Mates Conquer Everything, Right?

“Oliver!” I yell across the field. It feels like ages since the last time we got to talk. Igétas is still jealous, but he isn’t here at the moment. He is with Tharros in his office, figuring out a way to make the split-up plan work.

“Purple, how are you feeling?” He looks concerned for me.

“I am okay, feeling more like myself with every hour. How are you doing?”

He isn’t wearing a shirt which means that he is shifting back and forth.

He sighs, “It is a busy day. Alpha and Beta have other things to do. No idea what, but they let me handle the clean-up and the security.”

My lips are sealed. I am not talking about the possible split-up. No way I am the person to screw this up.

“Do I want to know what ‘clean-up’ means?” I doubt that is just cleaning the canteen up.

Oliver is a werewolf who has lived in a pack without filters all his life, so he just tells the truth: “We cleaned up the canteen. Burned every drop of wolfsbane and cleaned every surface with blood. The rogues who weren’t killed in the fight are in the dungeon, getting screened. The bodies of the dead are in the woods. We’ll set them on fire tonight when the wind has changed.”

My eyes widen. “People in the dungeon? That horrible place where Igétas was held?”

“Yes, they came in to kill us and take Amanda with them. They deserve to be in prison.” He gives me a small smile. “ I know it’s hard to understand we are jurors and executioners, but bear in mind that we are very humane. A lot of packs would just kill every single soul without question. We ask questions, but not now. Now we clean up.”

“I understand, but it is still a lot to take in. This will be my life. I need to get used to it.” I just don’t know how.

Later, I find Igétas, Tharros and Yolanda waiting for me.

“Good news,” Igétas starts, “If we decide to split up, the Elders will support it. We have forty-eight hours to make it official, otherwise, they will be here for the duel.”

“Why the deadline?” I stare at them confused, we are handling the situation very well. I don’t understand what their deal is.

“It is in the best interest of the pack. Members are sensing something is off. We will decide what their lives will look like in the future. We can’t toy with them. Tharros will sleep on the idea, we will meet you and Igétas tomorrow morning.” Yolanda tells me and I nod. They leave and I stand next to my mate.

“So, today went well?”

’It could have gone worse. He was still very reserved. He knows it is the best way for us all. He is trying. If he doesn’t go for the split-up, I will challenge him tomorrow for the fight.” He looks into my eyes. Which are starting to tear up.

“I just found you,” I tell him, and he holds me tight.

“Everything will be okay.”

“How can you say that? We should ask Amanda if she knows something.” He picks me up in his arms, and I let him,closing my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

“Shh, it will be alright.” He tells me, stroking the back of my head. “Amanda can’t help now. She can only see the future if someone has already made a decision. And she is still learning, I doubt she even has an idea of what is going on. I am not leaving you. I promise.”

“How can you promise that?”

“Do you really think I would leave you alone?”

“No.”

“Indeed, so I won’t.”

If that is his way of calming me, he isn’t doing a good job. Still, I believe him. He is so certain, how can I not trust him?

We go to his room and watch a movie. I have no idea what we are watching. I’m just enjoying the fact that he is next to me, hugging me. His smell surrounds me, calming me. Tomorrow is a big day, for me and for everyone else.

There is a knock on the door. Igétas growls under his breath. I move away from him.

“Who is it?” I ask him when he walks to the door.

“The only person who thinks it isn’t necessary to mind-link me first.” With that said, he opens the door.

“Brother,” Tharros greets him and Igétas nods, holding the door open for him.

Tharros enters the room, Yolanda isn’t by his side.

“What brings you here?”

“I wanted to tell you my mate and I chose to split up. It is a good plan and Megál wants to keep the Alpha title and his mate safe. He is surprisingly quiet in my mind when I’m running over the idea. It is a new beginning for both of us.” He looks at me and back at his brother. “I wanted to tell you now so you could have a good night of sleep.”

Igétas nods: “Tell Yolanda thanks for telling us today.” A little smile plays on Igétas’ face and if my eyes don’t betray me, it appears on Tharros’ too. He can smile!

“You know me well.”

“Of course, we are brothers after all.”

Of course it doesn’t take long to go back to his alpha mood, “I mind-linked the pack that we have an announcement to make at breakfast and they need to cancel their plans for tomorrow night, so they can decide if they want to follow me or stay here. We will talk tomorrow about the arrangements we need to make.”

’Sounds good. We will see you tomorrow morning at breakfast.”

He leaves and we are alone. I am so relieved, there will be no fight.

Now we just need to hammer out the details.

The fight is off. Thank the Goddess.