My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"Who did Greta threaten?" Graeme asked skeptically.

"Violet," Lucas answered.

What the hell did Violet do for Greta to threaten to kill her? That wasn't like Greta at all.

Having the Alpha bloodline and being Graeme's twin, Greta was aware that she was an overpowered lycan. Even when she was putting others in their place physically, which was not unheard of but not entirely common either, she never used the full extent of her strength. She always held back. The caring, nurturing spirit of a healer alway dominated her actions. And the pack only respected her more for it.

Greta was beloved.

Was the pregnancy really controlling her emotions so much that she had overreacted and threatened to kill someone? It was not likely, which meant Violet must have done something truly reprehensible to deserve it.

Right as Graeme was wondering this, Finn shifted nervously in the periphery of his vision, and Graeme narrowed his eyes.

"Finn?" Graeme acknowledged the movement that had drawn his attention.

"Y-yes, Alpha?" Finn swallowed nervously.

"Why did Greta threaten Violet?" Graeme asked.

August's eyes went wide. Oh, no. Violet and Finn. She had seen the two of them in the woods the previous night, and she had not said anything. Was that a preclude to something that happened today? What had Violet been up to? What if August could have prevented it?

Graeme felt recognition dawn on his mate from where she was behind him, and now he was just desperate to talk to her. She obviously knew something that she couldn't share in front of these males, and he needed to check her over. And hold her. And feel the center of his universe align with her in his arms.

Finn's face changed color like August's often did when she was embarrassed.

"I want to talk to you later," Graeme ground out, his eyes on the young lycan. He didn't want to embarrass Finn, because he had a feeling now that he knew what happened, and the way Lucas was smirking was reinforcing that theory.

A small pang of regret and annoyance flared in Graeme's chest. He had put a lot of responsibility on Finn when he left, and it wasn't exactly fair.

Finn was young and naive, and Graeme had only given him the job of following August around as an additional precaution. To Finn, it was a huge opportunity to prove himself to the male he had always followed around like a puppy and looked up to. But to Graeme, Finn was a convenient backup should something go wrong that Greta and Sam missed.

Maybe Graeme had even taken advantage of the young lycan's admiration. Without knowing what training Finn had received at the council, Graeme couldn't fault him for his mistakes… especially if there was a female working on his baser instincts.

The whole situation felt too familiar.

"Of course, Alpha," Finn replied, his face drawn and eyes downcast.

"For those of you who put your hands on my mate," Graeme's voice dropped to its threatening puttering growl once again. "Remember my mercy today, because you will not receive it again. Leave us."

The males all slowly rose still with wide, disbelieving eyes. What had just happened? Had their Alpha really just returned? The way he could control them with his presence and voice—causing them to submit with how heavy the dread of his displeasure weighed on them—they had never experienced it before. It was as if, in this male's presence, their arrogance was forcefully shed.

As they turned to leave, Graeme growled once again. "Except. You."

Gunnar froze, somehow aware without looking that the Alpha's words were directed toward him. The words were like darts, and they hit their target.

The other males left the vicinity, disappearing once again into the trees from which they came. Finn and Lucas left as well, with Finn shooting an extra guilt-ridden glance back at Graeme and Lucas with a smirk plastered on his face.

"You were dragging her," Graeme snarled at the remaining male. "My mate. Through the mud."

Gunnar's eyes were lowered in submission, but he was keenly aware of every movement Graeme made as the larger male loomed dangerously over him. Graeme swallowed slowly, his tongue audibly rolling around the idea of ripping Gunnar's throat out.

The male started trembling involuntarily. It was horrifying to be in the Alpha's presence much less the focus of his rage. He truly had no idea.

"Yes," Gunnar admitted.

"You pinned her to the ground," Graeme snarled again through bared teeth.

Gunnar squeezed his eyes shut. He could hear it in the Alpha's voice. He was not going to survive today.

"Do you have a mate?" Graeme asked now.

Gunnar's eyebrows pinched together. Yes, he did have a mate. A mate who he would do anything to protect. A mate who would die of heartbreak if he were to be killed today. He had failed her.

The male didn't have to answer for Graeme to understand the reaction he had to the question.

"And if someone dragged her through the mud? Pinned her down? Threatened her when you weren't there to protect her?"

Gunnar felt the hypothetical situation like a kick to his chest.

"When you disrespect this female, you disrespect me. You disrespect this pack and its history. And you disrespect the Moon Goddess. Do you understand?" Each word was slow and deliberate, dropping with the weight of a powerful male who was restraining himself from bloodshed.

"Yes, Alpha," Gunnar replied shakily. The last word slipped out unintentionally. It was instinct. But now that it was out, Gunnar would have repeated it with his fullest intention as to its meaning, because it was clear to him now.

Everything in Gunnar's being was aware that this male looming over him with murderous intent—his posture, his scent, the heavy weight of his words—was his Alpha. His pack's Alpha. The one they had all been needing so desperately but never expected to finally arrive. He would have cheered if he wasn't convinced that he was about to die at that Alpha's hands.