“This source of yours,” Arthur said, moving to the table, his hunter’s eyes raking over the map, “does he have any more information?”
Dominic swallowed, his fists clenching against the sudden swell of red. “She.”
Arthur looked up sharply, his nostrils flaring, his brow creasing. “Do you want to explain your scent, Dominic?”
“What about it?” Dominic growled, pushing off the window, bracing his hands on the table.
Arthur just scoffed. “You can fool yourself, boy, but you won’t fool me. Thissheyou speak of, is it who I think it is?”
“She’s nobody of concern,” he replied through gritted teeth.
Arthur huffed, a sound deep in his chest. “Aye, I may not know her name, boy. But that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” Dominic asked, rounding on him.
Arthur just crossed his enormous arms. “You should mate her. Your pack needs you strong. Resisting will only twist up all your thoughts. It’s inevitable.”
Dominic snarled, fist thumping against the table, teeth bared. “We have the Bay, Arthur. We have control. I am plenty strong.”
“Aye, you are,” Arthur said. “You’ve rebuilt your pack. You’ve kept the border secure, kept your enemies at bay, kept the peace between wolves. But something big is coming.”
Dominic’s tone cooled. “I’m aware of that.”
Arthur leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You’ve been holding the Bay by sheer willpower. That works for a time, but it won’t last forever. The land itself responds to balance. The bond between alpha and mate strengthens it, protects the territory. You know this.”
“We’ve been through this,” he replied.
“Yes, we have,” Arthur said, “and I’m not done.”
“I’m not taking a mate.”
Arthur sighed, slow and deep. “You’re an alpha, you won your place. I can’t command you. But I can warn you. You have the opportunity here to increase your power tenfold. You’ve been given a gift by Lunarion himself. If it were me, boy, I’d be grasping that chance with both hands, no matter who I’d be giving myself to.”
“It’s easy enough for you to say.”
“Is that what you think?” Arthur replied, his voice for the first time betraying his frustration. “You’re not the only one with a pack to protect, Dominic. I’ve said my prayers to Lunarion every night to send me my mate. I need to protect my people. And a mate would grant me greater strength to do it. The fact she evades me still, it’s…” his jaw tightened, the hard lines of his face glowing in the fire, “it’s maddening.”
Dominic turned away, pacing to the fireplace. They stood in silence, both contemplating their own demons. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dominic let his head fall to the mantlepiece with a sigh. “It’s complicated, Arthur. Even if I wanted to mate her…she wouldn’t have me.”
“Wouldn’t have you? Alpha of the pack?” Arthur’s voice wasn’t mocking. Just truly bewildered.
Dominic suppressed a snarl. “It’s all too easy to wish for a mate. Lunarion can have an interesting sense of humor.”
Arthur took a steady, considered step towards him. “Whatever your history with this girl,” he said slowly, quietly, almost, “you just have to ask yourself this: Is it more important than the safety of your people?”
Was it, indeed?
Dominic watched as the flames curled and licked the soot-stained stone, smoke billowing up the chimney.
“You should go.”
Arthur finished the last of his drink and rose. He didn’t argue. At the door, he paused.
“Your pack is strong, Dominic,” he said, “but it’s only as strong as the man who leads it. If the bond keeps pulling at you, you can’t lead. You can’t face the threat that’s coming.”
Dominic didn’t move.
Arthur’s hand rested on the door handle. “You can keep pretending you don’t feel it. We’ll all suffer for it.”
