Page 37 of Dark Sold Mate

“Isn't it?” Elle pushed her bowl away. “Be honest, Silas. Had this operation been happening in some other region, and had it attacked the women who lived far away from here, would you have done anything about it?”

Silas wanted to say yes. But he'd be lying.

“No,” he admitted. “Probably not.”

Elle nodded, but she seemed disappointed and not vindicated. “At least you're honest.”

“But now I am trying to do better,” Silas said frantically. “I know I've been selfish. I know that I have only been thinking about my pack, my reputation, my needs. But you're opening my mind to a new way of thinking.”

“I shouldn't have to make you realize human beings should be valued. You should have come to that conclusion yourself.”

“You're right. I should have.” Silas frowned and roughly shoved his hair back. “I have lived my entire life following the beliefs of my father. That wolves were superior. That humans were weak. That we had no obligation to them. And it will take time to forget that.”

“Time we don't have,” Elle said. “Those women are suffering now. They are being sold right now. And you are telling me you have to take time to determine whether they are someone worth saving?”

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” Elle asked. “You're still putting your pack first, as far as I am concerned. You only care about humans when it suits you.”

“I care about you.”

“You care about your mate. That is not the same thing as caring about humans.”

She stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back. “I want to go back.”

“Elle, wait.”

“Now, Silas. Take me back now.”

Silas tossed money on the table and followed Elle out of the bistro. She was walking briskly toward the truck, with rigid shoulders, and her entire body radiated anger and disappointment.

They drove back in silence, Elle quietly looking out the window as usual.

She was right about everything. He was selfish. There was nothing he could say to dispel her accusations because they weren't accusations. They were facts.

Elle got out of the truck immediately they got back to pack territory.

“Elle,” Silas called after her.

She stopped and turned back, shaking her head. “You're trying, Silas. I can see that. But, it is not enough to just try when people are dying.” She turned away. “Figure out what kind of Alpha you want to be. One who only protects his own, or one who protects everyone. Because right now, you're somewhere in the middle, and that's not good enough.”

Then she entered the house, leaving Silas standing by the truck with her words ringing in his ears.

Figure out what type of Alpha you want to be.

Silas always thought he already knew that. He was the type Alpha that took care of his pack, defended their reputation, and kept them safe.

Elle, however, was asking him to be better than that. She was asking him to care about people outside his pack. To treat humans as equals instead of lesser beings. To use his power and resources to assist others who are incapable of helping themselves, even if it was not in his best interest.

She was asking him to be better.

And Silas knew, under the dim afternoon sunlight, that he would like to be better.

Humans weren't weak. They live in a fearless way, and they had the right to protection because it was the right thing to do. Silas had to overcome certain prejudices he had towards them. For Elle, he'd try. For the women who suffered due to his lack of action, he'd try.

He would be better. He only hoped that it was not too late.

Chapter 10 - Elle