Mates with the Enemy

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Aaron's POV:

"Son, good job with the conference. Those other alphas will be bowing in respect to you in no time. If you rule with an iron fist and a strong will, you'll find respect and admiration everywhere." My dad was lecturing as we drove home from the alpha conference. I tried to focus in on his words, but all I could think about was what that Midnight girl said to me. Everything that Sophia had said to me greatly contrasted my dad's views. I couldn't listen to her, not without disobeying my dad, which is something I would never do because I do believe that he is worthy of all the respect and admiration he receives. My dad is a strong and powerful alpha, and he's exactly what I wanted to be. I've looked up to him for my entire life. Sophia's words were not only disrespectful to me, they also took a stab at my father.

"—Aaron!" my dad raised his voice.

"Uh yeah?" I answered, finally listening in.

"What I was trying to say was," he gave me a disapproving glare, which I tried not to flinch at, "that I was planning on stepping down soon." Wait what. This was a horrible time to not pay close attention. Him stepping down could only mean stepping down as alpha, and that means I get the position because I'm next in line as heir, which means that I'm going to be alpha!

"Aaron! Pay attention!" he snapped.

"Sorry, Alpha." I said sheepishly.

"Yes, well you obviously know that this means that you will inherit the alpha title. I believe that you exhibit many Alpha qualities, especially with how you're handling the whole Sarah debacle. I know that you are only 19, and that it is a little early to give the Alpha title to you, but I believe that you are more mature than your age, and this responsibility won't be too much for you to handle. I understand that in life there are many things you can't predict, but the way you're proving to your pack members and other packs that you are not a force to be reckoned with is admirable." I nodded at the praise, but internally I was wincing at the mention of Sarah.

"Thank you, Alpha. When will the ceremony be held?" Every time an alpha passed down his title, a ceremony to pay tribute to the new alpha and commemorate the old one would be held.

"Soon. In about a week or so." He answered. "Whenever you are ready for it." I nodded once again. This was a huge responsibility and I wanted some time to think on it before I actually accepted anything. Becoming alpha was something I've wanted all my life, but now that it was finally happening, I needed some time to process it.

"The car ride is long. We aren't going to reach back until early tomorrow morning, so why don't you take a nap?" He asked, checking the clock. It was late, 12:07 exactly.

"Uhm, on the contrary, I think I'm going to stay awake. There's a lot on my mind." I turned to look out the window.

"That's a good alpha quality, hyper-vigilance. It'll do you a lot of good." He chuckled. "Do as you wish then." I nodded to him, but a small part of me said that a calm and level-headed alpha would be able to think better in crazy situations than one that was 'hyper-vigilant' aka worrisome and anxious. That Sophia girl was getting to my head.

**THE NEXT DAY**

We finally reached home at about 6:00am. I had a lot of time to think about what my dad said. And what the Midnight prisoner said. I figured that we've been much too lenient with her and the other girls. Prisoners, actually. That was the only reason why she would've been so disrespectful to me.

I helped my dad unload the car, which was basically only a couple of files and some overnight clothes. He took the stuff to the alpha house so he could work a bit and then rest up. Instead of following him, I took a detour to the pack house. I felt like I needed to check up on them for some reason.