Page 16 of Rescued by the Alpha

They were too damn close to each other, that was the problem. He hadn’t really wanted to get into and specifics about Elam with her until after he’d met with the pack guide and healer.

Once they’d entered her small home that he’d had a hand in building, she gestured toward the living room. The kids couldn’t be heard fighting or yelling, so he assumed they were taking a nap. He sat in the chair by the fire and held up his palms to warm them.

“Kids asleep?”

She plopped on the couch. “No. They’re with Artur and Papa. I needed a fucking break after three days of being trapped inside with them during that blizzard.”

After her mate died, both he, their brother Artur, and their father had taken turns taking the kids so she could have a chance to grieve. Their father knew what it was like. He’d lost their mom when she’d given birth to Artur. “Is everyone hanging out at Papa’s place, then?”

Alex sighed. “Actually, Artur moved back in.”

Nic straightened, frowning. “What happened to his mate, Dara?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s kinda a touchy subject, so don’t bring it up with Papa yet. Unless of course he uses it as another reason to plead with you to come back here and take back your Alpha title.”

What now? “I don’t have the title until he steps aside.”

“Which he won’t do until he’s convinced you to get back in line.”

He turned away from the fireplace to face her. “For fuck sakes. I’ve explained over and over that I can’t give the pack an heir.” He held up his hand to stop her from whatever it was she was about to interject. “I’m not mating a woman. Call me a selfish asshole, but I don’t view it that way.

Whoever I mated would forever be stuck with me, would never find love or their true mate. I refuse to take lovers on the side—something I find abhorrent—and a miserable, bitter Alpha isn’t going to give the pack the proper leadership it needs.”

“Okay, I get it. You’ve explained this a hundred times. I’m the one who supported your decision when Artur found Dara. I figured, hey, why not? He’s family bloodline, would be a direct heir to continue our rule.” She arched her eyebrows with another smirk. “Except for one teensy problem.”

Nic scowled at her. “Go on.”

“All that fated mate drivel he shared with us was bullshit. Dara’s a lesbian.”

Nic shook his head in confusion. “Say what now?”

“It was a joint scheme between them to gain leadership of the pack. But she found her fated mate with a woman in the Artic Gates pack, so she backed out. Nothing’s been announced to the council yet, but we can’t keep it a secret much longer. Dara’s already taken off, Artur’s back at home and there’ve been grumblings. Plus…”

Nic waited while she rubbed her forehead, the tension clear in her features. When she didn’t continue right away, a sense of foreboding washed over him. “Come on. Out with it.”

She lifted her gaze. “There’s talk that the Yukon Delta Pack will be putting forth a challenge before long. That’s what I was anxious to talk to you about.”

Nic bared his teeth, the wolf in him ready to rip someone to pieces. “I’ll fucking kill anyone who tries. No one has challenged another pack Alpha in hundreds of years! That’s the point of the Alliance, that we work together, protect each other.” He let out a low growl. “Not threaten each other.”

She nodded, leaning forward to clasp his arm. “I know, it’s insane. But we need to stop it before everything gets out of control. With Papa still Alpha, Artur next in line and you off in the woods with some boy toy, we don’t stand a chance.”

Nic shot to his feet. “Bullshit! First off, he’s not a boy toy, he’s my fucking mate, and you act as if our Alpha is old and decrepit and the Alpha that you and the council agreed would be my worthy replacement is useless!” Nic’s heart hammered as he paced around the room, his jaw clenched as he tried to work out what to do next. “We need to schedule a meeting right away with the Alliance. The councils from all packs so we can hash this out, bring it out in the open. We can’t have secrets from

one another, it won’t work.”

“Mate, huh? Does that mean you’re stepping back in line to rule as Alpha? Because only our pack leader can put forth such a request.”

He whirled around to face her and was met with her smug expression, her arms crossed as she regarded him.

“You know I can’t do that,” he gritted through his teeth. “But I can sit down with Papa and Artur, get one or both of them to do it. But first…” Nic shook out his hands, jittery from trying to control his anger, from trying to temper his instinct to fight to the death for his pack.

“First?” Alex had narrowed her eyes. “Does this have anything to do with this man you’re calling your mate?”

“I’m not calling him that, he is my mate. I rescued him in the blizzard, and I knew. His scent drew me in and the minute I fucking touched him, I knew.” He scrubbed his face with both hands then let out an aggravated groan. “Fuck. Talk about bad timing.”

“Hey.” Alex gave his arm a jostle. “Or maybe it’s good timing. This has to all be happening for a reason. I assume you came here to meet with Asha?”

He nodded. “Our guide has to have some answers. I’ll even take hints at this point.”