Page 35 of Crossed Fates

He wasn’t wrong.

But he wasn’t right either.

I hadn’t wanted another pack. Too much responsibility.Too much pain.

Leaving Silver Lake had been the hardest mission of my life. I’d done it for all the right reasons, but that didn’t mean it’d felt good.

Leaving had made me both strong and weak. Strong because of how difficult it had been. Weak because… I should have fought my brother for the right to be alpha.

But how could I hurt the man I’d considered my best friend all my life?

How could I challenge the one I’d looked up to for guidance and training?

He’d been bitten first, his alpha nature awe-inspiring. I’d never expected to be so much like him. I’d never anticipated beingstronger.

I ran my fingers through my hair and blew out a breath. “I can’t ascend until I know what happened to him,” I blurted out. “It won’t be right. I need to find his killer, Dad. I need toavengehim.” Hell, I needed to avenge them all. “Someone is targeting alphas. Which means I could be next. I’m not even going to discuss ascending until I fix this problem. And even then, I’m not promising anything.”

My father’s wolf stared at me, the alpha in him unappeased by my unspoken rejection. “You’ll do what’s right for the pack, as an alpha should.”

“What’s right for the pack is finding out who is targeting alphas, and taking him down,” I countered.

His nostrils flared, his animal snarling at me through his darkened gaze. “And who will console the pack while you’re off playing slayer, Alaric?”

“Do you really think they can be consoled with their alpha’s murder unsolved?” I ached a brow. “Wouldn’t bringing the killer to justice serve almost as a right of initiation back into the pack?” I leaned toward him. “They don’t even want me, Dad. I’m not one of them. I’m an outsider. And before you say it, yeah, I only have myself to blame, and I own that. But if I’m going to stand any chance at winning their respect, then I need to do thismyway. Not yours.”

I wasn’t sure where the words came from, but they felt right.

And from the look on my father’s face, they’d also been the right ones to say.

“I’m not promising anything,” I quickly repeated, aware that my statement made it sound as though I’d already made up my mind to ascend. But this wasn’t about my place as alpha so much as honoring my brother’s memory. While also appeasing the pack, providing them closure, and ensuring none of the others could be hurt, too.

All right, so maybe it was about proving my worth on some twisted level. But that wasn’t why I had to do this.

“Discovering who did this will protect us all,” I whispered. “They’re targeting alphas, Dad. Alphas like you and Mom. Alphas like me.” I couldn’t just stay here and assume my leadership role. I had to ensure everyone out there was safe first.

Everyone including myself.

My father studied me for a long moment, the alpha notorious for thinking through every possible angle before delivering a verdict. Not that his verdict would necessarily apply here. I’d already made up my mind, and he had to see that in my expression.

I was just as alpha as he was. Just as stubborn, too.

“You know I’m right,” I added, my voice low.

“Not necessarily right,” he replied, his tone rivaling mine. “But an alpha needs to trust his instincts, and I trust yours.”

My heart stuttered with his words, the praise in them so unlike any I’d received from him in years.

I trust yours.

“You’ll need to remain for the funeral,” he added. “And I suggest you consider putting in your notice at E.V.I.E.”

My mood plummeted.

That last statement sealed my fate, or at least the one he intended for me. Because he didn’t see me refusing the alpha mantle. He saw me solving this case and returning to my rightful place.

Which meant he’d ignored half of what I’d said and had only chosen to hear what he’d wanted to hear.

Typical.