Page 27 of Destined Mate (Cross Creek Pack of San DeLain)

Chapter Seventeen

Jerome

“THAT’S NOT true,” Jerome said, his voice a mix of anger and disbelief. He locked his gaze on to Elder Rodgers.

Silence stretched across the room as Jerome’s words landed like a bombshell. The elder refused to meet his eyes.

“One of you was there, isn’t that right, Elder Rodgers?”

The elder glared at Jerome.

“You told Elmer all about me and made a bargain with him concerning your omega son, didn’t you?” There was a pause as Jerome took a deep breath, preparing himself, steeling himself for the hardest accusation of all. “So not only were you there, you also sold me out without a second thought.”

There was a gasp from Elder Moore. Elder Dillard rubbed his jaw, giving Elder Rodgers a disdainful look.

Jerome’s voice wavered slightly from anger and disbelief, but he pushed on, not letting his emotions get the better of him. “You sold me out for your own selfish purposes.”

Their bond flared to life and warmth flooded Jerome.

“Outrageous,” Elder Rodgers snapped, shaking his head. “You’re accusing me of intentionally harming a pack member?”

Jerome’s eyes narrowed as anger and determination swept through him. “Not only of harming a pack member, but I’m also accusing you of being an unfit elder.”

“You’re nothing but a power-hungry liar,” Elder Rodgers snarled.

Jerome laughed. “That’s you, actually. And you’re nothing but a bitter old wolf full of greed and jealousy.”

Wesley leaned forward, holding Elder Rodgers’ gaze steadily. “You have exactly two choices. Leave this pack peacefully or leave it bloody.”

An odd surge of giddiness shot through Jerome as he watched Rodgers’ face twist and contort with fury. The elder’s eyes bulged dramatically, veins pulsing visibly beneath his reddening skin.

Jerome wondered if the man might actually explode from the sheer intensity of his anger or lose control of his wolf.

“Leave? You think I’ll bow to your threats just because you barged in here and took over? You’re no better than Elmer.”

“I am no rogue. My challenge was honorable. Elmer betrayed the rules of the challenge, not me. And I also didn’t auction Jerome off to the highest bidder, either.”

“You flaunt your mating to that omega like it’s something to be proud of.” Rodgers spat out the words as if they were something foul.

“Because I am proud to be his mate. You know what? Perhaps you’d rather I kill you instead?” Wesley asked calmly. “Because that option is looking better and better.”

Elder Rodgers’ mouth curled into an ugly sneer. His anger was so obvious it almost had a tangible presence. It reminded Jerome of the time when he was seven or eight human years in age and found an angry rattlesnake underneath the porch of his family’s cabin.

“You would not dare.”

“No? Test that assumption. Please.”

Jerome heard Elder Rodgers gasp and glanced at Wesley. His eyes were the golden color of his wolf.

“If Alpha Wesley kills you, not one pack member outside of your son and mate will care,” Henry said from behind Wesley.

“He’s right,” Elder Moore said. “No one here likes you, Rodgers. Outside of your sidekick, of course.”

“Sidekick?” Elder Horner snarled.

“And he should go with you when you leave,” Elder Moore added.

Elder Dillard leaned back with arms crossed and an amused tilt to his mouth. “It’d be a damn celebration, actually.”

Elder Horner blinked in surprise.

Elder Rodgers shot to his feet as if propelled by an invisible spring. “Mark my words.” He pointed at Jerome with a shaking hand before swinging it toward Wesley. “You’ll regret this.”

Jerome felt the vision coming. A brightness enveloped him like the glow of a lantern, pulling him into a space only he could see. He was vaguely conscious of Wesley and the bickering elders.

But that awareness slipped away as the vision blossomed, immensely vivid, in front of his eyes. He saw Elder Rodgers. Not as he was now—furious and defiant—but beaten down, a man who had lost everything he valued.

It played out rapidly, like a movie on fast forward. The old wolf, face lined with anger and age and something even deeper, ached with bitterness, even more than now.

Jerome watched silently as the elder tried to find those in their pack who’d help overthrow their new alpha. But they refused to help the elder. Threatened to tell on him even.

Jerome was glad to see their pack had bonded that strongly already with Wesley.

Then the vision shifted sharply. He saw Rodgers and his family leaving the pack’s territory. He could almost feel the isolation and despair radiating from the elder.

And hatred.

The wolf who fancied himself a master manipulator found himself stripped of power. Even worse, he found himself powerless. Jerome watched as the group quickly grew smaller in the distance, their figures dimming until the darkness swallowed them.

Time sped forward, and the next time Jerome saw the elder, both the elder’s wife and son had left him. Elder Rodgers was bitter, poor, and isolated. His hatred and anger had prevented him from ever being accepted into another pack.

It ate at him like a cancer, its dark tendrils growing inside him until it overtook everything else. Finally, Jerome saw the old wolf go to bed one night and not wake up.

Jerome returned to himself just as Elder Rodgers stormed toward the door.

“In a vision, I saw you miserable and alone. Your jealousy and greed will destroy your family. No pack will ever accept you, either,” Jerome called out. “You’ll die poor and unloved.”

Rodgers stopped and turned.

“Did you hear me?”

“You’re wrong,” Elder Rodgers said.

“I’ve told you before—I’m never wrong.”

“You have twelve hours to get off my land,” Wesley added.

Elder Rodgers looked from Jerome to Wesley with pure derision before finally leaving, slamming the door behind him with an impressive crash for such an old wolf.

Once he was gone, the other wolves exhaled. Jerome noticed each of them looked far more relaxed now that Rodgers was no longer present.

“That’s the last we’ll ever see of him,” Jerome said. His mouth felt dry, the metallic taste of adrenaline and fear lingering from the confrontation with Elder Rodgers and the vision.

Wesley placed a steadying hand on Jerome’s shoulder. “Did you know your eyes turn white during your visions?”

“Yeah. It’s creepy, I know.”

Wesley gave Jerome an incredulous look, then chuckled softly. “Creepy? I think it’s sexy as hell, my mate. Your eyes transform into a milky white, like twin moons shrouded in mist.”

Jerome blinked. No one had ever said that to him. “You really are perfect for me, aren’t you?”

“I’m your destined mate.”

“Yes. Yes, you are. You really are.”

When they turned around, they met approving looks from two of the elders.

“Please believe us when we say we didn’t know how involved Rodgers was with the rogue alpha,” Elder Moore said.

“I suppose that leaves Horner next on the list?” Elder Dillard asked, glancing at the third elder, who sat stiffly, his thin lips pursed into a grim line.

“Indeed,” Wesley said evenly. “I think you need to go as well. That you’re friends with Rodgers doesn’t speak highly of you.”

Elder Horner shifted in his seat and frowned deeply—first at the alpha, and then at Moore and Dillard.

“This is disgraceful,” Horner muttered as he rose from his seat, adjusting his collar in an attempt to maintain some semblance of dignity. “I’ll remind you I’ve been an elder for longer than some of you have been alive!”

“Please don’t let that stop you from following your friend,” Wesley countered coolly. “You also have twelve hours to get off my land.”

Elder Horner opened his mouth as if to say something more, but no words came out. Instead, he let out an indignant huff and left the room.

“Then there were two,” Wesley said. “Jerome? Do they stay or do they go.”

“They’re fine. They were a big help to Li Li.”

“Thank you for that,” Elder Dillard said. “We tried.”

“I know that you two did. She did too.”

“Elder Dillard? Elder Moore? The two of you are welcome to stay, but be aware that you’re on probation. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. You might decide how I lead this pack is too progressive and wish to leave. If so, I’ll help you relocate.”

“I honestly don’t see that happening,” Elder Dillard said.

“Same,” Elder Moore said.

“We’ll see. While I’ll welcome your advice and guidance, I won’t put up with disrespect toward my mate. Are we clear?”

“Quite clear,” Elder Dillard said.

“I believe we owe you an apology, Jerome,” Elder Moore added. “We really didn’t know what Elmer had done.”

Jerome shook his head. “No, you don’t. And honestly, I’m just glad we won’t have to put up with Rodgers’ nonsense anymore.”

Wesley gave Jerome a small, proud smile before turning back to the elders as they rose from the table.

“We’ll prove ourselves, Alpha Wesley,” Elder Moore said. “We never felt the way Rodgers did.”

“In fact,” Elder Dillard said, “this has been invigorating.”

“Good. We’ll see you tomorrow morning at breakfast. We’ll talk more about establishing roles and our expectations.”

“I do like setting expectations.” Elder Dillard chuckled.

Moore rested his hand on Dillard’s shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

The elders turned to leave.

Jerome caught Henry watching them intently.

“You think they’re going to stay, Alpha Wesley?” Henry asked once the door clicked shut behind the older wolves.

“They will,” Jerome said with a confidence he hadn’t felt around an elder—any elder—in years.

Lakisha leaned against the wall, and an easy grin spread across her face. “Gotta say, it’s nice seeing those other two get what they deserve.”

“It really is,” Al agreed, while Marcia nodded beside him.

“You’re already improving things here, Alpha Wesley,” Lakisha chimed in.

“They always sided with Elmer,” Marcia said. “Even as Elmer and his betas abused pack members.”

“But you stopped it, Alpha Wesley, and I believe I speak for everyone when I say thank you,” Lakisha added.

“I just hope none of us ever sees them again.” Al pointed at the door Rodgers and Horner had left through moments ago.

“Well, we won’t be seeing Rodgers, that’s for sure.” Jerome couldn’t contain his grin. Yes, he really didn’t like that wolf. Whatever happened to the ex-elder, he brought on himself.

Al made a catty remark about Rodgers, and Lakisha elbowed him in the ribs, snickering. Henry snorted while Marcia rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Keith said something, and they all cracked up.

Jerome watched their reactions—he’d never seen the pack betas quite so animated or relieved. And they got along well with Wesley’s wolves. Jerome’s heart swelled with pride when he realized how much things had already changed since last night, thanks to his wonderful alpha—his perfect alpha.

He had everything he ever wanted, especially now that the dreadful old wolf was no longer a constant threat.

Wesley’s gaze rested on Jerome. He smiled wider than Jerome had ever seen him smile before. “Things are going to get better.”

There was enough warmth there to melt the coldest of hearts. It had certainly melted his. Their bond buzzed with happiness. While the others laughed and joked, Jerome pulled Wesley into a tight hug. He didn’t care who saw. In fact, he wanted them to see.

All he cared about was this moment. This moment that showed how different everything would be from here on out. It showed how he mattered. Finally. How that first spark of something deeper than affection was taking root.

How Jerome finally felt truly free.