Consequences

DREW

My alarm went off, and I whimpered at its beeping. My hand slapped the clock into silence, and I hissed at the pain that erupted from my chest and stomach, reminding me of yesterday’s encounter.

Hunter had always hated me, and I understood why. For werewolves, strength, size, and speed were prized above almost all, but my physical abilities and stature were all lacking. As a future beta, I should have been second only to the future alpha, but I wasn’t.

I was what the Goddess had made me, and I loved myself. In addition to gifting me with foresight, the Goddess had made me an uncommon kind of wolf. The kind that can bear children despite being a male, meaning I would likely have a male for a mate.

While my kind was exceedingly rare in most wolf packs, my family had a few. Nevertheless, we were not unheard of, and most members saw us as precious. The Goddess had chosen me to receive these gifts, and the pack had embraced me for it.

Except for Hunter. He didn’t understand that there were different kinds of strength, size, and speed—not all had to be physical. His view was black and white, but that was all right; I would see the gray for him.

As the future beta, I had a duty to help Hunter guide our pack and protect him. And that’s what I felt like I was doing. When he beat me, he looked stronger in the eyes of his peers. When I stayed silent, he escaped the punishment and disparaging thoughts of his father.

I held the hope that one day he would see I’m not as weak as he thinks, that I have my own unique strengths. Until then, I planned to keep my mouth shut while he found any excuse to bully me.

My alarm went off again, bringing me back to the reality that today was Sunday, the worst day of the week. I groaned and flicked a switch on the top of the alarm, this simple act draining all my energy for the day. Energy for the things I had to do today, at least.

At noon, the pack’s Sunday Lunch would begin, and attendance was mandatory. Tables would be spread out across the lawn of the main pack house and everyone would bring a dish to pass as they got together, ate, and caught up with each other after a busy week.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. The hot water did wonders for my sore body, and energy came into me when I remembered that today was arrival day at the town bookstore. And that I’d be going there with Elliot.

I rushed through my shower and got out, wincing at the sight of my bruised body in the mirror. Even after years of seeing my body this way, it still elicited the same shocked response. See, Hunter? I am strong.

I forced thoughts of him out of my mind and refocused on Elliot. I ran my hands through my blond hair, then threw on pants and a hoodie that Elliot had left here. I lifted the collar to my nose and inhaled deeply. His scent calmed me, like it always did.

Since meeting me five years ago, he’d always been there, finding time every day to see me, talk to me, or spend time with me. He cared for me, shared his dreams with me, and made me feel special—not just for my gifts but for being myself.

I’d confessed my love for him four years ago, when I was eleven and he was thirteen. He hadn’t said it back, saying instead that we should wait until we knew what the Goddess had in store for us before we took serious steps in our relationship.

I knew he was destined to be my mate, so I never pushed for anything more. The last four years with him had been fantastic, and everyone already viewed us as a couple, but we waited before calling ourselves that for the Goddess to reveal Her plans for us.

The smell of coffee overpowered Elliot’s scent and my thoughts of him, and I went downstairs to the kitchen. My dad was doing what he did every morning: sitting in his seat at the table, sipping his coffee, and reading a different book from the day before.

I walked to the fridge and pulled it open. “What’s the genre for today?” I asked, taking out the orange juice.

He looked up at me and smiled, then raised the book to show me the cover. “Mystery. A real whodunit.” He lowered it when I flashed him a huge smile. “What?” He looked at the cover, then back at me.

“Oh, nothing,” I said, pouring myself a glass and returning the juice to the fridge. “That’s a good one. You’ll never guess who the killer is.” I sipped my juice, then smiled again.

His expression morphed into one of anger, and he slammed the book onto the table. He crossed his arms, muscles bulging, and gave me a look that could freeze blood. But he couldn’t hold it for long. He laughed, uncrossed his arms, and clapped his hands once.

“Of course you’ve read it,” he said, grabbing his coffee and taking a sip. “Thought I could beat you to it, but I’ll get you tomorrow.”

I sat across the table from him with my juice. “I doubt it, but you can try.”

He nodded, then went back to reading.

His biceps twitched as he lifted the book, and I thought about how different we were physically and how he never made me feel less than because of it. He always looked at me with pride in his eyes.

He was a good dad, as good as one could be as both a single father and the beta of a wolf pack. After my mom died when I was two, I had to learn how to raise myself because his duties to the alpha kept him away most of the time.

It would have been easier if we had stayed in the pack house, but he’d taken her death hard and needed space to mourn. I still sometimes saw that look in his eyes when he’d see me, a look of hurt and guilt, like he’d failed me because he couldn’t give me back my mother.

I used to be angry at him, back when I was a kid who just wanted his dad, but I came to understand that he had a duty, one that I would have soon too. Except my duty would be to an asshole of an alpha.

“You’re up early. Got plans?” Dad asked, not looking up from his book.

I perked up in my chair, excited for the morning ahead. “I’m going with Elliot to the bookstore. Today’s arrival day!” Hopefully, Elliot’s company and new-book smell could fill my happiness tank to get me through Sunday Lunch.

“Sounds good. Say hi to Elliot for me, will you?” He looked up at me and smiled.

I nodded. “Will do.” I finished my juice, got up to put the glass in the sink, and slipped into my shoes.

When I pulled open the door, Dad said, “Make sure you’re back before noon, yeah?”

“I know, Dad.”

“And be safe out there.”

“I will, Dad.”

***

I pulled open the door and stepped inside, the smell of books surrounding me, welcoming me to my happy place. Not only was I off pack lands, even if only by a few miles, but I was here with my chosen person.

Elliot entered the store behind me, then leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You are so cute right now.” He kissed me on the cheek and stepped past me into the store.

I took a deep breath and smiled.

“Good morning, Mr. Ackerman,” said the woman behind the counter. “You’re early today.”

“Good morning, Miss Eleanor.” I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, and she knew why.

“Here for the new books?”

I nodded and rubbed my hands together.

She chuckled and motioned her head to her left. “You know where they are.”

I hopped and let out a small squeal and practically ran toward the shelf. There were a lot of new ones this month, around twenty, and I had to read every cover to decide what I’d bring home. Bring home this time, that was. I’d eventually read them all.

I had an addiction to reading, one inherited from my father. Dad had always said that Mom was more of a fighter. I wondered if she’d love and accept me the way Dad did.

Elliot came to my side after he’d finished browsing, and my skin tingled at his closeness. The temperature around us rose and electricity danced when our arms brushed. The air was thick with pent-up tension.

Since Elliot had told me he wanted to wait until mating age, we had. But he only had one week until he went off to medical training, and I didn’t want to wait anymore. I knew that he would be my Goddess-given mate, and I wanted to be one with him before he left.

I decided then to ask him if he still wanted to wait. Maybe he’d changed his mind sometime in the past four years. Maybe he was ready too.

I stopped reading the covers and grabbed the stack I had gathered.

“Here, let me help you,” Elliot said, reaching for the books.

I twisted away from him. “I can carry books, you know.”

He smiled. “We wouldn’t want you falling on your face, now would we?” He chuckled, then cupped my face. “It’s such a cute face.”

I snorted and pulled away from him, which turned his chuckle into a laugh.

“See? Adorable.”

I took the books to the counter and put them in my bag after Eleanor scanned them. I paid, said goodbye, and reached down to grab the bag.

“I got it,” Elliot said from the door. He was holding it open, bag in the other hand.

I huffed and walked outside. His treating me like a weakling was growing old.

We got into his car and he asked, “What do you want for lunch?”

I crossed my arms as I pondered the words to use. “I want you to stop treating me like a child.” I looked at him. “That’s what I want.”

Elliot’s head jerked back. “Woah, what are you talking about?”

The floodgate opened. “You never let me do anything by myself, especially if it requires lifting, pulling, pushing, carrying, running, or using any muscles of any sort.”

He put his hands up. “I—”

“You won’t let me cook, climb, run, ride a bike—hell, you won’t even let me drive!”

His eyebrows bunched. “Do you even want to do those things?”

“That’s not the point! Why do you do this? Why do you call me ‘cute’ and ‘adorable’ and use baby talk with me? Do you see me as a child? I’m only two years younger than you.”

“No, I—”

“Do you think I’m so weak I can’t do anything without your help? Is that what you see when you look at me? I’m the future beta of our pack! I’ll be your beta! Why don’t you treat me like one?”

My steam was gone, and I slumped in my seat, waiting for his response. My heart broke when he undid his buckle, opened his door, and stepped out of the car. I dropped my chin to my chest. I’d gone too far.

Then my door opened, and he squatted at my side. I snapped my head toward him, then turned in the seat so I could face him.

He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes showing only love and kindness. “Drew, you’re anything but weak. I know where your strengths lie”—he put a hand on my cheek and gave me a small, sad smile—“and it’s not in your muscles.” His smile grew.

My tension melted away, and I gave him a smile back. “Well, then why?”

Elliot shifted in his squat and put his hands on my knee. “Ever since I met you, I’ve felt an overwhelming urge to protect you. But I can see how I take it too far.”

I placed my hands on top of his. “I appreciate you looking out for me and taking care of me.” I sighed. “Just, treat me like an equal, please. Not like a baby.”

Elliot straightened his back and looked me square in the eyes. “I promise, my beta. No doing things without asking, no saying ‘cute’ or ‘adorable,’ and no baby talk. I hear you.”

I grabbed his hand and kissed it. “Thank you.”

Elliot stood and placed a tender kiss on my forehead before closing the door.

I knew this was the time to ask him to take the relationship further. It wouldn’t be mating, but it’d be close. My heart beat faster with every step he took around the car. By the time he sat, closed the door, and put on his seat belt, it was raging.

“So,” he said, turning the ignition. “Lunch?” He looked at me, and his face flashed to worry. “What’s wrong? Did I do something again?” He looked around as if searching for an actual mistake. “Did you want to drive?” He pointed to the steering wheel.

I reached out and took his hand. “No, no. It’s not that.” I took a deep breath, then squeezed his hand and gulped. “There’s one more thing I want, if you want it too.”