Chapter 4 – Losing Control

After the man has been dragged away, Sab and Cleo stepped forward to check on Polly.

“Oh, no . . .” Cleo lamented as they sat her up and Polly whimpered in pain. Her hand reached for her neck and felt the wound in there.

“We’ll take you to the infirmary.” Sab decided and Quinn helped them to carry her.

“You don’t look beat up this time.” Cleo noted, making him roll his eyes.

“We didn’t get to fight. He wouldn’t leave her so we just kept trying to approach them.”

Sab was relieved no one else was hurt. She remembered how badly they did before.

“I’ll go and speak with Alpha Wade. You all take care of her.” Clyde informed his mate before leaving with his father. He’s still considered new to being Alpha and his father would advise him from time to time, guiding him and giving feedback.

As they left, Clyde exchanged a look with his father.

“He needs to be punished for this. Would Alpha Wade agree?”

Conrad grimaced. The situation is tricky but they can’t give special treatment. They would have to deal with this as if the perpetrator was an ordinary member of their pack, not the next alpha of another pack.

“He looked crazy enough.” Clyde continued.

“You have to take into account the effect of the bond. That doesn’t excuse his wrong actions, though.”

“What will happen to Polly? Can she still reject him?”

“How sure are you that she wanted to reject him?” Conrad raised an eyebrow.

“Her opinion of him wasn’t good. She was there when he tried to mark Sab. I don’t think she would want him because of that. Clearly, he doesn’t know how to respect women and their opinion.”

His father sighed. In a way, a mark is a claim of ownership. It’s an ancient rite. Males are expected to keep a respectable distance from marked females. This avoids any unnecessary conflict with their possibly possessive mates.

All werewolves understand that fated bonds aren’t absolute. That’s why it can be rejected. An agreement between two people is still a must. Being marked requires consent as it is irreversible. What they know is that a marked female cannot mate with a different male. If they do, it would cause immense pain and may end up being fatal. Agreeing to be marked requires careful consideration and it shows a woman’s trust to her mate if she allows it to be done.

Males steer clear of marked females and they won’t dare to get involved with them. The known punishment is different. If they’re unmated, they would never find their fated mates. If they are mated, their mates would know what they have done, the existing bond would be severed, and the male would be significantly weakened.

Marking without consent . . . decades ago, or maybe centuries ago, some males would have done it. Females don’t get much choice back then. But in this day and age, it’s hugely different. The women are given the respect they deserve.

When Wade faced his oldest son, away from other people, he became livid. He didn’t hesitate in hitting his head and forcing him back to his senses. Two men remained holding his arm, ensuring he won’t be able to fight back. They can’t risk it. Jared was too strong and was capable of escaping even with ropes tied around him.

“What have you done, you idiot? Do you have any idea what kind of problem you just made? Are you listening? Can you hear me, you stupid shit?” He hit him again and again until Jared’s glare turned into a frown.

“What the fuck? Stop it, old man.” He groaned in pain as he tried to evade his father’s next slap.

“Are you sober now? Do you remember what you just did?” Wade angrily demanded.

His son squinted, recalling earlier events. He began to growl again, “Where is she? Where’s my mate? She’s mine!”

Wade rolled his eyes before hitting him once more.

“That’s not what’s important right now. You marked her, without her agreement. Are you out of your fucking mind?” After asking, he realized he shouldn’t have. It’s clear he was.

“Don’t give me that bullshit about the bond taking over and controlling your actions. You should be better than that. You must control it. Now, get your head straight and let’s talk.” He tapped on his cheek and stared firmly at him.

Jared began to take deep breaths and he surprised them when he tried to struggle.

“Shit . . .” One of the men couldn’t help but curse, but they didn’t let him go.

Wade began to feel helpless. Why was he so difficult? He turned around and instructed someone. “Find that doctor and ask him for that potion he used earlier. This guy needs more time to calm the fuck down.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

When Clyde and Conrad showed up, they went to another room to have a conversation.

“You already talked to him?” Conrad asked after taking a seat.

Wade shook his head, “He’s incoherent, still struggling and demanding to have his mate. I had your doctor knock him out with that potion again. I would like to apologize for the trouble he caused. How was the girl?”

It was Clyde who replied to him this time, “They have taken her to the infirmary. Her parents will be informed. I doubt anyone would be pleased if this incident spreads to everyone. I’ve told my pack not to speak of it at the moment until a resolution has been reached.”

Wade sighed as he finally sat on a chair, “You’re open to a resolution, then? I already lost count how many times I hit him. I doubt ordinary measures would have an effect on him. Jared is tough. He’s stubborn. He’s rough. He would deal with whatever’s given to him but I doubt he would learn anything from it. When he forms an opinion about something, it’s already fixed in his mind. No one could change it. His stance on fated mates is just like that.”

“Polly is a young woman. She’s only what? Twenty-one?” Conrad looked at his son to confirm, and Clyde grimly nodded.

“She must have had her expectations about finding her mate. Meeting him, getting to know him, and becoming closer before agreeing to mate. Clearly, how your son did it was nowhere near her fantasy. A young woman expects romance, not a horror.”

Wade helplessly sighed again. They were silent for a while, lamenting the girl’s situation.

“She won’t be able to have another mate.” Conrad highlighted this fact.

Wade took a moment to contemplate. He doesn’t want to defend what his son did, but he can try to explain what might have gone through his head.

“His temper has gotten worse since your mate rejected him.” He addressed this to Clyde.

“As you might have observed, he values mates a lot. This is only my guess. When he found his second chance, he probably didn’t want to give her a chance to reject him. His methods are usually crude, but they get him the results he wants. His actions are unconscionable, though. Still, I think the girl is entitled to her own request, since she’s the one who’ll suffer the consequences.”

Conrad shook his head, “She’s still young. I don’t think she would be able to think of anything as a punishment.”

Clyde grimaced, “Polly is Sab’s trainee. She usually talks about them. That girl is kind-hearted and soft-spoken. As far as I know, she has someone she likes. She may or may not forgive your son. It would depend on how she views mates and bonds.”

“There is that.” Wade agreed.

“We’ll let you know what she thinks. Still, you might want to think of a punishment fitting to your son.”

Wade’s expression turned grim. “I do know one thing that might be a turning point for him.”

“He seems to have anger issues. What you have in mind, how are you going to address his reaction?”

“I’ll deal with that. I’ve dealt with him for years. I know what his weaknesses are.”

“Alright. We’ll leave that to you, then.”

The conference for that day proceeded without Wade’s presence. He wanted to resolve the issue quickly so he tried speaking with Jared every time he returns to consciousness. The bond’s hold on his senses is quite strong. He hoped he would calm down soon.