6. Bloody

Ford’s pov

I stayed seated next to my mate, who appeared fine, despite a small tremble of her arms. However, I’m assured it won't be long before Nivia breaks.

Withstanding an alpha command is painful. I have observed several attempts, but none have been as successful in resisting my command as Nivia has.

‘She’s strong,’ my wolf commented.

As the leader of this pack, I expect obedience. To speak to me in such a manner, to interrupt me when I am trying to speak... It’s unfathomable to me that my mate should behave in such a fashion in my pack.

I ignored Nivia, waiting with patience for her to do as she was told until I heard the sound of something dripping on my table.

As I turned my head to see where the sound was coming from, I met the stare of Nivia, whose nose was bleeding obscenely. The blood was all over her chin, hands, and now the table.

I suppose she has learned her lesson.

“While I applaud your strength, I would refrain from speaking to me in such a manner once more. Now, eat.” I said, letting go of my command.

My white napkin lay in front of me, untouched, and I handed it to my mate as a peace offering, “for your nose.”

My hand stayed in the air, waiting for Nivia to accept the gesture.

Once again, I encountered defiance. “Get your fucking hand away from me, you piece of shit.” Nivia said as she slapped my hand away. “If you ever use an alpha command on me again, I will kill you.”

“I do not take kindly to idle threats.” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I was fully aware of how my mate took pleasure in seeing my resolve break.

A proper Alpha does not need to retort to anger or threats to make his subjects submit to his ruling.

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.” Nivia stood up, glaring at me with pure hatred. I believed her words.

Then she walked away.

I took a deep breath, attempting to keep myself calm but failing miserably.

I extended an olive branch to my mate, only to encounter further incivility. Grabbing my plate, I tossed it against the wall with a loud growl.

This bloody woman has threatened me in my own home. She has shown nothing but defiance whilst I have opened my home to her.

With bold strides, I pursued my mate. I would not let this stand.

To let Nivia walk away now would signify her victory.

My nose led me to my room, following the scent of snow. I opened it without resolve, only to find Nivia standing there in her brassiere and trousers with her back turned to me, standing in the bathroom.

“What do you want?” She shouted at me, but her voice sounded different. The sound made my anger almost disappear into nothingness.

“Turn around.” I ordered.

“No.”

“It’s improper to have one’s back turned when spoken to.” I tried again.

She sighed and turned to look at me. Blood was under her nose, on her chin, and on her chest. She must have removed her shirt due to its saturation with blood. Her shirt lay next to the sink.

But what stood out most to me was that my mate had clearly been crying.

“You’ve been crying.” I spoke without thinking. I did not welcome this feeling in my chest. “Are you hurt?”

She scoffed, “like you give a fuck.”

“Nivia, are you alright?” I asked again. Was she in pain?

Her eyes widened and her anger subsided. Addressing my mate by her first name had the desired effect. She sighed, “yeah, I’m fine. Crying is just what normal people do when they’re angry or sad. They don’t pop a vein in their forehead and then alpha command their mates.”

“You should not have tested me.”

She rolled her eyes at me as she took one of the towels and wiped her nose, “do you know that commanding your mate is considered one of the worst things you can do in most packs? You better pray my father doesn’t find out what you did.”

“Another threat?” I asked, staring at the beautiful woman in front of me. Her scent was intoxicating, and my eyes were drawn to her breasts that were spilling out of her bra. Even the dried blood on her skin did nothing to deter me from staring.

She shook her head and turned around, rinsing her face in the sink. I stared at her hair cascading down her shoulders, wondering what it would feel like in my hand.

“I won't tell him; I'm perfectly capable of dealing with your crap. You're just lucky my wolf asked me to give you another chance.”

I reached for her shoulder to turn her towards me once more, “I truly wish you would not turn your back to me when we are having a conversation.”

“And I truly wish I was mated to someone else, but I guess we’re both shit out of luck.” She replied with venom in her eyes.

I sighed, wondering why she was still giving me such trouble. We both weren’t satisfied with our match, but I was trying to be kind. If someone else had spoken to me in a similar manner, they would have met their demise by now. I've killed men for less. “I expect you promptly on time for dinner.”

“Is that your way of apologizing? Because it sucks.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which only pushed her breasts higher.

I wager they would fit perfectly inside my palm.

“Alphas don’t apologize.” I responded, attempting to maintain eye contact instead of admiring the young woman in front of me.

She grabbed her bloodied shirt from the sink. “Good alphas do.” She said as she pushed past me out of the bathroom and walked into the room.

I noticed my reflection in the mirror above the sink, my nostrils flared, and the vein Nivia mentioned was ticking like a time bomb. I couldn't allow my mate to provoke me into anger once more. I would not give her the satisfaction of knowing what her words did to me.

Never in my life has someone inflamed me to this degree. I have never experienced such a loss of control before, and it is truly unpleasant.

I have always prided myself on my control, on my ability to act with decorum even when people test me. Yet somehow Nivia has consistently been able to get under my skin.

Having a mate should not alter the way I preside over this pack nor make any adjustments to the man I have designated to be.

‘Perhaps this is a good thing,’ Callum suggested.

I have run this pack successfully for years without any aid barring my beta. My people trust my judgment, and I have never failed to provide what is needed to better the pack.

They may not like me, but I do not require their favour. I do demand their loyalty.

A leader should never be liked; he should be revered. My pack knows not to question my judgment, and they are aware of what befalls them if they do.

In all my time as the alpha of this pack, I have only ever used my commands for the betterment of the pack. To stop a fight between two members and to compel a member to speak the truth instead of subjecting him to torture as many have done before me.

While I wouldn't freely admit this to my mate, I do regret my decision to command her. Not for the reasons she assumes. Not because it caused her discomfort, purely because it showed my emotions bested me.

‘Let’s go for a run.’ Callum recognized my need to alleviate my stress.

Samuel had remained at the packhouse for lunch, while I went back home, as I always do, to eat lunch with my family. My busy schedule keeps me away from home frequently.

It had been Pearle’s suggestion to share each meal together to guarantee my children's daily exposure to their father.

‘I will be back shortly; please continue our work without me.’ I mindlinked my beta.

‘Sure thing, Alpha Ford.’ He replied. 'Maybe you could take Nivia with you. Sarah would love to meet her.’

‘Perhaps. I will discuss it with Miss Omari.’ I replied. Nivia had left my room, so I had the opportunity to undress before shifting into my wolf.

Callum and I share a bond like no other, and he’s the only one that has my complete trust. While I detest mess, Callum is an animal, and I can and will not change his nature. He haunts freely, and I enjoy those moments of savagery.

Those few occasions where rules cease to matter and instinct substitutes every emotion or thought that occupies our shared mind.

However, this run did nothing to calm my mind, for as soon as I stepped foot inside my house, I was forced to interact with my mate once again.

She sat in the living room, watching something on her phone. A quintessential teenager, I suppose.

“Accompany me to the packhouse.”

“Is that a question or an order?” She asked.

“If you’d rather remain here….”

Nivia quickly got up, tucked her phone into her jeans, and followed behind me.

“Are we going by car or on foot? And if I want to go into the city to buy some things, can I borrow a car? I mean, I could have brought mine, but since you took me here, it’s a bit hard and, -“

I sighed. Does this woman ever stop talking? “You can utilize one of my spare vehicles if needed.”

“Okay, good. And, um, is there like an office I can use at the packhouse? I still have some work to do, and I don’t like using my phone all the time.”

I scoffed, “I very much doubt that.”

She scoffed straight back at me and ran to catch up to my speed, “Excuse me, but I am not glued to my phone. You don’t even know me, so stop pretending you do. Maybe try to get to know me instead. Or... you know, continue to behave like this and see how far it gets you. Just a hint... it won’t work.”

Instead of replying, I merely sighed and continued my stroll. The packhouse is not far from my house, and I reasoned that this would allow Nivia to see some of the Nightclaw pack.

However, I deeply regretted my choice, realizing I had to continue listening to my mate jabber on all the way to the packhouse.