Mated in the Shadow of My Sister novel Chapter 22

Chapter 0022

“Why do you care so much about Lily all of sudden?” he asks.

“Pack unity, Nick. Pack unity,” I respond sarcastically. “Get her here.”

“Man, I

“NO, MORE. EXCUSES.”

“Okay, okay. I get it. But I think I am going to need to carry her. I will need help to avoid aggravating her

injuries. Can you send my dad back to the packhouse to help me?”

“Fine. Yes. But hurry.”

“Will do.”

I turn to the four parents. “Nick just mind–linked me. The Little Brat is not cooperating. She is pretending to be unconcious. Nick needs help carrying her here. Beta Robert, please go and help your son.”

“James, is this really necessary? I do not understand why she needs to be here,” Margie protests, for what has to be the 10th time in the past 15 minutes.

“I do not think it is necessary for me to take a chosen mate, but I am going along with your plan. The least you can do is cooperate with mine. You want pack unity, give me pack unity.”

I can only guess that Lily is faking for attention. In a perfect world, I would ignore Lily and refuse her the attention that she seems to be begging for. Unfortunately, however, James is demanding that she be here.

Before I left to help Nick, I was tempted to assert rank and tell James “no“– I still outrank James until he takes over for Alpha Randall–but I decided not to. The truth is that I expected James to fight us more on the concept of taking a chosen mate. Fated mates are important to werewolves, and I know he had been holding out hope that he might receive a second chance mate.

James took the ultimatum we gave him far better than we all predicted. Margie and I had actually expected that James would push back so much that his parents would relent and give him an extra year. The fact that James is cooperating, this year, and that all he has asked for in exchange are a few minor

tweaks to the plan and Lily’s attendance…. I can deal with that.

I just hope that Lily has a good reason for her behavior. I do not need any further embarassment or shame cast on my family. I guess I will see for myself when I get to the packhouse.