The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 12

“What are you doing, Dad?” I said when I found him with Mom, watching some movie.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he replied, tilting his head towards the screen.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “No, I’m serious here. Why are you keeping Alpha Joseph in a cell?”

Mom and Dad shared a glance before he sighed, paused the movie and sat up straighter. “I’m giving you time to figure out what you’re going to do.”

“Yeah because making Nic hate our family and nearly causing a war is going to give me so many options.”

“Told you it wasn’t a good idea,” Mom said to Dad, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

“It’s a very good idea,” Dad said and stood. He pulled down the hem of his shirt and looked at me. “If I didn’t do what I did, you would’ve had no options because Nicole would’ve left. Thanks to my playing the big bad wolf, she’s not only here, giving you time to decide what to do, but you two are going to be working together to free her father.”

I jerked back in surprise. He knew?

Dad laughed and shook his head. “I’m the alpha, Dean. How would something like that not get back to me? I’m not going to hinder his ‘rescue.’ It’ll be good for you to play the hero, save her dad from the evil alpha. It’ll probably warm her up to you, and it will give you time to decide.”

A sour, bitter taste filled my mouth. “Decide what?” I said finally.

Again, Dad sighed. “To accept her as your mate.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Me accepting her never had been the question. The only issue here was if Nic would accept me.

“She’s a headstrong woman who is determined to lead her pack. Everyone knows how much you loathe the idea of being in the alpha position, yet if you accept her as your mate that’s exactly where you’re going to be. In all honesty Dean, you’re going to have to change drastically if you want to accept this position. She and her pack will depend on you to take care of them.”

I opened my mouth to reply then closed it. My thoughts never really went that far. True, I didn’t want to be alpha. All the crap with politics and having to decide the future of everyone. So much was left on the alpha’s shoulders, and one mistake very well might mean life or death. My chest tightened, and it was hard to breath whenever I imagined what that kind of responsibility would feel like.

“Exactly,” Dad said, obviously reading my thoughts on my face. “So you need to decide and soon.”

“You’d made a great alpha, Dean,” Mom said, setting aside the popcorn. Dad glanced at her for a moment. “It’s really not a horrible thing, and you wouldn’t be alone. Nicole would be there to help.”

“She’ll need him to be alpha, Emily. Everyone will expect it,” Dad said and looked to me. “Go on, play hero and make the decision.”

My mood was awful, and I wasn’t sure what to say, so I left. Funny not twenty minutes ago I’d just kissed Nic, she didn’t kill me for it, and I was on top of the world. In my room, I sat on the bed and sighed. I hated this. I hated all of it. Why had Nic and I been paired? She didn’t need me. Nic didn’t need anyone, not even her father despite what she believed. I was a clown and a fool. I liked to make people laugh, not give them orders. Why couldn’t Nic have just been an enforcer? That way neither of us would have to change or give up anything we loved.

The whole night my mind whirled, and when it came time for morning, I doubt I slept a wink. I got up and showered. I had no doubts they’d help Nic and her people. No, the only doubts I had were the ones Dad gave me. They ate at me to the point I was ready to release Nic’s dad on my own and tell them all to go. I walked into the gym, surprised Mike was there.

“Cousin Deano, what’s up?” Mike said as a greeting.

“Hey,” I replied. “Shouldn’t you be in the alpha meetings?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Mike said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t last ten minutes in there before I decided to kill them all and just be done with it. All that is more Alice’s thing.”

“But you’re the alpha.”

“So the fuck what? She’s the luna and good at all the diplomacy shit,” Mike said then shrugged.

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, you got a point there...and it works for you guys?”

“What do you think, Deano?” he shot back, glaring at me. “Do you want something or you going to stand there and gossip like a chick?”

I returned his glare and threw in a scowl for good measure. “You’re a real ass, you know?”

“Yeah and? Go cry to mommy if you want. I don’t give a shit.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Whatever man.” I left the gym and to the dining hall for lunch. I didn’t feel like jumping in the conversation much as I joined my brother and the others. My head was too wrapped up in what both Dad and Mike said.

“Everything okay, Dean?” Kara asked once we sat in the game room, waiting for Nic and her people.

“Yeah, thinking about things, ya know.”