Chapter 12

-Ambrose-

As soon as those words left his mouth, I was livid. My wolf was pushing for control, not wanting his mate to be disrespected like this. He didn’t like rogues, and of course neither did I, but since meeting Skyler I had started to feel a little more compassionate towards them. You didn’t always know their story of why they left their packs.

Nate had always been an ass, but as he was an excellent fighter, I made him Gamma. He was a good Gamma and a decent mate, but overall I think he’s a dick. And what he just said, no, the tone he just used to say it-that proved my theory. Dick. A soon-to-be-dead dick, that is.

As Skyler started to get up, my anger reached its climax. Before I could help myself, I tossed the heavy oak table across the room. I’m going to kill him. He is going to be dead. He knew that Skyler was a rogue. He knew. He still said what he said. Gamma or not, nobody disrespects my mate. Their future Luna as well. That thought alone made my anger surge again.

When the table was no longer in front of him, but he was still seated, he looked up from his lap with wide eyes. He was visibly shaking. Tanzanite and the others were just staring at me, then him, then back to me. It was clear they were scared for him. Rightly so. Lunging for his throat, within a second his back was against the wall. His face was already starting to become read due to lack of oxygen. That made my wolf sigh in content.

“Alpha, please!” Tanzanite begged, tears already spilling down her cheeks.

“Alpha, maybe we should talk-“

“Silence!” I glared at Jason. Liza-Marie just stared at her lap.

Bishop said nothing. Wise choice on his part. At once they were all quiet. I could hear their hearts beating rapidly and as I looked at Skyler, I could tell she was thinking.

“Ambrose, I think you should let him go.” She said, very quietly.

“Why? He disrespected you!”

“I know you see it that way, and initially I felt that too. Remember, I am not a rogue anymore. I am the future Luna of this pack. I agree that rogues need a little more compassion but rogues are rogues. As soon as the words left his mouth, I wanted him dead. But he is my pack’s Gamma. We need him. Punish him another way. Not while you would be punishing Tanzanite and Bishop as well, by killing their mate.” She was so calm and rational. Her tone made me calm down almost instantly. I wanted to be mad. I really did. But her voice, the look she gave me… I couldn’t. This woman was magic.

I released Nate’s neck and he dropped to the ground, grasping his neck and gasping for air. His eyes were bloodshot. Tanzanite ran to him immediately, quietly whimpering. Bishop stood, bowed his head and he and Tanzanite left with Nate without another word. All while this was happening, Jason and Liza sat where they were. Good. They knew not to interfere.

“Leave us,” I said. Immediately everybody cleared the room.

“Jason, get somebody to clean this mess up.”

“Yes, Alpha.” He said with a bow of his head.

“I’m so sorry Alpha, I don’t know what came over him-“

With a raise of my hand I silenced Liza. “Later, Beta-female. Leave now.”

She bowed and left.

I took a deep breath and sighed. “Would you like to go for a walk with me? Around the pack? I could show you some really cool spots to hang out, we could go to the lake, we don’t have to talk if you don’t want to-“

“Yes. I would love that,” Skyler said, cutting me off. She gave me a small smile, and it reached her eyes. That gesture alone made my heart leap with joy. “Great. Let’s go then,” grinning back at her.

As we walked, we didn’t talk initially. Only after about fifteen minutes of walking through the woods on the running trail, did Skyler initiate conversation.

“The territory is gorgeous.”

“It is,” I replied with pride. “I had a landscaper here about six months ago, and she made sure that this place was beautiful and suited the needs of wolves. I think she did a great job if you look at how the woods are laid out, with natural fresh water providing habitat to other animals. And she planted a lot of flowers. Like, a lot. They’re not in bloom right now, but in about a month you’ll be amazed. It’s really something to see.” I said. I’m babbling. I never babble. Goddess, what this woman does to me.

“I love the woods,” she said, looking up at me through her lashes. She was full-on grinning now. This made me suspicious. “What are you smiling about?”

With that, she let out a little shriek. “Race ya!” She shouted over her shoulder and took off at a full sprint. After my moment of shock, I shot after her like an arrow released from a bow. Shit. She was really fast. Just as I was about to catch up to her, she stopped. She wasn’t even breathing heavily, while I panted slightly. Guess being a silver wolf had its perks.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, still wondering why she stopped so abruptly. I scanned her for injuries.

“How long ago did we meet?” She asked.

“Uhm, about three weeks ago? Why?”

A wave of realisation washed over me. It was full moon tonight.

Very unconvincingly she replied, “I- no reason.”

“Skyler, I know what tonight is. It’s the full moon. I know your wolf can sense it. I also know that you will go into heat tonight.”

“Shit.”

“It will be okay. I will help you.”

“Ambrose, this is going to sound so stupid, but nobody ever told me how heat really works. I only know it happens on the full moon after you meet your mate. Can you explain? Please?” A blush made its way up her cheeks as she was speaking.

I was taken aback with this information. I thought all she-wolves knew this stuff?

"Yeah, of course I'll explain. I don’t know a lot though,”

I can do this. She looked at me expectantly.

“Okay. Let’s sit down on the grass over there, and I’ll explain.” I motioned to the soft-looking patch of grass about ten meters from us.

“Okay. So. You already know heat happens on the full moon, every month until we mate fully. It is supposed to be very painful for a wolf, as it’s nature’s way of forcing procreation. If I mark you, the pain will be much more manageable and you’ll be fine until we mate fully.”

“Alright, I can deal with that.”

“I don’t exactly know how it will be for a silver wolf, though,”

She looked at me with sarcasm evident in her fake smirk, “That’s reassuring.”

“Me just being near you will help, and me touching you will make it better too. That’s about as much as I know.” I was really trying here. I had no idea what to expect.

She didn't look too pleased. Why though? I thought we were getting on great. She obviously still had some reservations. I mean, I can't blame her. It's just-I have only been nice to her. She doesn't have a reason to be reserved. Apart from the whole chained up thing. I did apologize for it, a lot. She just needs time, I guess.

"You want to head home?”

She looked into my eyes, and I could see so many emotions. Regret, sadness, hesitation, and most of all pain. So so much pain.

“Yeah. Let's go home.”