Taking a Stand
1396 Words
Tristan
Dragos is a whimpering mess as we drive away from the Penthouse. I hated leaving, but I got an urgent mind link from Randy. He said there was something I needed to see right away.
‘We’ll see her again soon,’ I promise my frantic wolf.
‘I already miss her,’ Dragos sighs.
‘Me too,’ I respond.
It takes ten minutes to reach the packhouse. I groan when I see my father and grandfather in front, waiting for me.
“Return to the penthouse and take Avery anywhere she wishes to go,” I tell Todd.
“Yes, sir,” Todd nods.
“Tristan,” Father barks the moment I exit the limo. “Where the hell have you been? We have been looking for you.”
“He was probably at Father’s old hangout,” Grandfather interjects. “I don’t know why you like that old dump.”
“It’s a refuge,” I mutter.
“You were supposed to be here for a suit fitting. Your mother is having a fit,” Father says.
I say nothing and head into the house. Randy and Casey are standing in the hall. “What’s going on, fellas?” I ask.
“Tristan!” Mother calls down the hall, and I see her with Wendy and Helen.
I sigh loudly and turn to them, “Yes, Mother?”
“You were supposed to have a suit fitting earlier,” she says.
“I was busy,” I say. “And I am still busy, excuse me,” I say and worm my way around her to my office.
Randy and Casey follow me in.
“What is it that was so urgent?” I ask as I flop into my chair.
“Tristan,” Mother barges into the office before my beta can answer.
“Mother, we are busy,” I say.
“You need to get to your suit fitting,” She insists.
“I have pack business to attend to. Besides, I have lots of suits,” I say.
“You need a new suit for the wedding,” Wendy joins in.
I don’t even look at her, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” I tell my mother.
“Fine. I will have the fitters reschedule,” Mother sighs and exits the office.
Wendy lingers for a moment.
“Is there something I can do for you?” I ask her.
“Can we spend some time together later?” She asks.
“I’ll be busy all day,” I say.
Wendy sighs and slinks out of the office. I turn my attention to Randy and Casey.
“That was cold, man,” Randy snorts. “You could pretend you like the woman.”
“Randy?” I mutter.
He pulls something out of his pocket and sets it on the desk. “We found this on the border this morning.”
“We had to scare some vamps out this morning,” Casey adds.
Inside a plastic bag is a blood-soaked piece of paper. I know who wrote it from the elaborate handwriting. A low growl rumbles out as I crumple the note in my hand.
“Erasmus,” I hiss.
“We figured,” Randy says. “The vamps were from his clan.”
“Did they say anything to you?” I ask.
“They did say that Victor Erasmus was coming for you,” Casey replies.
“He has been saying that for years,” I say, looking at the note.
“But that was before your mate was involved,” Randy says, and I growl.
“He isn’t getting Avery,” I say.
“Tristan, the pack knows about Avery,” Randy says.
“I know,” I nod. “I am supposed to reject and forget about her,” I say while staring at Victor’s bloody note. “But I can’t.”
“You had s*x with her, didn’t you?” Randy mutters and sits in the chair in front of the desk.
“How could you tell?” I ask.
“Well, first, you smell like it,” Casey snorts.
“s**t,” I mutter.
“What are you going to do?” Casey asks. “Avery is the rightful Luna of this pack. They will never really accept Wendy.”
“And she is human,” I say sadly.
“That’s a bummer,” Randy says. “A real bummer.”
“It is,” I sniffle. “I will never be happy with Wendy. I can’t even really look at her. But my heart already beats hard for Avery.”
“It’s rare for Celeste to pair us with humans,” Casey says. “There must be something special about her.”
“She is strong, intelligent, compassionate,” I smile.
“Maybe you can get the Council to change the law,” Randy states. “You only need a majority vote.”
“My grandfather would never go for it,” I sigh.
“Yes, but if the Council votes down the law, there will be nothing he can do,” Randy explains.
“Except strip me of my title,” I fold my arms.
“Not if the Council gets involved,” Casey adds.
“Right,” I tent my fingers.
“You have to stop letting your father and grandfather control you, Tristan,” Randy says. “You are the alpha. You make the decisions. They should know a chosen or forced Luna will not give this pack the strength that your fated one will.”
“Right, I have to convince the Council of that,” I say. “Celeste made the decision, and our laws shouldn’t question her wisdom.”
“Now you get it,” Randy rises from the chair. “I have some things to take care of.”
“Me too,” Casey nods.
“Do what you need to do, guys,” I smirk as they exit the office. I turn on the computer and catch up on pack business for a moment.
“Tristan,” Grandfather barges into the office without knocking. “Why haven’t you rejected your mate?”
I take a deep breath. “I can’t reject her,” I say. “My wolf will never accept Wendy. He only wants his mate. I only want my mate.”
“She’s a human,” he says with disgust. “You know the law.”
I rise from my desk to look him in the eyes, “Celeste picked her for me. Our laws shouldn’t trump her decisions. She is the law, not us.”
“We made that law for a reason,” He snarls.
“Why? “I challenge him. “Because your first mate was a human, and she didn’t want you,” I look him in the eyes.
“Tristan,” He growls. “You must reject her, or I will take your title.”
“No, Grandfather, you won’t,” I counter. “I am going to get that law changed,” I smile.
“The Council will never change it,” He growls.
“Are you sure?” I say. “Not everyone on the Council agrees with you. I’m sure I can convince a majority to change the law.”
“You will marry Wendy Decker,” He slaps the desk hard.
“No,” I lean toward him. “I am not marrying her. I will not be another generation of misery.”
Grandfather stares me down for a moment before storming out of the office.
I look at Victor Erasmus’s note for a moment.
Alpha Emerson,
Your mate is mine. Her blood will taste ever so good on my tongue. And her belly shall be swollen with my heir. The challenge is on.
Erasmus
I crumpled up the note again and dropped it in the trash. “I need to see Avery,” I say, turning off the computer. I pick up my phone and dial my driver.
“Alpha?” Todd answers.
“Did you take Avery home?” I ask.
“Yes, sir, she is safely home,” He responds.
“I need you to take me there now,” I say while hurrying out of the office.
“I’ll be right there, Alpha,” Todd says and hangs up the phone.
- Writer
