Big Bad Wolfie

Jason's POV

Okay, they look way less surprised than I was expecting.

They're obviously pissed.

But not surprised.

'Should we be insulted?'

Maybe if they weren't right.

Ki huffed like a child and retreated to the back of my mind under my parents stare.

"I knew something like this was gonna happen," my father glared at my mother.

If I was in wolf form my ears would have flattened in guilt and embarrassment.

I knew he didn't have faith in me.

But I guess he was right.

"Love, calm down. Everyone makes mistakes when they first start," Mom tried to calm him with a hand on his chest. "This was a big one, but he'll make it right," she looked to me with stern eyes.

I went to nod but our attention was drawn back to my father.

"No, I told you he wasn't ready," he growled.

He's right... I wasn't ready.

"Dear, we can talk about this later," Mom snipped at him, "Right now we have to guide our son and our pack through this."

She looked back at me, and I tried to harden my features to look strong for her.

My father scoffed. "This never would have happened with -"

My heart stopped.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Richard!"

My father was about to argue back but I stopped them. "No... He's right."

I looked down because I couldn't bare my parents' disappointed faces anymore. "If Dillan was alpha this never would've happened."

"Wolfie," I heard Maria whisper from behind me.

Ha, forgot she was here...

I assume she was trying to be encouraging.

But I don't think she's ever gonna drop that d@mn nickname.

Everyone stayed quiet until Mom spoke, "Son -"

"It's alright. Dad's right, as always."

"It should have been me," I mumbled as I tore open the door and left.

"Jason!" I heard Maria call after me, but I can't go back to her. Back to them. I'm such a f*cking disappointment.

Maria's POV

I turned to go after him but his mom called me back. "Maria, let him cool down."

"But-"

He always goes after me.

"Dear, we have things to discuss," she reminded me sadly.

Goddess, I hate this.

"You're right," I breathed out slowly as I sat down in one of the chairs. My stomach stung at the pain, but I pushed it away.

I sent a quick glare to Wolfie's father and tried to steel myself.

This conversation is gonna suck.

These are my mate's parents for crying out loud. And now I have to make demands for something that I've already unintentionally forgiven Wolfie for.

"First you're going to tell the troops in my territory the new development and call them back," I started quickly just to get it over with, forcing myself to look them in the eyes. I've never had such trouble with it before, but this is different.

"Why don't you do it?" His father, 'Richard' snapped at me.

His wife shot him a side glance.

"I think your people will take it better if it comes from you," I explained to him, trying to keep the malice and shakiness out of my voice at the same time.

"There will still be backlash from them," he said blankly.

"My warriors and I will deal with that."

"Y

couldn't the first time."

"Richard!" His Luna growled at his off hand comment.

You didn't seem so doubtful of what I'm capable of during our first visit Richard.

"I wasn't their leader then," I felt a pang at the reminder that my aunt and uncle are still lying in the forest where we left them, "and your pack didn't have the guts to let us put up a fight." "You mean my son didn't have the guts."

"Richard, maybe you should leave this to me!" His Luna scolded him, "You obviously can't maintain professionalism."

Oh please no.

His blatant disrespect is the only thing keeping me from feeling like a total @sshole for making demands.

If you take the lead there's no way I'll be able to order you around.

"No way," he grumbled in response.

"Then behave yourself!" She ordered.

All he did was growl.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I can see where Wolfie gets his immaturity.

"And what of our depleting supplies? I'm assuming that was your doing. Trade routes don't just magically cut themselves off," he continued with a clenched jaw.

"Yes, I'll be redirecting the majority of what's been kept from you to my house to try and sate my people. I don't want to hurt your pack, but my house is obviously going to seek retribution, and I think that's a start."

Wolfie's father ran a hand over his face but didn't say anything, so I took it as my cue to continue.

My next topic of conversation popped into my head and I got uncomfortable. Might as well rip the bandaid off.

"Are you aware of your son's dealings with Master Abaddon?"

They both responded at the same time with completely different reactions.

"What?!"

And, "Yes," his mother nodded solemnly, while her husband's eyes bulged out of his head.

He sputtered. "What? You knew about this?"

"I had a hunch," the Luna put her hand on his shoulder to calm him. "Our son wasn't acting himself and you know it. I figured he'd fallen into the wrong crowd."

"Why in h3ll wouldn't you tell me this?"

I sat quietly and waited for them.

"Because it was just a hunch, and I wanted our son to make the right decision on his own," she told him softly. "I wanted him to make amends on his own," she gestured to me.

"And he has," I tried to assure his father. "At least, with me he has, and one day, he'll make amends with my house too. But before he does that, I'm going to help him out if the mess he's in" "Won't that just put us deeper in debt with your house?" His father frowned.

"Technically, yes, but we're mates... And I think both of us just assumed that after this bumpy start we'd lead together... Or at least I did, and I'm still holding onto that. So if we join our territories once my house has gotten its compensation, any debt will be void."

"And if my son won't have it?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"He will," I stated surly.

"I agree," his Luna nodded.

He gave her the side eye and shifted in his seat. "And if I don't?"

I stared at him.

"With all due respect."

"I don't care," I told him blankly.4

His face showed every bit of his dissatisfaction with that response.

"I agree," Wolfie's mother said again.

Her husband's head shot in her direction with an offended glare.

I smiled.

Wolfie's mom and I are going to be good friends.

A low grumble came from the alpha's chest as he faced back towards me and put his forearms on the table to lean over it more, "Will that be all?" He gritted through his teeth.

"I hope so, but I have to consult my house and the people that were hurt, or those whose families were put under stress due to the arrangements Wolfie put in place."

I heard the Luna giggle.

Oops, curse my attachment to his nickname.

"You could just make the decision on your own," Wolfie's dad spoke up. "No need to bring your house into your decision."

I frowned, "That may be the way you do things here, but that's not how we work at my house."

"It isn't what we do here either," his wife shot him a glance. "We understand, dear."

I looked into her strong eyes and couldn't help but think of wolfie.

"I'll try and convince them to go easy on the pay back, but I can't control them or refuse too many of their requests. We all know what happens when the people feel ignored."

Neither responded, but I wasn't really expecting them to.

Wolfie's father rubbed his temples and his mother sat looking contemplative.

I think this is a great time to get the h3ll out of this terribly uncomfortable situation.

Jason's POV

Where the h3ll are they hiding the vodka and whiskey?!

I need to get f*cked up and a bottle of fireball isn't gonna do it.

I let Ki out to help us blow off some steam with a run.

I'm not surprised we ended up at a bar.

After shifting back, I waved a greeting to the bar tender and immediately hopped over the counter and into the alcohol storage area.

And I can't find the d@mn whiskey or vodka.

I found tequila and shrugged.

This should do.

I could see Malaki nod, 'A couple bottles will work just fine.'

After only the second bottle, a beautiful scent wafted in.

She walked in through the back door.

"Jason?" Maria frowned as she looked at my surroundings.

"What?"

She frowned deeper when it came out a little too loudly.

Okay I might be a little tipsy.

"Don't worry, I'm gonna pay for it," I tried to reassure her to wipe the frown off her face.

"Wolfie, I worked everything out with your parents —"

"Oh good, great, mhm," I nodded and took another swig.

She sighed and came closer to me, "Maybe you should just relax now. We had a long drive, and —"

"I am relaxing."

She huffed, "Jason! No you're not!"

I went quiet, "... Sorry."

She didn't even call me Wolfie.

"We haven't had a decent meal in weeks, let's just get some food and relax."

At least she's saying we.

"There's still stuff to do," I mumbled.

"I know that, Wolfie. It can wait for tomorrow."

Wolfie...

"... Why have you forgiven me so quickly?" I asked her seriously, looking at her through the messy bangs hanging in front of my eyes. I hung my head, "You could have never forgiven me at all, and I wouldn't have been able to blame you."

There was silence for a few seconds and my heart froze in terror.

Maybe that changed her mind.

"You're my mate, you idiot. Of course I forgave you."

My heart started back up again.

I felt a smile inching onto my lips.

"And grudges are for people who don't have anything better to do than hate. I don't have time for that. Anyway, we'll talk about it more later, now's not the time."

That's my girl.

'Hey j@ckass, that's OUR girl.'

"Plus, I already got you back for some of your bullsh*t. Now take me out to dinner, @sshole."☐☐☐☐☐