Chapter 28: Finding a Way

Mink's P.O.V:
"You're trying to get rid of me?" He asked looking stunned.
"That's beside the point; you're an Alpha and your Pack needs you now, more than ever. WildRain needs you to make them feel safe and protected and you’ve already been away from your pack for nearly three weeks now." It wasn't easy accepting the fact that I’d gotten used to having him around but it was time to be practical. Rhys had earned my respect when he had stood with me in the front line, fighting against his own pack when they had been led astray by Aiden and Devon, but that doesn't mean that I'm about to declare my undying love for him to the whole world from my rooftop. Love takes a long time to develop. He may have my trust but he was far from acquiring my love.
"We still have a lot to discuss, Mikalya. You've accepted me as your mate in front of not only your pack but mine too. There's no running from it now." He said seriously.
"I haven’t accepted you as my mate, Rhys, a wolf has several mates and you’re my second. I accept that I called you my mate in front of our pack, but that’s not the same as accepting. We need to look at the bigger picture here, Aiden and Devon’s packs need guidance and they deserve as much attention as do our packs." For now, there weren't any challenges, the area being looked over by some of mine and Rhys's strongest men, but soon enough someone will try an idiotic move considering that neither packs had an Alpha.
"And what about us? Mates live together, where are we going to live?" He asked me the one question I'd been most dreadful about.
"Not all mates are both Alphas, Rhys. Staying together will cause a constant power clash until one of us admits submission. That's the reason why each Alpha has its own territory and at a suitable gapping so as not to trip the power balance..." I sighed, rubbing my eyes with one hand, making sure I don't strain my injury. It was a lot better now, my healing was faster than anyone I've ever seen, but it was still going to need another couple days to recover completely.
"You're beating around the bush. Tell me."
I sighed for the hundredth time and decided to spill the beans. "I won't leave my territory. And I know you can't leave yours either. It's impossible for us to work; especially since we know neither of us is going to submit to the other." I laid out all the cards on the table.
He looked thoughtful. "Judging by how much thought you've put into this, I'd say you want to give us a try. Am I right, Mikalya?"
Rhys was my mate and no matter how much I try to deny it, the truth is, he's grown on me. He isn't the self-cantered, sexist jerk I'd met three weeks ago. He's grown into himself, became a new person, an improved person who stood by me to fight against his own pack. Not that I couldn't have handled it myself but I needed to give some credit where it was due. But I couldn’t back down either. For a relationship between us to work, one of us will have to submit and Rhys was too proud to do that...and so was I.
There had once been a time when I’d been a lone wolf, wandering the earth alone in search of my purpose. But I’d found that purpose when I’d built my own pack; when Abhay had made me realise just how much my presence could make a difference. Now I was the Alpha of BloodPledge, a pack I’d fought for, a pack I’d lost Abhay for. This pack was everything to me, my entire purpose of living. There was no way I could ever give it up.
"Look, why not take some time off and decide what to do once the atmosphere has lightened up a bit?" I suggested. I needed space to think. To come to a conclusion.
Rhys remained quiet for a long time. And then he just got up and left.
"And there it is, that ego."
He stopped just in front of the door, a low growling noise coming from his throat the next instant. "This isn't about my ego; this is about you being stubborn. Have the guts to face your problems for once rather than finding faults in my character."
“This isn’t about a bloody character assessment, Rhys!” I snapped at him, wincing when my shoulders stung. “Why don’t you understand that I won’t leave my pack?”
"Why can't you leave?" Rhys turned back from the door and came to stand in front of me.
He held out his hand when I tried to stand up. I accepted it and rose to my feet. We walked over to the only window in my room which was made of insulating material to keep the heat inside the room. Outside, a blizzard raged on. And that's when I told him.
"Because I can't leave my pack!" I tried to keep my voice steady but I could feel the anger seep in. "How can you expect me to leave everything I've ever known, everything that I've built from scratch for a period of over 100 years and come with you just so I can be with you? Why can't you do the same for me? Can you leave your pack? Can you leave your country, everything that's familiar to and just move in with me, here?"
Rhys didn't speak a word until I'd finished talking. Even then he kept on looking at me, stunned. "You know I can't-"
"Then how can you expect the same of me?" I argued. "Because I'm female? Because women are known as the epitome of sacrifice and compromise?" I tried to calm down to prevent further strain on my shoulders, but I couldn't. Looks like some beliefs never change.
"I've worked very hard bringing this pack together. I hadn't wanted this at first, I was happy as a lone wolf...but then people started following me, trusting me, depending on me...and I couldn't turn my back on them. I'm dependent of them as much as they're dependent of me." I urged him to understand. "I created my own pack, Rhys. And I'm staying with them. You wanted the whole truth...this is it. I’m not going to sacrifice my pack to merge them with yours and I will most definitely not going to submit my authority and accept you as Alpha to be your Luna. I am the first ever Female Alpha and I’m determined to stay like that forever."
"I see." Rhys's voice was hoarse when he spoke.
And then, I watched him leave without a proper goodbye.
Maybe it was because Abhay had left everything he had and come to me, that I'm having difficulty accepting the whole thing or maybe it was because Abhay understood that after so many years of walking alone, I was happy to have other wolves beside me, to be a part of something bigger. But unknowingly, I kept comparing the two of them even though I didn't want to. If only Abhay was still alive, then Rhys would never have felt the mating bond and everything would have been fine.

Rhys's P.O.V:
"Damn it!" I punched my fist through the wall, leaving a dent in the concrete.
This whole thing was messed up. Up until three weeks ago, I'd been dying to find my mate, someone who would complete me, complete my pack; someone who would challenge me and not obey my every command, someone who would nurture my pack, who would go against all odd to save the people she loves. And Mikalya is all that and more. But above all, she's an Alpha. Something I'd never believed possible until I met her.
I could understand where she is coming from. I understand that she's had to build her pack whereas I had inherited the title of Alpha because my father had been the previous Alpha. I had everything presented to me on a silver platter while she had to place bricks together carefully to build a strong foundation. But although I appreciate everything she's done, it's also against everything that I'd known right from the start of my life.
It's always the female who follows her mate. It's always the female who makes the sacrifices.
Because I'm female? Because women are known as the epitome of sacrifice and compromise?
She's right. She's sacrificed a lot to be here right now. And I can't take that away from her. But I'm an Alpha too...I can't back out of my responsibilities either. The only option left would be to merge our packs and submit to her. But how can I submit to another Alpha when I was born to be an Alpha myself? And how could I expect Mikalya to do the same when I understood what it meant to lose such a position of authority?
"Ahhh!" I screamed, running my hands through my hair.
"Whoa! Chill!" Startled, I looked towards the door to find a woman standing there in a leather jacket and leather pants. Her boots were dusted with snow, which means she's been out of the main pack house, probably to the outer halls where some of my pack members were staying. She had dark eyes and black hair that she had tied back in a plait. Overall, she was a descent, good looking woman and I’m pretty sure I’d never seen her before.
“Who are you?” I asked with my brows furrowing, my voice harsher than intended. “What do you want?”
“The name’s Ruksaar Alam, the woman who just saved your pack from impending doom?”She answered with her eyebrows raised. "Anyways, I was just here to let you know that your pack members are all packed up and ready to go. They're asking for a time."
"Damn it!" I collapsed on my bed, hands pressed to my temples in a vain attempt to lower the throbbing.
"You know," Ruksaar said, leaning against the doorjamb with her arms crossed over her chest. "Our pack wasn't formed like any other normal pack; it was formed because Mink gave each one of us the strength and support we needed to stay alive. We've lived here for a long time, come to consider this as our home. We can no more uproot ourselves than can your pack. And Mink is still the pillar that's holding us all together."
"So what are you suggesting?" I snapped, my head starting to pound again. "That I abandon all my duties and stay here all my life?"
“And yet, you want her to do just that for you.” Her voice was calm but sharp. “Mink and I are only sixteen years apart, Rhys. I know her better than you or anyone ever could, but in this decision, I can’t pick sides. Whatever Mink decides, I’ll support her.”
“If you’re trying to tell me something, I don’t get it.” I told her frankly. At this moment, my head was full of thoughts and emotions that were all jumbled up. What I really needed was a good night’s sleep and a very long vacation.
"I'm trying to tell you that if you really care about Mink, then you'll find a way to keep her by your side, no matter what. But you will also understand that Mink is an Alpha, just like you are and she has the same responsibilities and restrictions that you do, if not more. There is no your way or the highway in this case, so find a damn middle ground and be happy with it." With that, Ruksaar left my room.