nstead, I laid down and slept off the pain. When I woke up this morning, I felt much better. My chest looked more

ning on getting up a

t you not question me, Beta? I'm get

before it opened. Nate had his hands crossed over h

ay you coul

As you can see. I ju

t, either. Throwing off the blankets, I got up and stretched, my back cracking

do you

d to tal

dressed for the day. "

ve to be such an asshole? I mean, really.

arted being a smartas

after fully dressing. "I...I wanted to talk ab

s in pain and I wasn't in the right mind. If it

il

'm not talking about this. You're used to ignoring the bond, right? I m

nore it, Silas. You saw what happened to me. What I did to Aelia. I paid

ver it, Beta. So we can m

was barely there. I don't know if he thought it would elicit a reaction

ll never be mates. I don't need anyone. The past ten years prove that. We can ge

! I just...want to stand by

red at him. "You think

r side for years, Silas!

y side? You want to continue to be by my side? Then this conversation needs to stop. Otherwise, y

"Did I do somethin

ble. "Yes! You keep bringing the mate bond up. You keep t

ou ha

im trying to hold everything in as he searched for something that I knew wasn't there. How could I answer this withou

Charles crumbled in front of Sam? Didn't he see how it would destroy this pack? How it would destroy all that we did? That I would

efore he could open his mouth, I finished

now filled with

g simply to have it be you. I hate that I'm stuck battling against them. I hate that all you will be is

, and Charles in the kitchen. All three of them had their jaws drop

up the courage to spea

for the day is on

cing at his mat

Elders later in the week to go

o your computer. You should have access to everything there." Sam glanced behind me for a moment. "There

e. Thank you. If you need

d is to not only talk about Nate, but have to talk about something with him. Ther

and I knew what was coming. Still, I ignored him as I looked over everything Sam had

really n

nging the underground sewage system to be expand

I looked at Sam after Solaris meddled. How could you say something like tha

't under

iend. Nate used to beat me out for that position, but now you

d. I don't feel like taking the time to explain it wh

If there w

mming my hand

jo on them. You've been an asshole for weeks now. Weeks. At first, I chalked it up to you mourning in your own way. E

got nothing to do with you, an

if you knew, but I live here now. In the house. With my mate, who is a member of leadership. Wha

other. On top of that, how do I explain this to not just the pack, but to everyone? You think it's going to be a simple conversation to tell ev

ese things? You think that...what...mating Nate will make yo

m. "I said enough. I'm do

just let this go! You

n't c

t...just say that. Not even

ant to talk about this furth

so many things to fix. Luckily, with the training regimen, that should take care of any weaknesses in our warriors. Next was making sure th

y didn't have a history of Hunters or anything that might put up red flags. Alpha Reid and Alpha Alex

into the pack, mostly thanks to some other investments from my grandfather and father, but I wanted everyone to afford whatever th

I knew at the end, I would come out on top. I was Alpha and as much as everyone could try; I had the last word.