Chapter Thirty-one

Never in my life had I felt this much hatred towards someone. I couldn't say I hated him because, well, that would be a flat-out lie, but I did hate what he did.

"Can't believe this." I muttered to myself, "Really can't believe you could be so stupid."

Zane huffed beside me and once again ran his fingers through his hair. "I told you I'm sorry, ok."

"Sorry!" I scoffed. "Do you think that cuts it?"

"Fuck me."

"Cursing isn't going to help you."

"I told you I was sorry."

"And I told you I wished you were born without a tongue!" I turned on the chair to look at him. "Do you have any idea how much shit we are going to be in once we walk through those doors?"

His facial expression hardened. "I think I have more of an idea than you."

"Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you started spilling your guts to our parents last night!"

All night I had tossed and turned wondering why the hell he couldn't have just checked my bedroom! Wouldn't that be the first point of call if he was worried about me? Not his father and worse my mother!

Zane leaned closer to me. "I thought you were dead. I thought you had got yourself killed!" His fists clenched at his side.

"Well, clearly you overreacted," I clipped my words and kept what I really wanted to say to him silent. "How did you notice you couldn't find me anyway?"

That was the other question I had been chewing on all night. How had he noticed my link to the pack was missing? Why did he pick it up?

His eyes snapped away from me. "Just did."

"I wouldn't have noticed if your link to the pack disappeared." Perhaps it was mean to voice it, but it was the truth. Actually, when I thought about it, my link to the pack had been quieter than usual.

Zane remained quiet.

"For someone who loves to run their mouth, you have gone extremely quiet." I drummed my fingers on the armchair waiting for him to give me an answer.

Zane looked as if he wanted his father to step out of the office now and be ready for us which only told me one thing; he would rather face his father than answer my question.

"Hey." I grabbed his arm. "Answer the question."

Zane's eyes shot to my hand then slowly drifted up to meet my eyes. "I already did. Can't help it if you don't want to believe me."

He couldn't have…no, he wouldn't have…my mouth dropped open. "Have you been…have you been spying on me?"

I couldn't be outraged because I was in too much shock to believe it. Surely he wouldn't breach my privacy like that?

His lips tightened into a firm line, and he continued to remain silent.

"Zane, answer the question," I growled, my grip on his upper arm tightening. "Now."

Alpha Harris's office doors swung open. "I'm ready for both of you now." His voice was calm, empty of emotion.

Leaving the door open, he disappeared back into his office.

"Let's get this over with," Zane grumbled, getting up and walking in.

I, however, wasn't in such a hurry to follow. I knew we were going to get an ear bashing for lying, but that was nothing compared to what Zane was going to get once we were out of here.

Actually, when I come to think about it, Zane might get more of a bashing, then an ear bashing.

***

Alpha Harris’s lecture covered all the main points I had expected him to cover. The disappointment, the reaction the pack will have regarding our lies, and lastly, the subject that was covered in a lot of detail was, how we are going to proceed.

"Dad." Zane moved forward in his seat, speaking for the first time since we entered. "Isn't that enough for today?"

Alpha Harris's eyes narrowed, meeting Zane’s. "No, it isn't. Clearly, Zane, you don't understand the full seriousness of this situation."

"I've been listening," Zane fumed. "Haven't missed one of your points."

"Then you can sit back and listen to the rest."

"I think Allie and I got it all," Zane snapped. " We're to pretend like we are the fucking golden couple. Smile and be everyone's role model. Got it."

I suppressed my grin. Golden couple. As if.

"Do you know, son, how hard it is going to be to convince the pack that your mate is worthy of helping you lead them?" Alpha Harris’s eyes flickered to me, then back to Zane.

Well, that was a low blow. "Well, maybe I don't want to lead them!" I snapped back, feeling hurt by his words. Thank goodness for the bracelet, even if it was old. The last thing I needed was Zane in my head.

"See." Alpha Harris sighed and gestured a hand in my direction. "How do you expect the pack to take her in when she has had this attitude the whole time. She never steps up, she makes a habit of disconnecting from the pack, and if I might ask, when was the last time you sat through a whole pack meeting, Allie?"

The air in the study went from awkward to tight very quickly.

"I…um…" I chewed on my words. "I don't know." I finally spluttered, "But I never wanted this! I didn't ask for this!"

I didn't like the way he was implying I wanted this. I didn't want this. I didn't want them to even know!

"I'm not having this argument now." Alpha Harris rose from his armchair. "I'm done for the day. Until I decide on what to do next, Zane, you are in charge of keeping Allie safe. Do you understand? She doesn't leave your sight."

"WHAT!" I was outraged and jumped up. "Like hell I am having him following me around! Might I add, I'm not in trouble!"

"You have a blocker on your wrist, disconnecting you from the pack and your mate. You could be kidnapped, and not one of us would know, nor could you reach out to us. Whether you like to admit it or not, Allie, you are in trouble, and that is why Zane won't be leaving your side until it is removed."

And here I thought my day couldn't get any worse. I slowly dragged my eyes over to Zane.

"This is all your fault." I crossed my arms giving Zane daggers. "Happy now?"

Zane dragged himself up, brushing off the death look I was giving him. "Thrilled."

Well, that makes one of us.