Page 50 of The Silent Mate

Still, he never ceased to work harder than every other soldier in my army. Indeed, he possessed a warrior’s heart, even though his body couldn’t keep up. He’d badly broken his leg just over a week ago and returned to training as soon as his accelerated healing completed. My chest ached for the boy.

Let me speak to him,I decided.

Ethan dipped his head, shoulders sagging in relief. I knew Ethan well. He was a good male, and an even better commanding officer. He wanted every member of his platoon to succeed, so it pained him to know that Gio had fallen so far behind.

“Thank you, Malik,” he said, clapping me once on the shoulder before returning to his warriors to oversee their work.

Releasing a deep breath, I turned to deliver the bad news to Gio. At least it gave me an excuse to visit Aria in the midst of the training session.

She pressed an icepack to Gio’s injured shoulder, a small smile gracing her lips as she offered him words of encouragement. Rabid, ridiculous jealousy flared inside of me, fueling my urge to dislocate the kid’sothershoulder. A scowl crossed my features as I hastened my approach.

Aria looked up, her eyes lightening upon noticing me. “Malik!”

The tightness in my chest lessened upon hearing the joy in her voice, and I lifted an arm to create space for Aria, who fluttered to my side in an instant. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.Hello, little dove.

Is everything okay?A little line formed between her brow.

I took a deep breath, reveling in our mingled scents on her body. I allowed it to calm me, sucking her into my lungs like an addict guzzling down his drug of choice.I need to speak to your patient.

She pulled back and blinked.“Gio?”

Goddess,even the sound of his name on her lips stoked the burning flames in my chest. She’d turned me into a besotted fool. Pushing my aversion aside, I dipped my chin and looked to where the young man sat on the exam table.

He’d clearly heard his name. Despite his injury, he cast the icepack aside and scrambled off of the table, straightening his spine and tilting his chin back to stand at attention in front of me. Even so, his skin was pale and his eyes glazed with a layer of worry.

“What can I do for you, General Malik?” His voice took on a deeper octave than usual.

Keeping Aria tucked against my side, I opened my mind-link with Gio so that Aria could hear the conversation as well.We need to discuss your future here, soldier.

The whites of his eyes expanded.My future…?

I nodded, lips pressing into a grim line.Have you ever considered taking up a different role in the pack? Healer? Messenger? Caregiver?

There were plenty of positions within the pack for individuals of varying strengths, and each one played an integral role in maintaining the pack’s daily function. Healers treated the sickand injured. Messengers spread important intel across far stretches of territory, connecting the pack when mind-link became hazy over long distances. Caregivers protected the old and young, tending to the beginnings and endings of life.

Unfortunately, in the decade since my father’s death, the culture of the pack shifted, placing far more value on the life and duties of a warrior than any other position. As such, almost every young pack member sought to join theIntonat Noctearmy, even when their strengths resided elsewhere.

Gio blanched.No, I- I’ve only ever wanted to be a soldier.

Right,I murmured, steeling myself to crush the young male’s hopes.Gio, it’s my duty to protect my warriors. I can’t in good conscience send you to the front line when you can’t make it through a training session unscathed.

General Malik,he implored, panic rising through our mind link.I’m getting better every day. I-I’m learning. Please, don’t send me away.

A wave of pity that didn’t belong to me swelled in my chest, and I knew I felt Aria’s emotions through our bond. Her fingers curled tight into the cotton of my t-shirt, and I sensed that she was biting her tongue against jumping to Gio’s defense.

You’ve become a liability to your unit. Ethan can’t risk the lives of every other soldier in his control to accommodate your desire to fight.Goddess, a bitter taste salivated in my mouth. I hated this.

Gio shook his head.Please. My father… I need to be a warrior. It’s all he’s ever wanted for me. I can’t go home if I’m not a soldier anymore.

Fuck.

I understood, far better than most, the need to rise to a father’s expectations. There was a time, long, long ago, when I could do no wrong in my father’s eyes. Then, the attack happened, and, suddenly, I was an abomination. A blight on hislegacy. It didn’t matter how hard I worked or how obedient I was.

I sighed, sensing Aria’s eyes peering up at me, and broke.Perhaps we can work something out…

Anything,Gio answered.I’ll do anything, so long as I remain a soldier.

He meant it, too. He’d rather die a soldier’s death than consider living as a disappointment to the most important figure in his life—his father. For that reason, I nodded slowly.

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