A/N: Thank you for all the feedback on Sentiments & Reason - Important Announcement (the update before this chapter). The result?

It does seem that extras in between chapters would annoy some of you so I'm sticking to only chapters with extras (and giveaways!) on special occasions. Like my birthday next month... I'll be having a giveaway then.

And like today. I'm giving you an extra.

In order to apologize for the slow updates, I'm ending this chapter with Rhys' character profile.

Enjoy! ^_^

The feeling of elation that I'd gotten from throwing Jasper's own words at him - 'don't dawdle' - was dissipating the closer I got to my house. With Kennedy running off to his home and Horace going who knows where - also home, probably - my attention was solely on the belligerent male shifter who was walking behind me, no doubt glaring at my back.

My cousin had always been the odd one out in the family.

Not that he was actually odd - by no means, no - but he'd always been different from his siblings, my brother and I.

It wasn't just an age gap although there was one between us. Jasper had been born before those years, the cursed years when no Silver Bullets pair could conceive an offspring while Kelly, Jared, Anthony and I were products of the baby boom that had followed.

With Jasper, it was more a matter of attitude.

Namely, growing up Kelly, Jared, Anthony and I saw each other as equals while Jasper had always been haughty, acting like it was a given that one day the pack will be his. Having me take over after Uncle Zach had passed had delivered him a huge blow and turned his arrogance to malice.

I'd thought I'd give him time to adapt, but it's been over two years and he still questioned and sometimes outright opposed my authority. I couldn't wait any longer; I had to put him in his place.

I opened the door to my home and went inside first, leading the way to my study. It had previously been my mother's, just like this whole house, but after Anthony and I had grown up and our parents had retired, they'd moved in with my father's pack, leaving me the house. I missed them dearly, but with my grandma ill and her recovery going better on the Lupine Lagoon territory, dad had returned to the pack he'd been born in to take care of her and mom had naturally gone with him.

Jasper closed the front door more forcefully that he had to - yet another expression of his jaundice towards me - but I ignored it for now. We'd talk - or more likely fight - when we got to the study.

A few more steps and I pushed the heavy oak door, entering my destination. My cousin stepped in after me.

"Close the door," I ordered, heading for the desk. I didn't sit behind it; I wanted to be at my full height during whatever was about to come.

Jasper did as told, then took a stance in front of me, feet apart and arms crossed over his chest. He was showing off muscle. Not that I'd let him intimidate me. Sure, I knew he was stronger, but that didn't mean I'd back off; I wouldn't have, even if I wasn't the Alpha.

"It stops now, Jasper," I insisted.

He grinned, amused.

"What does?" He asked although it was perfectly clear he knew.

"This insubordination of yours."

He snorted and opened his mouth, but I continued:

"The way you disrespect me and mistreat everyone else in the pack, especially the Flemings family."

And your son, I added in my head, but let's take it one step at a time and leave it at Rhys' family for now.

"Sure, you'd stick to your buddies," he muttered loud enough for me to hear.

"Loyalty is something that we value in the Silver Bullets, cousin." It was my turn to smirk. "Or have you forgotten that?"

He frowned, the hands that were covering his biceps forming into fists.

"I haven't forgotten, cousin," he replied through clenched teeth. "One would think you should be loyal to your family first, then to the rest of the pack, wouldn't you say so?"

"Oh, like you are loyal to me?"

Jasper clamped his mouth shut, glaring at me.

"If you want to say something, do so," I prompted.

"You know what I want to say." His arms dropped by his sides only for him to slam a hand to his chest. "I should've become the Alpha after dad died. I!"

"And why is that?" I asked calmly.

"Why? Why?" He looked at me as if I'd just declared that two times two equalled five. "Because I'm his son!"

"The title isn't hereditary, you know that," I rebutted.

"I'm the strongest." He took a step towards me. I held my ground, my heartbeat surprisingly even.

"One of," I corrected.

"I performed better than you at the Evaluations." Another step closer.

"But the Council deemed you lacking when physical feats were not involved," I reminded him and he huffed.

"Compassion. Seriously?" He snorted again. "Of all the things my opponents had going for them, they picked you because of your compassion." He sneered at the word. "I think they mistook compassioned for being a chump."

"And how am I a chump, Jasper?" My voice was even without me forcing it to come out that way. His aim was off; I've never considered sympathising and caring for others as a shortcoming.

"Everyone and their mother can lead you on with a sappy story. Maybe that's why you are so fond of the Flemings; because they are such failures."

And now it was a battle to keep my voice even. Not because I was angry, but because I had to resist laughing in his face.

"You think they are failures?" I asked and he nodded. "Then how come you see Kennedy Flemings as your son's biggest competition for when I step down as Alpha?"

His mouth fell agape and this time I couldn't help a smug smile.

"Was I not supposed to know that?" My tone was just as jaunty as my smile. He closed his mouth and glowered. I almost giggled in response.

Oh, being one up on Jasper felt good! Really good. Especially with everything that had been on my mind lately. It was a nice change to be on the winning side.

It took my cousin a few seconds, but he recovered.

"That rowdy boy will never be an Alpha," he spat out. "Just like his fag brother couldn't do better than a Beta or like how Everett ruined his prospects by jumping into bed with that vampire whore and producing that half-breed abomination..."

A loud growl came from me, my lips pulled backwards, revealing my teeth.

"Watch your mouth, cousin," I warned, my voice low and cool. "This is exactly the type of behaviour that needs to stop."

"What? A person can no longer tell how they feel about someone?" He took yet another step towards me. "I thought we lived in a liberal pack, Keri. Or do you wish to start a dictatorship? Hmm?"

And he moved even closer.

Such a mistake on his part; I was barely restraining myself from slugging him over that filth-spilling mouth of his.

My fingers flexed.

Keep your calm, Keri!

"But of course you don't." He grinned without merriment. His face was inches away from mine. "You don't have the balls for that. You are just a woman," he brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, "not even mated, no children of your own, clinging to the pack in her desperate loneliness. You coddle your wards because who else is there to coddle?"

Frost set into my veins, so cold, it burned as my fangs itched to come out. A few small tremors waved through my body, my wolf livid to come out and bite into my cousin's flesh. I could imagine him screaming in terror and pain and that image - although perhaps of something he deserved - sobered me up enough to push away the transformation.

I straightened my back and levelled him with a gaze so chilly, it was a miracle icicles didn't shoot out of my eyes and impale him where he stood.

"No one else seems to think as you do, Jasper, and if you feel so strongly and negatively towards so many members of this pack, then perhaps you should leave it."

Horror twisted his features and he took in a sharp breath, backing away from me.

"You wouldn't..." He rasped out.

Giving no response, I stared at him, letting him suffer; he deserved it.

"You can't..." He began just as breathlessly and I raised an eyebrow.

I was the Alpha; of course I could.

"You wouldn't..." He repeated, wetting his dry lips. "You wouldn't do this to me."

"I've been advised on several occasions and by different people to do just that," I announced. "The only reason why it has not yet come to pass is because I wanted to give you a chance to correct yourself."

I waited a moment as he squirmed under my gaze, then went on:

"It's been two years and I see no change in you. My patience is running thin, cousin, and so is everyone else's," I informed a significantly sallow Jasper.

He gulped, his knees buckling before he slumped into a wooden chair, staring at the wall.

I could only imagine what was going through his head. Feelings of betrayal and loneliness, and fear... Two shifters and a teenager out there on their own amongst the humans, without a home or a pack to support them. Exclusion was one of the worst nightmares a wolf shifter could suffer, especially one not fond of humans.

Pity crept inside me and I almost walked to him to hug him and tell him I'd give him another chance. That all he had to do was repent and grow a little humble, turn down the hate inside him, and the pack would gladly embrace him.

But even though I had every intention of giving him time to achieve that, I knew I needed to be firm. I'd been soft with him before and it had led nowhere. I had to put my foot down and keep it there.

I shook my head, the irony of the situation not escaping me.

He'd sneered at me because I was too compassioned, but compassion was exactly what he needed at the moment.

"Consider this an official warning, Jasper." He lifted an empty gaze towards me. I had not allowed any warmth or affection to seep into my voice. I'd wanted to, but I'd managed to resist. "Either amend your behaviour or I'll be forced to take measures."

He stared blankly at me.

Just a little longer, I urged myself. Keep your voice and features stern for a little longer.

"Did I make myself clear?"

He opened his mouth and shut it a moment later, replying only with a weak nod.

"Dismissed."

He looked smaller, deflated, as he stood up and dragged his way out. Once the door was closed, I let out a breath, leaned against the sturdy desk for support and closed my eyes.

It was over.

I had won.

I'd asserted my position as an Alpha and with the threat of expulsion, I was sure we'd see - perhaps in time, but we will see - a new Jasper, one that would really be a part of this pack and not just someone born and living in it.

I picked the phone, three names coming to mind.

My brother and best friend, I reconsidered texting; the former was at work and the latter had had one hell of a night worrying about his brother, sister-in-law and their child.

That left Kelly, who was off duty today.

I texted her to come over and waited.

What did you think of this chapter?

Do you think we will actually see a new Jasper now?

Would he treat the Flemings brothers and Keri better?

What about Horace?

By the way, with so many of you taking an interest in Horace, I'll try to give him a few more scenes in this book. And, of course, he'll be in Kennedy's too; a lot of the youngsters will.

Anyway, do you want me to include Kelly's POV along with Keri's in the next chapter or should I stick only to Keri's for Ch. 12?

Please support this chapter with a VOTE if you enjoyed it and have a great time wattpadding!

A special THANK YOU for your feedback on Sentiments & Reason - Important Announcement to RainaSage CHLOERedWolf crazyfangurl AQueenForever bookmunchies Neon11amas Crazy-4Bubblez phoebeliciou trina246 susannahilmar and AngieTheDarkEmo ❤

And now, as promised, Rhys' character profile:

Did you learn anything new about him?