Tyler

It's bad. Really bad.

No, I don't mean the gut wrenching pain I'm feeling right now on my jaw and all over my body. This pain shall pass, but the look of disappointment on my dad... that's gonna be hard to overcome it.

Not only he didn't look at me the whole way from school to our home on Monday, even trough dinner later that evening. He started getting calls from concerned pack members. Mostly parents with kids at school who by now would've told them about what had happened.

In fact, by Tuesday morning my little fight was the talk of the town.

Dad got visited by Elders from the Council. They wanted to make sure they know what really happened and nothing got blown out of proportion. Of course, dad had to tell them the truth. He couldn't risk his reputation even if he wanted to - he didn't - with that many witnesses.

He tried to sell them on my argument that my sister got disrespected but to be honest, I'm not sure I believe it myself. As much as I hate to admit it, nothing he'd say would warrant an attack like that. It's a good thing we're both minors because if he was a mated adult, I'd be expelled from the pack automatically. And be glad if it's just an expulsion. You don't want to know the worst penalty for hurting someone's mate.

Needless to say, dad canceled our afternoon internship we had everyday after school. I mean, it started during the summer break but would continue during my senior year until I ascend.

Now, it's just another thing that I've lost. By Thursday night, the whole thing started dialing down finally. And my dad at least looked at me occasionally, even if it's to glare at me in disappointment.

"How is it looking, dad? Have the Elders reached a decision yet?" - Sarah asked him, during dinner. She knew I wanted to ask him but couldn't until dad starts talking to me again.

"It's looking terrible. How did you think attacking an orphan Stonehold would go? Jack's grandfather is working up the entire Council against Tyler. He's enraged. And with reason, who would be dumb enough to attack an Alpha's heir on the first day at school?" - He jabbed, glaring at me.

"He didn't mean any harm. He just didn't like Jack's joke." - Sarah tried to defend me, which I appreciate. But...

"It's not a joke! He genuinely believe you are his mate." - I interjected, looking at my sister intensely. I was angry but not at her.

"I know he does, Ty. It's a figure of speech." - She replied, sounding defeated. She let out a big breathy exhale.

"Whether or not he is, it's irrelevant. You should never have attacked him and it's final. You lost all the good will I have been gathering for you trough the past 7 years in a single stroke." - Dad chastised me, looking furious. Mom kissed his cheek to try to calm him down with her mate pheromones. It's a magical thing to witness every time.

"I know, dad. I do regret it, okay? But there's nothing I can do now. I apologized to Sarah." - I replied after a minute of silence.

"Sarah isn't the one who needs an apology." - Mom interjected, furrowing her eyebrows at me.

"The Elder Council will give us an answer by the end of the week. And the worst of it all is that even if you were to not be Alpha, you could still be Beta like I was. But now once the Council announces it, we will lose any leverage we had." - Dad stated, making me look down in regret.

"I can ask him if you want, Ty. He wouldn't deny me..."

"I don't! But I appreciate your attempt, Sarah. I don't want you to concern yourself with this  thing between us. Regardless of you being his mate or not. If I lose, I lose. I don't wanna be Beta out of pity. I want to earn it like dad did." - I interrupted her, sounding as proud as my dignity would compel me.

Sarah scowled at first but she understood it was a point of pride for me. And though I'm disgraced now, it doesn't mean I want anything out of pity. Especially involving her.

"Sarah, do you think he is going to be your mate?" - Mom asked after a while. She grinned at Sarah and I wanted to barf.

"I have no idea, mom. I don't want to get my hopes up and then be someone else, you know?" - She replied, trying to sound detached but I could see right through her.

"So, you do want him to be?" - I teased her with a naughty grin. I couldn't help myself.

"I didn't say that. But there are worst fates for a girl than to be mated to a Stonehold. Even if by some miracle he doesn't become Alpha, he's still a Stonehold." - She bragged and I felt the sting at her words. Though she's being accommodating. By now, it'd take an act of the Goddess to keep him out of the Alpha ascension.

"I hate to say it but she's right. Whether or not he ascends, Stonehold owns several properties throughout the town, including this pack house. We actually have to pay rent to his trust every single month. His dad left an ironclad will. And Jack is the sole beneficiary with his sister's death." - Dad informed, sounding annoyed.

"Plus it doesn't hurt that he is ridiculously hot." - Sarah drools. Dad and I grimaced.

"Okay kids. It's time for bed. It's a school night." - Dad announces it, putting an end to this conversation fortunately. - "I mean, it is for people who didn't get themselves suspended. Other people can go to bed regardless." - He jabbed at me, somehow I knew it's coming at this point.

It's Friday night. Which means two things: first, I finally fulfilled my suspension and am able to return to school on Monday. Second, the Gutierrez family and Jack are coming over to dinner. It's kinda funny now that dad said that Jack owned this house - fact I didn't know until yesterday - and now he's coming to dinner as a guest at his own house.

Anyway, that's not important. The problem is that not only I owe him an apology, I also have to get on his good side if I want to be his Beta. Gasp! I don't think that's happening any time soon, to be honest. I just don't have it in me. I mean, don't get me wrong I'm good with apologizing when I'm wrong. But buttering him up? That's not happening. I might as well kiss any type of ascension goodbye now...

"Good evening, folks. How are you all doing?" - Mom greeted them after she opened the door. Dad was by her side.

"Please come in." - Dad said after my mom and him made way for Jack, Tony, Lidia and Gus to enter the house.

"We're fine, thanks for inviting us." - Lidia replied politely as they made their way inside.

"Wow. I haven't been here since I was 10. But it looks exactly the same. I mean, apart from the fortifications outside." - Jack marveled once he took in his surroundings.

After the attack that killed the entire Alpha family, dad had a wall built around all of the adjacent properties, including the former Alpha's home and our pack house. It's now heavily fortified and no one can enter here apart from the main gate - which is made of reinforced steel. Not even a car assault can get trough it. Dad spared no expenses making it. Now, come to think of it, he probably spend Stonehold money to build it.

"I hope it's to your liking, Jack. I just had to take precautions after what happened." - Dad explained, almost as if he was justifying himself.

"It is, Mr. Burke. I just wish my dad had thought of it before..." - Jack trailed off. I resisted the urge of correcting him for the sake of his grief and making things nice. But there's only so much I can take.

"I wish that too, Jack. And I got the scars to prove it." - Dad replied with a smirk. He's not lying. His chest is covered with a giant scar he got defending our home from the attack with the rest of the men. It turns out that if a claw hits you deep enough, even with wolf healing it doesn't completely heal. And my dad got hit badly that night, he only survived it because he wasn't alone. Not like...

"I didn't know how bad you got, Mr. Burke, I'm sorry." - Jack apologized like he didn't get the far worst end of the stick.

"It's water under the bridge, son. Please, let's go to the dining hall." - Dad offered, smiling politely. He's so accommodating that sometimes I forget that being Alpha is mostly political.

We walked trough the living room, passing trough dad's office, the Beta's office, the way to the Beta's wing where me and my family's rooms are - which I guess now is the Alpha wing. This massive house have separate wings for different ranks. There's ours, the warrior's wing and the guest wing. Not all the warriors lived with us, only the ones who either remains unmated or is mated without pups. There's a total of 30 warriors living with us but the pack has more than 100. It's a small army no doubt.

But we don't see them most of the times since they eat and sleep separately from us. They also don't have to live here, it's a choice. But some do probably because it's cheaper and we have all our meals prepared by wonderful cooks. So it's practical for single and busy people.

We take our seats at the table inside the dining hall. My parents sat at the head of the table together like always.

"So Jack, how are you adjusting back to town thus far? I mean, apart from what happened Monday." - Dad started with the cat out of the bag, I guess. It's the elephant in the room.

"It's fine, Mr. Burke. Everyone is being so wonderful to me." - Jack replied in a cheerful tone that I didn't expect it.

"Yeah, especially all the girls. I think I saw even the school nurse giving you googly eyes when she went to treat your wounds and you had to take your shirt off." - I snickered, which made everyone laugh.

"I'm pretty sure she's mated. Plus, I only have eyes for Sarah." - He replied and my sister gasped at his bluntness. Especially in front of the Alpha. But he didn't get bothered by it at all.

There's a moment of silence that fell afterwards. I see a window and...

"Jack, I want to apologize for what I did to you. Nothing that you said in no way warranted an assault on my part. I do regret it." - I told him in the most sincere tone I could muster. I do regret it. But mostly because it costed me my ascension.

He held my gaze for a moment that felt like forever and then spoke.

"I accept your apology. And I hope you'll stay on as Beta if the Elder Council rules in my favor." - He shocked me with his heartfelt tone and words. My parents and sister also were gobsmacked at this.

"Thank you. We'll see how the Council responds and I'll let you know." - I replied in a serene tone. I'm not about to admit defeat but I'll definitely take him up on that offer. I'm not so proud that I can't appreciate an olive branch. Or look at a gift horse in its mouth.

The food is served and we all dig in. The atmosphere is light and the smell of cooking is wonderful. The adults present start up light topic conversations and the teens eat in peace. Tony hasn't said a word still, but I think he's the strong silent type.

"Oh my Goddess! This food is so good I think I'm moving in here when I become Alpha." - Jack blurted as he admired the cooking. It really is good. Dad, mom, Sarah and I just kept staring at him for a minute, then he realized it.

"IF I become Alpha, I mean. I'm sorry, I don't mean to put any of you off. I just said that without thinking." - He backtracked in an apology, sounding remorseful.

"I think you'll find that there's a perfectly nice house not far from this one. And it's vacant, just waiting for you to move in." - Dad said in a clear attempt to diffuse the awkwardness.

Of course, everybody knew which house he's referring to. The Alpha house where Jack lived with his family. Jack grimaced with such sorrow in his face that I feel bad for him. I can sense the wheels on his mind playing the memories of his family in that house as a kid. And they were a happy family indeed. This I remember since I spent a good part of my childhood over there.

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to move back in. But be that as it may, I would never mess with your accommodations or invade your house in any way. I apologize if my words indicated otherwise. I would happily take a guest room if I'm allowed." - He said with such humility that you'd easily forget that this is the future Alpha. Maybe. Who knows? But my point remains the same.

"Your granddad would never allow you to live in a guest room of your own house. But I appreciate the sentiment. You're just as good kid as I remembered." - Dad said with a remarkable vulnerability in his voice. He sounded so sincere. The Gutierrez all smiled at this.

Jack sighed contently at dad's words. There's a softness in his tone that no one is used to listening. Well, certainly not me.

"It's not my house. It's the pack's. But I thank you, sir." - Jack rebuked, humbly. He probably doesn't know he owns the property. I guess no one ever told him he's rich. Or at least comfortable, as they say it.

"I'm sure we can find a house for you to live around here, Jack. Plus, you can still eat here even if you don't live in the pack house. That's not a problem for the Alpha, should your fate be confirmed." - Mr. Gutierrez interjected, his tone was a little awkward.

"I can? Great! Problem solved. Plus, I need to ask Sarah where she wants to live once we're mated. It's her choice not mine." - Jack said and Sarah blushed. She giggled at his words like a little girl. My dad was nonchalant as this is not an issue for him. Mom also swooned at his words. Damn, he's good.

"You raised him well, Lidia." - Mom chimed in, boastfully smiling at Jack.

"His mother did. I only helped along the way. It was actually she who chose that house where you used to live." - Lidia replied with a humble tone, glancing at mom then Jack.

He smiled at the thought.

"We don't know if you're gonna be mated to my sister. There're a hundred girls vying for that spot, literally." - I interjected and popped their bubble. My tone was playful as I didn't mean to jab at him. Not entirely. Sarah glared daggers at me.

"You're right. But until then, I can dream. Can't I?" - Jack replied in a happy tone. Nothing could shake this guy's confidence. Sarah smiled at him.

"Yes, you can. And I'll definitely go on a date with you." - She spoke and he grinned the biggest I've ever seen so far.

"You asked her out on a date?" - Tony spoke for the first time, shocked.

"I did today." - He replied grinning wide.

My dad was about to say something when he got startled by his ring tone. Not only that, Mr. Gutierrez also got alerted by his phone beeping. They both looked at each other and imagined it could only mean one thing. The Council has decided our fate.

Dad and Mr. Gutierrez took out their phones and read the e-mail from the Council.

"Oh my Goddess!" - Dad gasped in shock. Tony's father is gobsmacked looking at Jack. What the hell is happening?

A|N: What will happen next? What the Council has decided? Cliffhanger...

If I were you, I'd read the next chapter ASAP.

Love,

Léo.