Page 114 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
“She confided in you?”
“Not really. Not at first. Your mother and I had always been friends, but I was closer with Gregor. She and Gregor were the real inseparable ones because they’d acknowledged their mating bond even before they turned twenty. After he left and Peter took over, our relationship became more distant. I escaped into my studies rather than face reality, but your mother wasn’t like that. She challenged Peter constantly, and secretly disobeyed his orders. She became a pillar of strength for the pack.
“I, like everyone else, just assumed that she had gotten over Gregor. But I should have known better because evenIhadn’t recovered from the loss of my best friend. I went on, completely ignorant of the truth until I happened to pass by her cabin late one night. I heard her letting out these deep, deep sobs, and Ifinally understood how much she had been suffering. I forgot that we weren’t close anymore, and knocked on the door. She tried to hide it even after I told her that I’d overheard, but when you started to cry in your crib, she broke down again. That night rekindled our friendship. We’ve only grown closer over the years.”
“Youkeep mentioning your friendship and your closeness,” I said. “But there’s more now, isn’t there?”
“Ah, that’s where I have to admit that I’m not sure myself.” I’d never seen a man his age blush until now. “I would like for there to be something…else, something more. But you know how seriously she takes mating bonds. I don’t want to ask her to compromise her morals for me. And to be honest, I’m not entirely sure that she feels that strongly about me.”
I would have rolled my eyes if I didn’t think it would be disrespectful. He must have forgotten that I’d seen the way she was looking at him when she woke up. Honestly, it was a little funny to see older wolves struggle with the same issues of the heart that younger wolves did.
“I think you should try and talk to her about this. And when you do, you can let her know that I gave you direct permission as your Alpha.”
“You aren’t upset about my feelings for your mother, Night?”
“No.”I was a bit surprised by that myself, but it was true. “I’m surprised to hear all of this, but upset? No. I think you’re a good man, and after watching you treat her wounds, I know that you would treat her the way she deserves. You were there for her when my father abandoned her, and I know you’ll be there for her when—ifI don’t walk away from this fight. It’s important tome that my mother is around people who love and care about her. It’s obvious to me that you’ve got both in spades. I couldn’t imagine a better man than you, Doc.”
He stared at me for a long time, and I thought I might have seen a shimmering twinkle in his eye. For one awkward second, I tried to prepare myself for the reality that he might be about to come to tears, but he laughed instead and patted my shoulder.
“You’re an incredible man and an incredible Alpha, Night,” he said. “Take it from someone who’s been around to witness the three who ruled before you.”
“Thank you. Take care of my mother, Tavi, and Bryn, alright?”
“I promise I won’t let you down. You have my word as a wolf, a doctor, and as a man.”
That was all I could ask for.
47
NIGHT
After the examination, we resumed our run, and I felt a bit lighter on my feet than before. Dom, Evan, Doc, and the rest split from us while Jasper and I continued along the main path into Kings’ territory. We shifted and pulled on clothes before entering through the gate into the compound.
The Kings were already lined up to greet us with taunts and hisses. As tough of a time as they’d had with Troy as their leader, it was clear that they still hated us Wargs more.
“Stay close,” I thought to Jasper as we headed toward the arena with Kings wolves literally at our heels. “And don’t let them see you flinch.”
He nodded and pulled in a little closer to me. He was a good soldier, following my orders exactly as I gave them. Good, that was what I needed right now. While I was fighting Troy, Jasper would be the only way I would know whether Dom had gotten to Bryn and Tavi. Essentially, Jasper was my lifeline, my only connection to what was going on outside of the ring.
“When you hear Dom’s whistle,” I said, “I want you to reach out to me with your mind.”
He glanced at me. “I could whistle, too?—”
“No. I don’t want to risk tipping the Kings off to what we’re doing.”
“Got it. I won’t let you down, Alpha.”
So many of members of my pack had been telling me that today, and even though I didn’t expect to survive the fight, my heart was full. This was something that Troy and other Alphas who ruled with fear could never understand. I had complete faith in my team, and I knew that no matter what, they would do their best. These were wolves I would have loved to run into battle with another day, fighters I felt proud to have on my side, people I trusted.
The Kings pack battle arena was a larger circle than the arena in our compound. The ground was patted smooth, and surrounded with flat rocks of similar, medium size. I was shirtless, as was the custom, and across from me stood a shirtless Troy. He bounced from foot to foot like a hyped-up boxer. His hair was in a loose ponytail, and it swished from side to side with his movements like a metronome. He sneered at me as he bounced around, a poor attempt at posturing that did little more than annoy me.
I purposefully turned my back to him and addressed Jasper, who looked even more disgusted about all of this than I was.
“You’re a good kid, Jasper,”I told him out loud.
His eyes widened. “Sir?”
I smiled. I couldn’t blame him for being surprised. “I’m sorry I was hard on you.”
