Chapter 67

**Allister POV**

I walked inside the packhouse, searching for my cousin, Warit, when I finally found him inside a living room, standing in front of a window that looked upon the dirty road, the same road that Rhea just left on.
“Warit?” I called his name, but he didn’t even bother to turn around and look at me.
Taking a step inside the room, I walked towards him, leaning with my shoulder on the wall as I took him in, silently watching him.
“Warit?” I called him once again, making him glance at me for a moment as he returned his eyes back to the road.
“What?” He asked me, not looking at me at all.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him.
“Nothing.” His answer was short and simple and I knew he was lying.
“Are you seriously going to lie to me?” I said, raising my eyebrow at him.
He blew out a breath, moving away from the window, pacing the room.
His hand was nervously sliding through his hair, but I said nothing. I knew he would open up and tell me, and it was much better not to pressure him.
‘Goddess… when the hell did I grow so soft?’ Shaking my head, I asked myself, not being able to hold in a chuckle.
Warit looked at me, and said, “Great! Laugh at me! I bet your so fucking happy that you got your wish come true and your with your mate yet I’m fucked up!”
My jaw dropped open as I heard him say. I pushed from the wall and walked up to him, saying, “I was not laughing at you but at myself.”
He looked at me not really believing my words, so I continued, “I was just thinking how soft I become that’s all.”
Warit snorted at that, making me roll my eyes. 
“Whatever!” Warit said.
“Listen! Stop acting like I’m your enemy and talk to me or I swear I’ll fucking kick your ass so hard that you will have my footprint showing there for another 10 years and more, so now talk.” I said in a serious tone, trying to joke a little so he looses up and it worked.
He walked to the couch, sitting down and placing his head in his palms as he said, “I’m an idiot!”
Sitting down on a chair, I answered, “Yeah, but what else is new?”
He looked up at me with narrowed eyes, saying, “You're not really helping here.”
I felt the corner of my lip twitch, but I forced myself to keep my face normal. Thinking what way would be the best to open up the subject, I started by saying, “Sorry… I know it must be hard for you,” I stopped for a moment as he listened silently, still holding his head into his hands, giving me a nod of his head, agreeing to my words, so I continued, “but this is all your own fault.”
He looked up at me, protesting, “How is this my fault?”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Well, did you talk with her? Were you open and honest to her and to yourself about your feelings? Did you even try if you wanted to stop her from leaving?”
With each question I asked, he opened his mouth about to answer, but I didn’t let him. 
I knew his feelings for a long time, and I saw how he acted around here before and now, and I was fed up with his own living in denial. 
“What do you want, Warit? Do you even know?” My voice sounded firm as I asked him once again.
“I…” He started to say but stopped, making me feel annoyed and wish to just slap him on the back of his head.
“Maybe it’s a good thing then that she left… after all, it’s not like you love her.” Looking at my nails, I said, provoking him.
He looked at me standing up, I could see he was angry as he looked at me with angry, narrowed eyes.
Warit took a step standing in front of me and with a pointed finger, he pressed it into my chest, saying, “What the fuck do you know? How the fuck would you know how I’m feeling if I love her or not?! You jackass!! You didn’t think that maybe if I didn’t love her so fucking damn much, then I would have had all this time any random girl every night in my bed and I most definitely wouldn’t be fucking feeling now like my heart is being ripped out of my chest the moment she left! Idiot!”
If it was anyone else talking to me the way Warit just did, they wouldn’t be able to stand or breathe anymore, but this was Warit, my silly cousin, and finally, I got him to admit what he was trying to deny for far too long.
His chest was moving rapidly from his breathing and I just watched him in silence, waiting for him to realize what he just said. What he just admitted.
Finally, the moment came, and I saw his eyes grew wide as he blinked the anger away.
I stood up from the chair and smiled at him, “Well, it was about time that you admit it to yourself.”
He looked at me, still in shock, whispering, “I love her.”
Chuckling, I patted his back, saying, “Yeah, you do… welcome to the club of smitten men.”
His hands tangled in his hair as he cursed, “Fuck!” 
Looking at me in panic, he said, “H-how is it that I didn’t see that until now?” I was about to answer, but he continued, “Fuck it! What should I do now? She left Allister, and she even has a fucking mate! What am I supposed to do now?”
“Look, you didn’t realize it because you were lying to yourself and to her, and yeah, she has a mate, but ask yourself is she worth the trouble to fight for her and win her over? Do you love her that much to try the impossible?” I said to him, holding my breath as I waited for his answer.
He lowered his hands, his eyes clear, and I could see how they grew determined as he said in a strong, clear voice, “You are right. I was a fool, fooling myself and her, but I won’t be that fool anymore. I will fight for her even if it kills me I won’t give up because she is worth it.”


*****

**Alexander POV**

I stood there in the training ground, surrounded by my warriors as we all were watching my Beta, Ryder, kissing Emily.
A smile appeared on my face, feeling happy that finally he got his chance with his mate and I couldn’t feel happier for him.
Soon as Ryder and Emily broke up from their kiss, I could see her blush when they noticed all of us looking at them and clapping their hands while some cheered, “Woohoo… go go Ryder!”
Ryder wrapped his arms around Emily, shielding her from everyone, and I saw him looking at me, silently asking me if they could leave. Giving him a nod and a smile, he smiled back and took Emily by her hand, leading her away from there.
I was happy that things were setting down in their place. I wished Cole wasn’t in denial and hurt, but I understood that he needed some time to process everything out.
I heard the main trainer shout to my warriors to go back to their tasks, and I found myself thinking about events that happened since Cole and I returned home.
I was no fool as I knew the moment I saw Allister and Nerissa what happened. I didn’t even need to smell them to realize it. It was obvious to everyone.
Thinking about it some more, I turned to the trainer and gave him a signal that I’m leaving and in the next moment I left the training grounds.
It was like a magnet when my eyes, on their own, were like drawn to her. I saw her sitting down under the tree, playing with a flower in between her fingers.
I wanted nothing more but to go there to her, but I needed to do something else first.
Forcing myself I walked into the packhouse and searched for him. I found him in the living room talking with Warit so I cleared my throat, not wanting to be rude but to announce I was there.
Both of them looked my way, so I said, “I’m sorry to interrupt you both, but Allister I would like to have a word with you, please.”
Allister gave me a nod, and soon enough both of us walked into my office.
Offering him a seat, I grabbed two empty glasses and filled them with some drink, offering a glass to Allister who accepted.
I took a seat in the chair next to his, taking a large sip of my drink before I started to say, “Look, there is no need for us to play like fools. I know what happened while I was away.”
His eyebrow raised as he answered, “So you brought me here to try to keep me away from her?”
Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before I replied, “No. Nerissa made her mind, and we both saw how it pained her when we almost killed each other. What I tried to say is that I don’t know when or even how, but when I returned and realized that you two mated, I realized that I was not jealous of you two. Somehow my dragon and I made peace with the situation and idea of sharing our mate with you. He and I both want her happy, and if I am to be fully honest with you, I would never leave Nerissa here alone without me to go do pack work, but this time I could do that and I felt at peace because I knew she was safe because if I was not here to protect her, I knew you will, so how, when or why, I don’t know but I trust you.”
Allister listened to me carefully, surprise showing in his eyes. He said, “So you don’t want to rip my throat out because I slept with her while you were away?”
I smiled at him, saying, “Well maybe before but not anymore… you're safe.” He laughed, hearing my answer, and I joined him.
“Plus, I can always say I had her first,” I added, smirking.
He smirked back, saying, “Well that is true but I can always say that I had her last.”
This weird moment was a moment we bonded, feeling for the first time relaxed in each other’s company, drinking and laughing and taunting and teasing each other.
“So you're ok with sharing Nerissa as a mate with me?” Allister asked after a while.
I looked at him and gave him an honest answer, “I am. She loves you as much as she loves me and I can see you feel the same way for her just like I do too and neither one of us wants to hurt her so, yes I’m ok with that.”
I saw him nod his head as he said, “That is good to hear. I guess then this is it.”
Raising my glass I said, “We should toast to our beloved mate Nerissa.”
Allister raised his glass and we both drank the rest of the content in the glass.
“So what now?” Allister asked.
Placing my empty glass on the table, I thought about what to say when an idea formed in my mind.
“We should take Nerissa out for a date.”