Page 6 of Wolf Tormented
I narrow my eyes at the two men and sit forward in my chair. “What did my mate do, Alex?”
“She found out that I haven’t been taking any supplies for myself and threatened to claw my jacket if I don’t.” Alex shakes his head with a groan.
“Wait, you haven’t been taking supplies? Why?” I cross my arms over my chest.
What would make him think that’s okay? It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. They are my enforcers, and they need to be strong.
“There are others who need the food more. People who can’t hunt like we can,” Patrick says.
“You too, Patrick? What the fuck?” I run a hand down my face. “What about Libby?”
Poor Libby. No wonder Jara went off on them about this. Kids can’t grow the way they need to with only the animals in the forest, and Libby is one of her favorite people in the world. Did Patrick even give her the jacket Jara picked out specially for the girl?
What were these idiots thinking?
Protect the pack at all costs. I sigh internally—I am partially to blame for this behavior.
They should know better, though. It’s the alpha’s job to protect the pack. I get where they are coming from, but this is not the way to go about it.
Patrolling the territory is the best way for them to protect the pack. And they can’t patrol if they’re starving.
The fact that my enforcers care as much about my pack as I do warms my heart, but we aren’t starving by any means.
“Jara already put me in my place, Alpha.” Patrick drops into his chair. “She brought a huge basket over this morning and forced me to take it.”
A small grin spreads. That sounds exactly like my mate. However, I drop the smile in an instant. I can’t smile about the things she does when she’s simply doing her job as alpha female and taking care of the pack.
I nearly let her destroy everything when she was captured in enemy territory, and the pack has to come first, always.
I shake my head to clear it and stare at the men across from me. “You need to take rations. If the others see you taking only the bare minimum, it could cause fear and then they may do the same to help the rest of the pack. Do you see the problem?”
“They may panic and think we are running out of supplies,” Alex says, his expression grim.
I have to hand it to my mate, she had the right idea to demand the enforcers take what they need. Maybe I’m being too hard on her. She obviously cares deeply about our pack.
No. I can’t think like that. What if another scenario comes up where I have to choose her safety or the safety of the entire pack? I can’t be weak and let the pack know I care so much.
Even if it crushes me to be distant with her.
“Where are the rest of the enforcers?” I ask.
“They are probably in the storeroom. Jara made it abundantly clear that she would be angry if the enforcers did not start taking what they need.” Alex shrugs.
“They knew we were having this meeting, couldn’t it have waited?” I slam my fist on the table.
I don’t have time to wait on my men. We have important things to discuss.
Patrick scoffs. “The alpha female was very specific. She poked at the hole in my jacket.”
“There’s no hole in your jacket,” I say.
“I know, because I wore the one she forced me to take. I didn’t want to anger her more than she already was.” Patrick throws up his hands.
I chuckle at Patrick’s frustration. “She’s making sure the pack’s needs are met. That is the job of the alpha female.”
“I can take care of my family’s needs.” Patrick slams a fist on the conference table.
“Tell me, Patrick, what did Libby’s jacket look like on her? She’s grown since last winter.” I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at him.
