Mia Darien: Good Things

“You can’t do this!” Kane shouted. Finally the sucka was realizing the severity of the situation. He strained against Eli, who was holding him back from doing something stupid, like going ape on the nobles. “ I’m the Wesley heir! How you just gonna up and take that from me?”

I saw Roman’s eyes turn icy blue. He was about to snap and Kane’s ass was finished if he did. A Wesley alpha didn’t have shit on a Diallo royal. My cousin really needed to shut his damn mouth.

“You have violated a sacred treaty!” Stefan shouted at Kane. “The punishment must fit the crime! You’re lucky we don’t exile you as well.”

“But why me?” I asked to intercept any response from Kane. “Eli is Uncle Bart’s son, too. Why not him?”

“You are the most senior Wesley within the pack,” Jackson said. “Because of your father, you understand the politics surrounding high-ranking lycans. We see a great leader in you and know that you won’t let the king down.”

I stared at Roman, my childhood best friend, like he was a stranger. How could he do this to me? I didn’t want to be the alpha. I wasn’t the heir and I had been glad about it. Being alpha was a responsibility I wasn’t sure I was boss enough to handle. However, it was clear I didn’t have a choice. Uncle Bart was dead. Kane could never be alpha now and Eli was too young to take his place. I was the next eldest, so the burden fell on me. My father would have been so disappointed in me if I turned my back on the pack and went lone wolf. That’s what I would have to do to escape this and I wasn’t willing to do that. I loved my pack. I could never abandon them or dishonor my father like that.

Never.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

“Man, that’s messed up, X!” Kane exploded behind me. “We’re supposed to be family!”

My fangs extended without me even forcing them to. “Nah, what you did was messed up!” I snarled. “You screwed yourself over. You knew what was going to happen if you messed with that female and you still did it! You put the entire pack in danger, so don’t come at me with that family stuff, cuz. You weren’t thinking about the family while you were out there getting some. I’d like to think that she was worth it, but knowing your history with females, she isn’t.”

Kane looked at me like I’d just throat-punched him. I’d never spoken to him like that because I’d always respected him as my alpha, even before Uncle Bart died. But it was just hard for me to believe that Kane loved Aspen, even though he’d stated that he did. Even though he’d claimed she was his mate. Just because Kane embodied the three virtues didn’t mean he wasn’t selfish. He’d only been thinking about himself when he’d crossed into Gray territory knowing it was forbidden. Love had nothing to do with him betraying his pack. So hell no, I wasn’t going to let him blame me for his idiotic mistake. He’d made the choice, and these were the consequences.

Still didn’t mean I wanted to be the alpha though.

Roman rose from his seat and everybody rose with him. I retracted my fangs, because best friend or not, baring my fangs to the king was a bad idea. Though him and I were both tall and built like the predators we were, Roman’s pure African ancestry put him out of reach. He was built less like a wolf and more like a lion, with skin so dark it was almost another color entirely. He was not to be tried in any way, and I knew that better than anybody.

Roman made his way over and stopped right beside me. He laid a hand on my shoulder and I looked at it before meeting his dark gaze.

“Soon, Xavier,” he said to me. That was all. Then he stalked up the stairs and out of the hall in silence, not bothering to look back at a single one of us. I couldn’t be sure, but I swore I heard a couple of my pack members breathe a sigh of relief once the door shut behind him.

“Can I request a favor, my lords?” I asked, realizing that the nobles hadn’t left with Roman. This trial wasn’t over quite yet.

Marcus tilted his head in my direction. “Go ahead.”

“Look, I know Kane messed up, but I’m asking you, please don’t exile him.”

The nobles exchanged amused looks. “Convince us why we shouldn’t,” Jackson said.

I grimaced, realizing they had indeed been about to kick Kane’s ass out of the fold.

“We’re family,” I said again, as if they hadn’t heard me the first few times. “Family doesn’t turn their backs on one another, especially during the hard times. Family loves. Family forgives. What kind of pack would we be if we kicked a member out every time they let us down?”

“That wasn’t a problem for Bartholomew,” Jackson replied, clearly referring to what had happened with Darien’s father.

“I’m not Uncle Bart. I think we can work this out with the Gray pack. We can move past this.”

“Oh no,” Marcus said. “You’re not working anything out with the Gray pack. Clarence would literally eat you alive. Leave the negotiations to us. Oh, and if my tone failed to clarify, that was an order.”

I nodded, though I really wanted to argue them down some more. “I understand.”

“Good. However, let me warn you. Kane is still your responsibility. We expect you to keep control of him and he is not, under any circumstances, to see the Gray female until we have reached terms with Clarence.”

“You can’t do this!” Kane shouted. “She’s my mate! How can you keep a wolf from his mate? That’s torture! ”

“No, that’s life! ” Stefan growled. “And sometimes life’s lessons are torture. Our order stands. Stay away from the Gray female, Kane Wesley, or the next time we summon you, the Huntsman will be with us.”

I wasn’t scared of much, but just the word “huntsman” made me want to climb under my bed and hide. The Huntsman was an infamous lone wolf mercenary raised in the jungles of Africa. His first loyalty was to himself. His second was to Roman. He hunted down anyone and anything the king wanted him to. And if Roman needed an executioner? The Huntsman was happy to lend his services. It was said he was immortal and couldn’t be killed, but that was only because no one had ever tried to. He was no ordinary shifter, and if Kane wasn’t willing to accept anything else, he had better accept this. If he did anything to go against the nobles’ order, the Huntsman’s face would be the last one he ever saw.

“I give you my word, my lords,” I said. “Kane won’t see Aspen or go anywhere near Gray territory.”

I could feel Kane seething with rage behind me, but this time he stayed quiet. Good deal, because I was already over his arrogant ass. If I was going to do this alpha thing, then I was going to start now. That meant putting Kane in his place, if need be, and keeping him there.

“That’s good to hear,” Stefan said. “A tough journey lies ahead of you, Xavier. It’s not easy being alpha. Seek the counsel of only those you truly trust. Seek wisdom. Stay close to God, and only blessings will come to you.”

“Thank you,” I said. Roman had always been serious about his faith, so it only made sense that he would choose nobles who were too. I wasn’t crazy religious, but I was a believer. I appreciated the nobles’ advice.

Marcus’ cell phone rang and he answered it without saying hello. He listened for a moment then hung up. Stefan and Jackson seemed to understand what had just happened without Marcus saying a word.

“You must excuse us now,” Stefan said. He stood and the other two rose with him. “Our sire will be expecting us to arrive at his estate soon after him. We cannot keep him waiting.”