conversation with me about my supposed mate before you made the announcement in front of the entire shifter leadership community?”
The man appeared nonplussed at my outburst. “The decision had been made months ago. Markus was fully aware of it, and as we discussed yesterday with you when you made your intention to take the alpha claim, that responsibility now falls to you.”
“You said it had been discussed.” Inside, I seethed, but I had to keep my cool. Otherwise, I was pretty certain I’d phase and tear the man limb from limb. “You didn’t say who the chosen mate was, and you most definitely didn’t say when this was all happening.”
“It was already decided,” Doc Walden repeated. “The announcement would have the fullest impact done here at the Summit. It is what Mr. Reddon was expecting as well. I’m sorry that we weren’t clearer on the matter with you, but the deal was done.”
“The deal was not done,” I said. “There was much more I had to discuss on the matter.”
“I supposed this reaction of yours has to do with Ms. Lene?” Doc Walden shook his head. “You don’t think that the council is well aware of your affections toward the girl? You should be thankful that we saved you before you did something monumentally stupid that affected all of us.”
“I will choose my own mate,” I said, my voice dropping an octave. My bear was right there below the surface. “I will not have her chosen for me.”
“We need a peace treaty with the Lopers, and we need a strong bloodline for the future of the clan,” Doc Walden said. His voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Lukas, use your head. We haven’t had time to brief you fully yet, but you know that there has been an uptick in violence between our clans.”
“There has been bad blood between us and the Lopers since day one. That isn’t going to change just because I mate the Loper alpha’s daughter,” I said. “This goes beyond that, and we both know it. It’s a full culture shift toward collaboration and mutual respect, two things that don’t exist right now.”
“Exactly!” Doc Walden stepped closer to me. “And the way in to give us the path to that end is a match between our two clans. And it couldn’t be just any match. It had to be at the alpha level for it to be meaningful and significant. They will listen to us now. We’re aligned at the highest level. What we’re going to be able to accomplish during the next five days of the Summit will be unprecedented. Lukas, you will be at the forefront of all of it. You will be able to do things that Markus was never able to achieve. The Lopers have strength in numbers, and this match brings all of them to the table willing to collaborate and listen to you.”
I hated to admit it, but I knew that he was right. “There has to be another way,” I said. “I’m not ready for this mating business, and definitely not for someone that I didn’t pick for myself.”
“Vivian Reddon is one of Washington State’s brightest attorneys. She’s been to the Supreme Court arguing on equality issues for shifters. She’s well-respected in the community and has a loyal following of her own that will do whatever she asks. She’s a formidable woman who also happens to be gorgeous and willing to mate you despite your reputation because she sees the benefit of this union as well. A Kasper-Reddon match would mean that shifters everywhere will feel the strength of the union of the two most powerful clans. They will see that we are being taken seriously everywhere.”
It was an argument that was designed to work on my brother, but even I could see the inherent logic in it. It made perfect sense, but it didn’t make sense for me. My heart would never be in it because it had already been claimed long ago.
As he sensed the reason for my hesitation, he added, “Every great leader faces sacrifice, Lukas. If you must bed her to get her out of your system, then do it. But your brother
The man appeared nonplussed at my outburst. “The decision had been made months ago. Markus was fully aware of it, and as we discussed yesterday with you when you made your intention to take the alpha claim, that responsibility now falls to you.”
“You said it had been discussed.” Inside, I seethed, but I had to keep my cool. Otherwise, I was pretty certain I’d phase and tear the man limb from limb. “You didn’t say who the chosen mate was, and you most definitely didn’t say when this was all happening.”
“It was already decided,” Doc Walden repeated. “The announcement would have the fullest impact done here at the Summit. It is what Mr. Reddon was expecting as well. I’m sorry that we weren’t clearer on the matter with you, but the deal was done.”
“The deal was not done,” I said. “There was much more I had to discuss on the matter.”
“I supposed this reaction of yours has to do with Ms. Lene?” Doc Walden shook his head. “You don’t think that the council is well aware of your affections toward the girl? You should be thankful that we saved you before you did something monumentally stupid that affected all of us.”
“I will choose my own mate,” I said, my voice dropping an octave. My bear was right there below the surface. “I will not have her chosen for me.”
“We need a peace treaty with the Lopers, and we need a strong bloodline for the future of the clan,” Doc Walden said. His voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Lukas, use your head. We haven’t had time to brief you fully yet, but you know that there has been an uptick in violence between our clans.”
“There has been bad blood between us and the Lopers since day one. That isn’t going to change just because I mate the Loper alpha’s daughter,” I said. “This goes beyond that, and we both know it. It’s a full culture shift toward collaboration and mutual respect, two things that don’t exist right now.”
“Exactly!” Doc Walden stepped closer to me. “And the way in to give us the path to that end is a match between our two clans. And it couldn’t be just any match. It had to be at the alpha level for it to be meaningful and significant. They will listen to us now. We’re aligned at the highest level. What we’re going to be able to accomplish during the next five days of the Summit will be unprecedented. Lukas, you will be at the forefront of all of it. You will be able to do things that Markus was never able to achieve. The Lopers have strength in numbers, and this match brings all of them to the table willing to collaborate and listen to you.”
I hated to admit it, but I knew that he was right. “There has to be another way,” I said. “I’m not ready for this mating business, and definitely not for someone that I didn’t pick for myself.”
“Vivian Reddon is one of Washington State’s brightest attorneys. She’s been to the Supreme Court arguing on equality issues for shifters. She’s well-respected in the community and has a loyal following of her own that will do whatever she asks. She’s a formidable woman who also happens to be gorgeous and willing to mate you despite your reputation because she sees the benefit of this union as well. A Kasper-Reddon match would mean that shifters everywhere will feel the strength of the union of the two most powerful clans. They will see that we are being taken seriously everywhere.”
It was an argument that was designed to work on my brother, but even I could see the inherent logic in it. It made perfect sense, but it didn’t make sense for me. My heart would never be in it because it had already been claimed long ago.
As he sensed the reason for my hesitation, he added, “Every great leader faces sacrifice, Lukas. If you must bed her to get her out of your system, then do it. But your brother
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