Page 14 of Bonded Beyond Trickery

“And if she struggled with staying on top of her studies while taking on being Luna?”

The honest curiosity in my wolf’s growl has me pausing. What would have happened if she struggled with both things? I really want to believe that I would have prioritized her goals instead of the pack, but can I really be sure?

“Mom and Ella could have helped with her Luna duties,”I grumble.

“Yes, they could have, but would you have suggested it, or would you have just insisted that she cut back on her classes because sacrificing for the pack is as natural to us as breathing?”He chuffs before laying down in the back of my mind.“I hate that we lost time with our mate, but I can also understand what led her to make the choices she did.”

“I understand too,”I admit, begrudgingly.

There was a time in my life, when I was growing up, when the thought of putting the pack first and making decisions with thepack in mind felt like a noose around my neck. But I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. It was my fate to be Alpha.

“Maybe she went about it the wrong way,”my wolf points out,“but she also made a sacrifice for the pack.”

Even though my wolf is only in my head, I straighten up, surprise making some of my fatigue evaporating.“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“She sacrificed her time with you to make herself a stronger Luna, one better equipped to support he pack in ways we probably can’t even fathom,”he points out.

“Because she has her business degree?”

“Yes,”he growls and puffs up with pride in my mind.

I huff out a breath, but there’s not much else I can say to that. While shying away from the sacrifice required of the Alpha and Luna for the pack, she gave up time with me. She put the security that being mated to me would ensure.

How many times have I sneered at the she-wolves who have tried to get in my pants because they wanted the power and luxury of the title, but had no interest in the pack, the responsibility of the position, or doing any work at all?

“Fine,”I grumble,“you might be right about that.”

I swear he shoots me a wolfy grin my way.

At least he’s not gloating. Much.

It’s not like I want to keep distance between my mate and me, but I feel raw. And cheated out of something that only happens once in a lifetime.

There is only one fated mate for us, only one other half of our soul. The first time we met, I had no idea she was my mate.

After meeting her gaze last night, after feeling the first tendrils of the bond plunge into my soul, how is it possible that I missed it five years ago? Sure, her scent was masked, but the bond is more than scent. It’s a feeling of rightness and it’s undeniable.

I hate that I was oblivious to my mate being right in front of me.

“Pride makes us a good Alpha, sometimes,”my wolf grumbles,“but don’t let it build walls between us and our mate.”

“When did you become a fucking philosopher?”

My wolf chuffs with narrowed eyes as he turns his back and settles deeper in the back of my mind.

There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll get over the chasm that Tilly placed between us and the way I was robbed of my mate for five years. It’s just not in me to hold it against her for too long. Even if I wanted to, the bond between us would fight against it.

“Alpha,”someone using the mind link amongst the pack breaks through my thoughts,“someone is at the gate.”

I grunt and climb out of bed, needing to get the day going because sleep is just not in the cards for me at this point. I wonder how long I’ll have to wait until I can sleep next to my mate. There’s no doubt that sleeping wrapped around Tilly will bring me the best sleep of my life.

I grunt back to whoever is at the entrance to the pack,“Who is it?”

There’s a pause and I take advantage of it by getting dressed quickly. Just as I’m about to brush my teeth, there’s a question in his voice as he replies,“The she-wolf says her name is Tilly Ryan and that you’re expecting her?”

Well, shit.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting her to come so soon. After we left things last night, I thought she might stay away long enough that I went after her instead of her coming to me. I wouldn’t have lasted long either, even though I’m not happy with what Tilly chose to do years ago and the time we’ve lost together.

---