There was an awkward silence in my father’s office. He, his Beta, and his Beta’s son were all staring at me, awaiting my answer. “Beta Lucas, I have always loved and respected you as family. You have always worked hard, above and beyond, as a Beta to support our pack. Your son, however,” my eyes shifted to Brad, “made a choice to declare me as his mate before I could feel a bond. He tried repeatedly to foster a romantic, intimate relationship with me since I was very young. Too young.” I could feel the room filling with my father’s anger. I looked at him and tugged on his mind (mind linking is, so far, not my skill.)  

He met my gaze and I saw him calming down, although his facial expression was still filled with rage. “Dad, please.” I reminded him that he had given this responsibility to me. I looked again to my father’s Beta, “his behavior has not been a show of loyalty, and borders on treachery. Beta Lucas, I assure you that your place as Beta in this pack, and the trust we have in you, has not been tarnished by Brad’s actions as an individual.” 

Brad lowered his head, not in remorse, but in embarrassment and anger. Through gritted teeth he spoke, “I am the strongest of this pack after Alpha and my father. I deserve more than to be Beta. If not your bonded mate, your chosen mate!” He lifted his head and looked me in the eyes, “You don’t really think a female can be a pack’s Alpha, do you? You are just a girl, a Luna. I should be Alpha! This pack will falter and fail while you play pretend with your pathetic, common, mate...” 

Brad’s head snapped forcefully as Beta Lucas’ hand made contact with it. He grabbed his son by the collar and pulled him close, growling, “these are not the things I taught you, boy!” 

“Enough, Lucas,” my father interrupted with his command. Lucas put his son down, and lowered his head, apologizing for his outburst. Brad’s face was frozen in fear even as his shaking hands touched the reddening marks from where his father had grabbed him. He quickly regained control of his own breathing. 

“I have already chosen your punishment. Bradley James Duncan, you are assigned to the King’s Guard. You will leave tomorrow morning with the rest of those chosen. You are excused, Brad, to prepare and say goodbye.” I motioned him towards the door.  

“May I, Alpha?” Lucas asked. 

“Yes, of course. Go help your son prepare.” Dad nodded to Lucas. Once the pair had left and the door closed again, he turned his attention to me. “Jonny, I know that I have taught you to leverage mercy, but are you sure about this?”  

I pouted at my father momentarily. “Is it really mercy? He is going to get his ass handed to him in training.” Dad still didn’t look convinced. “I am giving him the time and space to grow. I most likely will not choose him as my Beta when the time comes, but I do think he deserves a chance to learn humility and service.” 

“Perhaps there is some wisdom in your decision,” dad conceded. “I guess I am not so grown that I can’t learn a lesson from my own daughter.” He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it off his forehead, in a self-soothing action, a response to having to calm his own anger. 

“Sooooo, Dad, about school?” I tugged on his sleeve, like I had when I was small, and gave him my most mischievous grin. 

“Yes, yes, my girl. You’ll be graduating this year and starting classes at BRCC for the summer semester. You’ll be commuting for the summer.” 

I rolled my eyes, “Dad, c’mon. You promised you’d let me have a little apartment.” 

He sighed heavily, “And I promised your mother to make the transition as slow as possible. Besides, now that you have your wolf, there’s so much more training to do before you go off.” 

I scrunched up my face and stuck my tongue out at him. “Ok, but I don’t have a car. How do I commute?” 

Dad didn’t answer right away, taking his time to amble to his desk and sit down. “Matthew, one of the wolves that have come to us recently. He commutes in order to attend class at BRCC. We’ll ask him to be your ride. In the fall, when you have a full schedule of classes, we’ll get you a little place. Your mother won’t be happy about it, but I think some independence will be good.” He nodded in agreement with himself. 

I bounced and squealed, running to Dad and giving him a hug, “Don’t worry, Daddy, I won’t let you down!” I practically danced out the door. 

“Jonquil!” he shouted, and I poked my head back in the door, “training grounds after lunch. Martin will be waiting for you.”