Page 71 of The Tracker's Secret
I blinked down at him, then awkwardly sat, also crisscrossing my legs and resting my wrists on folded knees.
He waited with an expression of annoyed boredom. “Well, let’s get this over with.”
“Um, all right, my questions mainly pertain to... mates.”
“But of course.” He rolled his eyes, looking disgusted. Not his favorite topic, it seemed, but I wouldn’t let him embarrass me. If he was a sourpuss about the subject, that was not my fault. Not everybody was an embittered sociopath.
Sheesh, Toni! The man lost his family, have some sympathy.
“What is the role of an alpha’s mate?” I asked.
He frowned and cocked his head to one side, looking curious. “You just found out you’re a werewolf, and you already have your sights set on an alpha male?”
“You’re supposed to answermyquestions, not the other way around.”
“You’re infuriating, you know that?”
I shrugged. “I’ve been told that once or twice, but I really don’t give a shit what people think.”
He sniffled and let out a little exhale through his mouth as if to calm himself down.Heinfuriatedme, so I was glad to repay the favor.
“Wait a minute,” he narrowed his eyes at me, “I saw you with Jake Knight at the party. That’s the alpha you’re referring to, isn’t it?”
I clenched my teeth, refusing to answer.
“Fine,” he snapped when he realized I wasn’t going to say anything. “An alpha’s mate's main duties would be to help him continue his lineage by providing strong and healthy offspring. If this alpha leads a pack, it will also be the mate’s responsibility to provide support to his rule, and to ensure that he puts his pack first, all the time, above anything else, including his own family.” Eric’s jaw clenched tightly as he said the last few words, making me wonder if puttinghispack first had resulted in the death of his family.
“Is that all?”
“Hardly, an alpha’s mate must always obey without question, something I don’t believe you would be capable of, given your personality. Walter Knight’s pack is quite old-fashioned, and their females are supposed to behave according to many outdated values.”
Walter Knight, Jake’s grandfather who I’d met only a few days ago, was the pack’s leader from the sound of it. Was he expecting Jake to take over?
“Females are expected to stay at home, raise the children, and ensure that their mates and the pack have everything they need.”
“That’s stupid,” I huffed.
“It is what it is,” Eric said. “The Knight pack has a certain reputation. It has been weakened for some time, but in the past few weeks, there have been rumors. Things are changing. They’re recruiting, increasing their numbers. Jake is expected to replace his grandfather soon.” He paused and a smile of satisfaction stretched his lips as he added, “As soon as he picks a mate, that is. His grandfather has put the word out. He seeks an alliance to strengthen his pack.”
“You mean Walter is pimping Jake out to other packs for power?”
Eric nodded.
My heart sank. I didn’t have a pack that Walter could use to prop his numbers up, so the fact that I was a werewolf would mean nothing to him.
“I can tell you’ve done the math,” Eric said coldly, not an ounce of sympathy in his tone. “Maybe you should consider yourself lucky. Pack life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Besides, it wouldn’t be easy for someone like you. You wouldn’t understand the way they do things. You weren’t raised that way. If you want my opinion, you would be better off as a lone wolf.”
“Do you get off on being mean?” I blurted out, trying to hold back the tears that stung the back of my eyes. Except, I was unable to, and they spilled forward along with my shame. I didn’t want to cry in front of this cruel man. I jumped to my feet, angrily wiping my face and squeezing my eyes tightly.
He rose with me. “Don’t cry.” His request was curt as if I had no right to spill tears in front of him and make him feel like the asshole that he was.
I inhaled sharply and held my breath, fighting the emotions that whirled inside my chest like raging tornadoes. So much had happened in such a short time. I’d found out I was a werewolf. I had tracked a mate for Aaron, but he was dying. Jake had told me he loved me, but we couldn’t be together because, even though I was a werewolf, I still didn’t amount to enough.
Biting my lower lip, I tried to reign in my feelings, but they all came loose, tumbling down in a shower of tears.
“I... I’m sorry,” Eric said. “I don’t deal well with matters of the heart. I haven’t stopped to think about such things in years. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please, stop crying.” His voice grew low as he spoke until it was only a whisper that rang with sincerity.
I glanced up, blinking through my tears. He was staring at the floor, looking embarrassed and even regretful. I saw no pretense in his expression.
