Page 23 of Alpha Theo

“Joe’s stepping down and Cory’s going to be taking his place as Beta,” Dad finishes, grinning across the table at Cory.

“What the fuck?” I blurt, anger rising up in my chest. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Theo!” Dad barks, scowling at me.

“No, Dad, this is fucking bullshit and you know it!”

My wolf is thrashing around inside of me and I’m so angry that I practically see red.

Dad’s scowl deepens. “Calm down, son. And watch your language.”

“How’d you expect me to react?!” I demand, rising to my feet.

“With a little more maturity,” he scoffs.

Fuck this.

I slap my palms on the table, leaning over it toward my dad. “Because you don’t think I’m mature enough to take over as Alpha, right? Isn’t that what you always say?!” I point over at Cory. “He’s three yearsyoungerthan me, Dad! How the fuck isheready butI’mnot?!”

My father throws his napkin down and rises to his feet, leaning toward me with the same dominant stance. “It’s not your place to question my decisions, son.”

I roll my eyes, my wolf still rattling around in my chest, clawing to get out. “It is when they’re fucking bullshit, horrible decisions!”

“Enough!” Dad bellows, slamming the table with a fist. “You’re only proving how immature you are, how unprepared you are to run this pack.” He points to Cory, continuing. “Cory may be younger than you, but he has amate, he’ssettled, he’s not still running around sowing his wild oats…”

I cut him off by picking up my dinner plate, chucking it at the wall. It crashes against it and splinters into shards, clattering to the floor. “Bullshit!” I seethe. “It’s all fucking bullshit!”

The room falls silent, save for my ragged breathing as I stare daggers at my dad. He just shakes his head, grumbling.

“You’re lucky your mom isn’t around to see the kind of man you turned out to be.”

His words are like a fucking knife straight to my heart. I freeze, just staring back at him, blinking. I can’t find words to respond, all I manage is a whispered “fuck you” as I turn around and storm out of the room, stomping down the hall and up the stairs.

I don’t know why I go upstairs rather than straight out of the house- maybe it’s a force of habit, since I always stormed off to my room when I used to live here and my dad and I got into it. Either way, I do what I’ve always done- head to my old bedroom and slam the door behind me.

My throat’s raw and I can feel the sting of angry tears prickling behind my eyes. I’m so pissed off, so fuckingoverthis power struggle between my dad and me.

Even though it’s my birthright, if he has his way, I’llneverbe alpha.

~

I don’t know how much time passes before I calm down enough to start thinking rationally again. It could be a half hour, maybe more. All I know is that I don’t want to be here anymore, and I don’t have to be- I don’t live in the packhouse. This isn’t my home. It hasn’t been for a long time.

My throat’s still gravelly when I pull open the door of my old bedroom, stepping into the dimly lit hallway. At the same time, Brooke’s walking out of Quinn’s room on the other end and our eyes meet.

Fuck, I forgot she was even here. That she witnessed my humiliation at the dinner table.

Slowly, I start walking toward her, and she does the same, meeting me halfway.

She bites her bottom lip softly, her eyes wide behind her glasses as she approaches me.

“Are you okay?” Brooke asks quietly, gazing up at me.

“I’m fine,” I grumble, my eyes flickering away.

“Are you sure?”

A lump forms in my throat.

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