4. Brent
Pack life’s not thesame without Ylfa.
The moment I recovered at the fortress and found out that my mate had been banished, I was furious. I even punched a hole into a wall to make myself feel better, picturing the smug face of my alpha and uncle, but it was not enough.
She’s gone. And I may never see her again.
If only I could have been there for her, I could have protected her. I could have stood up to my alpha and told him she was my mate. I claimed her, after all, and now she’s officially mine.
Mine... my wolf growls.
As pack beta, I have every right to stick up for my mate and prevent any harm that comes her way. I hear he even tried to get her executed, and I swear one of these days... I will kill him.
I will kill my own uncle. It’s not as if we share genes. He is only my uncle by marriage, as he always tells me. He is nothing to me, as I am nothing to him.
I only stick by his side for my late Aunt Rose’s sake. That woman raised me, and I will not dishonor her sweet memory by leaving my alpha.
It’s hard thinking about her at times, especially as it’s getting harder to remember what she looks like. Everything from the sound of her voice to the way she used to smile at me. Too much time has passed since her death, and it’s terrifying. One day I may not remember her at all, but there is one thing that I will never forget; she had been a kind woman. Too kind for Alpha Graeme, and I don’t know what she ever saw in him.
It truly baffles me.
We arrived back at the pack lands three days after the Gathering, and life has gone back to normal.
So everyone believes.
Merchants take to their stalls once again in the market as I tread the main thoroughfare. Everyone pays me their respects.
The pack has been in good spirits since we got home. We received second place at the games, after all. Sure, one of our competitors turned out to be a traitor who helped the human hostage escape, but still...everyone rejoices.
It was what we needed after the human invasion several weeks back.
No one knows that it was me who helped Ylfa get Raven away that cold morning. The alpha kept that one a secret.
Suppose I should thank him. But I know he didn’t do it out of some paternal affection. He is doing it to protect his family name, and hopefully for my late Aunt Rose, too.
I like to think he is still loyal to her. Why else would he keep me around?
I would only smear his name if word got out that I helped a human POW escape. She was our only leverage. With her, we could ransom with the humans and make them surrender, but we only lost her in the end.
Now there’s no telling what they’ll do. They attacked us before because we had her prisoner, but we have to be careful now.
We’re alone again, after all. We’re no longer surrounded by the packs of the world. No more Jamal, Ivor, Agatha, and Persephone Waters.
Speaking of bitches who love themselves... I pass Natasha on my way through the market, rolling my eyes. I had hoped that she’d perish after I tied her up back at the fortress. I even thought about leaving her there, but I knew untying her from that tree was the right thing to do.
After all, Ylfa has gone. She can’t torment my mate anymore. Natasha is nothing now.
Her eyes gleam bright gold as I brush past her, ignoring her completely, and I know I’ve pissed her off. I bet she’s plotting how to get back at me.
It’s strange seeing her without her usual minions. Chelsea and Annabel went after Ylfa, and I ball my fists, wishing I could have done the same.
But I can’t leave. Not just yet. I have to keep an eye on my alpha, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.
At least she has Hunter and Patrick—those assholes. I would punch them right now if they weren’t miles and miles away.
They get to spend all their time with my mate while I have to play the ever loyal beta.
I’m so lost in my brooding thoughts that I don’t notice the geezer ahead of me. We collide. Sure, most old men would go flying after going head to head with my brute strength, but not this one.