Simply Mates

NINETEEN

"Look who decided to join us." My father says as I step through his office door. "I thought you might have gotten lost on your way here. I was about to send out a search party for you." 

I roll my eyes as I take my seat beside my brother - who narrows his eyes at me. 

"I can feel your anger from here. What's wrong?" He mindlinks me.

"Nothing." I reply, rolling my eyes again. 

"Now let's get to it." Father says, smacking his hand on the table. "I've decided to declare war on the Redwood pack."

My heart stops and I jump to my feet. "What?!" I yell, slamming both hands on the table. "Why the hell would you do that now?" 

He growls at my disrespect, but I don't sit down or apologize for my outburst. 

"For thirty years I have let that man walk all over me. I won't allow it anymore!" He states. 

"For Goddess' sake. Father, this feud is petty and needs to end! For years we have fought against the Redwoods when really we should be pairing together! We are practically neighbours! The benefits of an alliance-"

"I will not have an alliance with those disgraceful wolves, Andromeda!" He interrupts, his eyes turning dark as his wolf pushes through. "You have no idea what that man has done to me and I will not be his friend! Now sit down, Andromeda!"

"I'm not going to sit down and listen to your plans of starting a war over something so trivial!" I spit angrily and I can feel my own wolf coming out. "I won't let innocent people die over this, Father! I won't! Think of your pack members and their-"

"Our pack will fight with their Alpha because they are loyal! Something you clearly don't understand!" He roars, standing to his feet. "This war will happen, Andromeda, whether you like it or not. So you either stand with your family and your pack, or you get out. Don't make me regret choosing you as my successor."

"I-"

"I think Andromeda needs to take a walk, Dad. She's just worried about the pack, that's all. I'm sure she will stand with us." Derek cuts me off, shooting me a glare. "She is the Alpha Female, Dad. She's just using her instincts."

"Fine. Get her out of my sight. We will talk more about the matter tomorrow." My father says as he sits back down on his chair - pinching his nose with his forefinger and thumb. "David, grab me a scotch. I got a wicked headache brewing."

Derek grabs my arm and drags me out of the office, closing the door behind us. 

"What the fuck were you doing, Ands?" He whisper-yells as he leads us outside. 

"I can't let him start a war, Derek. I just can't." I reply, my heart racing as the adrenaline still pumps through my veins. "I can't fight my mate's pack."

"And we won't, but objecting it like that? That was stupid, Ands. Goddess, Dad could have taken away your title at the snap of a finger." He says as he finally lets go of my wrist when we reach the tree line. "Are we shifting?"

"No, my wolf is too riled up. She might go to Callum. I don't think I will have control over her." I whisper.

He nods his head. "Okay." He says as he continues to walk beside me through the trees. "But we need to talk about this. We need to figure out a plan to delay this until you become Alpha, Ands. Yelling and screaming won't get us anywhere. You know that.

"You are fighting an Alpha. You need to use your brain here." He states with a smirk. "Know what I'm saying?"

I sigh. "Unfortunately, I do." I say. "But how will we outsmart Dad?"

He chuckles, an evil grin forming on his face. "Oh, don't you worry. I got that." He says. "What you need to worry about is not exploding like that again."

"Easier said than done. He's talking about attacking my mate." I growl, shaking with anger at the thought. "I don't know how I am going to be able to listen to his plans of harming Callum. I can't even think about what he is planning right now without images of me ripping open my own father's throat playing in my mind." 

"Ands-"

"Derek, I don't know what to do. If this is what it's like now, what will it be like when I tell him I'm mated to Callum?" I say as I stop in my tracks and look at my brother. "I will lose everything, Derek. I will lose my title, my family, my pack, my life...and my mate."

"Don't talk like that." He orders taking a step towards me.

"It's the truth, Derek." I say in defeat. "I might as well go rogue now."

"Shut your fucking mouth right now, Andromeda." He says angrily. "You are not going rogue, so just shut up. We will figure all this out. You will keep your title. You will keep your family and pack. And you will keep your mate-"

"But will I have him?" I ask incredulously. "Or will it forever be a secret until the day I fucking die? Will I be sixty years old, sneaking into the forest just so I see him for a moment? Will I die alone without my mate by my side?"

"Ands-"

"No, Derek. This-" I pause, my eyes catching movement behind Derek and when I see what's coming, I scream. "Derek! Get down!"

But I'm too late. Derek turns his head, giving access to a mangy, grey wolf to sink it's fangs into his neck.