Chapter 184: Confrontation

Chapter 184: Confrontation

Bernard

All eyes were on me as I passed the threshold into Ronald's Pack. They stared out at me through the flaps of their tents or as they set cooking scraps of meat over a small fire. Their expression told me everything that I needed to know, they were terrified of me and knew why I came, they couldn't have been aware of the reasons but they knew that it wasn't a good sign. I was proud of that and tried not to let it puff my chest out too much but it was very difficult.

The power over this land is mine and the thought that I had this much effect on other packs was great. Especially now when my anger was burning through every vein of my body. It tickled the hairs on my arms and neck and coated my skin in an invisible film of armor. I am not going to let Ronald get away with this. Elena had almost died, she still wasn't out of the woods yet but I trusted Lima's abilities.

Jasper and a few other wolves prowled behind me, their eyes constantly alerted to any sudden movement. I knew that this Pack wouldn't pull any tricks while they were in my territory but I also thought that Ronald respected my leadership and opinion. His actions went against all that we had agreed upon. The goodwill between our two Packs was now gone, only remnants of our conversation distant in my mind.

A few warriors stepped up to our side but they didn't stop us on our way. They wouldn't dare and I could see it in their eyes. They were frightened yet confused about why I was there. Of course, they knew it was serious and that they had to protect their Alpha at all costs but they wouldn't dare attack another Alpha. Not when I have yet to make any real threat towards Ronald. That would change very quickly.

I found Ronald at the far end of the encampment, his stance outside his tent was indifferent and unpredictable. That was odd since he should know exactly why I was here. If by any chance he found out that he would soon…..

"Bernard, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

His voice was tight and almost scratchy as he forced the words out. I wanted to rip his throat from his neck and pluck out his beady little eyes. But that was simply my wolf talking and not the Alpha of my Pack. I wanted revenge for my mate, though he wasn't the one who had touched her, that was Nicholas's doing. But Nicholas can't pull that on his own without Ronald's help, he is smart and methodical. That's why he was the Beta for so long before he was exiled. There was no way anyone would help him sneak back into the pack unless they held a grudge as well. Ronald fit the bill, he detested me because of Helen, and I understood that he was protecting his daughter.

It was her own fault and his too, Ronald was responsible for Helen's actions and what happened after. Not to mention that they took Nicholas in with wide-open arms because I had exiled him. They were kind to a man that had betrayed me with the pretense that they were being kind to another wolf. Now I know exactly what they were planning.

"Cut the shit, Ronald. You know why I am here."

Having Jasper right behind me helped keep my wolf in check, Ronald shrugged.

"I really have no clue, we were having a wonderful morning though. Would you care to join us?"

"Fuck off with the pleasantries. I knew you helped Nicholas sneak back into my Pack."

His gaze tightened and he made eye contact with some of his warriors that tensed up and curled their fingers. He cleared his throat and remained calm.

"I don't know what you are talking about. We took Nicholas in, yes and you knew that. We wanted to give him a new Pack, I hate the sight of a lone wolf wandering all alone. It was cruel, so I welcomed him. He might have worked his way up to a great warrior or leader but he disappeared.* He shrugged as though it had no effect on him.

"We tried to make him feel at home, to make the best out of the situation but obviously that didn't work out too well, did it?"

"I know you helped him, Ronald. Stop lying to me."

"Bernard, I am telling the truth. I have no reason to lie to you, Nicholas disappeared last week. We have no idea where he went, I thought he simply didn't agree with staying with us so he left on his own. I wasn't about to go after him, I didn't help him with any plot against you."

Okay, this was not getting us anywhere. I took two steps in order to come face to face with him, our nose almost touching. I heard the shift of the warriors trying to move in to protect their Alpha but Jasper and my men surrounded us so that we could not be reached.

"You think you are so smart and that you can get away with harming my mate, then you are wrong."

My voice is but a growl now, a distorted version of its normal husk. I need to keep myself calm or it could start a war between the packs but my wolf doesn't seem to care. It wants out and it wants Ronald's throat. He didn't waste any time, he stared at me down and grunted.

"I already told you what happened, Bernard."

Now, I am pissed. My wolf's rage is what takes over, the edge of my vision is tainted red and the rumble in my chest is the growl of a wolf deranged by paranoia that its mate will die. My hand lashed out, nails shifting to claws. I grabbed Ronald by the neck and tugged him even closer.

"I can smell the lies on you."

Either I am crazy and he can see it or my anger is finally getting to him. His composure wavered and his brow twitched at my words.

"Bernard……."

"Enough lies!"

I dug my claws into his throat, just enough to puncture the skin and hear him cry out. I let go and sent him tumbling to the ground. I knew that my wolf was on the verge of revealing itself. If I allowed it to, it would slaughter the entire Pack but that's not what I wanted. I want peace but I also want justice. Ronald is alone on the ground, none of his warriors dare to get too close as my vibrating was too much for them. Even his wife hides in the room, only peeking out to look at us.

"I know what you have done, Ronald. I know Nicholas couldn't have done it on his own, he needed a pack and he wanted to rule over one. He wouldn't willingly become a lone wolf and I even branded him and that didn't matter to you, Ronald! I am not a fool, no matter how much you think I am."

He raised one hand but lowered it once more when he realized how badly he was shaking.

"No, I promise you, I didn't do anything. I wouldn't go against you, you allow us on your land to visit. Even though you took a mate other than my daughter, you still welcomed us. Why would I….."

"Because I rejected your daughter."

The truth tasted foul on my tongue and I sneered, clicking my tongue against my teeth to get rid of it. Helen was never a Luna material, especially with her crazy need for attention.

"Your family is all you care about, Ronald. You didn't care that I would lose my Pack or my mate. Actually, it worked in your favor. Without my bonded mate, I would be forced to mate with another since I couldn't wait for a mate that no longer existed. Your plans could have also killed me, either way, you would have won, right?"

"No, Bernard." He forced himself to stand on shaky legs and dust his pants off.

We were now surrounded by the entirety of his Pack. They wouldn't attack unless their Alpha gave clear orders to but if they tried to attack us, we were outmatched. We were stronger than any of them but I don't want any of that. I had to protect Elena from any more harm. If she had died, our last moment together would be arguing and being distant. I should have apologized sooner and held her a little closer. I was excited that she was potentially pregnant. Now with Nicholas, Ronald, and the threat of Mathew, it was good that she wasn't pregnant. It could have cost me everything, having her harmed like that and pregnant.


When we will be expecting in the future, I will make sure she is well protected and guarded. No one would harm her or our child and by then, Ronald wouldn't be an issue.

"Bernard, I……."

"Ronald, you have given me no reason to trust you. I forgave you for the lies and trickery that surrounded Helen and your family. But to harm my mate, to potentially have her killed. Tell me the truth and I will be merciful, tell me the truth or it will be war on your entire Pack." I threatened him.