Chapter 18 - Sage
Things had been in disarray after Noah recovered his memory and confronted his pack members about why they had kept Dominic and his betrayal of the pack a secret. On the outside, my mate had been furious, but through our bond, I could feel how genuinely hurt he was.
The people he was supposed to be able to rely upon had kept things from him. Even his own father, who would usually take any opportunity to needle Noah, hadn't said a word about Dominic.
It was Cal's silence that bothered him the most. An Alpha was supposed to be able to have full, unshakeable confidence in their Beta, but Cal had broken that confidence.
When Noah confronted Cal, his answer was almost infuriating in its simplicity. Cal didn't regret what he'd done at all. "We thought you were better off without Dominic. The pack needed you here, not off chasing some shot-fused rogue. I hoped you'd forget about him, and he'd stay forgotten."
Everyone else echoed the same sentiment, more or less.
No one wanted to encourage Noah to remember Dominic, because no one wanted Noah to go out hunting for him again.
If he'd been hurt enough to lose his memory the first time, who knows how badly injured he could become if he was attacked for a second time.
Noah felt betrayed, and I didn't blame him. But at the same time, I also understood what Cal and the other members of Noah's Council were saying. Noah had a soft spot for the volatile Dominic, but everyone else saw how big a risk he was to a pack that was already dealing with so many other issues.
I'd never tell Noah that second part, though. I'd never met Dominic, and the only thing I cared about was Noah. I didn't give a damn if Dominic stayed rogue forever, as long as Noah was safe.
It was a huge change from when I'd first arrived and fantasized about all the ways I could escape Noah and the Silvervine pack, but Noah's constant talk about fate and destiny was starting to get to me. The universe had brought us together, even if I had no idea why.
Noah had said that we were meant to unite his pack and help bring them into the future. But if that was true, why did my mate stay so stuck in the past?
Once again, he asked me to attend dinner at his father's house, a redo of the disastrous first dinner I'd gone to.
I was quick to say no, but I folded when he mentioned that Summer herself had requested me.
Noah's cousin was becoming my best friend in the pack, and I didn't want to leave her there with Richard and Noah staring daggers at each other the whole meal.
Even if she was Richard's caretaker, it was obvious to everyone that he saved the worst parts of his personality for when his son was around. Noah was his favorite punching bag, and Noah had too much lingering respect for his father to fight back.
Well, I didn't. There wasn't a drop of respect for my old Alpha in me. He could drop dead at dinner, and I wouldn't blink an eye.
We didn't even make it to the door before Summer came running out, folding us both into a hug, blond braid blowing in the wind.
"There's my favorite witch!"
"Here I am," I replied, accepting her hug as Noah came up behind me, carrying the covered dish of cookies I'd made for the occasion. "How is my awful father-in-law?"
"Sage." Noah hissed.
Summer stifled a laugh, coughing to play it off. "He's...okay, I guess. He's had his medicine, so he shouldn't be in any pain. Whether he will behave is another story altogether."
I showed her my tray of cookies. "Think these might help?" Summer didn't look too hopeful. "...maybe."
She stepped aside, and we all made our way to the dining room where Richard was waiting. The table had already been set, a pot roast with all the fixings taking up the center of it.
I took the seat on Richard's left, and Noah sat beside me. Summer sat across from us and immediately began making small talk about the weather. Even her best attempts at lightening the mood couldn't ease the animosity between the men.
Noah was still upset, and Richard was bursting at the seams to admonish his son. Neither one would give an inch, and Summer and I were the ones who suffered because of it.
Noah was pissed off about the Dominic issue, and Richard was still angry that his son had made a witch his Luna. Why my mate even accepted the invitation for dinner, I didn't know. He must have been really hoping his father would apologize for not telling him about Dominic.
Instead, the two men sat there in tense silence while Summer did her best to brighten the mood. I had to admit, she was doing an admirable job, picking at Noah's hardened facade until he finally broke down and interacted with her.
I knew how he felt. Summer was a stubborn ray of sunshine, impossible to ignore.
Once Richard wasn't the center of attention, his anger grew, lips thinning as he focused his ire on me.
Paying him no mind, I shrugged and turned back to the conversation. Eventually, we ended up on the subject of the potential border breaches, and Richard sat forward, eyes sharp like he had been waiting for that moment.
"So, have you narrowed down what or who is trying to break into the territory?" the old Alpha asked.
"Not yet," Noah admitted, "Once it was a false alarm—the bear attack, which you know about.
The other times, it was clear the traps were tripped, but there was minimal damage and no sign of what might have caused it.
There's a chance it's wildlife, but..." he shrugged one shoulder.
"It seems unlikely that it would happen so many times in a row. "
"But what else could it be?" Summer asked, her tone worried, "I know you've had some rogues try to get through before, but..."
"Yes," Richard said, a triumphant look in his eyes, "But we've dealt with them easily, and this is more serious than a couple of rogues. This is an organized group. We need to take real precautions. Have you tightened security at all?"
Noah sighed, "Yes, Dad. I have. No one is in any danger. The only attack was on me, and I wasn't even in this territory."
"So what? We both know everyone in this pack is in danger because of the dying land. What are you doing about that?"
Noah tensed beside me, and Summer's gaze fixed on her plate. "I'm doing everything I can. Sage is helping—-"
"Even if your witch using her power on the land wasn't a disgrace, there's no way she has the power to fix everything that is going wrong.
It would take a legion of witches to heal everything that is dying, so why waste your time?
" Richard slapped a hand down on the table, and Summer flinched.
"You need real solutions. Using magic as a crutch is exactly why you're a lousy leader. "
Noah's mouth dropped open, and Summer's cheeks flamed with embarrassment. It was obvious that Richard had gone too far, even for him, but that didn't seem to stop him from pressing forward.
"If you can't lead, then it's high time you let someone else try."
Noah's expression was stony, his fists clenched. "I'm the Alpha, father. Richard sneered, "Then act like it, or step down and let someone else handle the job."
"Enough!" Noah gritted the words out between his teeth. "Either change the damned subject, or we're leaving. If you're so damned determined to be a bitter, lonely old man, then you're on the right fucking path!"
Richard looked stunned, but he kept his mouth shut, and after an uncomfortable few moments, everyone started to eat again.
Summer and I shared a glance, and it was obvious we both agreed. Richard had gone too far. The way he spoke to Noah was horrible, and I was going to make sure my mate knew how much he was loved and appreciated, whether Richard approved or not.
When I finally had a chance to speak to Richard alone, I jumped on it.
Summer and Noah were occupied, and I wasn't about to let a golden opportunity pass me by.
I found Richard in his study, a book open in his lap and a drink sitting next to him on the end table.
He didn't acknowledge me when I entered the room, but I knew he was aware of my presence.
"I hope you're happy," I said, folding my arms, "You're a miserable excuse for a father." His eyes narrowed, and he slammed the book shut. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," I didn't budge. "Noah keeps trying to have a relationship with you, no matter how much of an asshole you continue to be. Meanwhile, he's the only thing keeping the pack above water. It would have drowned a long time ago if you were still the leader."
Richard let out one humorless laugh. "And why exactly are you here, witch?"
"I'm here because I care for Noah, and I'm tired of seeing him get shit on by the one person who should love him unconditionally.
He is an incredible Alpha, and the more I see him, the more I can see how much of his heart he gives to this pack.
You ruled with violence, and that is why things have fallen into disarray. "
"You don't know the first thing about leading a pack," he spat, "If you're weak, you'll be ousted, even killed. Strength is the only thing that matters for shifters."
"Wrong," I snapped, unable to stop myself from pacing the length of the study, full of nervous energy, "Noah is strong, sure, but he's also intelligent.
Calm, level-headed, and he's working to modernize the pack when you were happy to keep it in the dark ages.
Your old-school methods are the reason you can't walk anymore, and the reason Noah and I lost all those years that we could have been together.
" I pointed a finger at the old man. "Noah might hold his tongue around you, but I won't. Like it or not, your son is welcoming shifters like me back into the pack, and we are the future. Your time is done."
Richard's jaw was clenched so tightly that the tendons in his neck were standing out. He glared at me, and if looks could kill, I'd have been dead. But to my surprise, he said nothing. I waited, but he didn't argue back, simply grinding his teeth until I was certain his jaw would break.
Somehow, I'd rendered the old Alpha speechless, and I was ready to take my leave before he opened his mouth again and ruined my accomplishment.
"Goodnight, Richard," I layered all the politeness I could muster into the words, inclining my head at him. "Thank you for having us."
As I left the study, I saw Noah standing just outside, leaning against the wall. There was a small smile on his lips, and pride glowed in his eyes. I felt a little silly, but when he pushed himself away from the wall and followed me out the front door, the pride in his expression never wavered.
"You didn't have to do that," he said, his arm settling around my shoulders as we headed for the car, "But it felt good to see him finally shut up."
I grinned, letting my head fall on his shoulder while our mate bond glowed between us, warm and alive.