The Baynes Legacy- Book 2 - Youth Of The Night

Youth of the Night (Chapter 14)

14.

The next days passed by with agony, everyone was saddened with the untimely passing of Ian. Elizabeth was unable to hold herself together and frequently cried herself to sleep where she happened to be at the time. Many of her friends came to look in on her, bringing her food and helping her around the house. Connor was in and out of the house often, he checked in frequently on his mother but only stayed for a few minutes. Being in that house only brought up painful memories that he needed to suppress at the moment, since he was so new to the Alpha position showing any sign of weakness at this moment could easily go bad. It often opened up the chance for other adult males in the pack to challenge him. Connor remained strong for himself, his mother, his kids, and most of all his pack. He had decided to hold the usual burial ceremony on Friday evening, since it usually went all night. The guard had taken Ian's body to be prepared and then went on with the task of gathering large amounts of wood for the ceremony. On Friday the back yard of the his father's former home would be filled with the howls and voices of his pack, everyone drawn together to mourn his leaving this world. The mere thought of leading the burial ceremony for his father caused Connor's eyes to water up but he quickly blinked them away.

"Alpha, sir?" A member of the guard called as he approached quickly.

"Yes?" Connor asked as he looked up from the paper work he was looking over.

"We have set up the everything necessary for the ceremony, is there anything else you'd like for us to do?"

"Yes, I want your team working double time, I want all the men to double up on their rounds. No one should run alone. There should be two teams, one to take the northern part of our lands then the other running the southern parts. I don't want to give that man a chance to break through our perimeter again without our knowledge. Understand?" Connor's voice boomed, his newly found strength was echoed in his command causing the guardsman to bend his head at the command.

"Yes sir. I'll make sure everyone is on their toes. And I'll inform you if we find anything new." With that the guard turned quickly on his heal and left.

Seconds later Kalee walked in looking at her stressed husband, she quietly shut the door behind her, "Connor?"

"Yes, dear?" He glanced up at her as she shut the door behind her.

"Are you okay? You have barely shed a tear and have closed yourself off. Please don't shut yourself away from me?" She swiftly moved to his side kneeling beside him grabbing a hold of is hand grasping on to it as if her life depended on it."

"I'm fine, Kalee. I can't show weakness, I can't show everyone how much it hurts. You know this, so why do you question me?" He asked sternly prying his hand away.

"But Connor."

"No But's Kalee, now stop." He said forcefully. She stood quickly, hurt registering all over her face. Never in almost 15 years had he ever spoken to her like that, so forcefully, and cold. His voice continuously ringing in her ears causing her to flinch back at every hurtful sting.

"Sorry." Kalee whispered as her voice gave way to tears, she quickly turned and ran from the room slamming the door behind her.

Connor watched his mate run hurt and afraid from his office, he let his head fall into his hands leaning over his desk. "Jesus, Connor. Did you really have to take it out on her?"

"I was wondering the same thing myself." The voice caught him off guard causing him to jump from his seat defensively. Looking at the door again he saw Blain standing against the door jam. "Did you really have to treat Kalee that way, Connor? She's your mate, isn't she supposed to be the one person you can show weakness with?"