Page 44

“Uh,” I say as I scratch the back of my neck. “Everything’s fine. We have been spending a lot of time together and getting to know each other more.” My cheeks warm as the blush spreads.

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Speaking of all that, I actually am here to talk about the incident from Sunday brunch between your mate and your parents.”

“I’m sorry we made a scene. I know that we shouldn’t have handled it the way we did, but she has every right to be upset. Just as much as I do.” I know that he overheard parts of it, and I’m sure he has questions. I am unsure how much I can say, if anything.

Silas holds his hand up silencing me.

“I’m not upset that she made a scene or that I almost had two wolves shift in the middle of brunch.

What I’m more concerned with is the things that she said about how they treated you and clearly someone as calm as Selene becoming that aggressive means that there is far more to this story.

I’m not asking you to divulge your entire story, but I am asking you as your Alpha what your parents did to you because I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior in my pack by any member. ”

“You want to punish my parents and brother for what they did to me?” My voice shakes as the words barely leave my mouth.

“That all depends on what you are about to tell me, Caelon. If I deem their behavior horrendous enough, I will ask them to permanently leave our pack. I took down an Alpha for his behavior, I won’t allow for others to do the same even if it’s to their own pups.”

My mouth drops open, I can’t even begin to understand it. “I don’t know what to say Silas. I’ve never felt seen like I do now. What you are saying is more healing than any action could be. I don’t wish to see them punished even after everything they did.”

He nods his head once before he leans forward, putting his forearms on his knees. “I understand. But this is beyond just you. How many others are suffering in silence hoping that someone would see them?”

“When you put it that way I feel obligated to tell you.” I squint my eyes at him. He knew just the thing to say.

I tell him everything, even the parts that hurt.

I don’t want anyone else to experience what I went through.

I can’t imagine the other wolves in our pack going through it too.

It hurts to go over it again, even though I know it might help.

It’s not easy to talk to the strongest wolf in our pack about how weak I was or really am still.

Silas remains quiet the entire time, only nodding his head as I go.

Once I’m finished, he clears his throat as he blinks his eyes rapidly.

I’ve never seen him cry and I didn’t think I ever would.

“Caelon, I’m sorry you went through that.

No wolf should ever have to go through it either.

I know the old way of thinking is that a wolf is only strong if he can fight, but I don’t believe that is the only strength a wolf can have.

Sure if you plan to be Alpha, maybe physical strength comes into question given our role as protector.

But, not every wolf needs to be strong. I believe that each wolf brings something to the pack as their strength, and that’s where real growth happens for a pack.

It’s why when Selene asked to do photography I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Each of us is part of a whole working unit, we can’t all be fighters.

I never want you to think that you don’t have your own strengths. ”

He stands up and walks over to my desk, standing over me with soft, caring eyes as he scans them across my desk. He must find what he’s looking for because he reaches over and grabs my leather ledger before flipping it open to my running numbers for the pack’s budgets.

“This,” he says as his finger runs down the page. “Makes my head hurt just glancing at it. There is no way I would have been able to turn the pack's finances around in six months like you have. We would probably still be in the red if I had been fully in charge of that by myself.”

He hooks his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Gail’s office.

“I probably would still be roaming around like a rogue if it hadn’t been for Gail who brought Nova and I together.”

He points across the hall towards Xavior’s office.

“Our pups wouldn’t be discovering things about themselves and learning to control their wolves as young as they are if it weren’t for him.

I can go on and on about each member's role and how vital it is to the pack. Don’t let these old ideals keep you from believing you are important to me and this pack. ”

“Thank you Silas.” I nod my head.

“You’re welcome. Now, if you don’t have anything else you wish to share, I have a phone call to make.”

With that he turns and walks out of my office, closing the door behind him.

I sit for a while staring at the door lost in my thoughts.

I never would have thought that accepting my mate would change so much about my life.

Sure I knew it would change things, but I never dreamed that I would feel this light as I shed all the past from me.