Four days, it had been four days since Brinn's departure. My wolf was on edge and wouldn't let me hear the last of it. His constant whining and mood swings weren't helping the situation either. I had a ton of pack work pilling up by the day. Ryan tried his best to help out, but he had his own duties to attend to. I knew today was the day I needed to get back to work despite the throbbing pain in my chest. I had a pack to run, and I refused to let the pack fail due to my stupid decisions.

Talking to Brinn on the phone the other day helped eased my paranoia a little, but my wolf and I still missed her.

It didn't take a genius to figure out Alex was the one who informed Brinn. I was furious with her at first. It was none of her business to tell my dirty secrets. I still felt the same way, but I wasn't quite as mad at her anymore. I was the root of the problem.

I walked through the pack house, ignoring the looks of pity and concern from the on passing pack members. They hadn't seen me in days, so I understood their concerns. I stayed secluded in my house for days. Only allowing Ryan to visit me, and that was just to update me on the pack's status.

I opened my office door then closed it. Closing my eyes I sighed, this was harder than I thought. Getting back into the swing of things was not going to be a walk in the park.

I took a seat at my desk the mind linked Ryan. Bring Seth to my office.

On it. He replied.

Seth had no business helping Brinn escape. Was I furious? Yes. My wolf wanted to rip him apart at the sight of him. But I promised Brinn I would leave him unharmed. She took a liking towards him, a liking I didn't approve of. But under the circumstances, I had no right to complain.

Seth stumbled into the office with Ryan right behind him. Ryan nodded then left us alone. Seth stared at the ground, refusing to make eye contact. He cleared his throat, "You wanted to speak with me a-alpha." He straightened and stared at the wall behind me, trying not to show weakness. He wouldn't look me in the eye, no, that was a sign of disrespect and my wolf didn't take lightly to disrespect.

"I want to offer you a position as a warrior." My wolf growled in my head, showing his teeth.

Seth's eyes went wide. "W-what?"

"Yes. This is not something I am particularly happy about, but I need to ask a favor of you." He nodded vigorously. "Yes, anything."

"How do you feel about Lilly, your mate?" I needed Lily out of my hair and away from me if I had any chance of getting Brinn back.

His wolf made an appearance through his eyes, excitement rolling through him. "How did you know?"

I rolled my eyes. "I just do."

He nodded. "I care about her, but she seems to be attached to you." I arched my eyebrows, then poured myself a glass of scotch. "She's not attached to me Seth, more like my status."

He squirmed uncomfortably. "Lily doesn't want me." I brushed him off. "Don't worry about Lily."

"Yes alpha."

"You may leave." He hurriedly exited my office.

Now time to deal with Lily.

***

Lily strolled into my office like she owned the place. See this was the problem, she had gotten way too comfortable and needed to know her place. I pushed the folders aside then placed my hands on the desk. "Lily."

"Alpha." She smiled brightly.

"You and Seth will be announced as mates at dinner." Her smile quickly faded and morphed into anger. She balled her hands into fists. "This was our chance Titus! She's finally out of the picture and you still pick the pup over me! When will you learn?! She can't help you run a pack, she can barely wipe her own áss!"

I slammed my fist against my desk, causing her to flinch. "That is enough!"

"I will always choose Brinn over you or anyone else who tries to come in between us! She is mine! And you are meant to be with Seth!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "No. I won't accept him as my mate."

My wolf was fed up with her disobedience. I was the alpha, not her. It was time she realized that. I stood and walked towards her. When I was standing face to face with her she back away until her back hit me the wall. I grabbed her neck and lifted her off her feet. "You will accept him as your mate. That is not a request. Do you understand!" I spat through clenched teeth. She nodded hurriedly.

I released my grip on her neck. She fell to the ground gasping for air. "Collect yourself then get the fúck out." I said as I walked to my desk.

I sat down then proceeded to go over the folders I pushed aside earlier.

***

It was evening time when I completed the majority of the pack work. Satisfied with my accomplishment, I decided to go for a run. My wolf was slowly clawing his way out by the minute and was in dying need to sink his teeth into the flesh of an animal.He had become quite aggressive since Brinn left. Sometimes I felt it becoming harder and harder to control him. I knew this would become a problem sooner or later.

I didn't make it very far down the hallway when my mother came into view. When our eyes met, I quickly turned around and walked in the other direction. I was not ready for this conversation.

"Titus Henry Malloy! Come here now!" I stopped in my tracks and ran my hand over my face. I slumped in defeat when I heard the clicking of her heels approaching.

I turned around just in time for the palm of her hand to come in contact with my cheek. "Mom what the-"

"Now you listen here." She glared at me with indignant eyes. "How dare you order those warriors to keep me out of my own son's house?" I went to speak, but she shot me a glare that said it all. I quickly shut my mouth.

"I am your mother dámnit and I deserve some respect!" My eyes widened. I had never in my life heard my mom curse, so this was a complete shock to me. She was a very modest woman who grew up with strict parents.

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me. I took this as my time to speak up. "Look mom, I'm sorry okay. You're right, I shouldn't have shut you out, I'm just going through a lot right now." Her cloudy eyes softened at my explanation.

She pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry you're going through this, but you'll grow from this, I can guarantee it." She whispered into my shoulder.

She pulled away then caressed my cheek. "I wish I could have given you a brother or sister. You seemed so lonely as a kid." I shook my head. "I'm fine mom."

My parents tried several times to have another pup. But after many miscarriages, they realized it wasn't in the moon goddess's plans to produce another pup. I remember the many times my mother would stay locked in her room crying. I didn't understand as a small pup but knowing now hurt me even more.

I hoped the moon goddess would bless Brinn and I. I wanted many pups, though I couldn't bring myself to tell her that. I knew the idea of pups freaked her out. I didn't understand why, as pups are a blessing. But I didn't want to fight her on it.

"I'm going on a run. I'll be back before dinner." She nodded. "Okay be careful." I placed a kiss on her cheek then took off down the hall.

When I reached the clearing in the woods I quickly mind linked the pack. Attendance for dinner is required by all pack members. This is not a request.

I shifted into my wolf then sped through the forest. The snows icy blanket quickly covered my grey coat of fur. I ran as fast as I could, the forest surroundings going past me in a blur.

I stopped by a nearby stream and shook out my fur. I was taking a sip of water when I heard rustling in the bushes. I pushed myself to the back of my mind and let him take over. This is what he needs.

He lunged back on his haunches, ready to pounce and any second. The rabbit stuck his head out. This was his chance, he pounced on the animal in an instant. His animalistic instincts kicked in as he drove his canines into the rabbit's flesh.

Dinner went by calmly. Everyone had questions about Seth and Lily being mates. But they knew it was not up for discussion so no one dare spoke out about it. It was a shock to both families. Seth hadn't spoken a word to his parents or sister. Lily apparently warned her father before the dinner. He was furious and requested a meeting in my office.

I agreed only if Seth and his parents attended as well. Lily's father was a pack warrior a couple of years ago, but I had to take his position away due to his sporadic temper. He caused a lot of problems with some of my best warriors. Constantly causing fights and angering my pack members, he's luckily I didn't kick him out of my pack. You never really knew what kind of mood you were going to get from him.

I unlocked my office door and gestured for Seth and his parents to enter. Lily and her dad haven't arrived yet, which angered me since he was the one to call this meeting.

Seth and his parents sat on the couch while I took the seat behind my desk. "Thank you for allowing us to attend alpha." Seth's mother said.

"No problem Lola." She smiled then gave Seth's hand a reassuring squeeze. Seth smiled at his mom then stared down at his lap.

His father cleared his throat. "Thank you for making my son a warrior." He said with a toothy grin.

"Of course. He deserves it." I meant it. Despite my irritation towards Seth, he did deserve to be a warrior. He was one of the hardest working wolfs trainees.

Seth opened his mouth to speak, but before the words could leave his mouth, my office door slammed open. I rolled my eyes. "Ron." I said addressing Lily's father." He and Lily took a seat on the opposite couch, not wanting to be near Seth or his family.

"What were your concerns Ron." I directed my attention towards him. Giving the opportunity to speak was probably the worst thing I could have done. "My daughter will not be mating with that pup. She was meant to lead not follow a lost cause." He said in disgust. Lily held her chest held high and smirked.

I broke into laughter. "Lead what exactly?"

Seth's mother cut in. "That's fine. I don't want my son mating with that whóre." She shook her head. "Have some respect for yourself."

Lily scoffed, "Are you kidding me? He didn't save himself either!" She pointed towards me. "But because I'm a female I'm a whóre!"

Seth's mom stood. "Don't you dare! He's not the only one you've been with. We all know how you...get around." She said while making a disgusted face. Lily sunk into her seat and bit her lip. Seth's father pulled Lola back down to her seat and calmed her down.

This wasn't news to me. Lily paraded around with many of the males in the pack. So as to why she continued to attach herself to me, only meant she was in it for the wrong reasons.

"Enough!" Ron shouted. I stood to my feet followed by him. My wolf was inches away from clawing his face off. "You are going to mate with my daughter and you are going to make her Luna of this pack!" He demanded.

I walked closer towards him until we were face to face. I stood about a foot taller than him so his demands only made him look weak. "Are you challenging me Ron?" He took a step back and mumbled a couple of profanities.

Smart move.

He knew going up against an alpha was a death sentence, so standing down was his best option. Even though it was clearly eating away at him. But it was stupid of me to think she would let this go. "You threw my daughter away like a piece of trash so you can mate with that trámp!" That was it.

I punched him square in the face. He stumbled backward and fell to the floor. The punch was enough to knock him out causing Lily to begin screaming and crying.

I rolled my eyes and mind linked a few pack members to carry him out. They showed up a couple seconds later and dragged his limp body out of the room. Lily tried to go with her father but I gotta her arm stopping her. "Sit down." I said in my alpha command. She did as she was told.

Seth's parents held mortified expressions while Seth held a look of...boredom. She looked up at me with glossy eyes and nodded. "Get your father under control. I'm so close to kicking him out of the pack." She nodded.

"You can leave." She jumped to her feet then ran out of the door.

I turned my attention to Seth and his family. I quickly regretted my decision on trying to make them work out. All I was doing was causing more problems with my own selfish behavior. "Look, I'm not a therapist, you do what you want. If you want to fight for her then go for it, but you can't make her want something she doesn't."

He nodded. "Understood."

"Now get some rest, training starts tomorrow."

"Yes alpha."

When Seth and his family left I sighed in relief. I sunk down into my chair and ran my hand over my face. I grabbed the picture frame of Brinn and me, she had just had her 12th birthday. She was so excited to see me that day. I had to get down on my knees to accommodate her tiny frame. My arm draped over her shoulder while I smiled down at her.

"F*ck!" I shoved all of the items that were on my desk on the floor. I buried my first in my hair. The whole situation was f*cked! All because I couldn't keep it in my pants. I lived in the moment, no regard for the consequences that were to come. I let my rebellion cloud my thinking and now I was paying the price. I needed her, I needed Brinn.

My wolf began whining in the back of my mind. He crawled into a ball and covered his face with his tail. I've never experienced this type of pain and I never wanted to experience it again. I had to get her back, and I would do anything to make that possible.

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