“If he has lied and betrayed this pack, then the punishment will be death. It would only be appropriate that I sanction a challenge for you. For the honor of your mate, you may fight him to the death,” Vasile said.
Costin’s eyes dimmed slightly, but the fire remained.
Vasile looked at Decebel when he spoke again. “When Skender arrives, I want him and his mate taken to a cage. They are not to interact with anyone other than you or me.”
Decebel nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Costin,” Vasile said. “You can decide what Sally needs to know. She’s your mate, yours to protect.”
Costin nodded and apparently took that as the end of the meeting as he stalked to the door and out into the hall.
“He’s going to kill Skender no matter what, you know that, right?” Fane asked his father.
“He has the right,” Decebel said. “Regardless of anything Skender has to say, he admitted to knowing of the situation with Sally, and he didn’t immediately call me or Vasile. That is betrayal. And it was betrayal against a gypsy healer and mated female. His penalty is death, and Costin has the right to be the one to deliver the blow. If he’s bonded with his female, then it will be her fate as well.”
Vasile’s eyes narrowed as they lit with a soft glow. “Skender sealed his fate when he chose to remain silent. But I could not tell Costin he had the clear to kill Skender because he would do it the minute Skender entered the mansion.”
A thought occurred to Decebel, and he quickly pulled out his phone and hit Sally’s number. It rang once before she picked it up.
“Block your thoughts. Is your mate with you?” Decebel said in quick succession.
“Okay and no,” Sally answered.
“It’s not my place to tell you why. Your mate will do that when he feels it’s time. Until then, keep Costin with you. He’s going to need your reassurance. He’s had a blow and he’s not handling it well,” Decebel explained.
“He just walked in,” Sally said and without another word ended the call.
“That was wise,” Vasile said, his words full of approval.
“Hopefully, Sally will be able to contain him,” Decebel said.
“Let’s assign guard duty to the front of the mansion,” Vasile said. “I want to know the minute Skender and his mate arrive.”
“I’ll take first watch,” Fane said, heading out the door.
Decebel was right on his heels. “Vasile, I’ll line up the guard duty,” he said before pausing in the doorway. He turned to look at the man who had been a father figure and friend to him for so long. “I realize that I can lead a pack. I’ve proven it. But it’s never truly been my heart’s desire to be Alpha. Doing this”—he motioned between them—“making a plan and being the one to delegate and oversee gives my wolf purpose without taking on all the responsibilities of the Alpha. Does that make me weak?”
Vasile held Decebel’s eyes as he spoke. The younger wolf could tell it was not with a need to dominate, but to ensure Decebel understood what he was saying. “The Great Luna created her wolves, each with their own purpose and place in this life. Where you fit is between you and her. No one else can tell you where you need to be. That’s not to say they can’t help guide you, but ultimately, it is your decision. Wherever your place may be, you can take pride in it because you know that your Creator equipped you for that specific position. There is nothing weak about doing what you were designed to do. You’re an excellent Alpha, Decebel, and you’re an excellent Beta. I am honored to have you working with me in either capacity.”
“Then we merge,” Decebel said, his voice ringing with finality. And it felt right. An immediate peace filled him as he finally made his decision.
“You good?”his mate asked, her husky voice making his wolf sit up and take notice.
“I am. You?”
“A little shocked. Not with the whole Beta thing. You know I’ll support whatever decision you make, even if it means I have to give up my awesome alpha powers. I’m shocked about Skender.”
Decebel felt her distress for Sally and growled, wishing Skender was in front of him so he could take a chunk of flesh from the turncoat with his own teeth. Anyone who upset his mate deserved to be bitten. In fact, it was his new motto.Upset my female and feel my canines.He’d have to work on the wording. Maybe he’d ask Jennifer, since she was good at coming up with catchy sayings. And he realized in that moment it was a testament to her influence on him that he was even attempting to come up with a catchy slogan for a motto about biting people. Decebel sighed when he heard his mate’s laughter in his mind. At least he’d succeeded in cheering her up, if only for a little while.
“I’ll see you in a bit. I need to set up a guard rotation.”
“Don’t hurry on my account. Mini-me and I are going to meet up with Jacque and Sally for hot chocolate and cookies. Costin will probably be tagging along.”
Decebel harrumphed. “I suppose now that Sally has returned this will be a regular occurrence?”It wasn’t that he minded her spending time with her friends, but she tended to get into more trouble when they spent time together unsupervised.
“I heard that.”She growled.
“Wasn’t trying to keep you from hearing it.”He growled back.
