Page 9 of Dark Moon Secrets

Rafe inched closer to me, his golden eyes ablaze with anger.

“You are. You’re the one meant to take over this pack when I’m gone. How will you do that when you don’t pull your weight?”

I caved. My eyes lowered with the respect I should’ve shown my alpha in the first place, but it went deeper than that. The blood we shared created a bond between us, even though we were at odds with each other most of the time.

The problem was I didn’t want to wait to be the next alpha. I wanted the power now, even if he gave me something like a beta position. But I didn’t say the words to him or anyone else.

We lived peacefully with humans, so why couldn’t we begin to relax some rules? Because the pack was sacred, and the bond that held us all together in our human and wolf forms had to be upheld no matter what.

That is what I struggled with—rules that no longer made sense.

“Alaric, answer me. How will you show that you are part of the pack and not looking out just for yourself?”

“I’ll work harder and forget about my evening outings.”

I kept my eyes low.

“Will you really do this?”

“I will, Dad.”

And that was the issue. I wouldn’t. I was restless for something more. I didn’t know what, and my wolf encouraged me.

“You better.” He leaned in closer to me so only I could hear. “Or when it’s time, the pack won’t follow you as the leader, and I bet you would regret how you’ve behaved. You need to think more about the future because your needs will end up haunting you.”

“I understand.”

I didn’t. Fuck, I was only twenty. And while Rafe was old, he would be around for at least another twenty years. It wasn’t like any wars were going on with the vampires. The witches had everything stitched up in harmony and order. How would I learn if I couldn’t have a position in the pack? I was just one of the plebs.

I don’t know why it didn’t sit well with me. I had plenty of time to go and have some fun, sow my seeds, play around, and do what young people should do. Then I could face up to the overwhelming responsibility of having the position of alpha—that was, of course, if I proved I could. Or the position of beta. What else was I meant to do while I was waiting?

But the question was, could I? When it came to that, could I prove to the others I was the one to follow?

My stomach churned with the meat pie I had for lunch.

“If you doubt, it will be your regret, not mine,” he snarled at me. “Pull your fucking head in before it’s too late.”

“I will, Dad,” my voice croaked.

Fuck, was I getting weak already? I had to pull it together. I had a reputation to keep intact centered around making my dad’s life as hard as he did mine. It was our unwritten code for each other.

“You better. I’ve got plans to test you.”

Rafe spat on the ground near me, then turned away before I could ask what fucking plans.

What did he have in store for me now? It was going to be painful, for sure.

“Knock off in five minutes.” He paused, looking around to engage all of us here. Most had gathered closer to hear our argument.

“That’s if you get the beams up on the roof done.”

No one answered him. They didn’t have to. Instead, they got to work.

“Come on,” said Tyr, pulling the plank and nearly causing me to lose my balance.

That’s the way it should be. No one argued with the alpha. Everyone got on with the work, even when the requests were unreasonable.

Not wanting to be accused of not pulling my weight and holding back the pack, I got on with helping. Goddamn, these beams will get up in record time now.

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