Page 35 of Destined Bear
Heath rushes in from the other room at the commotion. “What the hell is going on?”
“You’re supposed to be listening for dissent, and you’ve completely failed! It’s happening in my own packhouse.”
The Beta hangs his head dejectedly. “It’s gotten worse lately.”
My eyes pop as Vivienne joins my side. I eye her through my peripheral vision, but she averts her gaze.
“Lately?” I ask through clenched teeth.
Heath glances at Vivienne, and suddenly, his meaning is crystal clear. It’s gotten worse because of her.
She clears her throat lightly. “I think I’m going to head back to the ranch and check on Mom.”
I want to speak to her about what she’d said to Seline, about us not being together, but it’s not the time.
“I’ll have one of the enforcers take you.”
“I’m okay.” She’s already shifting into her fox body before I can argue.
With a whisk of her white and red tail, she disappears out the back door.
“Vivienne’s arrival is making things worse.” Heath’s bluntness does nothing to comfort me. “She’s abandoned her responsibilities before. And they’re all waiting for her to do itagain.” His expression darkens. “Everyone’s on edge, wondering if she’ll disappear the moment her pride gets bruised. And if she does leave again, leaving her council duties behind, it’ll shatter what little stability we have left. The pack will lose faith in your leadership completely, because they think you can’t even keep a mate, let alone produce an heir.”
“She won’t do that,” I interject quickly.
We have a mate bond now. No matter how far Vivienne runs, she will always be connected to me. However, I would be lying if I said I haven’t had the same thoughts about her.
I shove the unpleasant thoughts out of my head.
“I specifically ordered you to report any signs of dissent. Why the hell am I only finding out now?”
Heath shifts uncomfortably, his eyes avoiding mine. “Because every time I try to tell you something you don’t want to hear, you get defensive and shut down the conversation.”
My shoulders square, and Heath points to them immediately. “See! You asked. I told you, and you’re still getting defensive.”
“I’m not!”
“You are. Which is why I didn’t bother.” Heath stares me down, waiting for me to argue, and everything in my body language suggests that he’s right.
I grit my teeth, choking back my defensive instincts. Vivienne’s been trying to get through to me about actually listening to my advisors instead of just dismissing them. If I’m going to change, I need to start now, even when Heath’s telling me something I don’t want to hear.
“What do you suggest I do? Vivienne is vital to the council, and she needs to be here for her mother.”
Heath taps his knuckles against the wall beside him. “I don’t have easy answers, Emeric. The pack is scared. They’ve been through twenty years of territorial conflicts, a failed matingalliance, and now threats from Stonecrest. They see Vivienne as another risk, another problem that could explode.” He meets my eyes directly. “But you’re right that we need her. Her knowledge, her instincts have already proven valuable. The pack will have to adjust.”
I nod slowly, appreciating his honesty. “Then we focus on results. Once they see how capable she is, once we resolve this Stonecrest situation, their opinion will change.”
“It better,” Heath says quietly, tapping his knuckles against the wall again. “Because right now, you’re in a precarious position. One more mistake and you could lose them entirely.”
His warning echoes in my head as he leaves. He’s right about the danger I’m facing. But with Vivienne by my side, I have to believe we can survive this.
CHAPTER 11
VIVIENNE
The hostility at the ranch is unmistakable now, and I can’t help but wonder if Millie doesn’t have something to do with it. I’ve caught her whispering with the house staff more than once.
Even with an enforcer following her around, she still manages to use her apparent innocence to charm everyone around her.
