.

"Not yet," Jamie sighed, hugging the circle tighter. "This is the most action I've gotten all week."

Dave grabbed his shoulder and tossed him out of the group hug before retrieving Riley.

"This was fun, but let's not do it again for a while," Riley blew kisses at us from over Rodger's shoulder. "We'll see you all in a few days! Behave!"

"Again?" Beau scoffed. "How much do they need to mate?"

"They're like this every spring. Bears and their mating season. Why do you think Darrel got his mate pregnant so fast?" Jamie smirked at the other bear left in our group. Darrel shrugged. "I tried to get Billy pregnant too, but it wouldn't take."

"Wonder why," Kai snickered.

Our loose hug died out and everyone began to separate. Everyone except Winnie, who was clinging to Rodger like a baby monkey. When Alexi tried to pull him off, he got hissed at.

I suddenly felt the shift of mood in my mates and knew it was time to go deal with the last headache. Even if I didn't want to, Fire Moon needed to be sorted.

I patted my father's shoulder, kissing his cheek briefly as I moved to my favorite babysitter.

"Babysitter Lenny," I sided up beside him, giving him my biggest smile.

He looked down at me cautiously. "What?"

"Wanna take a drive with me?"

"I don't know," he eyed me suspiciously. "Where are we going?"

"To sort out the Alpha of a pack."

The pack had been suggesting I was the next in line for pack hierarchy, but I would never leave Setting Sun. Watching Lenny's capable body drive us to where the pack was gathered, arguing with my mates, I knew who the right person was to whip that broken, barbaric pack back into shape.