The Alpha's Mate

Chapter 17

Presley's POV

When I had gotten home to see Charlie sleeping peacefully with his head resting on Mateo's chest, jealousy took over. I didn't know what to say calmly, so I took the best option—leaving until I was cooled down. Although I wanted to beat Mateo to smithereens right then and there, I knew that it would only do more harm than good anyway.

I trusted Mateo. At least I thought I did, and it made me begin to rethink the trust I had in him. He was one of my better translators of the pack, but I knew I could do without him. I knew I was thinking in frustration, and it seemed like it was ever building and never went away. I knew kicking Mateo out of my pack would hurt Charlie in many ways because Mateo had practically become his best friend since joining the pack. It would make our relationship that already was strained even more so, and I wanted to avoid that.

I let out a growl, slamming my fist into the punching bag for the umpteenth time. I didn't even know how to talk with my mate. Funny. I could lure anyone into my bed with me not even four months ago, but I struggled to have a conversation with Charlie.

I repeatedly slammed my fist into the sack until it broke off the chain. I was angry. At myself, at Mateo. He should know his boundaries with my mate. I sat down on the ground, trying to catch my breath.

I was just trying to keep the pack safe. In turn, I knew I wasn't making any attempt to make time for my mate, practically leading him in the arms of one of my trusted translators.

We should just kill him, better to ask for forgiveness later on. Ezekiel huffed.

You know that's a stupid idea, and I know that's a stupid idea. I inwardly rolled my eyes.

He was holding our mate, and he was breaking the pack law. He argued.

It's not pack law, Ezekiel... It's pack law if he forces Charlie into breaking our bond. Or if they both sleep together while one bears the mark of another. I got up to my feet, wiping the sweat off of my forehead.

They were sleeping together, though!

Not like that, you absolute moron. I picked up the sack, placing it in the corner of the gym.

It might as well have been that way. He harrumphed.

Sorry to break the news to you, but slumbering and fucking are completely different. If you weren't trying to fucking shift and take over right then, we probably would have been able to talk to Charlie, but no, you have to be the savage you've always been.

Do you expect less of me? Honestly, I didn't, he was angry, as was I, but there wasn't anything I could do about it anyway.

—

When I made it to my parent's house, my dad was the one who answered the door. It was now around 3 in the morning, and I knew I would never hear the end of it if my mom had answered the door. So I thanked the goddess when the old man opened the door.

"Fuck you doing here?" He glared, sleep present in his appearance. "Where's Charlie? Is everything okay?"

"I just need to stay the night. Then, we can talk about it tomorrow morning?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't ask too much further.

But to my shit luck, he wouldn't let that happen. "Or, we could talk about it now because you and I both know you're going to leave before the house wakes to do your perimeter run." I thought my mom was supposed to be this annoying, not my dad.

"I'm tired, I need sleep, I have to be up in like fourish hours." I grimaced, rubbing my temples, not wanting to do this right now.

"I've had less sleep before." He crossed his arms and lifted a brow. "How about you tell me, or you're just going to have to sleep on the porch swing tonight." He closed the door, so his head was now poking out of the door.