“Do not big brother me Bailey!” he snaps, throwing himself down on the sofa next to me. “What the fuck did you do to Miles.”
Was he having a laugh? What did I do to Miles? He says it like I attacked him! Or pounced on him… He is the upcoming Alpha for fucks sake! It is not like he is unable to defend himself… though I should have known he would go running to my brother to tell tales. Stir shit like he always did. Make me look like the bad one.
“I didn’t do anything to Miles. Why?” I asked, my heart racing a little already, wondering why my brother was angry over this. Had Miles confided in him? Did he know more now than he previously had? The thought of him knowing I had been short-tempered with his friend didn’t bother me in the slightest. The fact there was no love lost between Miles, and I was well known, but what worried me was now Ellis knew of our secret, would Miles have told others too? Because that was the last thing I wanted. Especially for my brother to know, and especially for him believing that I had rejected his best friend and our upcoming Alpha!
“So why was he cursing you out when we were at training? Him and Ellis. They would not be doing that for no reason. A little odd when you had just arrived home, don’t you think?”
I shook my head. “Oh, that was because I was a little sarcastic this morning when I saw them in the garden. Both acting like they were God’s gifts.”
“Bailey, they are the equivalent of God’s gift to you and the rest of the pack. They are the Alpha’s sons. Of Alpha blood. The future Alpha. So why the fuck are you disrespecting them?!” Jordan’s voice is booming with anger.
“Hey! What is all the shouting about in here?” My Mum called through from the kitchen, but she didn’t actually come into the lounge to see what Jordan was shouting for. She would no doubt take his side, she always did. She thought the sun shone out of his rear end.
“Bailey doing Bailey things. Being the social pariah she has always been. The failure to the family as always.” Jordan says with a roll of his eyes. “A makeover doesn’t change what you are, you know.”
I glared at him. “And what am I, oh big shot Beta over here?”
He widens his eyes at the fact I have stood up to him, when in the past I never had. Being away has made me change. It had given me confidence, and the last few times I had come home, I had avoided my brother as he was staying with his girlfriend or was away at his Beta training. “Who the hell are you talking to?” his hand is suddenly gripping mine, tightly. His claws slipped out, digging into my skin, blood now trickling down my arm.
My wolf Akira was rippling beneath my skin, I could feel her presence coming closer to the surface, trying to help me heal the damage done to the skin that my brother’s claws were causing. But I can also sense her anger at how he is treating me. As werewolves, we are taught to respect our family, yet my brother is not showing respect to me. Not that he ever has…
“You.” I hissed, unable to get away while he had hold of me like that, and knowing that even if were to shift, my wolf would not be able to beat my brother’s.
“Well, I suggest you remember your place, Bailey. You may be Beta blood, but you are still a nobody in the pack. Nobody cares for you. Nobody would notice if you were gone, so bear that in mind before you go shooting your mouth off at people, Bailey.” Jordan says coldly, watching me with his dark eyes. And I see no love or care there for me. I hate that the man in front of me is my brother.
I felt a cold chill at his words. They sound an awful lot like a threat to me, but I am not about to show my brother his words have affected me. I know nobody in the pack particularly cares for me. All because I never fitted in. I was never one of the popular ones. Not like my brother and sister. All because I enjoyed studying. I became an outsider. But did that mean they would harm me? I shrugged, not willing to show him any emotions.
“You say that like I want to be here, Jordan. It isn’t like I wanted to come back. I asked not to. But I was told to. Alpha said I had to come home.” I told my brother sharply, and I saw his face contort in confusion.
“What? He did what? Like fuck the Alpha ordered you home! Miles said you begged to come home when they suggested you looked for work away, after your degree was done…” Jordan says in disgust, looking at me equally disgusted, telling me that this pack were not being honest. I do not know why Miles told my brother that, but I know for certain I had been instructed by Alpha Marshall, Miles’s Dad and my Uncle, to return home immediately once my degree was achieved. I had begged, yes, but it was the opposite of what Jordan suggested. I begged for a chance to look for work away from the pack, not wishing to return to the mundane life I had here. Nor to the mate who had rejected me. But I had been told it was not to happen…
I sigh to myself. I do not know why things were being twisted, but it only confirmed to me that being in my pack was far from the right thing for me. I needed to find something else, and I needed to find it soon…
I move through the packhouse at a pace faster than I would like to at this time of the morning, but I would do anything right now to get away from my fucking father! He has not stopped wittering in my ear since the moment I stepped from my bedroom this morning. And he didn’t even give me the chance to pour myself a coffee before he told me we should come to the packhouse to continue with the training he needed to give me.
Yes. I want to get this transfer of power done with. The alteration of him being Alpha to me taking my rightful position as Alpha of the pack, but shit, did he have to go on so fucking much?! I had done the necessary training away at Alpha training, so why my own Dad now needed to do his own training I did not know. But, he was adamant he would not hand this pack over to me until he felt I was ready. Personally, I think he just did not want to give up his power nor his control.
“Miles. We think you need to do a tour of the packs locally at least. Find your fated mate, or do more to do so.” My Dad’s voice echoed around my brain as we walked into the Alpha office.
I gave him a dark glare. “What?” This had never been mentioned before. Finding your fated mate was evidently something that happened when the right time came. A moment left up to fate itself. Something that was out of our control… So, why would they be pressuring me to rush this? I obviously know who my mate is… no, rephrase that… I know who my fated mate was. She isn’t mine anymore. And I could not be more fucking glad of that.
Yes, there is such a thing as a second chance mate, but that doesn’t happen for everyone, and it can take years… so, I know looking around for my mate would be nothing but a waste of time and effort. I am ready to be Alpha. I do not need some woman by my side to establish my place as leader of our pack. Once again, fucking Bailey West messing up my whole life. The world would have been a better place if her Dad had pulled out that night and let the shit that created that waste of space trickle down his wife’s leg…
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