Chapter 29 #2
I pulled Em’s chair back, forcing her to stand. I took her hand and knelt on one knee before her. “Emily, we’ve known each other all our lives. You’re the strongest female my age in our pack. Will you be my wife?”
Her eyes widened as I spoke. “I…” She kept glancing over at Danny and her parents.
I was actually surprised Danny hadn’t lost it and challenged me. But he was sitting next to his dad. Gareth had his hand firmly on his son’s shoulder, keeping him in place. Danny’s face had gone red, and his body was shaking.
Now he knew how it felt to be forced into doing something he didn’t want to do.
“Oh, Emily,” Em’s mom, Beth, said from beside her. “Of course you’ll marry Rowan.”
Em had talked to her parents before we broke up, so they were aware we weren’t in love and didn’t feel that way about one another. They knew she’d been dating Danny for a while now. But Danny was only a second, a beta, and I was going to be the next alpha.
The moment I felt a connection to Laney, Em started to feel a connection to Danny.
She and Danny thought they were mates, and they probably were.
Laney was my mate. If I couldn’t have her because of our pack rules and traditions, then this was the way it had to be.
Otherwise, we all needed to work together to change things, and no one seemed willing to do that.
Not with the enforcers breathing down our necks.
“Yes,” Emily finally said, the word coming out soft.
Still on one knee, I slid the diamond ring onto her finger. It was just a plain, simple ring. Generic. A single diamond set in a gold band. It had no meaning or significance. I simply went to the store and bought one.
I stood and kissed her cheek.
My dad lifted his wine glass. “I’d like to make a toast.” Everyone grabbed a glass and lifted it. “To the next generation!”
People cheered and took a drink. Then they began to congratulate us. I went back to my seat, not needing to be near Emily. I’d carried out my end of the deal. Now I just needed to see it through.
When I glanced over at Danny, he was gone, his chair vacant.
My mom and Beth immediately started talking about wedding plans, like where the ceremony would take place and what flowers would be used. My dad said invitations would go out before Christmas, and the wedding would be held in early July.
And just like that, my life was mapped out before me. A path I didn’t want, but one I had to take to protect the one I loved.
Emily’s face had gone white. She kept peering over at me.
I knew she wanted to talk so I could explain what just happened.
I’d purposefully kept her in the dark so she couldn’t argue or say no to my plan.
After I told my parents my choice, they spoke to her parents, letting them know how much I missed her and wished we hadn’t broken up.
Given my position and status in the pack, they agreed that we should marry.
Danny would always be second to me. And as everyone had made abundantly clear, this wasn’t about love.
It was about doing what was best for the pack.
This was me doing that. Danny and Em had to step in line or else they’d be hypocrites.
The kids started clearing the table and cleaning up.
Em came over to me. “We need to talk. Outside. Now.” She turned and went out the back door, onto the deck, not bothering to see if I followed.
“Go with your fiancé,” my mom said, rubbing my back. “Have some private time. Don’t worry about cleaning up.”
I headed after Em, not bothering to grab a jacket for her. It was stupid and petty, but that was where my headspace was right now. I had to constantly remind myself I was doing this for Laney. Otherwise, the enforcers would kill her. Marrying Em guaranteed my dad would protect Laney.
I closed the door behind me.
On the back porch, Em stood with her arms crossed, foot tapping, staring daggers at me. The porch light was on, her face glowing against the dark night. “We can’t marry,” she said with a snarl. “I’m in love with Danny.”
“And I love Laney.” I shrugged. “What’s your point?”
“That’s what this is about?” Pointing at me, she continued, “You’re pissed that you can’t have what you want, so no one can.” She folded her arms again, her foot still tapping.
Glancing over my shoulder, I tried to see if anyone inside was watching us.
I spotted a few faces at the window above the kitchen sink, but no one seemed to be looking our way.
Since wolves have excellent hearing, my dad had installed a soundproof barrier in the walls.
Regardless, I went down the porch steps to the grass, wanting to get farther away in case anyone was trying to eavesdrop near a window.
I faced the house so I could see if anyone approached.
“Keep your voice down,” I said, coating my words with an order so she’d comply.
“This isn’t fair,” she said, her eyes pleading with me. It wouldn’t work.
“I’m not doing this for revenge,” I assured her. “This is my life.” I ran a hand over my face, irritation clawing at me. I knew she’d be upset about our betrothal, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.
“And it’s my life, too,” she said, her voice seething with hurt. “How can you do this? Danny and I are forming a mating bond.”
“Not anymore,” I said as gently as I could. “And just so you know, I’d started to form a mating bond with Laney. Sometimes we don’t get what we want.”
“You’re the next alpha,” she said as she started to pace before me. “Of course you can’t marry a half-breed. But I’m no one of importance. I’m going to tell my parents I won’t marry you and that this was all one big misunderstanding.”
I shrugged. “Go ahead. Tell my dad, too. See what happens.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She stopped and faced me.
“My dad ordered me to marry the strongest female wolf my age for the sake of our pack. That’s you. My dad already discussed the details with your parents who, by the way, agreed to everything. We’re to marry this summer after I graduate.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “They know I love Danny. They wouldn’t do this to me. This isn’t the Middle Ages.”
I didn’t know what to say to her. She wasn’t saying anything I hadn’t already thought.
“I’m only a junior. I’m not going to get married this summer. I’m finishing school.” She resumed pacing. “You don’t even love me. Seriously, what the fuck Rowan? What. The. Fuck.” Coming to a halt, she turned and faced me again, her eyes filled with tears.
I could do without her emotions. I’d already hurt Laney and didn’t want to hurt Em, too.
But this was our life. I was making the best choices for Laney, my pack, and me, in that order.
“You have to understand that our bloodlines combined will be strong. Our offspring could be even more powerful than my dad.” It was a pairing everyone in the pack wanted, regardless of what we wanted.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Em said, her voice wobbling.
“You have to,” I replied, my voice gruff. “I wish things were different, but my dad gave me an ultimatum.”
“What was it?” she asked.
I was about to respond when I felt Danny approaching from behind me in wolf form, his anger and aggression rolling off him like a tidal wave. I’d forgotten he’d left after I proposed, and he hadn’t returned.
“Go inside,” I ordered Em, letting my alpha voice seep through so she’d have no choice but to obey. The last thing I needed was her trying to stop the fight that was sure to come. Not only did Danny and I have to figure this out, but I didn’t want Em getting hurt by accident.
Once Em was inside, I turned to face Danny and shifted, shredding my clothes in the process.
Danny had jumped, thinking he could surprise attack me from behind. While he was strong, the strongest in our pack aside from me, I was stronger, and he should have known better than to try a stupid stunt like that.
I tackled him, knocking him onto his side. We rolled. His claw slashed out at me, cutting my upper thigh. I roared and bit his neck, forcing him into submission.
He was so pissed, he kept trying to fight, his anger clouding his movements and making him sloppy.
“Stop,” I commanded, releasing him. I didn’t want to hurt him since he was my friend and my second, but he needed to understand his place, which was below me. It always would be.
He kicked me off and came at me again, snapping his jaw but missing.
I jumped, my front paws landing on him, shoving him down.
He twisted, knocking my leg out from under me.
I slammed my body into his, knocking him off balance and sending him to the ground.
I landed on top of him and stayed there as he thrashed like a rabid beast, trying to throw me off while snapping at me.
I kept him pinned down, his mouth unable to reach me.
“Submit. Now.” I was done with this. My leg was bleeding, and exhaustion consumed me. I hadn’t slept well in weeks.
When Danny finally stilled, I asked, “Are you done throwing a fit?”
“I fucking hate you,” he said, seething with rage.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Now shift so we can talk.” I released him.
He stood, then shifted. I did the same. We faced one another, naked, our shoulders rising and falling from breathing so hard.
Anyone inside could see us and would probably wonder why we were out here fighting over Emily.
They might even condone it since in their eyes, it would only elevate me further.
I heard the back door open. “Here are some clothes,” my brother, Ryan, shouted. “For both of you.” He threw them toward us.
I grabbed the sweatpants and shirt, putting both on. Danny did the same.
“You hate me so much that you had to take the one thing I love?” Danny asked.
I chuckled, the sound humorless. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you.”
“You can’t be mad at me for talking to my dad and being honest about what was going on with you and Laney.”
“And you can’t be mad at me when my alpha gives me an ultimatum, and I have no choice but to marry someone strong from my own pack.”
Danny ran his hands through his hair, clearly agitated. “You could have any girl in our pack. Any one of them. Why Em?” Hurt rang in his voice.
“There are only eleven girls close to me in age. Of the eleven, Em’s the strongest.” Danny knew it was true.
A lot of them were strong, but none of them were on par with Em.
And since I had to marry this summer, I had to marry someone close in age.
If I could’ve waited until I was in my thirties, it would have increased those available to me.
“I love her,” he said, as if that would change my mind. As if love had anything to do with it.
“I know, and I’m in love with Laney. But this isn’t about love. This is about doing what’s best for the pack, like you’ve been telling me for months. It’s my duty to marry a full-blooded werewolf who’s strong. Well, this is me doing that.”
“Fuck you,” Danny said.
“You’re my second. Either fall in line or challenge me.
The choice is yours.” I wondered if he had the balls to challenge me.
If he did, could I lose to him on purpose and be with Laney?
Probably not. I was sure my dad would withdraw the pack’s protection over her in that case.
The only way she could live and remain safe was if I went through with this fucked up wedding.
Danny stood there shaking his head, disgust written all over his face.
“We need to get back inside,” I said. “Ryan brought us clothes, which means everyone knows we’re out here fighting. I suggest you pull your shit together.” If he didn’t, someone would challenge him.
“I’m not going to challenge you,” he said, his hands on his hips. Probably because he knew I’d win. Challenges didn’t end when one yielded; they ended when one died. “But I can’t just step aside and let this happen.”
Taking a deep breath, I released it out slowly.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice.
” I took a step closer and lowered my voice.
“Get on board or leave.” I patted his shoulder.
There was nothing stopping him from being a lone wolf.
He’d have to be alone for the rest of his life, but then he wouldn’t have to watch Em marry me.
The choice was his. It was a shitty choice, but a choice nonetheless.
Danny’s eyes were red. “I don’t think you understand what this is doing to me.”
“Unfortunately, I do. I’ve been living in hell for weeks.” With that, I turned and walked away from him.