Nicolas POV
“You are running late!” Ronan lashed out when he saw Ray come out of the tunnel and into the cave.
“Someone seems really nervous,” Ray remarked, as I shifted back to being human.
I looked back at Ronan and watched him briskly as he paced up and down.
Has anything occurred during my absence?
“Your father is furious at you,” Ronan hissed. “He is waiting on you in his office,”
I cocked my head to one side and squinted. It has been a while since I have seen Ronan behave like this.
“Tell him I will be there shortly,” I said composedly as I picked up my pants off the ground.
“He is itching to see you now,” Ronan growled. “He is so angry that he is threatening to take control of the pack.”
“Your father rocked Ronan’s boat again,” Ray chirped. “No wonder he isn’t a happy camper.”
My father had the ability to get under Ronan’s skin and rattle his little world. I never understood why he took everything my father said personally. I was given the Alpha position by the old wolf eight years ago, and he could not take it back from me unless I voluntarily gave it to him or he challenged me to a duel.
“Perhaps he inquired about my whereabouts from Ronan,” I answered.
“And he could not provide him with a direct response!” Ray remarked, a little sorry for Ronan.
“Remind me to take him out on a hunt later tonight,” I said. “Perhaps that would lift his spirits.”
“I think you will need to schedule an entire weekend to get Ronan to smile again,” Ray snorted.
I glanced back at Ronan and teased, “Maybe even a week.”
Ray laughed, and I glanced back at Ronan.
“My dad can tolerate a little bit more time,” I uttered, reaching for my shirt. “I am going to shower first. It was a lengthy run, and I can not meet with him in this state, both in appearance and scent.”
Ronan sighed in irritation. He was aware that when it came to personal hygiene, I would not compromise.
Meeting people when I smelled sweaty was something I never enjoyed doing. I still had an image to project, one that I was taught to uphold by my father.
Ronan’s eyes glanced over.
It seems that he caved and was mind-linking my father to inform him of my return.
I drew my shoes in closer, undid the laces, and put them on.
“Your father has given you fifteen minutes to come present yourself, or…”
“He will come find me on his own and give me a whooping,” I interrupted Ronan with a laugh. “I know.”
I was accustomed to my father’s empty threats; he was more bark than bite.
I was not afraid of the old dog like Ronan was. I knew how to respectfully handle my old man.
“Yes,” Ronan snarled. “Will you please hurry up?”
“Calm down before you hurt yourself,” I said, teasingly.
“Don’t tell me to calm down,” he snapped. “I have been busting my ass off the whole afternoon, doing my best to hide your whereabouts.”
“Wow!” Ray gasped. “Ronan really has his panties in a twist!”
Though I wanted to laugh at Ray’s comment, I maintained my composure. I reach out for the truck keys instead.
“You seemed stressed,” I told Ronan. “You are aware of its detrimental effects on your health. It looks like the Beta roll is too much pressure for you, so I will set up a meeting with the doctor to get you checked out.”
“Don’t you dare!” With a growl, Ronan shoved the keys into my hand and held my gaze. “I can perform my duties as a beta with great competence. It is you…”
“Ronan,” I said, my tone hardening. He had never delved into my character before, and I was not going to allow it now. I was still his Alpha, and he would obey my commands and judgments.
Ronan averted his eyes and took a deep breath.
“You can’t keep doing this to me,” he muttered. “You are aware that your father gets upset with you when he cannot locate you or when you willfully refuse to comply with his requests! Now see, you are going to be late once more and-”
“Before my time runs out, I will be in his office,” I interrupted and made my way out. “You know that I always do.”
Ronan sighed and rolled his eyes.
“You never f*cking listen to me,” he muttered under his breath. “You follow your own stubborn head. Bloody Alpha blood. There are moments when I wish you were not so damn stubborn.”
“I heard that!” I shot him a retort. “Besides, where will the fun be in that?”
Once outside, I opened the truck’s doors and climbed inside, but Ronan stopped and hesitantly got in.
“What is the matter with him now?” Annoyed, Ray inquired.
“He seemed to be worried about something else,” I replied.
Was Ronan trying to find a way to make me angry before I reached my father? Or was there something else causing him distress?
“Whatever it is,” Ray uttered in a grave tone. “Has him very worried, or maybe even afraid?”
“Does he fear the consequences of discovering what is troubling him, or…”
Ray added, “Your reaction,” to round out my ideas.
Ronan only behaved in this way when he was unsure of how to break the news to me.
Was a decision made without my consent?
Was there an attack on us?
Did someone get hurt?
“He would have alerted you if there had been a rogue attack,” Ray claimed. “This seems like something different to me. Something more profound…”
“I agree,” I replied, returning my focus to Ronan.
“Will you not be coming?” I shouted above the engine’s purr.
“No,” he answered. “Because of your tardiness, I do not want to be the one told to wipe blood off the walls of the packhouse when your father lets loose his beast!”
I gave him a sidelong glance. He could be so dramatic some days. Did he honestly believe that I would bleed to death?
The worst that could happen is a couple of small scrapes here and there, and even those would heal before any blood hit the floor.
“Come on, Beta,” I called out, growing irritated. “Driving is far quicker than running in wolf form, not to mention that you do not want me to be late and that you are now wasting my time. Would you like to be the cause of my bloodshed?”
With a noticeable sigh, Ronan shook his head, hurried over, and climbed into the truck.
I loved it when I had Ronan by the balls.
Before Ronan could buckle up, I took off, and after driving for three minutes, I pulled up in front of the packhouse.
I threw the keys to one of the guards and walked carelessly toward my quarters, knowing that he would have it parked.
Even though it was the coldest and fastest shower I have had in a while, the chilly water did nothing more than dance on my warm skin and did not clear my mind of my filthy thoughts.
My thoughts have strayed back to Zara, which made my c*ck feel painful and hard when I got out of the shower.
I could not get her out of my head; I wanted to taste her so badly.
“This is going to be fun,” Ray grinned. “You do not need much to get your c*ck up and hard these days.”
“Not helping, Ray,” I growled, hastily drying myself and putting on my clothes.
“Try thinking of something else,” he advised.
“Such as what?” I asked, pulling my hair back into a man bun.
“I have no idea. Try focusing on hunting.” He said.
“All right,” I replied as I inhaled deeply, closed my eyes, and concentrated on my animal instincts inside of me.
But it never occurred to me that the mate bond would have an impact on something as basic as my imagination.
****