Page 20 of Thor's Unexpected Mate

“I don’t like your insinuations, brother.”

“Then let me make myself clear once and for all,” he said, pushing himself up from the chair. “I’ll follow your lead as Alpha. But the first time you put this pack in danger for your own selfish whims, especially if it involves a human, I will take your place.”

That got my hackles up in an instant. I felt the wolf inside me swell, my own body bulging against my clothing as the beast threatened to overtake me. If there was one thing Alphas didn’t like, it was being challenged for their position in the pack. That part of our instincts couldn’t be repressed.

“I’d like to see you try, brother,” I growled back.

“I’ve beaten you before,” he replied confidently. “So maybe it’s you that should keep yourself in line.”

With that, he stormed out of the room leaving just Baldr and I behind.

“You two are never going to get along, are you?”

I let out a long sigh, forcing the wolf inside me back down. “We’ve been fighting since we were kids,” I replied. “I’ve tried everything I can think of to be friends with him. But it seems like the crime I committed against him is the only one that I can’t undo.”

“And what’s that?”

“I was born first.” I paused. “And I look too much like the mother he never got to meet.”

“I still can’t believe a Luna of all things died during childbirth,” Baldr said softly. “It’s such an uncommon thing.”

“That’s the risk of being mated to an Alpha. Those in charge of the pack rarely live as long as those below them.” I glanced over at Baldr. “And I know he’s upset father took a witch for a second mate. He holds that against you unfairly.”

“It’s fine,” Baldr shrugged. “I understand his anger. To be denied your own mother then have another, non-werewolf one forced upon you… that’s a lot for a child to deal with.”

“He’s not a child anymore.”

“No, he’s not. But those wounds still hurt him, nonetheless.”

“How can you be so calm about it?”

“Because,” Baldr shrugged. “I know the truth.”

“Which is?”

“The three of us have a lot more in common than just a father. And I’ve seen the future. The first vision I ever had was of my last day on this earth.”

“You… You what?!”

“Don’t ask me any details,” Baldr smiled, waving me off. “Just know that I saw the three of us together. So, no matter how fucked up things get around here, I know we’ll come back to one another in the end.”

I shook my head. “I hope you’re right about that.”

“My visions are never wrong.” He patted me on the shoulder as he got up from his chair. “I’m going to go speak to the pack elders and let them know what’s going on. I’ll make sure your message is received.”

“Thank you, Baldr.”

“And,” he added, glancing back. “Whatever you do, don’t let Loki find out about your new mate. That’s the last thing we need with tensions so high.”

“I’m not worried about Loki.”

“You should be,” he insisted. “Out of everyone in this pack, you know he’ll make good on his threats. And this pack is upset enough without a regime change. If Loki takes over, you know he’ll march us right up to Tyr’s front door and declare an all-out war. It’s your sense of preservation that will keep our pack from falling. Don’t let us down.”

“Right,” I nodded as he turned back toward the door.

I just had to make sure I never did anything for myself ever again. Any feelings I had were to remain in check and I had to stay logical at all costs, even when facing my fated mate.

No pressure.

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