Chapter 10 Chapter 10
ALPHA DANIEL
“What the hell is going on with you, Zane?” I boomed above him. Zane was sitting in his chair in front of my desk with his head lowered as I stood above him.
“I don’t know, Dad,” Zane replied quietly.
I stood with my hands on my hips and shook my head. Zane looked up at me, and he knew I was disappointed in my son.
“You will stay here until I return. Don’t you dare move,” I growled as I walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I stood outside the office and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
We need to speak to that girl again before we decide what we are going to do with him, my wolf said.
“I agree,” I mumbled as I made my way down the hall and out to the kitchen.
“Do you have a moment, Ella?” I asked from the entrance of the kitchen. She turned to me with a surprised look.
“Yes, Alpha.” She wiped her hands on a towel and took off her apron to follow me outside to the front porch of the pack house. I sat down on a chair and motioned for her to do the same.
“I need to get some clarifications on a few things, if you don’t mind.”
I could see she was hesitant, but she nodded.
“What happened when Zane rejected you?”
She took a deep breath, trying to choose her words carefully.
“It was my eighteenth birthday. We caught each other’s scent in the cafeteria, and we both knew. He ignored it, so I went outside to eat my lunch. I was less likely to be bothered sitting out there.
He came outside, almost angry, and informed me that we were mistaken, I wasn’t his mate. Then Mariah butted in, and he dropped it. Later at the pack house, he pulled me aside and rejected me.”
“How did he reject you? What exactly did he say? How did you feel afterward?” I asked, hoping there was an easy explanation for all of this.
Ella straightened.
“He said ‘I, Zane Davis, reject you Ella Matthews, as my mate’. It just about killed me. It was the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life.
“Then I stood and said ‘I, Ella Matthews, accept your rejection.’ And even though he tried to hide it, I could tell it hurt him as well.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. Why?” she asked.
I shook my head, my brow wrinkling in thought.
“You did everything right, but I don’t see why his mate pull still exists.”
She looked shocked.
“How is that possible?”
I shrugged.
“You were supposed to be his luna. But he messed up, so he will have to live with the consequences.
“I don’t see how he’ll be able to be alpha without one. He might just have to take a Luna and deal with the fact he’ll never have a true mate.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Ella asked.
She was such a sweet girl. I liked to think she was treated well, but after seeing the last few days and knowing what I did now, I knew she hadn’t had it easy.
I smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand.
“I don’t think so.”
Ella nodded her head and stood to leave.
“Ella.” I looked up at her with genuine sadness in my eyes.
“I thought I raised him better. I thought I taught him the importance and meaning of a mate. I am so sorry that he was too blinded by his pride to see just how good you would have been for him.”
“Thank you, Alpha.” She gave me a warm smile and made her way inside.
I watched her walk back into the house before doing the same. I made my way to the office and was pleased to see my son sitting exactly where I left him.
I sat behind my desk and stared at my son in silence for a few minutes.
“Dad—” Zane broke the silence but was quickly hushed when I raised my hand.
“Zane, I thought your mother and I raised you to appreciate the importance of a mate. You rejected that girl without even the slightest thought at the implications of your actions.”
Zane looked up at me, his guilt showing in his eyes.
“Dad, I know I messed up. But I didn’t want her. I want Mariah.”
I glared at my son.
“Did you ever think that maybe that girl isn’t what you want, but what you need? What did we teach you? What are mates?”
“Mates are two halves of one soul. They complete each other,” Zane mumbled.
“Did you think about that when you rejected her? That she is part of your soul? Something about her is meant to complement you, and you her.
“But in your pride, you lost her, and I don’t know if you’ll be able to get her back.”
“I know why I feel it and she doesn’t,” Zane said quietly.
“Well! Do enlighten me,” I replied, not attempting to hide my sarcasm.
“My wolf didn’t accept my rejection of her. He still believes she is his mate.”
“I guess we know who is the smarter of the two of you,” I clapped back.
Zane looked down at the floor again, and I let out a sigh.
“Son, I don’t understand what happened. If you still feel the pull toward her, if your wolf still wants her, then why are you messing around with Mariah?
“I know that girl. She isn’t anything near luna material, even if she is beta-born. Which means you weren’t thinking with your brain when you chose her, am I right?”
“I don’t know what to do. Ella makes me so frustrated. She doesn’t want me. She doesn’t want anything to do with me, and I don’t know how to fix that.”
Zane shrugged. I could see he was bothered by the fact that she wasn’t as affected as he was.
“Have you maybe tried being nice?” I replied.
Zane looked up at him with his eyes wide.
“Instead of what?”
I snorted.
“Zane, I saw the marks on her arm. I saw how she responds when you are near. You’ve been cruel to that girl. She is afraid of you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she thinks she hates you.”
“Well then what do I do?”
“Change.” I looked my son in the eye.
“What do you mean, change?” Zane looked confused.
“Become the alpha I know you are meant to be. Be kind. Be protective. Listen to your pack.
“Act from clarity, not anger. Don’t demand respect and fear, earn it. Do you see me grabbing pack members’ arms and yelling at them for every little thing?”
“Well, no…,” Zane replied. I could see those wheels turning.
“Show Ella and everyone else the amazing man you are.”
I stood and hugged my son.
“Until then, I won’t be stepping down and giving you the leadership of the pack. They are good people and deserve the very best alpha.”