CHAPTER THREE | BLIND

ALPHA NATE

How could I have been fucking blind? How didn't I see it?

“I can't control it, dude. It's just who I am." Raphael says when I don't speak or react.

I just stare at the wall blankly.

Honestly, for the first time in my life, I didn't know how to react. His shocking revelation left more than being tongue-tied.

I can't believe my best friend is one of them.

I can't believe my best friend is one of those abnormal sorry excuses of a man.

Like a man watching his life flash right in front of his eyes, memories of the times Raphael and I spent flash through my mind like a cinema movie.

My head reads into every of his actions, pointing out the fact that they weren't traits that should be possessed by real men.

I remember the fact that he's a virgin and realised just how stupidly blind I had made myself.

No male adult is a virgin. Neither does any real man stand on the fact that he'll wait for his mate to have his virginity.

No horny adult man talks and thinks the way Raph did. It was all a circle for us– Ass, boobs and vaginas.

Raphael isn't a man. He is a fucking pussy and a disgrace to our kind.

What a shame, he was a really good friend and Beta.

Raphael's shaky voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Dude, you're scaring me."

I gaze into his eyes, an emotional mask covering my face. “How did you find out you're not a real man?" I ask, genuinely curious about his answer.

Taking my question and a positive sign, Raph sighs in relief. “It came as a shock to me too. Well, I won't say a complete shock since I have never been attracted to females in the first place. I always brushed aside the fact that I'm not crazy about boobs and all, thinking it was because I hadn't found a mate yet. Then, when we were 18, I had a crush on your cousin from the Moonlight Pack but I thought it was normal since the guy is fucking gorgeous. I guess I was just in denial."

I nod my head, already thinking about the person I will be giving the Beta position once Raphael is exiled. “When did you later come to terms with the fact that you're not a man?"

Raphael chuckles at my statement, trying to bring humour to the tense atmosphere. “Stop saying that bro. The fact that I am gay doesn't make me a different person, neither does it make me less of a man. I'm basically still the same Raph you know."

I completely ignore his words, not ready to go down that bridge yet. I'm taking everything step by step.

“You still haven't answered my question, Rachel." I say impassively.

My calling him ‘Rachel' was to rile him up but he brushes it off the same way he brushes things like that off. I'm almost positive that he doesn't mind being called ‘Rachel.' After all, he identifies as a ‘she.'

“Well, when I went out for the Pack unofficial assignment a few days back," he gave me a look... his usual disappointing look. “I talked to some of the rogues. That was how I found my mate. A rogue but trust me, he's a good guy and I'm sure this park would be glad to have a guy like him once he joins.

The mission. That mission.

The Pack had been getting attacked by a group of rogues that always wear black ninja clothes and cover their faces with a red mask.

They group are smart as hell, making them extremely hard to find, even for the strongest Pack in the world.

I needed information about them and I knew I couldn't get it from within the Pack so I forced Raphael to find rogues to either bribe or threaten information out of.

He did get information but only a little. The information he got wasn't enough to remotely come close to catching the masked rogues.

I understand why Raphael didn't get enough information now though. Instead of performing his duty, he got carried away by his mate.

“Where is he now? Your mate, where's your mate?" I ask him.

He starts scratching the back of his ears again and I immediately knew that I wouldn't like what comes out of his mouth next. “He is at my house. I brought him back with me and made him a member of this pack. I just thought It was best to skip the initiation procedure since he's my mate and all." I answered sheepishly.

“So, let me get this straight, you're gay, which is against the law of the land. Then you decided to welcome a new member to the Pack without your Alpha's permission. Or did you also make yourself the Alpha while you were at it?"

It is then that Raphael realises that I wasn't supporting him like he thought I was. “I am sorry for making My fucking mate a member of my Pack. I didn't know it was taboo." He sarcastically apologies.

“And being gay should never be a crime. Why would anyone in his or her right senses hate a person because he or she refuses to succumb to societal norms? I don't see anything wrong in being different as long as you're not hurting anyone. I think that law is fucking stupid and should be amended."

Meaningless words from a meaningless man.

“For the sake of your reputation and because you were my best friend, I wouldn't humiliate you by kicking you out of the pack."

Raphael sighs in relief but it's only short lived. “You will be leaving willingly. I want a resignation letter on my desk in the next hour and I want you, and your sorry excuse of a mate, out of my pack for good immediately."

I stand up, ready to leave but Raph stops me. “You can't do that, Nate. I'm your best friend. You said you can't hate me even if you want to. Please, you are the Alpha. Just cancel the foolish ‘no gays law' that should have never been implemented in the first place."

“I said I can't hate you when I thought I knew you. And why the hell should I rule out a law I implemented? If you think I'll suddenly start welcoming gay people in my pack then you must be crazy. Hell would freeze over before that ever happens. Just leave honourably."

I leave the office before doing a double take.

Why am I letting him off easily? When did I become a fucking pussy?

“Guards" I called out then pointed to a sad looking Raphael who just came out of my office. “Prepare him for the ceremony."