My father grudgingly allows them stay for a few days while he thinks about Mark's offer.

I thought I would die on the spot.

Mark's eyes flashes over to mine for a moment, feeling my nervousness before looking back my father.

"Thank you sir."

Why the hell is he doing this? He hates me one moment, and is asking my father's permission to join our packs the next.

He looks to me again, and I keep my face stone, and turn to Jase, who is already waiting for me to leave.

A few guys from Mark's pack turn to look at me as I leave, and they laugh immaturely, and one of them whistles.

I roll my eyes and my father growls, my brother stepping forward, his muscles rippling, out shining the men.

"Keep your thoughts to yourself or I'll make sure you don't have any ever again." He growls, cracking his knuckles threateningly.

One smiles cockily and holds his arms out challengingly. "Oh yeah? Why don't we just see about that pretty boy?"

Mark shoots the guy a look to shut him up, giving a stern growl to keep him in check.

But he doesn't seem to be terribly offended that another male hit on his mate.

My brother steps up, tilting his head with an evil grin and leans in to whisper "Any of you disrespect my sister again, and I'll castrate you all in your sleep."

He turns to walk away, and the guy, looking pissed, steps toward him threateningly, his arm pulled back as he rushes at my brother, who has his back turned.

Zael darts forward, faster then the guy can move and catches his fist before it hits my brother, and throws a punch of his own, catching him in the jaw.

His head snaps sideways with a crack, and he stumbles back as my brother turns around, surprised.

"That is enough!" Mark yells at the robust kid, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and yanking him back to his side, we're he was standing before he threw the punch. " Now this isn't adequate for a good first impression, is it Frederick?" He says the last bit in an undertone, which mixed together with his deep voice, sounds deadly.

"N-No sir." He stammers, and it's then that I realize that Frederick can't be more than 17 years old.

Though Mark is only a few years older, he is treated with a high amount of respect by his ranking in the pack.

" I didn't think so. Jacques!" He yells, his eyes scanning the ten or so men standing behind him.

" Yes sir?" A man, possibly in his 40's answers, stepping forward.

"Take your hellion of a son before he gets his ass kicked again." Mark says, half tossing Frederick to his father with a flick of his wrist. He turns back to my father, brother and Zael. "I am sorry about that. You'll have to excuse Frederick, this is his first time training for his future position as beta, and doesn't know quite how to act yet, especially toward females due to his limited exposure to them"

I feel his attention go to me, but his eyes stay on my father.

Zael snorts, but doesn't say anything, crossing his arms over his chest, muscles flexing.

My brother half snickers and shakes his head at the boys obedience to his alpha.

I can read his body language, and the look he gives all says that he thinks Frederick is a total chicken.

My face still washed of emotion, I start to walk back next to Jase, who had stayed surprisingly silent through the events that unfolded in last few minutes.

I make a mental note to ask about it later.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

"What the hell was that?!" I half scream at my father, as he turns the corner into my room.

He sighs, looking tired, and shuts the door, running a hand through his hair. "Just, forget he's your mate for a moment."

I try too. It doesn't work.

"Now, think about this. He is a vey powerful and respected man, and so is our pack. Possibly combine that, and we could dominate." He sees my reaction and sighs again. "I know what your thinking darling, but I'm only letting them stay to think about it. It's for the good of the pack, If I decide to give the young man a chance."

I close my eyes and breathe deeply, trying to be calm about this. "You do realize," I say slowly, patiently. "This man attempted to kill your only daughter."

He paces a few steps in frustration. "Yes," He takes a deep breath, but not quite a sigh. "I do and I don't forget about that. I'm only thinking For the pack... I am sorry Belles."

I sigh and shrug moodily. "It's fine. I understand." I brush passed him and go out to start the ride that I never got to have.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

I gallop Del through the barrels I set up in the out door pen, turning him sharply through the barrel pattern and around to the third, before Racing him home, back to we're I started.

My least favorite person watches me from the gate and I huff, hopping down.

Gathering Del's reins in my hands, I walk over, crossing my arms over my chest demandingly. "Can I help you?"

He shakes his head, leaning against the fence, his forearms resting across the fencing, hands folded. "No."

I roll my eyes and snort, leading Del toward the gate. "Whatever."

I turn to shut the gate, and his hand catches mine. "Hey, would you just talk to me?"

I jerk back in surprise. "Excuse me." I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms again. "What, you think you have rights to me or something all of the sudden? You may have gotten my father to think your a descent guy, but some of us aren't convinced since you, oh I don't know, tried to murder the Alpha's daughter."

He seems to actually cringe back at the words murder and the mention of me in the same sentence. "I- That was only me, not my wolf," he tries to explain, standing straight. "It's the way I was raised, to hate women. When I found you, I, well I kind of didn't know how else to react."

Not convinced, I give a wave of my hand. "Yeah, sure I guess I could get that," I say, staring to lead Del away. "Until you find out who my father is and what pack I belong to. I'm sure."

He starts to follow me, but hesitates and stops at the gate again and sighs. "I am sorry, Annabelle."

My wolf whimpers, then purrs, unsure of how to react to this.

A shiver immediately shoots down my spine when he says my name, and I spin around, pointing a finger at him. "Don't you say my name. Not like that."

~~~~~~~~

Wow, seriously, thank you guys for the reads! Let me know how I'm doing with it if you will, and I hope you are enjoying the book so far!❤

~ A.