Chapter 5 #2
He started to explain, then thought better of it.
If Caden had a problem with Alex, he needed to take his concerns to Alex directly.
The same held true with this situation. Allowing betas to trigger the mating bond was a controversial idea.
He needed to talk to Alex. “It’s just nice to have you here.
” The statement was true, but it was also an evasion and her skeptical look warned that he hadn’t been as convincing as he’d hoped.
“Fine. Don’t tell me.” She pouted playfully. “I like you better when you scowl.”
The ridiculous statement broadened his smile, which was likely her intention.
Alex joined them a short time later, his expression thunderous. “Well, that was delightful,” he growled out as he half slammed the door. “Now my cousins are turning on me.”
“I spoke with Hayes.” Nate wiped his hands on a cloth then tossed it onto the counter as he moved closer to Alex. “He said Caden has been acting sketchy ever since the birds attacked the mountain stronghold.”
Alex ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “The only hope Caden has of challenging me is if Drake backs him, and Drake has been loyal from the start.”
“Caden had just started arguing when I ducked out to talk with Hayes,” Nate said. “Was he just being an asshole or did he bring up any valid points?”
“He wants me to give other packs access to the females,” Alex explained.
“If there were more females, I wouldn’t hesitate.
But mates are the most valuable resource on this planet.
I must be incredibly careful about how that resource is allocated.
” He held up his hand to halt the objections flashing in Luna’s gaze.
“I know you’re more than a resource. I simply meant that each mate that is claimed must benefit the entire village. ”
“Why?” Challenge rippled through Luna’s tone. “Why can’t we simply make ourselves and our mates happy?”
“In a perfect world, that is all that any female should have to be concerned with, but Rydaria is far from perfect. We don’t know when or if we will ever leave this planet. We can hope for the best, but we need to plan for the worst. And that means keeping the packs as strong as possible.”
“Can I play devil’s advocate without pissing you off?” Luna turned down the heat under her skillet and moved away from the stove.
“I’m in a shitty mood,” he warned. “Proceed at your own risk.”
“Nate and I are genetically compatible,” she stated. “You and I are not.”
“I’m aware,” Alex grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
“How is the pack compromised if he claims me and then brings you into the link as opposed to the other way around? Isn’t the result the same?”
Nate had never wanted to kiss Luna more than he did at that moment.
The possibility she’d just named had tormented Nate for weeks.
He ached for her all day and dreamed about her at night.
Holding her in his arms was the sweetest torment in the universe.
Each time they joined, his need to claim her intensified.
Alex released a deep sigh and uncrossed his arms. “The scenario would work for us, but let me give you one to consider. What if bonding fever is triggered by a bunch of betas who were not even strong enough to be chosen by one of the alphas? Nate is exceptional. That’s why I chose him.
But most betas aren’t strong enough to protect a female, not against feline shifters.
With so few females to go around, we can’t leave this up to fate. ”
She was clearly disappointed by his answer, but she nodded. “It was just a thought.”
“If you’re ready to be claimed, I might be persuaded to let Nate get things started,” Alex told her.
She looked at Nate, then smiled nervously and shook her head. “I’m not ready yet. I really was curious about the overarching principle.”
“I can’t open things up to every male in the village, but I could let the females interact with some of the alphas,” Alex supposed. “It would back off Caden, and I can’t afford to lose his support.” He looked at Nate and asked, “What are your thoughts on this?”
He was so disappointed by the outcome that he could barely speak, but he managed to say, “Compromise is usually the right answer. And you’re right. You can’t lose Caden.”
“I’ll speak with him in the morning,” Alex said then nodded toward the kitchen. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
* * *
Alex folded his hands into fists and fought back the urge to punch Caden squarely in the face.
“What the fuck is your problem!” he snarled.
“You have been irrational for weeks.” Caden, with the support of four pack alphas, ambushed Alex as he made his way back from the training center in the back corner of the village.
Ever since the alpha council meeting six days ago, Caden had been impossibly argumentative.
Caden’s eyes narrowed and he moved closer to Alex. Each of his agitated movements demonstrated his hostility. “It’s irrational to ask questions? Irrational to disagree with the mighty village alpha?”
“Challenge me or back the hell off,” Alex insisted as he shoved Caden back. “I’ve had it with your bullshit.”
Rhys, the Silverthorne pack alpha, stepped up beside Caden. “We’re all in agreement. The females were ours. The birds had no right to take them.”
Alex drew in a deep breath and unclenched his fists.
How the fuck had Caden recruited Rhys? None of these packs were a threat on their own.
But Bloodstone and Silverthorne combined were larger than Riverside, might even be a match for Riverside and Aspen.
Alex glared at his cousin as he considered the options.
He could beat the shit out of Caden for daring to defy the village alpha.
That’s what Elias would have done. Or he could listen to their arguments and reassess his decision based on the new information.
He was tired of the bloodshed, tired of constant conflict. Life under Elias’ authority had been one battle after another. Alex wanted more for himself, and more for the packs, than that.
“We’re no match for the cats,” Rhys admitted. “We understand that, but the birds are no match for us. So why are we letting them keep our women?”
Rhys wasn’t hotheaded like Caden. Rhys was calm and methodical. He was the oldest pack alpha and years of experience resulted in wisdom. Alex liked him, but he’d only trusted his cousins with the details of his plans. Maybe that had been a mistake. “I met with Gabriel a few days ago.”
“What the fuck for?” Caden snapped. “It was clearly a waste of time. They still have our women.”
Alex ignored the provocation and focused on Rhys. “Gabriel instigated the meeting.”
Rhys pushed his hands into the pockets of his coat and asked, “What did he want?”
“To assure me that his brother attacked the mountain stronghold without his permission. Gabriel would never have—”
“I don’t give a shit who instigated the attack,” Caden interrupted. “They took something that belonged to us and it’s time to get it back!”
“Despite the obnoxious way he stated it, Caden has a point,” Rhys reinforced. “The females belong to us. The birds had no right to take them.”
“We stole them from the cats,” Alex reminded. “Zion could say the same thing.”
Rhys crossed his arms over his chest and his expression hardened. “Is Caden right? Are you afraid?”
Alex was trapped. Lashing out now made him look weak, yet doing nothing would be even worse. He glared at Caden then wiped any hint of emotion off his face and turned back to Rhys. “If you’re determined to spill blood, go gather your soldiers. Let’s go pick a fight with the birds.”
An excited whoop went up from the alphas then they ran off toward separate sections of the village.
“You shouldn’t have given in. Caden will be emboldened by his victory.”
Alex turned and found Drake standing a few steps back from him. “I gave in to Rhys, not Caden.”
“Caden is the driving force behind this nonsense,” Drake stressed.
“I know.” Alex sighed and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “What I don’t understand is why he’s doing it. Has he said anything to you?”
Drake paused, clearly debating what to say.
The three cousins were close, but Drake and Caden were more like brothers.
Alex’s biggest fear had always been that Drake and Caden would team up against him.
Caden’s belligerence had been the first hint that the alliance was in trouble.
Luckily for Alex, Drake’s allegiance appeared to be intact.
If that ever changed, it would put Alex’s position as village alpha in jeopardy.
“I think her name was Alyssa or Elisa, something like that.” Drake finally spoke, his tone low and rough. “He talked about her nonstop while we were down in the tunnels.”
“And this female ended up in Eagle Village?” He should have figured it was something like this. Only a female could make someone crazy this fast.
Drake just nodded.
“Was the attraction mutual?” Then an even more concerning possibility occurred to Alex. “Did she trigger bonding fever?”
Drake’s shoulders lifted then dropped. “You’ll have to ask Caden. All I know is he wouldn’t shut up about her and then he just shut down, wouldn’t talk to me at all. Hayes told me that Caden found out that she’d been claimed by one of the birds and that’s when Caden started sneaking around.”
“What about Evelyn?” Alex objected. “I thought they were well on their way to claiming her.”
“I think they are. Hayes is more than ready to claim her, but Caden is still looking for a fight.”