The Witch On The Mountain

Chapter 36

Nathan's pulled me behind him his head low in submission. "She doesn't know pack law or what challenging you means, I accept the punishment for her actions. She's sorry."

I fought the urged to yell at him, to scream at him to have a back bone. To stop cowering before his father like he was beneath him.

To be the strong wolf I knew my mate to be.

"That will be in addition to the punishment you'll face for attacking me and losing." His father eyes me, his gaze telling me he knew I wasn't the least bit sorry.

"I'll endure whatever you see fit." Nathan still looked at the dirt the mark I'd given him staring back at me. A reminder of our bond.

"Ten days, no food, no water out for the pack and moon to see yet another one of your failures." His hands twist into balls his knuckles turning white, he nods accepting his punishment.

I hold my tongue sensing Nathan's need for my silence. I glare at his father over his shoulder not dulling the daggers in my eyes.

"Yes alpha." He doesn't look up even after his father walks into the house. He turns to me but doesn't look up. I'm eager to know why he'd stopped me from exacting my retribution.

He doesn't allow me to speak. "I'm sorry I let my anger get the best of me." They way he looks at my feet makes me angrier than his lack of explanation.

I pull his chin up so his eyes meet mine. "Why'd you roll over and let him do that to you? Are you weak like he said?"

He doesn't reply his eyes looking anywhere but me. I hadn't forgotten about the watchful eyes of the pack around us. I sigh taking a step away from him.

He's never been a weakling, always confident in his own strength and ability. What had changed?

I feel Juana's hands around me as I try to figure out why he'd stopped me from defending him. She doesn't say a word as I let her pull me away.

Nathan doesn't look at me as he walks away.

............

She'd followed me home up to me and Nathan's part of the house. I wasn't sure where Nathan had gone but I refused to go look for him.

"Nathan and his father have always had a tuff relationship." She pours me a glass of water that I don't touch.

"You'll just have to wait until this blows over, it's not the first time they've fought." She pours herself a glass taking a sip.

"He was going to kill him." I said looking up at her.

"It was a bluff, he wouldn't kill him." She sounds sure but the blood in his father's claws said otherwise. She chuckles taking the seat next to me. "But you weren't bluffing, you were gonna kill Alpha Miklae."

I wasn't sure what she found funny in my anger, I bit back venom.

"If you two fought the only way for the fight to end would be if one of you died. That's the price of challenging the alpha if you aren't his successor. Future Luna or not." My anger fades at her words. Was that why Nathan stopped me? He was afraid I would die?

I fight down the thought that he assumed I couldn't win.

"Talk to Nate tomorrow, he's probably too ashamed that he wasn't strong enough to let you stand you're ground to face you." She pats my leg her warm hands lingering on me.

I nod finally taking a drink form the glass she prepared.

"Even if he stopped me because he thought he was protecting me I'm still upset." I'm not sure why I tell her what I'm feeling. Something about her makes me want to tell her things.