Woman from my past

Lord Bernard's POV

“You're not eating,” Cora, my mate, asked when she noticed I was playing with the fork in my hand instead of eating.

“It's nothing,” I responded, and she frowned and held my hand, which was placed on the table. “You know you can talk to me about anything that is bothering you,” she comforted, while I nodded and looked away.

How do I tell her that I was worried because a woman I thought I had gotten rid of is back in my mind just by hearing her voice again?

“Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?” she asked, and I didn't respond.

“Is it because of my inability to give you a child?” she asked, and I knew she was about to nag again.

“It's not about that. Stop filling your head with thoughts,” I groaned and stood to my feet. “I've lost my appetite,” I announced and walked out on her.

I made my way to the gym attached to my home, took off my shirt, and began punching a dummy, pouring out my frustration on it.

“And what do you think you're doing?” the voice of my wolf spoke in my head, and I didn't respond.

“Bernard, Victoria is your past. You have a mate whom you love, and she loves you,” my wolf tried speaking, but I cut in frustratedly.

“I'm not in love with her, and you of all people should know that,” I grunted and angrily punched the dummy.

“Cora is your mate, and you have to love her. Stop being obsessed with another man's mate.”

“Her husband and mate is dead,” I responded, and my wolf grunted in anger.

“I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm not in support of it,” he said and shut himself away from me.

With a grunt, I punched the dummy, and it tore off. Sighing heavily, I took a deep breath to calm my panting breath, and just as I was about to get a bottle of water, I received a signal and opened my mind link.

“Lord Bernard,” the voice spoke.

“And who is this?” I inquired.

“Greetings, this is Beta Tony,” he introduced himself, causing anger to flare up within me.

“And what do you want?” I asked, even though I knew the reason he reached out to me.

“Lord Bernard, I heard that as the Lord of the hybrids, you will be attending the meeting,” he said, and I hummed.

“I have a deal to offer,” he said, while I remained silent, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say.

“I know how much you now hate Victoria, and I think this is the best way to take revenge on her for breaking your heart,” his words caused anger to boil within me, but I held back my emotions, waiting for him to finish.

"Out of the eleven decision-makers, I have been able to get five on my side, but the most important decision-maker is you,” he added while I still remained silent, waiting for him to finish.

“I have an offer to give, which I know you won't reject,” he said, and I finally spoke up. “And what might that be?” I asked.

“I'll give you fifty plots of land here in the Snow Moon Pack. It will be all yours,” he spoke, while I scoffed and shook my head. “You want to give what you don't have?” I mocked, and he quickly responded.

“Once I become Alpha, everything will be mine, including the Luciano family land, which measures about two hundred plots,” he said, and my wolf growled. Victoria was right with her accusation.

He didn't want to be a caretaker; rather, he wanted to fully attend the throne and wipe them out.

“Mouthwatering offer, Tony, but I'll think about it.” I didn't let him respond before ending the mind link.

As I made my way to the mini fridge at the corner of the room, I couldn't stop thinking about Victoria and the plight she must be going through.

She just lost her mate barely two weeks ago, and now she has to fight for the throne of her two-year-old child.

With a sigh, I shook my head and emptied the bottle of water into my mouth before leaving the gym.

I took the stairs to my room and found Cora arranging her bags, which made me furrow my brow. “Are you going somewhere?” I asked because she didn't tell me she was traveling.

“I'm packing up for our trip to California,” she said, and I furrowed my brow. “Trip?” I asked, and she nodded. “You told me you were going to California for a meeting, right? So, I figured since we have a home there, why don't we spend the weekend there?” she suggested with excitement in her voice, but I frantically shook my head.

“Trip? No. I have important matters to attend to there. There will be no time for us,” I replied, trying to come up with an excuse.

Cora’s face fell, disappointment evident in her eyes. “But Bernard, we haven't had a vacation in so long. It would be nice to get away for a while, just the two of us.”

“Maybe another time, but not this trip. This trip is dangerous, and I can't put you in danger, so you are not going,” I declared and saw anger in her eyes. “I can take care of myself. Just because I'm human doesn't make me any less,” she yelled.

“I know why you are going there. You are going there to see that whore. You think I didn't know about it, how you followed her around and got dumped,” she yelled, causing me to fume with anger.

“I heard she killed her husband just to be with you, a shameless whore!” she cursed, causing my anger to flare up.

“Enough!” I yelled. “How can you be this heartless to say such awful words against a woman like you?” I asked.

This was one of the things I despised about Cora. She is short-tempered, spoiled, and rude.

“She is a whore and a witch, and I won't let her have you,” she yelled, causing anger to boil in my blood.

“Enough!”One more word from you, and I will break this bond,” I threatened, and she knew I wasn't joking about it.