“What do you mean?”
He was a little hesitant. “When I got the position here, when everyone moved in, I heard that the Alphas here are assholes. And they are. Most Alphas here are complete dickheads. But you, Toya, back there, all of your friends are actually amazing. You took the time to get to know us and you never used your rank to make any of the guards here feel like we were less than.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Most Alphas from other packs need to assert their dominance over Betas and Gammas from different packs, but you never made me feel like that was the case.”
I smiled. “Can I let you in on a secret?” He nodded. “It’s because it isn’t the case. Alphas don’t actually feel the need to assert their dominance over wolves that aren’t in their pack. We do if there is a lower wolf in our packs acting up, because it interferes with our pack structure. But with wolves outside ofour packs, we don’t feel the need.” I looked back at Toya. “Have you ever felt the need?”
Toya shook her head. “My father always told me it was just an excuse for assholes to be assholes.”
The air thickened. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Jora’s voice was angry.
“What?”
“You are telling me this entire time it was just a lie for these dudes to bully others?”
I made eye contact with Toya and then we both nodded. “Pretty much.” I turned back in front. “It’s sad, but it is the same as the BS that they say about men needing to sleep around after their first shift. They say that Alphas especially need the extra outlet to get rid of their extra aggression, but in reality, it’s just so they can fuck whatever they want without real repercussions from their mates.”
Jora’s face fell. “I never thought of it like that.”
“What? That males use it as an excuse?” He nodded. “Did you sleep around?”
“Well, no.” He blushed. “I wanted to wait for my mate.”
I pointed to him. “Exactly, as do I. But most males have been using this as an excuse for millennia. And not just wolves, but human men, too. They have too much generation or testosterone to be faithful. But it’s just an excuse to abuse yet another person and have them fall into line, anyway.”
Toya and Wendy nodded. “It has become such a common practice that you have to expect your mate to have been with another she-wolf.” Wendy’s words were soft.
“But.” I pointed out. “The same cannot be said about she-wolves.” Toya scoffed.
“There was a Beta in my pack that slept with anything that walked. But his mate turned out to be one girl that slept with him earlier in the year, and he lost his mind.”
Wendy turned. “Had she slept with anyone else?”
Toya shook her head. “Nope, just him. But he screamed at her for being a whore and not waiting for him to realize he was her mate. He nearly rejected her, and the only reason he wouldn’t is because his wolf refused to.”
I turned back in my seat. “Men are stupid.” Even Jora nodded as he silently drove back to the building.
Chapter Thirty-Six
We said our goodbyes on the main floor when the elevator stopped to let Jora off. “Tell your wife to enjoy the garden.” I smiled as he stepped off.
“Oh, I know she will. Thanks again.” Jora spun back and gave a tiny wave as the door shut. Then we were on our way to the penthouse.
“Oh, I’m nervous.” Wendy almost vibrated on the spot.
“Why?” I laughed as I juggled my garden to get my keys from my pocket. Wendy shook her head and took it from me.
“Give me this.” I tried to hold on to it, but she laughed. “You have your bags, the food, your garden and your bag. How are you going to grab your keys to open the door?” She chastised me like I was a fool. Toya, who was holding their garden, just smirked.
“Toya.” I laughed at her, but she just smiled bigger.
“Don’t look at me. She started to bully me a few months ago. You taught her how to fight, but the nice bullying she learned all on her own.”
We both laughed as Wendy interrupted us. “Hey, I’m not a bully.” She grumbled, making us laugh harder. “I’m being helpful.”
“That’s it.” I pointed to Wendy. I finally got my keys out of my bag. “We need to get you a shirt that says I’m not being a bully, I’m being aggressively helpful.” Toya laughed harder as Wendy turned bright red. “Come on. We are just joking.” I stepped out of the elevator and opened my apartment door. The two women filed in and put the gardens on the ground.
“Magic time?” Toya clapped her hands, but I shook my head.
“Let’s eat first. The food will probably grow cold before we get too far into the spell.”
