He loves

It took every ounce of my strength and determination to keep him at bay. There was no doubt he could end the conflict, exacting the punishment he deemed deserved. But his actions would start a war, a war we couldn't win, a war that would end in Brinley's demise. Tension ran through my entire frame, causing me to shake.

Brinley wrenched free, bucking Calla off. She spun around and lunged forward, her canines finding purchase in Calla's shoulder. How quickly the tables turned.

Now, Brinley held the position of power. She stood over Calla, who writhed and fought beneath her. Brinley shook her head viciously, her teeth sinking deeper into Calla's flesh. Calla stopped fighting, whining out her submission.

My Wolf puffed out his chest as we watched, pride in his mate flowing through us. Brinley was shockingly fast and strong. She lacked training. Her strength and speed were a gift from nature.

He moaned out his pleasure at seeing her dominating the other she-wolf. Heat burned inside of him. Images of taking her from behind crashed into my head. He wanted to hear her cry out as a result of us buried deep inside of her. He licked his lips at the thought, the perfect way to teach her submission. She would learn her place was beneath him, giving him anything he wanted without question.

Abruptly, another wolf shot forward, his large paws shaking the ground- Alpha!

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

There was nothing I could do now.

Now, it was too late.

Alpha's massive jaws snatched Brinley by the nape of her neck. Instantly, Brinley let go of Calla and fell limp in his grasp. He tossed her to the side like a ragdoll. Thunderous growls released from his chest as he towered over her.

Brinley cowered, whimpering her submission, showing him her neck.

He shifted and snarled, "Shift!"

Fur disappeared, replaced with quivering flesh, as Brinley knelt at his feet.

"What the fuck are you doing?!"

Her bottom lip trembled.

She whispered brokenly, "She...has his... scent on her."

Ever the asshole, my father fired back, "Of course she does! He's fucking her!"

I flinched hard. Brinley recoiled as if he'd hit her, the impact of his words doing far more damage than Calla's bite and claws had. Her head dropped in defeat. Tears flowed unchecked from her eyes, splashing wet droplets into the dirt.

Brinley had been within her rights to challenge Calla. I was her mate. Even still, my father's next words didn't surprise me. "You have no rights. You never did!"

She shook uncontrollably beneath him. My hands clenched into fists, my claws drawing blood from my palms. Anxiety churned in my stomach, rolling into a pit of dread, his next words pushing me over the edge.

"Your punishment is death!" he snarled.

"No!" I bellowed.

His head snapped toward me, "She needs to be punished for attacking a member of this pack!"

If he tried to kill her, I wouldn't stop my Wolf. Willingly, we would both go to our deaths, even if it only meant prolonging her death a few more minutes, because, without a doubt, after we were gone, he would still kill her. I needed another way to end this. My voice was guttural and thick, more animal than man, "If you try to kill her, my Wolf will stop you."

He grunted out an ugly laugh, "Are you challenging me? Because we both know you won't win."

I ground my jaw together. "Find any other punishment you like, but if you try to end her life, my Wolf won't allow it."

He dismissed my warning, stating the truth, "Your Wolf will lose!"

"Yes!" I snapped. "And so my life would be forfeit! Is it worth it to you, to let me die for her?" Knowing how deep his hatred for her ran, the answer was probably yes, but I hoped maybe he had some speck of paternal instinct left.

Understanding lit his expression. He frowned. "You really wouldn't be able to control your wolf?"

I shook my head. Not only would I not be able to control him, I would join him wholeheartedly, but my father didn't need to know that. As it was, he was staring at me with way too much understanding. He suspected I felt something for her. I could see it in his eyes.

I had to make my answer believable, angry enough to erase his suspicions.

My Wolf's fight made sense to him. Wolves were primal creatures. We have a measure of control, but when pushed past the brink, they react as nature dictates. So, I gave him half of the truth, "He loves her."

Brinley inhaled sharply,

hope brewing in her eyes. I couldn't let her hope. And I couldn't let him see an ounce of concern from me. He needed to see the exact opposite. I continued angrily, "But make no mistake, I do not!"

Brinley cringed hard at my words. Her sorrow washed over me, leaving me dead and cold inside. Once again, I was only causing her pain.

My father seemed to accept my explanation. He faced her again and spat, "Fine. You shall live, but henceforth, you will reside in the woods, as nature intended."

I was shocked. Outside of a physical beating, no other wolf had ever been punished so severely. But there was no way I could argue. He would know. He was already dangerously close to sniffing out the truth. I would have to be more careful from now on.

He growled, "Is that understood?"

Brinley was equally stunned. Fat tears coursed harder from her eyes. She dropped her head. There was no fight left in her. Her body shook as she whispered, "Yes, Alpha."