The first time they had met had been when Brian was new to Purple Sky and he had visited Morgan Peters’s Golden Valley pack. Everyone there had been rude. Ricky Marx, the Omega Brian had brought with him, had been upset, and Peters had been less than welcoming. After that, Peters had come to Purple Sky looking for Ricky, and when Brian fought him, Peters insulted him by refusing to engage. Then to make matters worse, Ricky said Peters was his mate, and he moved to Golden Valley to be with him. On top of all of that, seemingly everyone on the planet thought well of this man, thus implying that Brian had poor judgment because he was the only one who didn’t like him.
“Hi, Alpha Berger. I realize I shouldn’t have come unannounced but—”
“Then why are you here?” he snapped. Peters was literally in the middle of explaining himself and yet Brian had cut him off to ask the question he had been answering. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying anything else and embarrassing himself further by displaying another lack of control.
“Honestly? I didn’t think you’d be willing to talk to me or see me if you knew I was coming.”
“And yet here you are.” Really, why couldn’t he stop himself from behaving like a snarky teenager? This wasn’t his normal. He blamed Peters for bringing out the worst in him.
Unfazed, Peters kept his tone even and his voice at a normal volume. The bastard. “I was told that you removed Keith Iredell from his pack. I came for him.”
All efforts at civility flew out the window as he growled and stepped forward, hands clenched into fists. Nobody was taking his mate.
Frustratingly, Morgan remained unruffled and unintimidated. “Alpha Berger, I’m sure Keith didn’t mean whatever he said or did. He never truly defends himself, so whatever you’ve been doing to him can’t have been fair fights. I understand that you’re a bit temperamental, but surely, you’re too honorable for that. I’ll take him with me and compensate you for…whatever it was that happened.”
Who was he to call Brian temperamental? He would have said just that, but the confusion over Peters’s words overrode his offense at how condescending they sounded. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Keith Iredell. You took him from Green Field, right?”
“Yes.”
“He isn’t dead or you would have had to report that to Green Field. Where is he now?”
“What do you want with Keith?” Brian shouted through bared teeth.
“I want to offer him a safe place to live.”
There was no place safer for his mate than under his protection. “You aren’t taking him anywhere.” Brian had moved even closer and Peters hadn’t retreated so they were now chest-to-chest.
“Keith Iredell has been through a lot in his life, and whatever happened to upset you wasn’t his fault. Please, just let him leave without a fight. I’ll compensate you for any offense.”
Why did this Alpha think he had any dominion over Brian’s mate? “Who do you think you are coming onto my packlands and making demands?” he shouted in Peters’s face. “Ricky called and asked me not to get violent, but if you don’t get the fuck out of here right now, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
“Alpha Berger, listen to me,” Peters’s voice had gotten even lower, his cadence slower. “The last time you threatened me, I held back because I understood that the fault for my mate leaving was mine and mine alone and I didn’t want to harm anyone who was protecting him. This isn’t the same situation. You can try to fight me if you must, but when the dust settles, I will be the one standing and I will help Keith Iredell. Please, save all of us the trouble and bloodshed and release him.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m trying very hard not to. Let’s remain calm.”
That statement seemed designed to rile him up further.
“Morgan!” Keith’s joyful voice rang out from behind him. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Brian wanted to turn around and see his mate, but he wasn’t willing to take his eyes off the threat. “Keith, stay back.”
“Why are you both outside?” Keith came up behind him, dragged his hand across his shoulders and down his arm, and then wedged himself between him and Peters.
“I’m so glad to see you looking so healthy.” Keith threw his arms around Peters.
Brian grasped his hips and pulled him back against his body with a growl.
“I see I’ve misunderstood the situation,” Peters said, a grin spreading over his stupidly symmetrical face.
“He’s my mate,” Keith said joyfully. He put his hands over Brian’s and squeezed. “My mate!”
“I can see that.” Peters looked at Brian in amusement. “And hear it.”
He realized he was still clutching Keith tightly and growling.
