The Alpha and The Fool

All my worry for Father to catch us outside the room with Dean was pointless. Father didn't come to see me until nearly nine in the evening. "So how did everything go?" I asked when he sat in the window seat. "The usual humdrum. That girl, Alice, she's not giving up on her silly ideals concerning the rogues," he replied as he gave me a narrowed eyed stare.

My throat tightened as he continued to stare. "What?"

"I should ask you that," he said in a gruff bark. "What did I do to deserve such betrayal from my family and those I most trust?"

Oh no. "W-what do you mean?"

Father scoffed and narrowed his eyes even more. "I'm no fool, girl. I can smell his scent, that boy, Dean, on you. You've been around him again. It could have only happened if Wesley allowed it. Why would my beta betray my orders?"

I sighed, pulling my legs up on the bed to sit cross-legged. "Wesley meant no disrespect to you, Father. He's Alpha Brent's son and how can Wesley refuse without causing tensions between our packs. Thanks to me, we're already on shaky ground with the alpha."

Father snorted and rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look. "What does he want from you, Nic? Why is the fool becoming such a thorn in my side?"

"Diplomacy?" I offered weakly. Father's eyes narrowed at me again. I licked my lips as I looked at my hands and said in a soft hush, "He's my mate." I cringed, waiting for him to explode, but I only received silence. So much so, I had to look up.

His jaw was clenched tightly as he stared at me. "Mate?"

I nodded.

"Well that won't do," he said shaking his head. "Not at all. You need a strong mate, not that...that clown!"

Although we had argued about this before, I wasn't able to stop myself. "Do I? I'm as strong as any man. I can match every guy on our enforcersl' team."

"Those men are not alphas, Nic."

"So? I'm not afraid of any man. Alpha or not, they will not take our pack from me," I said, lifting my chin with pride. I knew I would be able to, and so did the pack. The only one who doubted me was him. Father shook his head. "No. No, you can't. Men biological are gifted with more muscle mass and strength than women. An alpha male will always best you. Why do you think men and women do not play on the same sports team or compete against each other? Nic, all it takes is one loss to lose everything I've built, just one."

I considered mentioning the enforcer Dean told me about, but it didn't seem to be a good idea, not when Father thought so little of him. Instead, I decided to take the conversation into a different path. "And how do you know Dean isn't strong? Have you seen him fight or heard of his fighting skills?"

Father snorted again. "I've learned enough. Can you believe he's a nurse? What kind of man is a nurse?"

"Father, you can't seriously judge his character by his profession. You are better than that."

He made a humph sound. "I don't like him."

"You never said I needed to have a mate you liked," I shot back. "You only said I needed a strong mate."

Father frowned then scowled at me. "I will not hand my pack to that fool."

"You're not," I said, my voice rising an octave as anger warmed my blood. "You're handing it to me."

"Don't you raise your voice to me girl. I am your father and alpha.”

A growl rumbled out of my chest, and I didn't try to stop it. Right now, I doubted I could've even if I wanted to. "You are being difficult, Father. I hate this idea you have that I need a mate, because I don't, but I'm trying. Are you?"

"You don't get to question me," he said, his voice rising now.

My heart raced as my anger grew. "Why not? It's my life," I demanded, standing.

"This is not about you, you selfish girl! This about the pack and what's best for them."

I laughed a bitter, humorless laugh. "You can't honestly believe those men you introduced me to yesterday were better for the pack than me or even Dean for that matter?"

"Last warning, watch your tone, or I'll check it for you."

I stood and put my hands on my hips. "That's all you have to say? Watch my tone? You know I'm right."

"I do not. Where are you going?" he demanded as I moved towards the door. "I am not done with you."

"Yeah? Well, I'm done with you. Unless you want to test your theory of masculine superiority and force me to challenge you, Father, I suggest you don't get in my way." His eyes widened, and indecision crossed his face, but he didn't stop me from leaving. My hands open and closed as I stormed down the hall and instead of going to the gym, like I usually did when I was upset, I left the house.

We were surrounded by woods, and I didn't slow until I was well beyond the tree line. This angry, only my wolf would help me calm down. Despite everything, I didn't want to fight Father. I didn't want to humiliate him in front of the beta or other alphas. I undressed quickly, the cool air making my skin prickle in goosebumps, and grunted in pain as I shifted.

It took me almost three minutes to shift completely into my wolf. Shaking out my fur, a rumbling growl then a howl burst from my throat as I dashed off into the woods as fast as I was able. I was sure there was something in these woods I'd be able to hunt and dine on.

It was full dark when I returned to my pile of clothes and started the shift back to human. My teeth chattered in my head when I was fully human again, and I couldn't get dressed fast enough. As soon as I walked back inside, I saw Wesley waiting for me, a grim expression on his face. I blew out a breath. How badly had Father punished him, I wondered as I rubbed my arms, still cold.

As soon as I stepped up to him, Wesley spoke. "Your dad has been detained."

Anything I might have asked or had thought to say fled from my mind, and I stared at him. "What?" I finally managed.

Wesley blew out a breath and ran his hand over his face. "After you had left your dad came to see us. He was mad, well furious really. We tried to explain why we had to ignore his orders concerning Dean, but he wouldn't listen. Somewhere along our conversation, he was convinced Dean was the source of our insubordination."

Oh no. I stared up at the large man, silently begging him to tell me something other than what I imagined happened.

"We tried to stop him..."

I cringed. Oh no, no, no.

"He confronted Dean..."

Oh God, please don't tell me...

"Dean tried to be diplomatic and calm him down, but it only made your dad even angrier..."

Good Lord. I ran my hand over my head, the hair a little longer since I shifted.

"He attacked Dean, forcing him into a fight..."

I closed my eyes. It was exactly as I feared. "How bad is he?"

"Your dad-"

"Not him, Dean. How badly did Father hurt him? What is Alpha Brent going to do with my father?"

A twinkle of humor had flashed in Wesley's eyes before it disappeared behind the grim hardness once more. "As I said, your dad has been detained. As far as Dean..."