“You mindlinked Blake but you didn’t mindlink me?” I looked at him, not answering his question. “But why him?”
“He was the first person I thought of,” I admitted.
“Do you have feelings for Blake?” he asked, staring straight into my eyes.
“What, no!” I exclaimed.
“It just seems like there’s something going on between the two of you.”
“We’re just friends.”
He let out another deep breath and said, “I know I haven’t been the best mate to you. But I’m trying, Jasmine, I really am. Please, I want you to come to me when you need help and you’re in trouble. Please don’t go to Blake anymore.”
Blake
Iwasaloneinmy office, seated at my desk, when my father barged in. Before he even spoke, I could tell he was in a bad mood. His face was red, eyebrows furrowed, and hands clenched in tight fists. I had come to recognize when my dad was going to blow up over the years, and I knew he wasn’t just coming in for a friendly chat. He stormed in, stopping in front of my desk, and banging his fists down on it.
“What’s this I hear about trespassers being killed on the spot?” he bellowed.
I sighed. “They technically weren’t trespassing.”
“I don’t fucking care about technicalities. They were clearly the same assholes who have been casing this place for at least a week. And now we have no fucking clue what pack they’re from or what their motivation was. What was the first fucking thing I taught you about trespassers?”
I shook my head. I knew I fucked up, and it was not surprising that my father was pissed. Everyone knew to interrogate first, kill later. I’d made a rookie mistake. It was just, at that moment, I couldn’t think straight, especially after seeing how the asshole had hurt Jasmine, even though I knew better.
My father continued on his tirade. “What the hell is wrong with you, Blake. All those years of training and you still don’t fucking know what you’re doing. You clearly didn’t get your mom’s brains, that’s for sure! Goddess knows why she sent you to me as my only son. I only hope she lets me die before I have to witness this whole place go to shit under your leadership.”
I was becoming enraged by my father’s outburst. I had my hands balled into fists, restraining myself from swinging one right into his face. I was completely sick of how he always talked to me and others, as if there was nothing wrong with verbally abusing anyone in his path.
He continued, “What fucking good are two dead and burned bodies? They can’t fucking tell us anything. We don’t know if we should be expecting a fucking war tomorrow. Because you didn’t do your fucking job. What kind of alpha are you? You’re a fucking embarrassment, that’s what! All those years of trying to knock some sense into you and nothing to show for it!”
I was really pissed now and shouted, “Get the fuck out of the packhouse before I beat the shit out of you!” I used my alpha aura and he couldn’t help himself as he bowed his neck to me, scrunching his face in pain.
Before he could say another word, he walked himself out.
“That’s right! I’m the alpha now so fuck off!” I yelled to him as I heard his footsteps disappearing toward the front door.
That night, I went to the temple service. I sat in a different location than I normally did, not wanting to be anywhere near my father. I saw him enter with my mom and take their usual seat up front. Not long after, I spotted Jasmine’s parents enter sans Jasmine. She must still be recovering. A bone completely snapped in half could take a long time to heal. Luke entered and was about to sit with my parents when he noticed where I was sitting and sat down next to me instead.
“Hey,” I said to him as he sat down.
“Hey.”
“How is she?”
“Still recovering,” he replied.
I wanted to push for more information but didn’t want to seem too interested. I’d ask my mom, but after her speech I knew that would be a bad idea as well.
Suddenly, Luke turned back toward me and asked, “What’s the deal with you two?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, taken aback.
“I just feel like there’s something going on between the two of you.”
“We’re just friends. She’s your mate.”
“You’ve never really had female friends before unless you were trying to get into their pants.”