Three Alphas, Three Mates

Chapter 45 - Dante

If he's only gonna give me a second, I decide to say everything I can at once. I clear my throat, staring into his eyes. "I'm trying to understand the conflict between the Silvermoon and Bloodmoon packs."

His shoulders tense.

I keep talking, because at any moment he can get up and leave. "My life's been threatened by their werewolves, multiple times, but I still don't know why." I tighten my fists in my lap. I won't beg, but I'll be honest. "I'm desperate here. The only person left that I can think to ask is you."

"We barely know each other," he says.

I nod. "Exactly." That's what a last resort is.

He furrows his brow, getting up. He doesn't leave. He just leans his forearms against the back of the bench, scanning the area around us. He's tense. He's got every reason to be.

He looks at me, and I know he can't read my mind, but I hold my thoughts as if I were holding my breath.

"Why can't you ask them about it?" he asks. "The alphas? The betas?"

"I think you know the answer to that," I say.

"I do?" he asks.

I nod.

He looks confused.

I falter. "Oh... Do... Do you not know?"

He gives me an apologetic look, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm not really in the loop of things. Sorry."

"Oh." I scratch the back of my neck. I guess I'll just say it then. "All they do is lie."

"Really?" He cocks his head back.

I nod. It's hard to admit. It's one thing to have problems with someone. But when it's a romantic partner... I cringe at the thought. My brother lied to me doesn't sound nearly as bad as my boyfriend lied to me.

I just look stupid, and it's embarrassing. "They keep secrets," I say. "Avoid my questions. Get the betas to lie for them." I rub my forehead. "Don't get me wrong. I trust them." Do I? "But I can't trust them with this, you know?"

"I don't know," he says. "I don't have an imprint."

"But you get the idea," I say.

He shakes his head. "You're human, so I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"What don't I understand?" I ask.

"The bond." He looks into my eyes. "It's crazy. You can't eat. You can't sleep. You can't even think without that person. The thought that they could be in danger..." He shakes his head.

"It's one thing to be scared," I say. "It's another to lie."

"But why do you care?" he asks.

I give him a look.

"Okay, wait. Hear me out." He puts his hands up in defense. "If they're just trying to protect you—"

"Lying," I correct.

He sighs. "Don't think of it like that."

"How should I think of it then?" I ask.

He shifts his shoulders, looking wary. "Let's say that they're..."

"Yeah?"

"Essentially." He clears his throat. "Keeping you in a..."

I nod. "A what?"

"A fairytale," he says.

"Oh come on," I scoff.

"Listen to me," he says. "They're probably not lying. They're just freeing you from the horrors no one wants to see."