Page 2 of I Will Make You Mine
I smirked. “Do you doubt me, Father?”
Théoden chuckled. “My blood flows through your veins, doubting my sons isn’t in my nature. I’m simply suggesting you may want your first son to be someone who won’t get in the way of your future duties. Someone who will appreciate the gift you’re giving them.”
I looked at Dominic; hell yeah, he was going to be a fucking challenge, and that was putting it lightly. He was going to be a pain in my ass, but I’d be damned if I was going to let him die in the arena, or in some wolf den, or wherever the fuck. He was my brother and had saved me so many times, I’d lost count.
He will not be your brother if youembracehim,Théoden said, reminding me. His telepathic voice penetrated my mind with the same authority as his spoken word.You will be his Sire, his Father, and he—your son. You will have to do things to break him that will be difficult for you, Dante.
I want him to be my first child, Father. Please let me have him,I requested.
Théoden snorted. “Take him if you want him. But remember that I want him trained properly. He is to be the new Lord of District Six. Like you, he will represent my House and my role as his Prince. You know what that means.”
I nodded. “Yes, Sire.” It meant I had to handle Dominic as harshly as Théoden had trained me if he refused to conform. And if I knew Dominic, he would certainly fight me every step of the way if I let him. His hatred for both vampires and werewolves surpassed my own, if I was being honest. I would need some leverage if I was going to whip him into shape. “I would take Delilah as well, Father.”
Théoden looked at Delilah, who was still lying flat and face down on the floor. “What for?”
“Leverage.”
He chuckled. “Ah, I see. I had your mother to break you until you saw the light and finally accepted the gift I offered.”
I nodded. “Yes, Father, I had been foolish. So, can I have her?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “So be it. Just know, I want himembracedand in his position doing his job within two weeks.”
Two weeks?Shit. I hoped I wouldn’t need more time.
“Two weeks, and I’m being generous. If you can’t handle him in that time, I’ll send in one of your brothers, but I would be disappointed.”
Ugh, now I knew how Noel must have felt when Théoden once threatened him with the same ultimatum. I didn’t want any of my brothers to train my son. I knew I had something to prove. Sure, it would have been easier for me to just pick a guy off the human register list who wanted to become a vampire. But I wanted Dominic, so I was going to do whatever was necessary to have him.
“Yes, Sire. You will not be disappointed,” I assured him. Dominic was probably going to hate me, but in the end, I thought he would come around. I had.
“Well, now that we’ve worked that out,” Deacon said with a roll of his eyes.
“That’s right, you had something you wanted to tell me,” Théoden implored.
Deacon nodded. “Just so you know, the other Alphas didn’t take too kindly to you moving in on Josef’s territory. Rumor has it that your son, Dante, is Josef’s mate. Is that true?”
“Is this what you wanted to ask me? I certainly hope this little transaction isn’t the extent of your so-called good will,” Théoden said. “I don’t like having my fucking time wasted.”
“Fine,” Deacon held up a hand as if surrendering, “I’ll get to the point.”
“Please do,” Josef snapped.
“At some point, the Alphas are planning to attack Josef’s pack since he violated our treaty,” Deacon said.
“Does that include you?” Josef asked. “I know how much you desire my territory, or anyone’s territory, for that matter.”
Deacon smirked. “Every wolf desires territory, I’m no exception. However, I wasn’t going to attack you and your pack, and you can thank Théoden for that.”
“How so?” Josef asked.
“If it wasn’t for the little alliance we have, I would gladly join the others in killing off you and your entire pack. I’m guessing your land could be split up amongst us,” Deacon said.
“And I should be grateful?” Josef growled, his fierce, blue eyes narrowing in his rage. “The nerve. I suspected those rumors about you and Théoden were true,” he stated. “Did you think having a vampire at your side would make it easier to take over our land?”
Deacon laughed. “Paranoid as always, I see. Besides, it’s not my alliance with Théoden that has the other Alphas planning an attack, now is it? You should be grateful, but I’m not surprised to find you indignant as ever. Fucking ingrate!”
Josef growled lower, his eyes blazing yellow as he bared his canines, and Deacon did the same. Both wolf Alphas snarled at each other until Théoden stepped in between them.
