Red River (Pack 2)

“Red River is different. Their Alphas always mate and then eventually, the Alpha’s descendant steps into the role and leads the pack.”

“That’s…unusual.” By which Wesley meant it was unbelievable. An Alpha with a fated mate was rare. An entire line of them in the same pack? His uncle wasn’t making any sense.

“Unusual, yes, but good for us because there’s an Alpha in Red River who isn’t from that family line, which means they won’t accept him as their leader.”

All the pieces fell together and Wesley finally understood what his uncle was telling him. “You want a stranger to be the Purple Sky Alpha instead of me.” It was worse than when he had thought the man had lost his mind.

Paul sighed. “We don’t have another choice. Besides, this way you get what you want and our pack can survive.” He leaned forward and looked at Wesley beseechingly. “A trade is the perfect solution.”

“A trade?”

“Red River has an Alpha wolf they won’t accept as their Alpha. Our pack feels the same way about you. So Brian Berger will come take over for me, and in exchange, you’ll go to Red River and lead a pack, like you’ve always wanted.”

Rising from his chair, Wesley said, “What I wanted was to be the Alpha of this pack.” He threw his hands in the air. “I’ve spent my life dedicated to Purple Sky.”

“I know you have,” Paul said calmly, too calmly. “You genuinely care about this pack, which is why I know you’ll do the right thing.” He paused and met Wesley’s eyes. “The right thing for Purple Sky is to have an Alpha who makes them feel safe and comfortable. You know that just as you know that Alpha can’t be you.”

He agreed with the sentiment, but the reason for the pack’s concern was nonsensical. “My scar shouldn’t—”

“Wesley, I’m tired. I’m old and I’m tired. You’ve tried to show them you can be their Alpha and I’ve supported you every step of the way. It’s time to admit to ourselves that it isn’t going to happen. If you genuinely care for this pack like an Alpha should, then you will do what’s best for Purple Sky and go lead Red River so the Alpha from their pack can come here. End of story.”

“No, it’s not the end of the story,” he shouted. “How can the story end when it makes no sense? You said this Alpha, Brian…”

“Berger. His name is Brian Berger.”

Wesley waved his hand dismissively. “You said this Alpha can’t lead Red River because they’ll only accept an Alpha from their founding Alpha’s line.”

“That’s right.” Paul nodded.

“If that’s right, then how can I be their Alpha, Paul? I’m not from that line. I’m not even from Red River!”

“Like I said, their Alphas always mate. You’ll go to Red River and mate with the next in line. Then you’ll be in that family and they’ll accept you as their Alpha.”

“That doesn’t make any sense! Shifters don’t choose their fated mates, Mother Nature does. I can’t just go there and mate with whoever is next in line. That’s not what mate means.”

His jaw ticcing, Paul narrowed his eyes and leaned forward in his chair, suddenly reminding Wesley of the fierce man he had once been. “I know mates are fated. You know mates are fated. But Red River obviously has a different take on it because they say their Alphas always mate. What does it matter? The point is they offered to accept you as their leader through a mating.”

“A mating? What the hell is a mating? Shifters are either fated mates or they’re not. I can’t just create a mating!”

Paul lowered his voice to a dangerous grumble. “Apparently Red River wolves believe otherwise. All you have to do is go there, say you’ll mate with their next in line, and boom, you’re Alpha of a strong, prosperous pack.”

“If it’s so easy, why isn’t the Alpha who plans to come here staying in Red River and mating with the current Alpha’s daughter?”

“Son. The current Alpha has a son.”

Suddenly, everything became clear. The Alpha from the Red River pack wasn’t willing to fake a mating with a man so he wanted out and Paul offered Wesley up as a sacrificial lamb in order to recruit a new Alpha for Purple Sky.

“And what makes you think I’ll take part in anything resembling a mating with a man?” Wesley shouted defensively.

“You’ve always wanted to be Alpha of a pack. Are you really going to give up your one chance just because it means”—he rubbed his lips together and fidgeted in his chair uncomfortably—“being with a man?”

The truth of the matter was, the best sexual experience of Wesley’s life had been his single liaison with a male human a decade earlier. The level of pleasure, relief, and contentment he had felt during those few hours had been so profound that every sexual interlude since then had barely kept his interest let alone ignited his passion. So, no, being with a man wasn’t an issue. But Wesley had never exposed his attraction to men so there was no way his uncle could have known about it, which meant his only living relative, his Alpha, and all the people he had devoted his life to serving, had no compunction about casting him aside and relegating him to a fate he could very well hate merely because his body wasn’t perfect. He wouldn’t show his vulnerability by telling his uncle just how deeply the betrayal cut so he kept his mouth shut.