Four

Jordan Draven’s POV

“I forgot to ask for your name.” I heard Emberly say as I closed the door to the ward.

Who does he even think he is?

The hospital always made me restless. From the day I lost my sister at the hospital. A reminder that strength meant nothing when the people you lived with were lying unconscious behind closed doors and you somehow knew you carried the whole - fault.

I stood in the hallway long after I had closed the door, staring at the floor in deep thoughts.

Grandma was supposed to be saved at home. It was the only place in the world that my father's men couldn't reach or at least, that was what I had believed.

It was the main reason I avoided going to stay over at her place even when I knew she was going to accept me. However, I didn't want to get her into trouble. She was my mother's mother and it was very possible for my father to do the unthinkable to her.

My jaw clenched as the doctor's words replayed in my head. “Toxin?”

This was clear that it wasn't an accident, or illness. Someone had done this!

And there was only one person powerful enough— and cruel enough— to order something like that.

My father, Alpha Magnus Draven. The one man who ruled out pack with authority and absolute control. A man who was full of evil atrocities and would go at any length to prove a point even if it means killing his own daughter or wife.

My hands curled into fists.

How dare she?! He assaulted my mother, day and night, isolated her and made her think there was no life outside of him and then he thought the next person to try this one was my grandmother?

He touched my grandmother like she had never done anything wrong to deserve this.

I think it's high time I end this shenanigans.

I could feel rage rising inside of me. I turned abruptly and walked out of the hospital before I would do something reckless in public.

As I left the hospital, something instantly crossed my mind. ‘Mate’

I still found it hard to believe that the mate the moon goddess decided to give me was a boy!

A fucking boy!

I had tried to do away with the truth but five minutes ago, when I was standing face to face with Emberly,  I had felt that bond again. My wolf had whimpered the name ‘mate’ again.

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “That’s not possible,” I muttered, shaking my head in disagreement.

No one was going to make me believe that my mate is a male! Any kind of recognition, possession or needs should be thrown away.

However, everything looked real. The way the bond snapped into place when I grabbed his wrist outside the classroom..

It had nearly knocked the air out of me and now I suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about him.

The way his eyes widened when he saw me in the doorway and the fear in his eyes when my grandmother collapsed.

The way he immediately dropped to his knees beside her without hesitation.

My wolf liked that too much and I hated it.

I exhaled slowly and started walking toward the small house I rented on the side of town.

From the moment I was old enough to understand what leadership meant  in our pack, I had known one thing with absolute clarity.

I didn't want to become my father. I didn't want  to use people to get what I want and dispose of them whenever they are not useful to me anymore. I didn't want to make decisions when concrete evidence hadn't been found. I didn't want obedience to be forced through intimidation and I didn't want blood on my hands in the name of authority.

I wanted something else. Freedom, choice and to pick up the only thing I have always wanted to be.

A hockey player.

And leaving the pack to pursue it had been the first real decision of my life. I had to do away with the consequences that came with it because all my father termed my rebellion too, was betrayal.

Grandma had understood, she was the only one who did. Which was why the thought of someone hurting her….

My steps slowed as I approached my apartment. It looked…suspicious. The front door was slightly opened which only made my entire body go still.

Someone was inside the house.

I moved quietly, pushing the door open wider and I instantly recognized who the person was, through their wolf scent.

“You've got some nerve,” I spat out coldly, rage replacing my chest.

A fighter stepped out from the living room. He had a tall broad familiar shoulder. Beta Ronan.

My father's right hand. “What are you doing here, Ronan?” I questioned and I watched as he straightened himself.

“Your father wants…”

I didn't let him finish his statement before I launched a punch on his face, causing him to stagger back as his eyes flashed with shock.

“I…”

“You touched her?” I snarled. He barely got his balance before I hit him again and again, anger clouding my face until I could see his blood in my hands. “How dare you!” I yelled.

He just lay down there, powerless and injured, staring at me.

“My grandmother was off the limit! If that ba$tard had commanded you, you could have at least used your senses!  You fucking laid your hand on her, you fucking Leach!”

“You poisoned her?!” I shouted, slamming him into the wall. “You went into her house?! What did you do? You added her into a business that I had already decided to handle on my own? You jeopardize her life!”

I didn't know what was going on with me.

I could see blood trickling from his split lip and still, it didn't feel enough for me.

However, he still sat down, staring at me and breathing heavily.  “Why aren’t you fighting?” I demanded with a frown.

He spat blood onto the floor and finally spoke as if he had just recovered from myth.

“It was the Alpha’s order, I'm sorry.”

This wasn't even new to me anymore. I knew my father and I knew what he was capable of.

“What did he do?” I asked, straightening my wrist.

Ronan met my eyes and he cleared his throat. “He actually didn't send me to your grandmother's place. Perhaps, he already knows I wouldn't do it. He sent someone to check the house.”

Check? I scoffed in disbelief.

I believe his own definition of ‘check’ was to cause calamity he cannot handle.

My jaw tightened painfully.  “She’s in a coma,” I said.

I could instantly see regret across Romans face.  “He didn’t intend that,” he said. “The toxin was meant to incapacitate. Her age made it worse.”

I cannot believe this old fool was still trying to make my father a better person.

My hands shook with the anger I was trying to restrain.“If she dies…”

“She won’t,” he said quickly. “Not if you cooperate.”

Cooperate? There it was! The real reason he was here.

“What does he want?” I asked.

Ronan straightened slowly despite his injuries.“The Alpha is willing to leave your grandmother alone,” he said. “No more surveillance or interference.”

“And? What's the catch?”

“He wants your help.”

Of course! Wasn't it Draven anymore? He never gave anything freely, even your own life wasn't free to my father. You'd rather beg for it. .  “With what?”

Ronan held my gaze.  “Finding someone.”

“Who?” I stared at him, suspicion replacing my unreadable face.

“Amberly Lynn.”