Alpha Jaxon POV
We still hadn't found Damien. He had gotten clean away and I frowned as I stood next to Callum, watching the training going on in the ring. "The preparations for the party are going smoothly. A lot of the packs have already sent their RSVP back saying they are attending" Callum said, his gaze intent on the two warriors currently sparring.
"There are over twenty packs coming. I should be able to find a chosen mate out of all of them. The idea of having a masquerade party was genius" I said, as the two opponents punched and dodged each other "it means that I don't know whoever is behind the mask and the person I choose will be anonymous."
There was an inscrutable expression on Callum's face. "That was the general gist of the idea. That way you don't just go for the most obvious higher-up statuses as well. I know you would prefer an Alpha female but this way you might find yourself drawn to even a female warrior" he explained with a nonchalant shrug "somebody who knows what it's like to be able to fight for and defend their own pack would come in useful to our Blood Moon Pack" he explained.
"That would be true" I murmured and then held up a hand halting our discussion "You" I pointed to the warrior closest to me in the ring "shift into a better stance and correct your footing. You're giving him too large an opening to attack you with and leaving your right side vulnerable" I shouted.
The warrior hastily corrected his stance, looking at me for approval. I nodded and gestured for them to continue. Callum chuckled. "You're a hard taskmaster," he said shaking his head but his eyes were filled with amusement.
"I expect the best from our warriors and some of them have come from the other pack" I growled "which means they are going to have to work harder in order to reach the high standards I expect."
"I'm not disagreeing," Callum said raising a brow "merely commenting."
"Good" I snarled "I also expect you and Cody to be attending the party. It would be a great advantage if you and he were to find your fated mates at this party. It would strengthen both your positions as well" I said.
"I don't expect to find my mate," Callum said surprising me.
I frowned "Why not?"
This was the first I had heard him mutter such a thing.
He exhaled "To be honest I'm not sure I want a mate. Seeing how you've reacted to yours" he shot me a pointed look "what if mine isn't a full shifter? What if mine is a hybrid as well?" he asked me tersely "would you accept her or would you insist I reject her?"
I was astounded by the question and a little hurt if I was honest. I never thought that Callum would think I was capable of asking him to do such a thing. "I would leave that choice up to you," I said confused "I would never want you to do something that would make you unhappy Callum. You are one of my best friends, you and Cody."
He nodded tightly "but you make yourself unhappy," he said turning to me as I looked him in the eyes "anyone can tell looking at you that you're missing Riley. How many times have you attempted to sneak down to the dungeon and been caught by an omega, only to turn around and pretend to be doing something else?"
Damn. I hadn't thought anybody had picked up on that. I flushed. "I don't know what you're talking about" I denied.
He didn't look convinced "and then there's the look of pure disgust on your face every time you talk about taking a chosen mate, as though you can't stand the idea but are forcing yourself to do it anyway."
I forced myself to remain calm "It's what's best for the pack."
"Is it?" he asked challengingly "because with the powers that Riley possesses she could easily help to make our pack stronger. She can lure men to her which means they would stop fighting. Do you know what kind of advantage that gives us? How much of a benefit that would be if we were to go to war against rogues or other species?"
He made a good point but there was something he was forgetting "She's a siren Callum, no matter which way you look at it" I pointed out gravely "what if she turns on us? I'm immune to her singing as her mate, but the rest of the pack isn't. Do you think I would be able to prevent her from slaughtering every male in the pack if it came down to it?"
He eyed me askance. "You're not helpless Jaxon. You act as though the women would stand back and let it happen. If push came to shove, wouldn't you, in order to save the pack, end her life?"
I inhaled sharply. It was a fair question. An honest question and one I hadn't wanted to admit had gone through my mind over and over again as I tried to rationalize accepting Riley as my mate. The longing I felt every time I thought of her was only growing stronger and every time I thought about her being locked up in the dungeon, I could feel my chest tighten as my wolf growled, furious at the decision I had made.
"To kill my own mate is something I would abhor but you're right" I admitted lowly turning to him "if it came down to the pack and her, I would kill her to save the pack."
It was something I wasn't proud of. But I was the Alpha and hard decisions had to be made.
I watched the two warriors finish sparring and two new ones replaced them with a frown on my face.
"Then why not just accept her? Her lineage is not her fault. Heck she didn't even know she was a siren" Callum argued "and she's so innocent that I have a hard time imagining her as a bloodthirsty mermaid killing people."
I snorted "She's nothing of the kind" I admitted "but that's part of their disguise. To look beautiful in order to seduce men."
"Begin sparring in wolf form" I shouted at the warriors and watched as they began to carefully strip before they shifted into two wolves who immediately began to circle one another looking for an easy opening to take advantage of.
"So you admit she's beautiful" Callum's voice was tinged with humor.
"Of course she's beautiful" my voice was crossed "it's what makes this so hard. She's one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen."
"Then stop fighting it" Callum shouted in desperation, turning to me with a crazed look in his eyes "Do you even know how lucky you are to find your fated mate? I would do anything to be in your position. So would Cody" he yelled as I looked at him in shock "and if it were me, I would have accepted Riley in a heartbeat, Siren or not. She's a sweet girl and she deserves better than to rot in some dungeon because of you, you asshole."
"Remember who you're talking to" I growled.
I was still the Alpha and Callum was the beta and he needed to remember that.
"Not everyone gets to find their chosen mate" Callum said a little quieter "you have yours right in the palms of your hands and you're torturing her."
"I'm not she's just in the cell. I wouldn't physically harm her" I denied.
"You're emotionally torturing her. Do you think she won't feel it when your with your chosen mate intimately? Or that she won't feel it when you mark another? She'll feel everything you do. It will hurt. It will be so painful that she'll wish for death. Did you take that into consideration Jaxon?" his voice was mocking as I clenched my jaw "deny it all you want but that's torture, pure and simple."
I glared at him. "Stop now Callum" I warned "you overstep your role."
He glared back at me. "You overstep yours. I knew you could be ruthless but this coldhearted? This much of a bastard? The friend I knew wouldn't be capable of doing such a thing to an innocent female."
I gritted my teeth "Stop."
"No. You just don't want to listen because every word I've said is true" Callum growled, getting in my face "and you can't stand to face the truth. You make me ashamed to call you my Alpha, Jaxon. You make me embarrassed to be your friend while your like this. You need to get your head out of your ass" he snarled and then he did the unthinkable as the warriors gasped in shock. He shoved me, hard, sending me staggering backwards slightly.
There was a mutinous expression on his face. His hands were clenched into fists. He was breathing heavily and there was a look of defiance on him. Before I could stop myself, my fist was swinging out and connecting with his face.
"Big mistake" I growled.