“You did what?” asked Tristan, staring at Reeve standing in front of him. “Without asking me first?”
“I’m sorry, Tristan…I wanted to have a plan to deal with Rudy before I told you. I was wrong.”
Pushing back his chair, Tristan stood and said, “Leave us…I want to talk to my mate…in private.”
Turning to leave, Reeve mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ to Heath before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Turning, so his back was to Heath, Tristan bit his lip in an effort to gain control of the anger and hurt he felt at his mate’s behavior. He could understand Reeve’s motive for doing what he’d done, but there was noexcuse Heath could offer that would justify his going along with it. When the silence in the room grew heavier, Tristan realized his mate was waiting for him to start and so he did. “Do you know I almost turned down the job of Alpha?”
“Yes,” Heath answered.
Nodding, Tristan continued, “Do you also know how glad I was when the Fates gave you to me to be my Alpha Mate?”
“Yes.”
“And do you know why I was happy when I found out who you were?”
“I…I’m not sure.”
Turning swiftly around to face his mate, Tristan growled, “I was overjoyed to find that you grew up in a pack…something Josiah took from me. At first, I was going to refuse Reeve’s offer because I knew nothing about living in, or running a pack. But after seeing the wrongs my father did to this pack, I wanted to right them, so I accepted the offer and became Alpha.
“But I still had so many questions that I didn’t know the answers to. And while my grandparents could help me with some of them, they lacked the knowledge of all things an Alpha is supposed to do…to know…like living in the fucking, stupid Alpha house.
“Then, you showed up and, miracle of all miracles, you knew all about living in and running a pack. I thanked my lucky stars the Fates gave me someone who could help me navigate a life I didn’t know anything about. I was over the moon! Finally, the last piece in the puzzle of my life was in place and I felt whole for the first time ever.
“So you can imagine how hard it is for me to find out that you…my mate…my other half…joined Reeve in going around me to ask Jackson for help. Do you know how that makes me feel? Do you know how that makes me look to Jackson? My mate…going hat in hand, begging for help to protect me…just me…but not my pack…with all the parents and children who depend on me to keep them safe.”
Shaking his head, Tristan turned away and walked over to the window, staring out at the land he was part of. “I will not run away like some frightened child from a big bad monster…that’s not who I am. I took an oath to protect the members of my pack and I intend to keep it, even if I have to die to do it. And if that’s a problem for you, then I suggest you pack your bags and leave.”
Heath didn’t move. He couldn’t. Tristan was right. He’d been so afraid for his mate, he’d focused only on saving Tristan. He had failed his mate and himself, but more importantly, he had failed the pack. Growing up as the first-born son of an Alpha, it had been drilled into him that the welfare of the pack came before everything, including himself.And what do I do the first time there’s a crisis…I ignore the most sacred tenet of being an Alpha.His father would be ashamed of him for questioning Tristan’s authority by agreeing with Reeve’s plan to call Jackson for help. Somehow he had to make this right. “Tristan, I’m sorry…I’m sorry I let my personal fear for your safety cloud my judgment as Alpha Mate…I’m sorry I agreed with Reeve’s plan to ask for Jackson’s help without your knowledge or approval…and most of all, I’m sorry I failed the pack. There isn’t any excuse I can give that would justify my actions because Iknewbetter. All I can do is promise that it will never happen again.”
Thank the fucking gods!Quietly exhaling in relief Tristan closed his eyes, taking a moment to gather himself together before turning around to face Heath. Suggesting that his mate could leave was a big gamble on his part and, frankly, he didn’t know how he’d found the courage to take that risk—but he just knew he had to. Jackson was right about the confusion that could occur by using the High Council enforcers. Too many cooks in the kitchen as his mother would say. But Jackson was wrong. It wasn’t the enforcers Tristan had to worry about, it was someone much closer to him who’d forgotten to whom he owed his allegiance.
Inwardly sighing, Tristan supposed he should be grateful it happened with Heath since the damage was minor compared to what it could have been if the enforcers had decided to follow Reeve’s orders instead of his. But he couldn’t ignore the warning signs about the need to assert his control over Reeve and the enforcers if there was any hope of defeating Rudy.
Turning around, Tristan took a moment to study Heath and then, satisfied his mate had spoken the truth, he said, “Apology accepted…but if you do it again…”
“I won’t!” Heath replied, fervently. “From now on, you can count on me to haveyourback and the pack’s…I promise, Alpha.”
Giving a short nod, Tristan gestured to a chair. “Sit…I want to know everything about Rudy and his cohorts, including all the information the High Council has in their files about him.” He waited until Heath was seated before walking back to his desk and, reclaiming his seat. Then, leaning back, he listened as his mate began to talk about the fugitive shifter who wanted him dead.
~/~/~/~/~
“Finally awake…the boss will be happy to hear that.”
At least I’m not dead. But it was definitely not for lack of effort by his captors. Frank held back a groan, refusing to give the person talking the satisfaction…or knowledge of the pain he was in. Determined to stay silent, it took every ounce of willpower to remain still.
“C’mon you fucker…get up.”
As his captive’s boot made contact with his side, a shot of pain nearly rendered him unconscious again, but Frank fought it off. He needed information and that would not be forthcoming if he allowed himself to slip back into the comfort that blackness offered. Refusing to move, Frank concentrated on his captor. Taking a discrete sniff, he discovered he was a wolf, but that was all he learned since the man’s scent wasn’t one he knew.
“Hey fucker…I told you to get up!”
Frank held his breath, sure another kick was coming, but before that happened, he heard a door behind him open.
“Hey…the boss wants you,” an unknown voice said.
“I know…this fucker won’t get up.”
