AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The air leaves my lungs.
“Wha—what do you mean you gave up your position?” I pull away to read his expression, searching for the joke, the punchline.
But he’s smiling. “Yeah. I knew I couldn’t be the alpha they needed if I was on the Taurus peak with you all the time.”
“Jonah, you can’t… You shouldn’t have. Youshouldhave talked to me first.”
I maneuver myself off his lap and stand in front of him, staring down at his confused face without a single idea why he is so fucking confused.
“Wha—I… I thought you’d be happy, Willa.”
“Happy? Why would you think violating our highest law would make me happy?”
Jonah’s gaze lights with recognition as he realizes what I’m actually upset about. “Whoa, hey, babe. This is not that. It’s not the same as what your dad did.”
“I know that!” I snap. I can’t help it. It’s so much. The weight of Jonah’s action, the guilt over my father’s. Neither of them spoke to me before acting, even if they thought it was for me or my best interest.
“But you still left them and now…”
I crumble inward, but Jonah catches me before I hit the ground.
“Hey, hey. They were fine with me relinquishing my post as Pack Alpha. The pack knew it was temporary. They knew I only took it until their true alpha was old enough. And I thought you did too, Willa.”
I gaze up at him, tear streaked and pouty and feeling like a fool. “They knew it was temporary?”
Jonah smiles at me. “Yes, love. That was always the deal. I’m so sorry I didn’t make that clear to you from the start.”
I pull him close, squeezing him to me. God he smells good.
“Um, Willa?”
“Mm?”
“You’re about to pulverize my ribs,” he wheezes, and I let him go immediately.
“Sorry,” I say, eyes on the floor. “I don’t always know how strong I am.”
“About that.” Jonah guides me back to the sofa, but instead of leading me back to the chaise where we were, he tucks me into the corner, covers me with the woven throw blanket, then sits next to me. “I was talking with some of the Ktunaxa tribes and they mentionedtitqattek,a woman who takes on the roles traditionally associated with men like healing, hunting, and warfare.”
“Healing? Men do the healing on your mountain?”
“They used to.”
“I don’t think that fits what’s going on with me. I’m not doing archetypal masculine duties.”
Jonah shrugs, giving me another one of his winning smiles. “Aren’t you? You were the healer, you protected your mates and the Laurel Cove pack from the scourge, and given the chance, you’d hunt with the pack.”
“But that’s just a difference in the times, Jonah, nothing more.”
“Yeah, maybe. But you’re an omega. You shouldn’t be able to pull dominance on any of us. Maybe this is a different way to look at it because of the magical aspect.”
“Drago said your lores don’t apply to me because I’m not native, and I agree with him.”
“Sure, he’s right. Buttitqattekisn’t a lore. It’s a real word for real people in the community.” He cups the side of my face, and I lean into his touch. “If anything, it’s a starting point.”
I nod at that and curl into his chest, reveling in his warmth, his scent, and the knowledge that he never had to leave to rule another pack if he didn’t want to.
And for now, that’s enough.
