Chapter 7 #2
“I think we share everything,” he says, as if the shift had never happened. “Our packs are strong—we both rank high, and climb each year. I’m sure there are things from both packs we can trade.”
I blink at the adult that replaced Aiden Calderon because there is no way he’d just said something smart without attaching a silly question to it.
“That actually doesn’t sound bad.”
“And as for the rogues—” he straightens in his seat, the dark cloud returning in an instant. “Every one of them should die.”
I tense as the room falls quiet.
“Nobody likes rogues,” I start carefully, “but I don’t think that’s reason to kill them for sport.”
A flash of red sparks in his eyes and I remember how the same thing happened before our coronation. Just like a rogue’s.
“Do you have a soft spot for those things?” he grits out with sudden aggression that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “They would kill our own every time.”
“Not all,” I argue, trying to remain the voice of reason in the face of his sudden temper. “Some wolves become rogues when they’re abandoned or left too long on their own. They’re not all—”
“There’s no reasoning, no logic. They just want to inflict pain,” he argues as he pushes to his feet, glowering down at me in a way that has Alex snarling to do the same.
“That doesn’t mean we have to purposefully hunt them down. Some of those rogues used to be one of us. Could have eaten breakfast at the table with us before losing their way.” I stand so that we’re eye to eye.
“That doesn’t matter!” he roars in my face, and it takes everything in me not to lunge. “Every rogue is a threat. And any threat to my people, I destroy.”
“Even if those threats have kids? Or are kids?” I ask, making him stiffen for a moment before his murderous scowl returns. “Some are families that made a wrong choice. They’re not all looking for trouble, and some deserve to be left alone.”
“A threat with a family is still a threat!” His pheromones hit me like a wave, trying to push me to submit. It does the opposite.
“This is why I have always hated you.” I seethe as I lean over the table, so I’m right in his disrespectful face.
“You don’t bother with a thought after the first!
You just act off impulse!” My canines descend.
“Just because you’re an alpha doesn’t make your actions okay.
Wanting to slaughter families is never okay! ”
Aiden glares at me with eyes that glow crimson red. Now that I’ve gotten a better look, there’s no denying it. His eyes are red—as if his irises had been dipped in blood.
“You know, with those eyes, you almost look like one of those things,” I bite off with a dry laugh. “Why are your eyes red, Aiden?”
Aiden steps back as if I’d hit him, and his expression shifts from enraged to hurt so quickly it rattles my own rage, leaving me suddenly confused.
Aiden doesn’t lunge. He doesn’t shout or curse me. He doesn’t say anything else at all. He just turns, and leaves.
We don’t talk for the rest of the day, avoiding each other as much as we can within the limits of our peculiar bond.
I’m used to fighting with Aiden, so this is nothing new. What is new is the strange feeling I get every time I catch a glimpse of him.
He’d put his shades back on after what happened in the study, which shouldn’t be strange since he always has those stupid things on. The difference is, he hadn’t worn them since we’d been here.
I don’t regret most of what I’d said, but I do regret giving in to his rage instead of staying calm. If I had, maybe I would’ve thought twice before mentioning his eyes.
But what was done was done, so as the hours pass, I ignore the strange ache in my chest along with the source of it. If I could, I’d keep it up all night, but as the evening descends and I feel the pull of my pack gathering, I’m left with no choice.
We have a role to fill, which means getting along whether we like it or not. If only Aiden understood timeliness.
“Will you please hurry up?” I shout from the living room as I watch another minute tick by.
“Stop your whining. I’m done.” Aiden grumbles as he finally walks out. He’s wearing a muscle tee and black jeans that have clearly lived a full life.
“That’s what you’re wearing?”
“I’m not asking for an elder’s blessing. I’m talking to my pack,” he says before he looks me up and down. “Plus, you’re dressed up enough for both of us, Jewels. It’ll be our version of good cop, bad cop.”
“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, already halfway out the door. “Let’s just go.”
The Dark Woods Pack’s version of our Hall is fully outdoors, with log benches for seating, and a raised stage that places us at the centre of attention the moment we walk out onto it. Everyone is already here, and the murmured conversations come to a halt as all eyes fall on us.
Wolves fill every crevice of space, with a clear line between my pack members and Aiden’s. We face them together, standing side by side as we’d done less than twenty-four hours ago, only this time, we don’t show our shock quite so clearly.
“Good evening, everyone,” I start, making my voice carry.
“Thank you all for gathering on such short notice. Firstly, we’d like to apologise for leaving you with unanswered questions after the coronation.
I, in particular, want to apologise to my pack for not speaking to you sooner.
I understand how confusing this all is—please trust that it’s the same for us. ”
“Addressing the obvious, Julian and I are mates,” Aiden continues, diving straight into the fire. “We don’t know how or why, and I get that it’s hard to believe since we’re both alphas, but it does not change the facts. We are mates and the bond is real.”
Conversations start up again while others exchange looks, carrying the sentiments they don’t dare to say aloud.
“If you are not comfortable with two mated alphas, this is your chance to leave, because I am not rejecting him,” Aiden declares over the chatter.
All eyes land on him, mine included. I stare at him, but his unrelenting gaze remains outward as he scans the crowd, daring anyone to challenge the claim he’s just made on me.
I suck in a deep breath as I try to calm myself, willing the sudden elation that rises inside of me to stay hidden.
When I finally look out at our packs, waiting for the rejection … none comes.
“Since we’re not just mates, but alphas of two separate packs,” I continue for him, “we have decided to merge the packs.”
That sets them off. Some with marks of protest, others with confusion and disbelief, but worry is the overarching emotion that bustles among the noise. It grows, threatening to crest as the brave get to their feet, but it quiets the moment Aiden raises a hand.
“This is not up for debate,” he states plainly. “Once we’re granted permission from the Council, we’ll search, clear, and claim the land between us. Plans are in place for a new packhouse and market space to help with the transition, along with a few homes for those who want them.”
I glance at him at that last part, but remain otherwise impassive. No one speaks—whether sedated by the promise of new homes, or wary of Aiden’s disconcerting calm.
“Felix. Baxton.” Two men in the crowd stand at his prompting. They handled the construction in mine and Aiden’s packs, respectively. “You two will work together, and with any others you choose, on plans for the new buildings.”
The men share a look before they nod and take their seats.
Unmasked tension chokes the air. I know it well, having seen my parents ignore it throughout their leadership, but the last thing I want to do is lead my pack with a detached hand like they did.
“It will be an adjustment,” I tell them.
“You’ll have to work with wolves who surely do things differently, but that’s how things will have to be going forward.
Everything will be doubled now. Meaning two betas, two deltas.
No one loses their position, but you’ll have to work with practical strangers.
We will help you. It won’t be easy, but it’s what’s best for our packs. ”
I try my best to sound optimistic and supportive, but the tension only thickens between our packs as they look warily at each other.
“It’s difficult for us too,” Aiden admits.
“It’s no secret that we fucking hate each other, to the point that murder was on the table.
” I cringe at the curse, but it earns a few laughs from his pack.
“But for some reason neither of us can figure out, Goddess made us mates. Like Julian said, it’s hard, and I promise you it’s not fun, but we’re trying to make it work. All we ask is that you do the same.”
They’re just raw truths, not perfectly polished promises, but they warm me just the same.
“If we all do our part,” he continues, stepping forward, “if each of us works hard and finds a way to make this work, then we have the chance to become the strongest pack in the world.”
He faces my pack next, surprising me and them. “Don’t you want to be that strong? Unstoppable? Unchallengeable? The Council wouldn’t know what to do with us.”
The Council’s not a threat, but I don’t think any pack particularly likes their policing. That includes the wolves in my pack, and Aiden sees that.
“I don’t know about you, but a pack with double everything, with not one, but two alphas, would scare the shit out of me.”
Laughter and shouts of agreement filter in while I watch Aiden work the crowd, enthralled at how easily it comes to him.
How he so casually could string together all the right words to melt all the previous tension into the night.
They hang onto his words—both the wolves in his pack and mine. So do I.
“I know we can do this!” he shouts, shaking his raised fists. “It’s not a dream. It’s a possibility, we just have to want it. Do you want it?”
Cheers erupt.
He grins wide, arms spread. “Then let’s become the greatest pack this world has ever fucking seen!”
The ground shakes as everyone gets to their feet. They scream and shout, stomping their feet on the earth, celebrating the picture he paints of what we can be with a full heart.
My shoulders relax. I’d feared the worst, but watching Aiden pace the stage, not just goading them on, but sharing in their excitement, I can’t remember why.
Then he turns towards me with his smile so blinding it steals my breath—and my chance to escape.
“No, no, no,” I protest, backing up until there’s nowhere to go but off the stage.
“Oh, yes, yes, yes,” he mocks, as he grabs my hand and tugs me forward.
Dragging me to the edge of the stage, he raises our joint hands, and I wince as the crowd erupts. It’s deafening, and I think my ears are going to bleed. But I’m still smiling.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.