♥

I'm in Leon's office with my father, discussing which path to take for the future of the pack. Leon wants to give up his title soon, after what happened amongst the pack and the district, he knows it's time to take a step back.

His health is still deteriorating as we speak and he should be taking time to focus on that, instead of managing this pack. Imogen certainly doesn't want to see her father burn himself out before his time is even up.

My dad has been oddly quiet these last few days and I'm not entirely sure why.

He's not said much regarding the concept of stepping up to become Alpha. He's ready to step away from his Beta role when Leon does the same. I've said from the start, I want Imogen by my side and if I do become Alpha, then it'll be entirely my decision to make. No one else's.

I want this pack to be run on equality. We all deserve a chance to be the best wolves we can, no matter our gender or our race or our backgrounds. It means nothing when it comes to standing up for our pack and protecting it with everything we have.

"So, Nate, what do you think about these?"

Leon hands me a bunch of papers, an old treaty that was once signed with a local pack in the district. It might seem old fashioned but it's needed, to keep the peace and make sure we're all happy within our territories.

As my eyes scan the page, Leon's office door swings open. He stares at the person behind me but his expression drops. "Imogen, everything okay?"

I glance over my shoulder and she blinks once, shaking her head. "There is a lone wolf that is walking around our perimeter. The wolves on duty thought he went away but he's come back. Not even in his wolf form but his human form, we're unsure what he wants."

When I stand from the chair, I place the papers back down onto Leon's desk. "Have our pack approached him?"

Imogen shakes her head and I feel my eyes narrow. "Let me," I say as I exit the room swiftly. "I'll take Elin and Zade."

"I'm coming too," she says, hurrying to my side.

I give her a nod and call for Elin and Zade to meet me in the kitchen, wherever they are. Viola pokes her head around the door hesitantly as I talk through tactics with Imogen, her hands are knitted together, eyes sad as she approaches.

"You okay?" I ask her.

She grips her fingers, tugging at the hem of her cardigan. "I-I know who it is."

My brows push together quickly. "Who, who is?"

"The wolf that approaches the house. This is his third time coming." Viola's voice begins to shake and I walk straight towards her, clutching her shoulders gently.

I flick my eyes between her frightened brown ones. She doesn't need to say anymore because I know exactly who she is talking about. Her mate. Of course she'd know that he was near, her mate bond is probably crying out for her to go and see him.

When I first met Milo, that's all the mate bond wanted me to do. Reach out to him, forgive him, be with him. Despite everything that went down. No doubt her wolf is begging to listen to his side of the story.

But I'll never forgive him for dragging her away. For hurting her in the process.

Now she's petrified.

I grit my teeth and glance at Imogen quickly. "Let me end this motherfucker."

Viola grips my wrist. "Don't hurt him," she begs, clutching her hand over her heart. "It will hurt me, it will destroy me."

My nostrils flare when I realise this situation. If I hurt him, kill him, it will only make Viola suffer in the long run and that is the last thing I want. I know a lot of wolves that can't live on after their mate dies. I don't want to lose Viola too.

"Okay," I grumble. "I won't."

"Promise," she begs. "Promise me you won't. It hurts already and I won't hack the heartbreak."

After a few moments I nod. "Stay here," I order. Then I look at Imogen, pleading with my eyes.

Imogen steps to our side. "I'll stay with her," she says.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

Soon Elin and Zade meet me in the kitchen but before they can even ask what's going on, I order them into the clearing and through the trees to find this trespasser. If he's come back three times, that means he's practically stalking my sister.

I won't stand for it. God, I'm going to have to resist ripping his throat out.

I refuse to see that frightful look in her eyes once more. She deserves better.

She deserves the entire world. But he can't give her that. Not when he's already made the choices he has. She's terrified of him and no mate should be afraid of their other half.

He's on the east border right now. One of the wolves on duty sends me an update.

I lead Elin and Zade through the woods. I want to shift and transform into my beast form again but without the ability to mindlink, I won't know what he wants from us. From Viola.

"What's the plan?" Elin asks.

"Attack if we need to defend ourselves. But he's alone. That's already been checked. See what he wants. Viola ordered me not to kill him, it's going to be really fucking hard not to. So hold me back if needed." I grumble under a harsh breath.

My eyes remain focused on the forest ahead, flicking past the trees as I try to settle my anger that is brewing. "I can't believe he keeps coming back," Zane says with a low sigh. "Viola is not going to want some stalker who has no boundaries."

I grit my teeth so tight that my jaw begins to ache. "He hurt her," I deadpan. "I will never be able to forgive him for that."

"As you should," Elin nods.

We walk the rest in silence, keeping our eyes out for the intruder. A hand swats my chest. "Shit, look," Zade says as we glance in his direction.

I spot him from at least two hundred yards away. We pause for a moment, that's when his scent floats through the air and hits me like a tonne of bricks. I want to vomit at the scent, fearful of it ever being mixed with Viola's. I will riot.

He's wearing all black, hood covering his tall stature. "Fucking asshole," I grumble under my breath as I start walking directly towards him. I'm speeding off so fast that Elin and Zade have to jog to keep up with me.

When I notice that he doesn't cower away, he maintains his position. His shoulders are broad and his eyes dead set on mine. I find myself stomping so damn hard that the ground is shaking beneath my feet.

I can hardly see his face beneath his dark hood but I get the illusion that his eyes are the colour of the devil. The smirk that rests on his lips ignites a fire deep in my stomach. Don't flip out. Don't flip out.

Elin and Zade come to a stop behind me. "What do you want?" I bark at him.

The unidentified wolf begins to pace slowly and I brace myself. He continues to smirk at me and I feel Elin tense beside me, he won't stand for a smug prick trying to make a fool and mockery out of us on our own territory.

"What do you want?" I ask again, my voice bellowing through the trees.

He stops pacing and faces us again. "What's mine."

My eye twitches in annoyance at that word. I'm riddled with disgust.

"She's not yours. She'll never be yours. She will not go anywhere near you."

The man breathes out through his nose sharply and nods, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I think that's for her to decide."

"You hurt her," I growl through my teeth.

He tilts his head slowly. He doesn't speak right away. "I'd never hurt her."

"You allowed your wolves to drag her through the woods, you injured her."

Something flashes in his eyes but he lowers his gaze, hood covering his face before I can register what it is. "That wasn't my intention," he says deeply.

I step forward once. "That's beyond the point. You still did it and you still don't deserve her."

After a few moments he glances up again and holds my stare. "I don't know why you're making decisions for her."

"I know how she feels about you." My nostrils flare and I tell myself to calm down.

My palms and fingertips begin to itch. I want to shift. Hell, I want to scare him off again with my beast. But I can't. I'll lose control and Viola will live a life of pain and misery. There is no winning in this situation.

He takes a step forward and I match his action. No one is going to intimidate me.

"Nothing can change a mate bond." He comments pretentiously.

Fuck. Don't I know it.

"No, but you can do the right thing and leave her the fuck alone."

He cracks a smile and I tighten my fist, using all my self-restraint not to swing for the bastard. As he opens his mouth to speak, he pauses and glances past me. That's when he takes a sniff of the air, his eyes dilating.

I narrow my eyes at him and feel the hairs on my arms stand up. Viola's soft scent of lavender and peppermint floats through the woods and I glance over my shoulder to find my sister walking directly towards us, Imogen at her side.

Fury roars inside me. I told you to keep her inside. I growl at Imogen.

Her eyes focus on mine and she shakes her head. She's capable of making her own decisions, Nate. She wanted to come out here, she's allowed to do that.

Fuck.

Viola's mate steps around me but with still a few metres between the pair of them.

"Let us talk... alone." He demands.

I snarl in his direction, putting myself between them. "Over my dead body."

His eyes remain on my sister and I want to lean over and rip them from his skull. "Don't you want to talk to me, sweetness?"

My wolf grimaces at the nickname the same time I do. "You have five seconds to leave, otherwise I'll rip you to shreds."

"I'll only keep coming back. All I want is a conversation. That's it."

"I don't trust you," I spit.

He snorts quietly. "Wise."

"Leave."

When his eyes gravitate back to my sister once more, I prepare myself for a bloodbath because he won't leave. But after lingering on Viola for a few moments he nods and steps back, smirking in her direction. "I'll be back."

As soon as he's gone I turn back to Viola. I hate this expression that rests on her face. Helpless. She looks so helpless. Elin, Zade and Imogen walk back to the house to give us a moment.

"Come on," I press a hand to her shoulder but she doesn't budge. "Viola."

She drags her eyes to mine and stares back at me. "I would have spoken to him. Try to understand him better."

I flinch from her words. "He hurt you, Vi. He was vicious and he dragged you through the dirt. He was trying to attack us. We can't trust him, the mate bond will make you believe what you want to believe. He could take advantage of you. I know you want to get to know him, that you want to settle your wolf. But you can't trust him."

We begin walking back to the house. Viola's arms are crossed over her chest and her eyes down on the ground. "We should tell Leon to keep our security high. Try and warn him away, you shouldn't meet him by yourself, Viola. You are smarter than that."

"So you get to have your happy ending but I don't?" She snaps. "You get to spend your time with Milo, like I can't hear you laughing and talking and enjoying each other through the walls?"

"Vi, you know that's not where I am going with this." I try to keep my voice calm before I lose my shit.

Viola can be naive. I don't want her making a decision that hurts her.

Her brown eyes light up with rage. "You don't get to dictate my life, Nate. Just because mum isn't here, doesn't mean you can boss me around and make decisions for me. This is my life and I'm allowed to do whatever I want!"

My throat tenses as I shake my head. "I'm trying to look out for you. I don't want anything to happen to you. It is my biggest fear."

Viola's jaw ticks. "It's still my choice to make."

I stare at her for a few moments. "Alright," I throw my hands up in defence. "You do what you want, Viola. I'm sorry that I'm trying to be a good brother and protect you from someone I think could take your kindness and use it against you for their benefit."

She walks ahead, arms still folded over her chest. When she doesn't respond to me, I nod and follow after her. I understand how hard this must be for her but I'm not going to let someone take advantage of her.

Even if she thinks I'm overstepping.

I already lost my mum, I'm not losing my twin too.

♥ ♥ ♥

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Author's Note

Ahhhh I love protective Nate but is he taking a step too far?😬

Poor Viola. Her mate is willing to stalk her, eeekk.

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I love Nate's Alpha qualities coming out!💕

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