Page 9 of The Alpha's Arranged Bride

“Why didn’t you just banish him?”

He stroked Levi’s hair with tenderness. “If I banished everyone who is bitter, hardened, and has a different opinion than me, we’d have no pack. I’m trying to create a world where you and your generation can grow up without knowing the taste of blood and the fear of the sword. Where you don’t have to fear that your children will be stolen or your mate… killed.”

Both boys bowed their heads. They could barely remember their mother, gone six years ago, taken in one of the many raids before he was ever alpha. Losing Breanne was the motivation he needed to change the conversation in his head from wishing things could be different, especially for his children, to finding a way to make a different world for them.

“I know things are hard here, but with hard work, I know it can be better. I hope that by the time you’re both grown, what happened to your mother and all the bloodshed and death and unquiet here are things that belong to the past. It’s important to remember our past so that we can change our future.”

Both boys nodded solemnly. Blake spoke first. “You need to shower so we can get the rest of you salved and bandaged.”

“What about our new mom?” Levi asked. He’d called her that ever since he learned months ago that she’d be coming.

Blake would never address her that way, but Levi barely remembered his mother, and other than from the pictures they had and the memories Agnar kept alive for both his sons, Levi wouldn’t have known a thing about her.

“She’ll be okay. She was drugged by the ones who challenged me, or by Alexander. They just put something in her beer hoping she’d publicly embarrass herself and me included.”

“What did they give her?” Blake knew all about herbs.

“I’m not sure.” He wasn’t, but he didn’t need to go into the details about how it had no doubt lowered what sexual inhibitions she might have had.

He’d noticed from the start that her pupils were dilated, and she was breathing too fast, that her pulse throbbed, and she was wet and ready and stared at him like she’d wanted to be fucked in every conceivable way a person could be fucked, right there in front of everyone.

That wouldn’t have in itself been cause for embarrassment, because on ceremonial and celebration nights, all sorts of debauchery occurred in sight of anyone who cared to look. And if anything, seeing their alpha claim his mate publicly would have made it appear he was following the old ways.

There must have been another purpose to those herbs. A loosening of the tongue, maybe. Perhaps it was just meant to induce silly, carefree behavior. What Alexander would have wished was that Prairie Rose made a spectacle of herself, challenged their pack ideas and ideals, spoke out loudly against the things she didn’t like or didn’t believe in, decried the warrior ethos, and then passed out in an undignified heap. It would have proved how unfit and weak she was, especially as an alpha’s mate. Any little weakness would have been picked apart and used like a blade against him.

“She’s going to be fine, though.”

“Why was she covered in blood?” Blake was sharp. Too sharp for any normal ten-year-old. “Was it yours?”

“No. She stopped one wolf who challenged me from bleeding out. Tore off her dress and helped his mate. They’ll be banished, but he’ll live, I think. Alexander tried to stab me. He didn’t succeed because she grabbed an axe and distracted him.”

“How?” Levi wasn’t going to let it go either.

“She swung it and it sunk into his arm.” Just about cleaved the thing clean off. He hadn’t finished the job, but Alexander was a tough bastard. He’d probably survive with just one arm and live to haunt him. He wouldn’t go quietly.

“She did?” Both boys were awed. A little too much.

“She saved your life,” Blake pointed out.

That stuck like the blade that hadn’t landed. He now owed his new mate, a mere wisp of a woman who he’d thought a spoiled princess, his life. She’d saved it in front of everyone, and even though Alexander had no right to try to harm him outside of a fair challenge, the first one hadn’t been fair either. All his plans to embarrass them had failed. The challenge failed. Exposing Prairie Rose as a wilted, timid little flower shaking in the wind, someone who would never thrive or fit in with the pack and would always be a source of dissention and tension, had failed when she’d nearly taken one of his limbs.

While heavily drugged.

But still. Allowing himself to be very nearly stabbed in the back and having a tiny slip of a woman save his life wasn’t exceptionally manly. No doubt his new mate would have no words to justify what she’d see as an idiotic statement. She didn’t understand the old warrior’s oath of death before dishonor. She’d dismiss it as a token statement made by those who thought it was easier to die than to live. She’d probably accuse him of being one of those people. He had life and breath, but he’d told her he’d never love her because he refused to fully live that life again in the name of a warrior’s honor. That wasn’t what he was doing, but she’d probably see it that way.

“I’ll go shower now, boys. When I’m done, you’ll bandage me up?”

Blake nodded. He started going through the kits, taking out rolls of gauze and bandages, more iodine and rubbing alcohol, ointments and salves, needles and thread for stitching.

He glanced towards where Prairie Rose lay sleeping, her breathing was steady. It was clear that whatever she’d been given was still affecting her, but it was more a drunken slumber than unconsciousness. He was pretty sure she’d be okay.

“I’ll make you breakfast,” Levi promised, puffing out his chest because he was proud to be of use.

“Thank you both. Without your help, I’d never be ready to face the pack in the morning.”

And face them he would. No matter what shape he was in, he couldn’t let what happened last night, stand unchallenged. He’d once vowed that he’d give his life for the pack, and he very nearly had. He was still alpha, and he needed to address his pack and regroup, even if he truly wished that the challenge and betrayal of just hours ago had never happened at all.

It had and it would have to be dealt with before anything else.

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