Page 114 of Alpha Mates

“You left without authorisation,” I cut in because I’m a lot more than upset. “If any other wolf did what you did, you’d expect me to punish them severely.”

“We would,” he admits, though his gaze doesn’t waver under mine.

“Butyoushould be given an exception because you’re my parents?” My lips curl into a nasty smile. “Because you thought you wouldn’t need to go through me first?”

“No,” my mother says, her frown deepening as the sincerity behind her eyes chills. Good. I was used to this side of her. “An exception should be made because we were looking out for your best interest.”

I scoff, barely managing not to roll my eyes in the face of their pretences.

“It’s true,” she insists. “We left quickly and quietly because we wanted to reach our pack representatives and any others we could while the news of your mating was still fresh.”

“To tell them what?” I press, tired of the circles. I just wanted a plain answer. “What is the narrative you wanted to get out there?”

Because that’s what their whole trip had truly been about. Anyone else could’ve gone to our outside pack members to let them know that our pack would be merging with the Dark Woods Pack, and that Aiden was my mate. Letters could’ve been sent, calls could’ve been made—we weren’t living in an archaic age where that wasn’t possible. So, the only reason they had to go themselves, and so swiftly, was to ensure that the story was told in the way they wanted.

My father meets my eyes. “To make sure everyone understood that once the packs merge, you and Aiden wouldbothbe titled as alphas.”

Surprise flickers through me. Of all the schemes I expected, honesty hadn’t been one.

I blink the shock away. “I believe everyone knows this already,” I say flatly. “Aiden and I said as much when we discovered we were mates.”

“Yes, but—” my mother pauses to frown at me, her expression almost pleading. “Julian, come on. Be smart about this.”

I scowl. “Be smart about what?”

“You are an alpha now. You are this pack’s alpha—our alpha,” she snaps. “But if you weren’t—if Oliver were still here, you would’ve discovered that you were meant to be Aiden’s luna onhiscoronation day.”

All the ire I’ve been swimming in evaporates as the world goes silent.

“But you are an alpha—” my father continues quickly, almost earnestly. “Goddess made it so, this pack made it so, and even though you and Aiden are mates, you will always be an alpha.” His amber eyes hold mine with the same intensity they had the day his power shifted to me. “We wanted to make sure no one thought you were to be his luna—to ensure none doubted your position.”

“Weleft because with your father there, he could show that he was no longer alpha, that Goddess approved of you,” my mother continues. “We had good intentions, Julian.”

They keep talking, piling on reasons and excuses, oblivious to how deeply they just speared my soul.

Aiden’s luna? Me? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind even once. Not until they dug a hole and planted it, and now I can’t get it out. A sudden wave of deep wrongness floods into my body, mind, and soul.

I could never—would never—be Aiden’s luna. Even if Oliver lived, even if fate dragged me there, I would’ve rejected him outright. I knew that the same way I knew the sky was blue. It would have never been. But even so …

Luna. The wordringsin my mind.

“What do people think?” I ask, cutting off their rambling as I force my gaze back up.

“That you’re both acting as alphas,” my father replies without hesitation. “You run the pack together, and well. There is no reason to think you’re anything other than an alpha.”

“So, I have to ensure there’s no reason to doubt,” I say, reading between the lines.

“Continue as you are,” my mother says gently. “You are doing well, Julian. Very well. Just ensure that continues.”

“I understand,” I stand, stepping away from the poisoned table. “Thank you for telling me, for thinking ahead, but you still left without clearance.” My tone hardens. “Your penance will be pack maintenance. As you know, we’re building a new packhouse, and volunteers are appreciated.”

Their jaws clench, but neither argues. We all knew it could’ve been a lot worse—it should’ve been, but upsetting my parents only ever led to greater challenges in the future.

“Won’t you stay for breakfast?” my mother asks, rising too.

I stop mid-step. My frown deepens. “Why?”

“We want to spend time with you, Julian,” my father says, and my expression must reveal more than I intend because he winces. “I know that we haven’t built the best relationship between us, but we would like to change that.”