Chapter 3- Overstepping Boundaries

Chapter 3 – Overstepping Boundaries

My ears are pumping with blood, and my heart is beating faster than ever. This is it, and this is how I die, I think to myself. “Please stand.” The Beta requests me, and I do so immediately, still looking down at the floor. “Briar?” He calls to me softly. Everyone’s eyes are locked on what I assume will be my death. “Yes, Sir?” I whisper back as my eyes lift to meet his. “That was the bravest and the truest thing I have heard since I have been on your pack lands. You told me exactly what you want and what lengths you will go to keep your pack safe.” I stand speechless, watching him as he speaks to me. “Seeing as you want to use tonight as a memory for your future children, I will give you one more thing to add.” “What is that?” I ask. “I am leaving. What I have come here to discuss will be, we will call it an extension for now. In the meantime, I want you to sit down with your father and discuss with him what plans you can come up with.” “Why would you do this for me? Why not kill me?” I have to know, and I need to understand why he is being so understanding.

 “We do not wish to be cruel to any pack, regardless of race. You showed me kindness tonight. You showed me honestly. You showed me hospitality even when you didn’t want to. The biggest thing for me was that you showed me who you were. You did not hold anything back. You were confident in your questions and your answers. I have met few people who can truly have a conversation with someone and not have a difference of opinion that is not finalized in war. You challenged me, but never in a heinous manner. You have a gift of communication, my dear friend. Tonight, I am considering you my friend and offering your pack an extension because of how you treated me. I will be back for answers and to help establish a plan, but right now, you need to worry about your birthday and prom. I truly hope that you find love as I did. Maybe it is even to your best friend like mine was. I wish us a prosperous friendship in the future.” With his words ending, he leans forward and hugs me. Instinctively I hug him back, and while I do, I take a nice long whiff of what he smells like and sear it into my memory.

                Being with a different species, he smells slightly different—more earthy tones than the obnoxious sweet flavor scents most werewolves in my pack have. I can feel him sniff one last time before letting me go. “It was a pleasure meeting you, and I will be on my way.” He bows slightly and turns to my father. “You have until the leaves begin to fall before I am back. The discussion will be the same, but no further extensions will exist. Please allow your daughter to participate in the decision process. Something tells me that her help will save all your people. The terms remain the same. I will see that your King is well cared for during this time.” He lowers his head to my father and dismisses himself from the packhouse.

                “Well, it would look like you and I have much to discuss.” My father formally states to me before resuming his place at the head of the table. I watch as he starts to eat again. “I feel I am in a very tight spot at the moment. I want to punish you for speaking out of line tonight at dinner, and yet, I want to reward you for having the courage to speak to a Lycan as you did. Given their reputation, everyone here was terrified to even be in the same room with them. You, however, took it upon yourself to get to know him as though he was just another wolf here for dinner. How did you feel so confident in such a situation?” My father is impressed and curious about how I did what I did. Even for me, it is hard to explain. “I have the gift of gab, Dad. Would it have been better if it was a tense atmosphere?” I ask. “Not at all; I am simply trying to tell you I am a very proud father right now.” He smiles broadly across the table at me.

                After cleaning up, Dad pulls me into the formal sitting room. “You have a big weekend, so we will wait until next week to discuss everything. I will take the time to come up with some ideas, and you can chime in wherever you see fit.” He admits to me. “Are you sure you want my help? This is the King, after all.” I question. “Because it is the king, and you know how to interact with the Lycan calmly.” “You mean Beta Brett?” I correct him. “Right, Beta Brett. It seems you have the clearest head of all of us for this task. I need someone with a clear head to help me navigate these waters. Yes, I could ask the elders or warriors what to do. Something tells me you will give me something fresh this time that I haven’t tried before.” “What do you suspect that is?” My curiosity is getting the better of me. “You, for starters. You think on your toes, are kind, and can get along with anyone you are placed in a room with. I trust you. We will talk next week. Until then, rest and enjoy the time you have left in school.”  He kisses me softly on my head and wanders off to find Mom.

                Devin is standing at my door when I make my way upstairs. “Hey,” I call softly to him. “Dinner was interesting.” “I would say.” I agree as I open the door and enter my room with Devin following me. “Do you think what he said is true?” “What part?” I question him, with hopes that maybe he is talking about him and I being mates, what I would give to be with him forever. I love him, heart, body, and soul. “We have time, he will keep the King safe, and you should be involved in whatever they talked about.” His face turns white as he speaks.

I feel my face fall at the same time my heart does. “He has no reasons to lie.” I shrug. A stray tear falls down my cheek, and I turn around quickly so he doesn’t see it. “Are you crying? I am sorry; I didn’t think that it would have upset you so badly.” “No, I’m fine. Just thinking about his story, I am happy for him.” I lie. “Best friend, mates, could you imagine?” He laughs as he believes my lie. “It’s not so unbelievable. What would you say if we were mates? Would you reject me?” I shoot back at him with a little more irritation than I had planned. “Where is this coming from?” He questions me as he sits on my bed.

                I just watch him, waiting for an answer to my question. He knows that I will stand here all night if I must until I receive a response to what I have asked. “No, I wouldn’t reject you. But I know in my heart that we are not mates.” His words crush me. I can feel my heart breaking. “How do you know?” I whisper. “Because I am not of Alpha blood. You are destined to be with an Alpha. You will be Luna one day; if you are lucky enough, you will be an Alpha female like your mom. Think about it. Do you seriously think that I could take over this pack? Why would someone as powerful as you be placed with someone as low as me?” “You don’t give yourself enough credit,” I state. “Think it through. I couldn’t speak during dinner, yet you asked him about his childhood. You made a friend in him, and I couldn’t even say hello. Do you see the difference between us?” His words make sense. “I know this is all hypothetical anyway because he mentioned it. It's not like you and I are attracted to each other.” He shrugs it off as though it is a meaningless conversation. “I guess you are right.” I agree half-heartedly. “Dev, I am exhausted from the day. Can we chat tomorrow?” I ask. “Sure thing. I will see you tomorrow. Night!” He calls as he waves goodbye and closes my door behind him.

                Slipping myself into a hot bubble bath, I let all my feelings surface and cry. I begin pondering over everything that has been said tonight and wonder if there is any truth in it. From what Beta Brett said, my father’s words, even what Devin had stated before he left. My mind wanders into all the different possibilities. The water has gone cold by the time I climb out of the tub, and I look to see how long I have been in there. My fingers and toes state that I was overdue to get out with deep prune marks. The clock tells me I have stayed for nearly two hours.

 After finding the first thing that was clean to wear, I snuggle into my bed, close my eyes, and pray to the goddess that Devin was wrong about us being mates. Devin is who I want, wish for, and pine over. I can see all the positive qualities within him that he cannot see himself. His kind heart would make him an excellent Alpha. He always passed his war strategies classes. I don’t see how he cannot see how great he could be. I sigh, and then I let sleep take over me.