Page 62 of In Your Eyes
He tilted his head and looked at me suspiciously.
“But don’t you think it’s also important for pack members to treat each other with respect?”
Slowly he nodded.
“I’m your Alpha, but I’m also a member of this pack. You came to my home in the middle of the night. You woke up my mate. You tried to strike me.” I paused and arched my eyebrows meaningfully. “Do you believe those are appropriate ways for a pack member to raise concerns?”
“No.”
I let go of him and, after swaying, he stood on his own.
“Rick Collins, I’d like you to meet my mate, Korban Keller.” I reached my hand out to Korban, and he took it, coming to stand beside me.
“It’s good to meet you, Rick.” Korban held his hand out to Rick.
“We already met when I—”
“Sometimes we all need a chance to start over,” Korban said softly. He smiled at Rick and then at Jason, Damon, and Paul. “Don’t you think so?”
After that, our early morning visitors dispersed and we went back to bed. Korban slid into my arms and kissed my neck.
“I admire how you handled the pack members,” he said. “My father never would have allowed people to talk back to him or question him. He would have killed Rick or banished him from the pack and beaten the rest of them.”
“My father said Alphas have to balance strength and power with empathy and compassion,” I said.
“Saying is easy,” Korban pointed out. “Doing is much harder.” He rose slightly and looked at me. “You led with your heart today and turned an enemy into a supporter. And you did it while letting him keep his dignity in front of his friends.” He trembled, his eyes wet. “I am so incredibly proud to call you mate.”
MYMOTHERarrived the following afternoon, and Korban instantly adored her. She asked him a million questions, doted on him, and magically cooked all his favorite dishes. My brother and sister laughed at his jokes and followed him around like he was the pied piper. Korban beamed, soaking up every ounce of familial attention.
I realized then how much I had taken for granted and how much he had missed out on, but Korban, ever empathetic, stopped me from getting morose.
“Don’t feel sorry for me, honey. I don’t. I won the mating lottery: a sexy, brilliant, kind Alpha, two siblings, and an amazing mother. I’m finally home.”
So was I.
