Logan's back! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Logan
"Of course I wouldn't have just left her there." Father looks at me in disgust.
"Then what? Kept us apart?" Each thought makes me angrier and I my wolf's outrage fills me until I have to struggle to breathe. I get why Father hates Rogues, but this is my mate we're talking about. I haven't even spoken to her yet, but I already know she's not like the others. She's a good person and my perfect other half. Why else would the Moon Goddess choose her for me?
"Logan, please listen." Father shakes his head. "She was abused and her spirit's broken. She's terrified of me. I growl or look displeased and her wolf comes to the surface, whimpering and baring her neck in submission. Even when I spoke gently and showed the girl kindness, I frightened her."
"What did her father do to her?" I demand. My hands clench into fists at the thought of the Rogue. How dare he abuse my mate? If I ever see him, I will kill him.
I will tear him limb from limb, my wolf adds, no longer speaking over the link, and I completely agree.
"You'll have to ask her, son." Father pauses, lost in thought. "That's not even the biggest problem. The girl is obedient. Unreasonably so! I ordered her not to run when I bought her here. I could see that she thought I would harm her, yet she didn't try to escape. I even left her alone for a time to give her the opportunity to prove herself, but the girl was too frightened to even try.
"I understand that my orders may carry some extra weight because I'm Alpha, so I tested her. Had Zara give her an order, too." Father sighs. "Logan, your mate cleaned Zara's room because she was afraid of a girl her own age."
The thought of anyone tackling Zara's room—which has Danger Zone written all over it—makes me cringe.
"Never in my time as Alpha have I seen a wolf so without backbone." Father continues. "Even our Omegas show bits of rebellion here and there. I don't know what her father did to break her, but she's not ready to be your mate. She's no Luna."
I growl at the insult but I'm mostly just worried for my mate. "I can help her," I tell Father. "I will help her!"
"You will," Father agrees, "but she is too frightened and too submissive to be our Luna right now. The rest of the pack won't accept her. They'll challenge her and she just doesn't have the strength to stand up to them or bear such treatment."
"You think I can't protect my mate?" I demand. "No one will dare upset her. If they do, they will have to deal with me!" I cannot believe father would ever question that.
"She will bare her throat in submission if any pack member so much as speaks to her. It is unacceptable. If you claim your mate, our pack will see her weakness, and you will have to step down as Alpha. Our Luna cannot be cowardly and weak. You know that!"
I stare at Father. For as long as I can remember, I've known that I would one day follow in his footsteps. It's something I've always wanted, always dreamed of. To be the next Alpha. I'm a strong, dominant wolf and I cannot submit to another. Even allowing Father to give me orders is torture. Sometimes, it takes everything I have to push my wolf down enough to show Father the respect that an Alpha deserves.
If I'm forced to step down, I'd have to become a Rogue and live without a pack. My parents would never forgive me, and they'll hate me, like they hate all Rogues. I'll never see them or any of my friends again. I wouldn't have anyone other than my mate to talk to, except any children we might have. It would hurt, but it could never match the pain of staying away from my mate. I can't lose Saffron. I want her like I've never wanted anything before.
"It doesn't matter," I tell Father, even though it does. It matters but my mate matters more.
"Listen to me, Son. If we can teach Saffron how to be a Luna, you can have both: pack and mate. Living with her father made her this way, but time away from him should help her heal. I've had a couple of hours to think this through and put together a plan. That was before I realized she was your mate, but it should still work."
"What's the plan?" I demand, latching on to that sliver of hope. I'm also pissed that Father had hours to think this through before consulting me, but I'm just glad he knows of a way to fix this.
"We're going to put forth small challenges for Saffron to overcome. Give her unfair orders or ask younger, weaker pack members to do so. In her frustration, she will eventually refuse. When she realizes that no harm has come to her, she'll slowly become braver... stronger. Once she learns to stand up for herself, she will earn the respect of the pack, and you can claim her as your mate."
I sigh in relief. My father's plan makes sense. I know I need to push my emotions aside and follow Father's example. Sometimes, he really pisses me off, but when it comes to pack business, he knows what he's doing.
I nod. "I'll ask her to keep our relationship a secret. When she's ready, we can tell the others." I am not entirely pleased with the decision. I want to show off my mate, not hide her. I also don't want my mate to think I'm ashamed of her. I just hope I can explain things without hurting her feelings.
"Aren't you paying attention, Logan?" Father growls. "To prove that she can be our Luna, she has to do it on her own! If you accept her as your mate, she'll have your protection. She'll act brave, sure, but only because she'll know you won't let anyone hurt her." He pauses. "What happens if the pack is in danger and you aren't around? They will need a Luna who can lead them, but without you by her side she will cower behind them and let them down."
"She knows she's my mate." I let out a frustrated growl and lean forward on Father's desk, glaring at him. "If I don't act on it, she'll think I rejected her. If I hurt her, it'll only make things worse!"
We can't stay away from our mate, my wolf begs over the link, she's ours.
"It's for the best. You know that." Father shakes his head. "In time, she'll understand and forgive you."
"No." I shake my head in denial. "I can't let her go through this alone."
"You don't have to stop seeing her entirely," Father tells me, his tone placating. "You can take her on daily runs, which will allow the two of you to spend time together and appease your wolf. Perhaps you can even come up with other ways to help her when you get to know her better. Just be sure to act reluctant to spend time with her. Tell her you're just following orders."
I glare at him in response.
"We have to make sure no one suspects anything until Saffron is ready," Father rationalizes. "I knew Saffron was your mate the moment you looked at her. I don't think Zara suspects anything yet, but if you don't put on a good act, she will. The pack will, too. They are very perceptive and if word gets out, we'll have a full-blown rebellion on our hands."
"You're right." I growl. No matter how much I hate Father's plan, he knows what he's talking about. He's pack Alpha for a reason.
"You may see her and speak with her, but no one, including the girl herself, should be able to tell that you like her. You know I'm right, Logan."
"What if she confronts me?" I demand.
"Ignore her?" He shrugs. "Tell her you don't want a mate?" He shakes his head. "You'll think of something."
No! My wolf howls at me. We can't do that to her.
I know that! I think back. Not being with my mate is going to be torture. But we're doing this for Saffron. To help her get better! She deserves more than life as a Rogue. We can give her a pack. Make her Luna. Don't you want that for her?
My wolf nods, and I sigh with relief. I really hope Saffron gets better, fast.
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So, what do you think of POW's scheme?
Anyone want to guess what will happen next?
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