Picking Fights

“Out of curiosity, how old is this ‘Alpha?’” I asked, trying desperately to keep from slamming my fist through the table.
Annie glanced at our mother, who simply smiled before answering, completely clueless as to the silent war going on between Annie and myself.
“Well, the Alpha is 67, but-”
“67?!” I roared. “Are you fucking kidding me, Annaria? He’s old enough to be your grandfather!”
“I didn’t commit myself to the current Alpha!” She snapped.
“Then, pray tell, who did you *’commit’* yourself to?” I snarled.
She sighed as her hands disappeared under the table, and I was instinctually aware that she was anxiously twisting them together.
“His son. He’s only 22. I…”
“If you wanted to leave home, I know a ton of Alphas looking for a viable Alpha Sow that wouldn’t remove you so far away from where you belong,” I seethed.
She took a deep breath. “I only agreed to be his Alpha Sow when he took over as a backup life plan.”
“A backup life plan for what?” I growled.
She lowered her head. “In case the man I wanted to be with didn’t want me in return, I would have been too embarrassed to remain at home,” she answered almost silently.
My anger died an immediate death once the realization that she was talking about me resonated within my mind. I sighed as I reached across the table to pat her arm.
“Any man who would turn their back on you is a fool, Bannannie. You are amazing,” I told her softly. “I just don’t want you going halfway around the world where I-we can’t protect you if something happens.”
“I know. I’m really glad that he allowed me to change my mind if I wanted to. I don’t have to go through with it if I don’t want to. He understands that if I find my mate…”
She stopped talking, clearing her throat nervously, as my renewed anger started to bleed through our link. I hated the thought of her finding her mate. I was going to have to talk to her about mates later, when everyone was gone. There was no way that I wanted her to leave me for anyone, not even her mate.
“You should tell him that you changed your mind,” I said calmly.
“I will,” she said meekly.
“Good. Is there anything else that you forgot to tell me during our conversations?” I asked, trying to calm the fire raging inside of me down again.
“No. Just that…” She mumbled.
“Good. I’m actually really glad that you’re here. I wanted to tell all of you something. I was going to wait until winter break, but you are all here now, so…” I met Annie’s eyes. “I’ve been offered the beta position at Realm Sleuth. And I want to accept it.”
Our parents immediately began to congratulate me, while Annie stared at me in shock. I was going to tell her later in private, but a small part of me wanted her to feel how I just felt at the thought of her leaving.
“Are you going to accept it?” She whispered.
“I’d like to, but as we all know, our Alphas have to release me from our sleuth so that I may partake in the blood oath to become a member of Realm’s,” I told her.
“Of course you can! That is such an honor to be asked to join a sleuth to claim such a high title!” My father encouraged me proudly, patting my shoulder.
“Excuse me!” Annie interrupted my father when he went to continue to speak.
Annie jumped up from the table to rush toward the bathroom. I could feel her turmoil through our link, and I mentally kicked myself. I was being a dick to her because I was angry at the thought of losing her. Goddess, I was an idiot. I reached for our link to apologize when I felt Osprey tune in. I shot him an annoyed look, which made him smirk at me as he continued to converse with Annie’s father, Tony.
‘Get out of my head,’ I ordered.
He didn’t answer, just like I knew he wouldn’t. When he was being nosey, he tried to pretend like Scarlett hadn’t taught us all how to detect his presence in our heads. She hated that he spied on her and Elena, so her way of giving us privacy was to make sure we always knew when he was invading our minds. A fact for which I would be thanking her the next time I saw her.
‘Get out of my head or else!’ I threatened.
His eyes sparkled as Godric pushed forward. Even though I was also an Alpha and his brother, Godric hated me the most out of all of our siblings. He hated that he couldn’t control me like he could our sisters. He glared at me before shaking his head.
‘Or else what?!’ He snapped.
The corners of my mouth lifted up in a sly grin. ‘Have it your way, Osprey.’
I reached for Scarlett’s link, and just like it usually is, it was wide open. If being Alpha meant that the entire sleuth had access to link me whenever they wanted, Osprey could keep it. Betas were lucky. We only had to keep our links to our Alpha and Gamma open. I glanced at my fathers. I wasn’t sure if it was both the Alpha Boar and Alpha Sow, or just the Alpha Sow, but either way it sucked, even if I was grateful at the moment that Scarlett’s was open to me.
‘Hey, sis! Are you busy?’ I asked.
‘Never for you, Gerry. What’s up?’
‘I’m trying to have a private conversation with Annie, and Osprey is trying to eavesdrop. I’ve asked him to stop, but he refuses.’
I hated pulling the Scarlett card, but it was better than shifting in the middle of a crowded restaurant and going at it with the asshole that was the oldest. Scarlett shrouded my mind in her aura, forcing Osprey out before disappearing herself. I glanced at Osprey as I reached for Annie’s link again, mentally sticking my tongue out at him. The dick thought just because he was Alpha that he could control everyone’s life, but he couldn’t control me. I refused to let him.
‘Annie, my love, are you alright?’ I murmured softly.
‘Go away, Gerry. I don’t want to talk to you,’ she sniffled. ‘You always want to leave me. Why am I never good enough for you?’
The sadness in her voice made me feel even more like a low-down, dirty scumbag. I sighed.
‘You’re the only one who is good enough for me, baby,’ I told her, sending her the feeling of me wrapping my arms around her through our link.
‘Then why are you leaving me again?’ She asked sadly.
‘I want you to come with me, Annie. I want you to live in the beta house and be mine,’ I answered honestly. ‘I was going to talk to you about it later. I’m sorry that I tried to hurt you by saying that. I just… I don’t know. I am a little crazy over you.’
I felt her relax a little, and it instantly made me happy. I much preferred my woman to be in a good mood.
‘Just a little?’ She teased shyly.
‘No, Annie. Not just a little. I’ve never been more crazy about anyone or anything in my life,” I admitted.
She didn’t respond, making me worry a little before she came around the corner from where the bathrooms were. She prepared another plate before coming back to the table, smiling at all of us.
“I think it is a great opportunity, Gerry. The Realm Sleuth will be even better under your charge as Beta,” she gushed.
I finished slowly chewing the bite of steak in my mouth before taking a sip of my drink.
“You know, Annie, I think that you should try to find your mate before you finish school. Part of a beta’s job is to go around to the other sleuths, handling business and negotiating treaties, among other things. Maybe you could come with me to Realm, and when I go out, you could go with me to look for your mate,” I said, proud of how instantaneously the plan formed in my head.
“I don’t know, Gerry. I do want to finish school.”
I narrowed my eyes on her, knowing that we couldn’t appear too eager to be together but hating the fact that it came so naturally to her.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Tony said. “Maybe both of you will find your mates, and you will be safe, sweetheart.”
She finally sighed while she played with her mashed potatoes. “I guess. But I really do want to finish school.”
I nodded. “Realm is only an hour away from here. I will bring you back and forth," I promised.
“Alright, then it’s settled!” Her father happily agreed.
“Actually, Dad, it’s not,” Osprey interjected. “Neither of them can leave the sleuth without a vote amongst all the Alphas.” He cut his eyes at me. “And, personally, I will be voting against this. I do not think that Annie should be going anywhere with Gerald. He’s a bad influence on her, and I don’t want to see her go down the wrong path.”
My jaw clenched tightly as I stared at him. “I’m the one who is a bad influence? Are you sure about that, Mr. I’ve never made mistakes?”
“Watch how you speak to me. I’m the future Alpha!” He hissed.
I met his eyes. “Exactly. The future Alpha! You are nothing right now!”
He leapt to his feet with his teeth bared. “Say it again! I dare you!”