Page 375 of Alpha Mates

The happy atmosphere remains until we reach the pack’s school for our youngest.

The sight of it steals Levi’s smile away as he tucks himself into Aiden, and now I know exactly why he didn’t want to come some days.

The littlest ones stare up at us with eyes filled with awe as we enter, and we smile at them, keeping a lid on the emotions bubbling inside as we search each room one by one. It takes a while, but in a lounge meant for thecaregivers, we find the one responsible. He’s seated with his back facing the wall, so he doesn’t see as Levi points him out for us.

“I’m just going to put you down real quick, okay buddy?” Aiden says as he sets Levi down on his feet. “Can you wait out here with Julian for me?”

Levi nods and immediately attaches himself to my leg. Aiden closes the door gently, so Levi’s not privy to anything while I peer through the glass panel. Aiden strides towards the man, and lax as he is in his chair, he doesn’t see him coming or the hand Aiden wraps around his neck, before he yanks the man off his feet.

The chair falls behind him as Aiden slams him down on the table, making the others who hadn’t moved already back away as quickly as they can. Levi jerks beside me, and I smooth a hand over his head to calm him while I watch Aiden lean over the shaking man with a steady growl. His claws nip the man’s skin, freeing blood as he claws at Aiden’s wrist for freedom.

“I thought all you bigots left months ago, but I see you slipped free,” Aiden growls as his fingers tighten around his throat. “What gives you the right to call my boy a rogue?”

Levi’s grip on my leg tightens at the word, and he clenches his eyes shut, but I want him to hear this—hear that we actually mean the words we say to him and know that we don’t only mean them when we’re alone.

“Does he look like a fucking rogue to you?” Aiden snarls before he lifts the man, only to slam him back down on the table, forcing the air from his lungs. “Do you think I’m a rogue?” he says through his canines. The man gasps, and Aiden growls with rage. “Answer me!”

“N-no,” he whispers hoarsely while gasping for air. “No, Alpha!”

“You must. You called him one and we’re the same, except I’ve got the red eyes.” Aiden’s glowing eyes cement his words as he hauls the man in until he’s close enough to choke on his rage.

“Now you listen here you little piece of shit. My kid is nothing short of spectacular and making him think any different almost got you killed today. The only reason you’re still breathing is because of him—the same child you called an abomination. He kept you alive. Never forget that.”

Aiden tosses the man on the floor, and he quickly scrambles back, trembling fingers clutching at his bloody neck. He stares up at Aiden, like the others glued to the walls, only shifting their gazes when I open the door.

“We’re not done with you,” I warn as I eye the man on the floor before glancing at the others. “And if we hear of any other cases even remotely similar to this instance, from any child, you’ll be in much worse shape than he is.”

Aiden strides out of the room and picks a wide-eyed Levi back up before we leave without another word.

The walk home is a silent one that I spend worrying that might’ve been too much for Levi. A certain degree of violence among werewolves is normal, but I didn’t want to scar him. I just wanted him to see that we loved him and would defend him no matter what. But Levi’s gaze is lost as he stares blankly at the path ahead. It’s not until we’re back in the house that he finally speaks.

“Thank you.”

The whispered words steal Aiden’s and my full attention as we turn to look at him. He fiddles with his fingers, his nervous tick. “Thank you,” he mumbles again. “Thank you for everything.”

“You don’t have to thank us. That’s our job, Levi,” I say as I slide a hand over his back. “You just have to tell us when anything like that happens so we can deal with it.”

“Until you’re old enough to deal with it yourself,” Aiden adds, tucking a finger beneath his chin. “And even then, I’ll still be around whenever you need me.”

That makes Levi’s smile widen before he nods.

“Now, how about some ice cream, or has Julian eaten it all up?”

Levi, the betrayer, giggles from Aiden’s shoulder as he eyes me.

“I didn’t,” I say as I glare at him. “I left some behind.”

“Yeah, right,” Aiden snorts. “Knowing you, all we have left is chocolate.”

“I like chocolate,” Levi whispers, and my brows dip a little as I study him.

“Levi,” I whisper as I lean a little closer to him. He glances at me, and I offer him a kind smile. “What ice cream do you really like?” His lips part too quickly, so I add, “Be honest.” His lips clasp shut. “If there were any ice cream in the whole world you could have, what would it be?”

Gaze falling to the ground, Levi gnaws on his lip before he takes a deep breath and whispers, “Lime.”

Aiden pauses, stopping in the middle of the street as he peers at Levi the way I do. I glance at him, mentally telling him to keep walking before all the attention makes Levi clam up, but then he keeps talking.

“My mama used to make it for me,” he mumbles. “Lime ice cream.”