Stronger- #Wattys2019

Part 14

"Damn it Alex. Nadine's right, you are oblivious. Pack abuses of the omegas have been an ongoing battle. A primary cause your mother has focused on. Your father forbid such aggression toward anyone without their consent. You know, to make sure people weren't punished for spicing up their consensual relationships." He shook his head for getting off topic. "Anyway, he made such things illegal, irregardless of any gender, rank, age, or whatever. So, you haven't seen it. You were raised in a pack who didn't do such things. But even though the orders were given, not all packs have fully conformed to such a way of thinking."

Brows scrunched together over amber colored eyes. "Why haven't I heard about this? If my father instituted laws and packs haven't been complying, why haven't I heard about it?"

Yuri leaned back in his seat. It was a warm leather seat he had broken in over hours of sitting in his alpha's office, day after day... "There were other issues to address. And honestly, it isn't something you can order to stop. It takes time to change the way people think."

"What is there to change?" The king roared. "It's wrong. Period. They should already know right from wrong."

"Spoken like an alpha."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Pale blue eyes looked up to his best friend. "You're used to being in control. What you say, goes. Only a minuscule number of people can get away with defying you and live to see the next day. Those are people you choose to be lenient with. You have all the control."

Alexander growled as he leaned over his desk to look his beta straight in the eyes. "Is that resentment I hear? Do you think you can change things around and place yourself on top?"

The rolling of Yuri's eyes was a clear sign of what he thought of that topic. "I have no desire to be king. Seriously man." Then he crossed his arms over his broad chest to show his confidence. "I'm pointing out that the rest of the wolves in the world are submissive to you. They don't have complete control over their lives. The lower down the hierarchy, the less control. And every wolf craves control and power. Even if it means exerting it on those who can't fight back." He threw his hands up in surrender, quickly as he realized how it all sounded. "I'm not saying I agree. I'm high enough up I don't feel the need. I'm just saying it's natural wolf instinct to exert dominance. So establishing laws that fight against instinct... it takes a fuck ton of work."

"Well if that's the case, why wouldn't she want a powerful mate to protect her?" Alexander slumped. He had wanted to reject her. He still wasn't sure he wouldn't reject her after it all. Yet, to hear her ask him to do it... it hurt. He couldn't respond to it at the time. He told himself the issue was only a matter of timing. He wanted to tie up all the loose ends and have all the answers before he severed that bond. So why did the pain only grow stronger as time went on?

Yuri tilted his head in confusion. "She said that?"

"Yup."

He seemed to lean back and ponder it. "She scared." He stated confidently.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at it from her perspective. Her father was an alpha and couldn't protect her. She was kidnapped and abused for years at the hands of an alpha. Titles and power are fickle things. They can be used to hurt or heal. She has no way to know which she would get with a male of rank. I honestly don't blame her for being scared of being mated to an alpha. She has such a mixed bag of experiences with alphas. However, with a lower ranking wolf... she can train, rely on her own alpha strength, and fight for herself. At least then, if things went bad she could defend herself, rather than face more horror."

Alexander glared at his friend. "Tell me again, why didn't you finish your degree in psychology?"

"Your father died and you became king. You needed me more than I needed those last three classes." He smirked. "And I'll tell you right now, she's good for you. Don't fuck it all up out of your own fear. She might not have wanted a mate of power, but she also hasn't rejected you yet."

"She can't."

Yuri rolled his eyes. "You mean it's illegal. It doesn't mean she can't open her mouth and say the words if you push her far enough."

A knock on the door pulled both men's attention.

"What are you doing here Ari? You were supposed to be watching Nadine." Alexander growled.

The guard looked confused and a little scared at the situation. "You told her to go to her room or leave. She went back to the room to get her things and left."

Damn it!