Page 109 of Alpha Mates

You don’t go anywhere. Nobody make a fucking move until I get there. I’m on my way.

I cut the channel off before he can reply, and head for the door.

Fucking Dad. Thinking he could lead my hunts, when they’d been mine before I even became alpha. My fingers twitch as I stalk forward. I’d deal with him after. First, the rogues.

“Aiden.”

I stop dead as Julian’s voice pierces my fogged mind. It cuts like a blade, slicing through the bloodlust I hadn’t even realised was crawling over my mind. I turn around and he’s standing right behind me, those blue eyes burning with concern now. Shit.

I’d forgotten about him, forgotten everything after I heardrogue. Meanwhile, Julian looks like he’s ready to march to war with me, even though he’s got no clue what’s going on.

“Is something wrong?” he asks, head tilting. “What did your father say?”

“Oh, no. Nothing’s wrong,” I mumble quietly before shaking my head. Think Aiden. “He wants to see me. I just have to head out for a bit.”

“This late?” His frown deepens. “Why?”

“No idea, but he won’t stop bugging me ‘til I go.”

Lying to him is like drinking poison. It makes my stomach coil and knot as Max squirms. It’s wrong, and my body lets me know that as it physically repels it. I shouldn’t lie to him, not him of all people, but he wouldn’t get it—couldn’tget it.

“It’ll be fine,” I promise, and that’s the truth.

I’ve done this enough times to know how to cover my tracks.

“Want me to come?” he asks with a weak smile that makes me feel like shit.

“No, I can handle him on my own,” I say, returning the smile.

“Okay,” he replies, but I can tell he’s worried.

He eyes me for a moment, and I’m afraid he’s going to try to come anyway, but then he closes the space between us and kisses me softly. It’s not like our other kisses. This one is gentle, like a hug—like support—and I hate myself for not deserving it.

“I’ll see you soon?” he whispers.

“Yeah,” I agree. More poison. “Soon.”

The bloodlust doesn’t return as I race across Black Moon packlands and intomy own. It remains dormant, buried under the lies I’ve spilt with every step.

I never had to make excuses about killing rogues before. Ending them was the one thing my parents and I always agreed on. But that was before Julian, who for some strange reason is protective of them.

If I’d told him where I was going, he would’ve been against it, and I didn’t want to fight with him. So I lied. And I know it was my only option. But then why do I feel so miserable?

The question remains pillared in my mind as I approach my pack’s eastern border, where patrolling wolves know to avoid. They sense our presence and know the drill. I spot the well-hidden figures among the dark outline of trees, and slow as I shift. Heads dip wordlessly, my father’s included, but his eyes burn with fury when he lifts them again.

“Nice of you to join us, Aiden,” he says gruffly. “We thought we’d have to handle this on our own.”

“If you had, there would’ve been a problem.” I don’t bother framing it as anything other than what it is. A threat. “I’m the one who approves these runs. So next time, if I don’t answer, you don’t gather. Understood?”

“Yes, Alpha,” they chorus with a nod and an apologetic bow.

All except one.

“Is that understood?” I repeat, taking a step towards him that encroaches on his space.

My father meets my gaze, his dark brown eyes nearly black with rage. Max rises inside me, ready to force the confirmation out of him with claws if needed, but my father finally nods and flits his gaze down.

“Understood.”