The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 14

“Dean came and told us what happened,” Wesley said. “I couldn’t believe it, so I talked to Joseph myself. You are the only alpha I’d accept after Joseph.” Fury made his green eyes lighten to jade, but a small quirk of a smile appeared. “Well perhaps him too…” he jutted his chin to Dean. “But only if you’re with him.”

“I’m with Wes, on this, that your father would do this to you,” Sade said.

“Or to us. None of us were willing to stay with the pack if you’re not there,” Jon agreed.

Gratitude filled me as I looked at them and I stood. There was hope yet. They still supported me. They were with me. “We’ll figure something out. We won’t leave our pack to suffer Brandon. If we speak to the others, I’m sure we can get them to agree to allow me to challenge him. I’m sure I can beat him.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jon said, giving me thumbs up.

“Let’s get back to the house.Don’t need the future alpha freezing to death and I want to take a look at that hand again,” Dean said pulling the blanket tighter.

My throat tightened as I looked at him and nodded, not trusting my voice to speak. Again, he knew just what to do to help ease the ache of my hurt. What’s more, without a doubt I knew Dean was worth trusting. If he were playing a game, tricking me to be with him, Dean would’ve never brought my friends here to me now when I was at my weakest. He wouldn’t give me something to fight for. “Your father is okay with us staying there?”

“Of course,” Dean said, his arm around my shoulders as we walked. His body heat seeped into mine, fighting off the last of the chill. “He’s sorry, Nic. Dad never meant for any of this to happen. He only thought he was doing what was best for me and give us the best chance at being together.” He held up a hand. “Not that I agree with him, just telling you what he said.”

“Good, because he’s wrong, though I don’t blame him for Brandon. No one could’ve foreseen Father’s stupidity.”

We headed back to the house. Wesley and the others went to their rooms, and Dean led me to the room that served as a temporary infirmary. I sat on the bed, and he took my hand in his, his expression serious. He pressed in a few places, but only one hurt.

“The shifting appeared to help put things back in order, but to be on the safe side, I would still keep it wrapped up for a day or two,” Dean said, taking out some ace bandages and wrapping my hand like before.

“Thanks,” I said, but the word seemed too small.

Dean shrugged and grinned at me. “No worries.”

I wanted to say more. I wanted to tell Dean how much it meant to me that he not only came to look for me but brought Wesley and the others with him. Just as I wanted to tell him that I had hoped this might be fixed because of him and only him. He’d given me my strength back. Only, I wasn’t able to. The words were on the tip of my tongue, and I even took a breath to speak, but my throat tightened, and no sound escaped me.

Father’s lessons of hiding weakness I guess were too ingrained into me to admit any of this to Dean. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t escape the feeling as if I was cowardly. I growled in irritation, running my good hand over my head as we left the infirmary. This whole relationships thing sucked eggs. Everything was so much easier when all I had to do was hit them so they’d fall and didn’t get back up until I wanted them too.

“You okay?” Dean asked, still looking worried.

“Not really. Never would I have imagined Father would be so stupid. I need to find out more about challenges. I can beat Brandon. There has to be a way around the alpha to alpha challenge.”

“I’m sure there is a way,” Dean offered.

We stopped at my door, and I turned to face him. “Will your father help me? He does kind of owe me after all.” I hated to ask, but his father was an alpha after all.

“Well I wouldn’t ask him like that,” Dean said with a smirk. “But I think he will. I’d have to ask him first.”

“Thanks,” I said again. I started to turn to go inside then stopped and turned back to face Dean. “I really mean it, thanks.”