The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

Miles was watching our awkward exchange, and decided to take mercy on me. "So, dad. You know those cameras that were installed around the perimeter. I noticed today there were a lot of blind spots, and huge gaps in coverage around the border. Why didn't you have them installed to cover the entire perimeter when they were put in?"

"Oh, well, back then they were meant to just cover the easiest accesses to the pack. A lot of the land was covered in overgrowth too thick to get through. We thinned out a lot of the forest and dead trees to prevent wildfires, but never installed cameras to cover those areas." "Ah," Miles nodded, taking a swig of his beer. The two of them started going on and on about the border precautions of the pack, and I easily fell back into the headspace I used to go to when they would talk like this, and I would sit back and feel left out. It was never because I wasn't interested in the past. I just didn't feel worthy to join in on the discussion. Duties like border patrol that fell solely on the shifted wolves wasn't something I could have an opinion on back then. I didn't have a wolf. "You have one now," Rome said softly, and I could feel his support.

"I know, but that doesn't erase the past."

I took a drink of my beer, then tried to just watch my mate, looking beautiful in the kitchen with red sauce on the corner of her mouth. I was thinking about getting up and licking it off of her, but then my dad decided to cut into my daydreams with a question. "So, Mick, how was your first shift?"

There it is. I knew he wouldn't be able to resist asking about me gaining a wolf for long.

"You were there," I said. "It hurt like hell, and then it was over."

"Well, that's common, son. I mean, how do you feel now that you have a wolf?"

I scoffed, counting my teeth with the tip of my tongue to focus on something else for a second before I blew up at my dad.

"How do you feel, now that I have a wolf, Pops? Do you feel like I'm worthy enough to be your son now?" "Mick!" Miles snapped.

Mom had her hand over her mouth, and Nonna had stopped cooking to study us with worry. Chloe was setting down her wine, like she was getting ready to step in to my defense again. Even though dad looked hurt by my outburst, I couldn't stop myself from letting more venom spill out. A lifetime of repressed anger was bursting free.

"I bet you slept like a fucking baby last night, knowing your disappointment of a son finally has the one thing that always made me lacking. Do you want to get the betas and gammas and have them all go up against me one after another like you did in the past to make sure that I am worthy now?"

"Mick, I never did that to see if you were worthy. I was doing it to help prepare you for the world after you and your brother took over this pack."

"By making me constantly feel like shit because of something I couldn't prevent?" "No. No, son. Just listen."

"No, you listen. I may have a wolf now, but I'm not going to forgive you for the years of abuse and-"

"Mick," Chloe placed her hand on my shoulder, making a wave of calm travel all through me. It made me gasp from the sudden relief that I felt. I stared up at her in surprise, and was struck by the faint purple glow surrounding her dark irises. It faded back to normal after a few seconds, but it was definitely glowing for a moment, and the effects her touch had on me were more than the mate bond. It stole the anger in me completely, leaving me breathless.

When she seemed sure I was calm, she looked up at my dad. "Sir, I think it's time you told him the truth. The whole truth. Everything you told Miles after Mick left."

Pop's eyes went wide for a moment, then he looked at Miles before looking back at Chloe. His face went through a number of emotions before settling on determination, giving Chloe a slight nod.

"You're right. I think it's time too."

"I'll give you two some privacy," she smiled gently, then started to move back to the kitchen. I reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Stay with me." I needed her. I needed her touch.

"Okay," she whispered with a reassuring grin. She didn't move to the spot beside me, but sat right on my lap, and I wrapped my arms around her body like a lifeline. She was my lifeline. I don't have the faintest clue what it could be that Chloe was telling Pops to say to me, but I trusted her. I just didn't trust myself to sit there and listen without showing my resentment again without her.

"Mick," Pops said. "I want to tell you a story for you to understand. It's a story about my brother. My twin."