The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 8

I sat in the living room with Mom in our nightly routine of a cup of tea. I wasn’t a huge tea fan, but I enjoyed having the time to catch up on things. Sometimes, like tonight, even Dad joined us. I preferred the simple black while both Mom and Dad went for the fancier stuff. “How are things with Nicole?” Mom asked after Dad finished filling us in about today’s meeting progress. It was interesting when I wasn’t the one involved in all the politics crap.

“It’s going pretty good,” I admitted.

“She’s not shown any more tendencies of violence has she?” Dad asked, worried.

Again, I found the worry to be a little insulting. They wouldn’t worry about this so much if it was Dean instead of me. Though, considering Aunt Helena had allowed her mate to beat on her and their children, perhaps Dad would’ve worried no matter what. I shook my head. “Nah, as far as I can see it was a one-time thing. I, honestly, think it was a bad judgment call on my part.”

He nodded, looking pleased as he picked up the tray on the coffee table between us. “I’m going to take this to the kitchen, but we’ll need to talk Dean. The meetings with the alphas are only for two more nights, and after that, they all return to their territory. I need to know what your plan is.”

My stomach sank as I watched him leave. Plan? When did I ever have plans? I don’t do plans, but what was I going to do? Two days then Nic would leave. I don’t think she would stay if I asked her right now. Damn it I needed more time. Running a hand through my hair, I looked up to find Mom smiling at me. She could probably guess I was scrambling.

Before any of us could say anything, someone growled out, “You!” Nic’s dad stood in the doorway, pointing at me with blazing amber eyes.

This wasn’t good. “Me?” I asked, standing.

“Yes, you! You pathetic little clown,” he demanded as he took a step into the room. “You’ve poisoned my daughter and my people.”

“Wait a minute-” Mom said, standing.

“It’s okay, Mom, I got this.” I moved, so I was between Alpha Joseph and Mom. I wasn’t sure how much of this guy was all bark, but if he decided to bite, I didn’t want her getting caught up in it. “Alpha Joseph, I haven’t said anything against you to your people.” Oh, I’d said a lot of nasty things to Andy and the others, but not to Nic or her friends.

The alpha sneered at me. “Nic never defied me before we came here.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “And that’s my fault?”

“I know it is!”

“I promise the only thing I’ve done is talk your daughter,” I said and shrugged. “Sorry dude, but you’re not on the subject list of topics in our conversations.”

He took another step into the room, his hands curling into fists. “You think you’re funny, doncha? Well, listen here funny man. You’ll never have my pack-”

“I don’t want your pack,” I said, dropping my tone into a flat, boring sound. I got a taste of being alpha when Ryder had to take a step back to fool our uncle, and that was all I needed. I’d never been under so much pressure and stress in my life. It was not something I planned on repeating any time soon.

He blinked obviously surprised by my response then he simply scowled at me again. “Listen here, Boy-”

“Dean, I’ve used your name Alpha Joseph, I’d like you to use mine.” I was starting to get a little tired of the nicknames he kept giving me.

“You’ve not earned the right,” he said before literally spitting on the floor a few feet in front of me. Gross. “Now listen here, Boy. You will stay away from my daughter. She not ever going to be your mate and-”