The Big Bad Wolf Mate

After we walked the entire area that consisted of his pack grounds he led me back to the pack house for what he called a debriefing but I knew he was needed there for other reasons. It was just after lunch by the time we arrived and most of the members were practicing or working in the yard.

This pack, much like Chase’s, used a big portion of land to grow crops for sustainability but they also raised a small herd of cattle for dairy products and had hundreds of chickens. Farming was easier on the West end due to the rich soil and beautiful pastures allowing the animals to be free-range. He showed me where they slaughtered the animals and what parts they used to avoid waste.

“Has your pack always farmed or was this something new you brought to the table when you took over?”

“We have been farming since the beginning but every Alpha has added something. I introduced the drainage and irrigating systems for easier cleaning. Also, the water comes from the natural springs and costs us little to nothing to maintain.”

He seemed extremely proud of himself but his self-doubt was lingering in his stare.

“So what else are you teaching me today?” I asked as we stepped onto the porch.

“How to handle business with a hard-headed Alpha.”

He pulled the door open letting me walk in first then followed behind me as we made our way to his office.

Deacon was walking down the hall as we passed and said “He's waiting in your office but I would make sure you keep this little lesson just between you and your mate.”

I looked at Bishop who was already starting to get annoyed and we hadn't even entered the room yet.

“I need you to promise me you won't say a word in here. Alpha Jenkins is a dear friend of the family but he and I don't get along as well as we should.”

I nodded my head wondering if me being here was appropriate but he nudged me forward into the room where the smell of burnt tobacco and mulberry hit me hard and it took everything I had to swallow down the bile rising in my throat. My wolf growled in my head and I quickly became alert to her warning.

“Alpha Sloan, so nice of you to finally join me.” He said before he turned around and locked eyes with me. “And who do we have here?”

“I apologize for being late but I wasn't aware we were meeting today.” He looked at me with a go-along-with-it look and said “This is Ember. She is interning at the pack.”

“I didn't think I needed a formal invitation to make a visit but if you would like me to call before I come next time I will.”

Bishop rolled his eyes and said, “You know you are welcome any time, no need for the sarcasm.”

To an outsider these two would have looked like enemies but to me, I knew very well is was a different story and I was dying to know what the deal was between these two.

“Ember, where are you from?” He said as he turned towards me and smiled.

“She’s from Portland, I needed a favor from Robert so I agreed to take in his niece due to some...personal issues.”

I looked down at my hands clasped tightly together, pretending to be embarrassed of the conversation. I may have not known what was going on but I was smart enough to stay out of it and if Bishop wasn't telling him the truth for a reason then it was probably best I keep my mouth shut.

After a few moments of silence, Bishop led me out of the room and down the hall to Deacon’s office and asked that I file some medical records while they discussed business. I wanted to know why he was acting this way but I knew I would have to wait until his visitor was gone to ask about it.

He left and I started looking through the papers, filing them accordingly but it didn't take me long before I was done and bored out of my mind. I began rummaging through the books on the shelf when I noticed a thick red book tucked in the corner. My curiosity was peaked and before I knew it I was sliding it out and opening it.

Dates, times, complaints, everything was listed in order and I wasn't sure what I was looking at until Bishop’s name appeared several times throughout the list.

“It's been three weeks since we've heard from him and the members are beginning to worry that he may never come back. I'm afraid we have become too vulnerable despite all my efforts to keep the warriors at their best but they are exhausted and I don't know how we will keep safe without him.”

I read aloud as I flipped through the pages. Every one filled with more and more details about their life here without him and how much they loved and missed him. I began to wonder if he even realized how much respect these wolves had for him and a pang of jealousy hit me hard. Would I ever earn this type of respect or would my pack forever live in the sexist ages of our ancestors?

The door opened slowly but I was so enthralled with the book that I didn't see Deacon walk up to me.

“He is a great man but all he sees is his failure.”

I jumped when he began talking, dropping the book to the floor.

“I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry.” He reached down and picked it up then placed it back on his desk.

“It's ok. I've kept a journal for every day he's was missing. Most of it was observed from afar but some of it were concerns from members. About a year ago we started having problems with prowlers popping up dead along our border and your cousin's border. They assumed since he rejected his mate he had gone crazy but...”

“He was protecting you all.” I gasped in relief. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I knew he wasn't doing it intentionally from the moment my uncle mentioned it but I had no proof and now that I did, I would make sure Chase and Uncle Mark knew the truth behind the monster they thought he was.

"He was hurting but he would never leave us in danger and since that day he has ensured that we will always be protected even though he hasn't officially come back as our Alpha. Although, since he met you he's been here every day."

I smiled, hoping I was the reason he decided to come back but a huge part of me was hurting. We were mates but our lives were taking us in different paths and I wasn't sure if we would ever be able to make it work. I needed to free my pack from the injustices they have endured and change things so that we could grow. I needed to do this, not just for me, for them but could I truly do it alone while my mate stayed here running his own pack?

The good ole arrogant Bishop is back!!!! And being as hot as ever.

What is up with this Alpha Jenkins character? I have a feeling their relationship is more than just family friends.

Even when he was going through such heartache he still protected his pack and Chase's. I knew he wasn't a blood thirsty wolf.