Lonnie dropped to his knees. “Please, Alpha. This is my home. My family’s here.”
“You should have thought about that before you spent weeks trying to destroy my mate’s confidence.” Leyden hardened his voice. “You have until sunrise to leave pack territory. If you’re found here after that, you’ll be treated as a hostile rogue.”
Tears streamed down Lonnie’s face. “I didn’t mean…”
“Yes, you did. You meant every word.” Leyden stepped forward, towering over the kneeling wolf. “You thought Connor wasn’t good enough for me. You thought you knew better than your alpha what kind of mate I needed. You were wrong.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Your apology means nothing. It’s just more fake words. You’ve apologized before.” Leyden’s jaw tightened. “Connor gave me something I’d never had – a real partnership. Real intimacy. Real love. And you tried to take that away from both of us because you couldn’t accept that not every relationship looks the same.
“My mate is worth a hundred of you, Lonnie. He’s intelligent, compassionate, strong, and honorable. He puts this pack’s needs before his own comfort every single day. And you tried to make him feel as if he was a freak for being exactly who he is.” Leyden’s eyes flashed gold. “Get out of my territory.”
Lonnie sobbed, but no one moved to help him. Good. Let them see what happened to wolves who hurt what was his.
“Anyone else want to question my mate’s worth?” Leyden turned back to the pack. “Anyone else think they know better than me who I should bond with?”
No one spoke.
“Then we’re done here. Dismissed.”
The pack filed out quietly, shooting glances at Connor - some apologetic, some awed, some simply shocked at Leyden’s ruthlessness. They’d definitely never seen anything like that since Leyden had taken over the pack.
Leyden stood still as the hall emptied, watching Connor from the corner of his eye. His mate had frozen, mind clearly reeling through their bond.
When the last wolf left, Leyden let his shoulders sag. The fury drained away, leaving exhaustion and concern.
“Connor?” He turned, studying his mate’s face. “Talk to me.”
“You banished him.” Connor’s voice came out hoarse. “For me.”
“He refused to respect you. I won’t tolerate that.”
“Your father was right.” Connor’s throat worked. “I’m changing who you are. Making you cruel…”
“No.” Leyden cupped his face, needing Connor to understand. “Lonnie made his choices. I gave him multiple chances, multiple warnings. He chose to keep attacking you anyway.”
“He was just young and stupid…”
“He was malicious stupid. There’s a difference.” Leyden brushed his thumbs over Connor’s cheekbones. He loved the way that simple action made his mate’s eyelids flutter. “You’ve never asked me to be cruel, Connor. You’ve never asked me to choose you over the pack. But I will, every single time, because you’re my mate. My partner. My equal.”
Connor’s eyes burned with unshed tears, and Leyden’s chest ached.
“I didn’t want you to have to do that,” Connor whispered.
“I know.” Leyden pulled him close, relief flooding through him when Connor buried his face in his shoulder. “But protecting your right to be you isn’t a burden. It’s my privilege.”
Leyden slowed his breath, making sure his devotion flowed through their connection. Connor needed to know that he’d never regret choosing him.
“At least the pack saw how much you care,” Connor whispered against his shoulder.
“Good. Maybe now they’ll think twice before disrespecting you.”
Connor pulled back enough to meet his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Always.” Leyden kissed his forehead, breathing in his mate’s scent. “You’re mine, Connor. And I don’t share. And seriously, this pack had better shape up, because I do not want to have this discussion with them again.”
/~/~/~/~/
