Here it comes.
Leyden followed his father down the hall, closing the study door behind them. Sebastian stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back.
“You’ve made a mistake,” Sebastian said without preamble.
Leyden’s jaw tightened. “I don’t think so. Connor is my fated mate.”
“I don’t dispute that.” Sebastian turned, expression hard. “But taking him as alpha mate? Giving him equal authority? That’s foolish.”
“He’s more than qualified…”
“Rumor has it he won’t even bed you.” Sebastian’s voice cut sharp. “What kind of mate is that? Almost a month claimed and you still don’t carry each other’s scent. The entire territory knows you’re not having sex with your own mate.”
Heat flooded Leyden’s face, anger rising fast. “My private life is none of your business, or anyone else’s for that matter.”
“It becomes my business when my son makes himself look weak.” Sebastian stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re an alpha, Leyden. You have needs. Physical needs that require satisfaction.”
“I’m aware of my own needs.”
“Then satisfy them.” Sebastian spread his hands. “Keep Connor as your mate if you must. But take others for your physical needs. Find wolves who are willing and enthusiastic. No one would fault you for it.”
Leyden stared at his father, rage building in his chest. “That’s not even possible, not to mention cheating.”
“It’s practical.”
“It’s betrayal.” Leyden’s hands clenched into fists. “We’ve exchanged claiming bites. Our wolves are bonded. It’s not possible for me to be physically intimate with another. Even trying to take another wolf to my bed would destroy Connor.”And probably turn mine feral.
“From what I understand, he wouldn’t even notice.” Sebastian’s tone carried dismissal. “If he’s not interested in sex with you, why would he care if you found it elsewhere?”
“Because he’s my mate!” Leyden’s voice rose, control slipping. “Because he trusts me. We’re fated and that means everything to me. Even aside from that, I promised him I would never consider another partner, and I meant it. I will never hurt him in that way.”
Sebastian shook his head. “You’re throwing away your sexuality for someone who can’t even appreciate it. That’s not a mating, son. That’s martyrdom.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” Sebastian crossed his arms. “I’ve been mated to your mother for forty-three years. I know what a successful partnership looks like. Physical intimacy is essential. Without it, you have a friendship at best.”
Leyden took a slow breath, trying to rein in his temper. His father had always valued strength, dominance, and traditional alpha behavior. It wasn’t in him to even try and understand.
“Connor satisfies me,” Leyden said carefully.
“How? By holding your hand?” Sebastian’s skepticism was evident. “You’re one of the most sexual alphas I’ve ever known. You need release multiple times a day. How long before that deprivation makes you resent him?”
“I don’t resent Connor.” Leyden met his father’s eyes. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Because you’re still in the honeymoon phase.” Sebastian waved a dismissive hand. “Wait six months. A year. When you’re climbing the walls with need and your mate still can’t give you what your body requires, you’ll see I’m right.”
Understanding crystallized in Leyden’s mind, cold and clear. His father had never viewed mating as anything beyond physical compatibility. The emotional connection, the intellectualpartnership, the spiritual bond - none of that mattered to Alpha Sebastian.
Only sex. Only the physical act.My poor mother.
“You really believe that,” Leyden said quietly. “That sex is all that matters in a mating.”
“It’s the foundation.” Sebastian’s conviction rang absolute. “Everything else is window dressing.”
“You’re wrong.” Leyden straightened, meeting his father’s gaze without flinching. “Sex is simply one part of mating. Not even the most important part.”
Sebastian scoffed. “What’s more important than physical compatibility?”
