Chapter 17
BAILEY
“What’re you doin’, squirt?”
I rear back, insulted.
“You’re okay droppin’ him in a woodchipper?” Grey demands.
“Wow,” I say.
“He’s the one you wanted, Bails,” my brother points out, very unnecessarily.
“I’m shocked, Grey. You’re normally very smart, but right now?” I let that hang.
His expression hardens a little. If I weren’t so pissed off, this might sting.
He gets in my face and says, “You have no idea how difficult it is for someone in his position to handle a situation like this. Now he’s not only unable to claim you, he’s also got to deal with having you around other males. This is cruel, little sister.”
“He’s right, Bailey,” Dad says, stepping into the huddle in the driveway.
“You think it wasn’t cruel the way he treated me when I had feelings? When I had emotions?”
“This isn’t the same thing,” my brother argues.
“My feelings have never been a concern to him, and you expect me to give a damn about his feelings?”
“This isn’t gonna end, sweetheart,” Dad says. “You’re prolonging the inevitable and doing damage that might take work to come back from.”
“Maybe it will end. Maybe I’ll request a severing before he gets to claim me.”
Grey says, “That’s anger talking. Take a beat, Bailey. And do everyone a favor and stay home until this is sorted. He won’t handle you being around other males well.”
Dad’s response isn’t quite as friendly. He leans forward aggressively, “Just because I got a mate bond cut out of me doesn’t mean it’s easy.
It was cut with a serrated knife, daughter, and it felt like it kept bleeding for a fuck of a long time afterwards.
To get it done, I had to jump through major fuckin’ hoops and the only reason I got mine is because Greyson’s mother was practicing dark magic, slowly killin’ him.
If I stayed, your brother wouldn’t have made it.
Do not fuckin’ think it’s easy to end a fated relationship in our world, Bailey.
They won’t just do it because a female has her knickers in a twist cause her mate hurt her feelings.
He wants to fix this with you and you’re not givin’ him the chance. ”
Ouch. But I’m getting angrier. “Maybe applying for a severance is about more than just me. Maybe it’s about the whole fucking thing, how unfair it is to females.
I’m going to the SCC and I’m not just requesting a severing for me; I’ll also be petitioning for all females.
Because if a woman is about to be claimed by an alpha she doesn’t want, she should have an actual choice in the matter. Look what just happened to Sherry!”
Now Grey is pissed, too. “You can’t compare Jase to Wyatt Meadows, Bailey. Come on!”
I keep talking. “The SCC offered me a job. Maybe I’ll take it and get on making it my mission while I work for them in Alaska to make sure alphas stop treating females like second class citizens.”
“Alaska?” Jase asks, stepping up.
“Alaska,” I confirm and stomp into the house.