Fated is overrated

Chris

POV

I shrug Cezar's worries off, and tell him to get some rest. As I am yawning and rubbing my tired eyes, I feel I could do with some much-needed rest as well. F*ck all this paperwork, I'll get to it another time. Paperwork isn't exactly my strong suit, it drains my energy completely.

I would much rather be training. I decide to go to bed, and I fall into a restless sleep. Waking up, I almost feel as exhausted as I did when I went to bed. So far for catching up on some sleep. For some reason, my mind kept racing a million miles an hour. Cezar also kept pacing, unable to sleep as well. It drove me completely insane. I drag myself out of bed to hit the shower. The relatively cold water does little to wake me up, but I guess it's a start. After the shower, I drag myself to the kitchen to make myself a coffee. Or 20.

I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I don't think I have ever been this tired in the past years. Or maybe even ever. "Damn, you look like sh*t" are the first words to be slung at me as I reach the kitchen, and by none other than Ashton.

He is already on my last nerve with the way he is mistreating his mate, let alone annoying me when I am moody and tired. "Tell me something I don't know. And it's Alpha, when we are not behind closed doors" I look at him sternly, hoping to get the point across. But, him being the knucklehead he is, I doubt he actually got the gest. Which he confirms not even a second later, by chuckling loudly. "Come on man, we are bros. Hey man, guess who I banged last night?" he continues to laugh, aggravating me further.

I can't suppress the low growl slipping from my throat before answering, "I should hope it was your mate?". The f*cker has the audacity to scoff at me before saying, "Of course not. Belinda from Blue Hue Pack".

I pinch the bridge of my nose before gritting out, all the while growling, "Tell me you are f*cking kidding me right now? You f*cked the beta's daughter of our neighboring pack? The pack we have a meeting within an hour?".

I didn't even know his daughter was back yet. As far as I know, she has been abroad for years. "Damn, someone is moody today. Who cares that they are our neighboring pack? She should be thankful I serviced her again". I let out a loud snarl, and I noticed Cezar was pushing forward with me as well.

"I F*CKING CARE! First off, you have a f*cking mate! And secondly, we need their cooperation to fight the rogues that are threatening the lives of our pack members!

Do you even care about that, or are you too busy sticking your d*ck where it doesn't belong?". Why the hell did I make this guy my beta again?

'Demote his *ss' Cezar snarls, practically frothing at the mouth. Cezar is fierce when it comes to protecting his pack members. "Yo calm down, man! What the hell has gotten into you? We used to laugh about this sh*t together" Ashton raises his hands in surrender, but neither Cezar or I are having any of it.

"YOU have gotten into me. In case you hadn't noticed, I haven't been laughing about " this sh*t" for years now. Do you know why? Because I grew the f*ck up. We are the Alpha and Beta now. Our pack members come first, you idi*t. And that includes your mate. Get your sh*t together, or I will do it for you" I growl out to him, before stomping off towards the dining hall. If I stay here, I might actually physically hurt the prick.

'I vote going back there and beating his *ss' Cezar chimes in, and a small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. I love how aligned he and I are nowadays. Especially since it hasn't always been this way, we have been at odds for far longer than I would have liked. I quickly gather some breakfast, I only have about an hour before blue hue arrives. Goddess, I hope Belinda isn't coming.

That would be awkward as hell. Not to mention it could destroy our relationship with them, if she finds out Ashton is mated already.

Although Belinda wouldn't have felt it, Ashton's mate Elise sure would. Being cheated on by your mate is excruciating, which is why it is a big no-go.

Luckily for Elise, they aren't fated, or it would have hurt even worse. My heart sinks when I see her walking into the dining hall with big bags under her puffy eyes. I can't stand to watch this any longer, Ashton is on his last warning.

Unfortunately, since the prick might not tell me about his endeavors anymore after my warning, I have to do something I really don't want to. I will have to Alpha command Elise to notify me as soon as he steps outside their bond again. I really don't want to Alpha command her and use my power over her, but I'm afraid she will be too scared to tell me otherwise.

I sigh to myself, before mind linking her in my Alpha tone from across the room. 'Elise, I'm sorry I have to do this, but I must command you to inform me as soon as Ashton steps outside your mate bond. This can't go on any longer and I have given him my final warning.

Elise's eyes turn as wide as saucers after I finish my command, and I can see tears starting to gather in her eyes. 'I'm so sorry Elise, I don't want to upset you, but you.. deserve so much better, is what I was going to say, before she interrupts me. 'Thank you, Alpha. Thank you so much'. This woman is so sweet, I can never understand how Ashton was able to get her to fall in love with him. She deserves the world.