Page 32 of Their Marked Mate

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.”