by Noah Harris
Dante grunted. “Okay, but you didn’t want this very much, did you?”
“How upset would you be if I were to say no I didn’t?” Noah asked with a wince.
Dante laughed. “About as upset as you were when you found out I was choosing to be with Liam and not you.”
Noah gave a deep sigh. “My whole life, I’ve been told what to do, and reminded constantly of what’s expected of me. From the type of training I received, to my education off the battlefield, even what type of food and drink I should consume. Everything in my life was arranged to make me a paragon of our sept, the leader of a pack that would be remembered and honored for generations. The only saving grace in my own mind, was that I would one day lead my own pack, choose my own mate, and be free of the constraints of my family.”
“And then came the day when you were told it had been arranged for you to have me as a mate,” Dante finished.
Noah gave a low growl of frustration. “I was never consulted, never asked, never given so much as a clue. Just told that you would be my mate when you came to full age, and that was that. It was for the good of our septs, and it went without question that I would agree for the greater good. What could I say to that? I was furious for a long time, having that one choice taken away from me. I’d held onto it for so long, even as the sept continued to dictate what happened within my pack.”
“Neither of us were given much of a choice in this. I was still a kid when they arranged it. At the time, I didn’t really understand what they were setting me up for, but I guess that’s a good thing. It’s not like they were really going to explain the full details to a kid. To them, it was enough that I learned what they felt was right and waited until I was older to explain it,” Dante said.
Noah gestured at him emphatically. “And they call it an honor!”
Dante nodded. “That’s how they always tried to make it sound to me. Like, because I came from a prestigious background, I should consider having my future decided for me to be an honor. I always felt more like a prize, a shiny piece of art to be handed off for display, than honored.”
Noah snorted, a strangely harsh noise from the dignified man. “I remember being so angry about it as well. For so long, I was angry with you, a man I hadn’t even met yet. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t your fault any more than it was mine. It wasn’t until one of our Elders told me the story of your pack that I understood you were just as helpless as I was. I resolved at that moment, that I would never punish you when it was apparent you were being punished as much as I was. The mistakes of those who came before are paid by those who come after.”
Dante had never seen the other man so animated and irritated. It brought a whole new life to his face, enhancing his handsome features. He couldn’t help but think that if Noah had showed this much passion before, things might have turned out a little differently. Perhaps he wouldn’t have strayed away from Noah’s presence if he’d seen this much heat in the man early on. The idea of never having talked to Liam and discovering their shared bond turned his stomach, and he shoved the thought away with a grimace. There was no point in wondering about what could have been.
“You know, I really got the feeling you either didn’t know how to treat the loss of my family, or you were just indifferent to it,” Dante admitted in a rush.
Noah paused. “Is that the impression I gave?”
“Yeah, but I’m guessing from the look on your face right now, that’s not what you meant to do,” Dante said.
“No, that’s not what I wanted at all. I felt that you had probably known enough grief over the loss of your family and didn’t need old wounds dragged to the surface by a man you barely knew. It was bad enough, in my mind, that you had to endure being treated like a prize animal. It would have been worse for me to force myself on you and into your life. Your past was yours, and I didn’t wish to impose upon your memories,” Noah told him quietly.
Dante squinted at him, smiling slightly. “Does your pack and sept know you’re this sweet under all those manners and confidence?”
Noah blinked, then laughed softly. “It is, admittedly, not a side of myself I frequently advertise. Our people value stoicism, and extreme emotions are either to be denied or expressed quietly around a very few trusted individuals.”
Dante realized he was still holding Noah’s hand and let go. “I have to say, you should show this side of you more often. It’s easier to see you as a person when you get mad about stuff, rant, and act genuinely sweet. It looks good on you.”
Noah chuckled, using his now free hand to nervously rub his shoulder. “You’re too kind. Perhaps one day, I’ll be able to have someone in my life that I can share that side of myself with completely. It would be nice.”
Dante smiled. “Well, if our septs remain allies, you’re always free to find me and vent whenever you want.”
Noah frowned. “Don’t you worry about our septs. As I said, they cannot rightly be angry over Gaia’s decision overriding their own. You’ve done nothing wrong. More importantly, the Elders of my sept won’t ruin an alliance that has served to help us more than any war ever did. I will make sure of it personally, if need be.”
“You know, I feel like you actually would. You kind of have a new air about you, though I don’t know if that’s just because we’re alone and talking like real people for the first time or not,” Dante mused.
Noah looked thoughtful. “It’s a little sad, isn’t it? That this is the first time you and I have simply…been ourselves around one another. Now, when everything we were told would happen falls apart. It seems almost poetic.”
“I don’t think they’ll be writing any poems about this one,” Dante said with another laugh.
“They love writing poems about fated pairs. I’m sure you and Liam will one day find your way into a poem or song,” Noah said.
Dante laughed again, the idea of his name being immortalized in a song passed through the generations sounded absurd to him. It was the first laugh he’d had since he and Noah started talking that felt genuine. He’d been so worried about how Noah would take the revelation, and now that worry felt absurd. Noah had deserved more credit than that, and perhaps Dante should have realized that the Joining might have been the angle he should have used from the beginning.
“I guess I dragged all of this out longer than I needed to, huh?” Dante asked.
Noah shrugged lightly. “Perhaps, but I can’t say I blame you. You’ve spent most of your life knowing you were expected to become my mate, and I yours. Then suddenly, something comes along that you cannot help and throws those expectations into the dirt.”
“Huh, going from one situation where I’m expected to be with someone and have no say, and into another just like it,” Dante noted.
Noah shook his head. “Sounds the same, but from what I hear, it’s far more pleasant when Gaia chooses your mate for you.”
Dante grinned at that. “Now that I can attest to. It’s far better than when a bunch of old guys throw you at someone and hope you stick.”
“That might have better results than what they’ve managed so far,” Noah said dryly.
“Oh look, and he’s got a sense of humor too! Got any other personality traits you’ve been hiding away?” Dante asked with a cheeky grin.
Noah returned the smile. “Perhaps, and perhaps one day you might even find them. As, no matter what has happened so far, I still wish to remain friends with you.”
Dante brightened, pleasantly surprised. “Really?”
“Of course. Whatever you might think, I’m happy to see that you managed to escape this arrangement and find something that makes you far happier. You’ve been a joy to be around, especially in those moments when you let your guard down and allow your true self to shine through,” Noah told him.
“You know, people keep saying that, even though I’ve usually got people like Brett treating me like a troublemaker,” Dante said, a little amused.
“Brett is who he is: a man who values the rul
es and will always defend those he cares about. He sees things in black and white and will always regard anyone who falls outside the lines he’s drawn in his mind as a problem. That mindset serves us well in battle, but there’s a reason I do not take his advice on personal or political matters too closely to heart. He, and others like him, fail to see that the world needs people like you. People who are willing to step outside the box, even at the risk of getting into trouble. People like you are the reason we grow and change as a people, otherwise we would be completely locked in our old ways and stagnate,” Noah said easily.
Dante blinked, a little taken aback. “I’ve…never heard anyone say anything like that about me before.”
Noah smiled. “Well, now you have. I can see where you and Liam would complement one another in that regard. From what little I’ve heard, he’s quite the maverick, and an explorer. I have no doubt you will provide the bit of home that I bet he desperately craves, and he can expose you to the world. Perhaps one day, those things you see, you can bring back with you for the benefit of all. If not, well, I know you will at least be happy.”
“I’ll only accept your ridiculous number of compliments if you promise to not let the Elders of your sept make decisions for you as much anymore. Start with refusing to let them choose someone else for you to be mated with. I can step away from this knowing you’ll be the master of your own love story in the future,” Dante said.
Noah grinned. “I didn’t think I would ever say these words aloud, but you can bet they won’t be choosing anything for me without a fight on my part.”
Dante thrust his hand outward. “Sounds good to me. Friends then?”
Noah reached out, taking Dante’s hand in one of his own, and laying the other atop their clasped hands. “Most assuredly. I look forward to it. You’re a good man Dante, and you deserve to be happy.”
“And so do you, and don’t forget it or I’ll have to make a trip up to the mountains to remind you. Then you’re going to have to deal with me harping on you and having to listen to me bitch and moan about how cold it is. Nobody wants to have to deal with that. Trust me,” Dante promised him.
“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” Noah said.
Before Dante could let the smile on his face stretch to its full length, a strange noise caught his attention. The expression froze on his face as he instantly went on alert, trying to find the source of the noise. Belatedly, he realized it had been a raised voice, and a familiar one at that. It hadn’t sounded like fighting, but it certainly sounded angry.
Noah cocked his head. “Was that Elder Marrow I heard just now?”
“Shit,” Dante hissed as he turned and ran back to the clearing where he’d left Liam.
Chapter Eighteen
“You should be ashamed of yourself!” Elder Marrow’s words were clear to Dante’s ears as he ran, trying to get to them before the whole thing escalated again.
There was a reply Dante couldn’t make out the words to, but he caught that it was Liam speaking.
“After you were given the chance to remain a part of this sept, even after all the hell you raised here, this is how you choose to repay us? You have endangered everything with this little stunt of yours. Do you realize how much of our accord with the Sept of Stone’s Warden relies upon this arrangement? How dare you take our invitation to return and use it to upset everything we have worked for, that Dante himself has worked for! That man is meant for this honor, and you would come here to ruin that? Have you lost all respect for everything?” The Elder’s voice echoed with righteous anger.
“Goddammit, are you even listening to me right now? I already said it’s not like that!” Liam said, finally raising his voice to cut through Elder Marrow’s anger.
“Yet you don’t see fit to explain yourself,” Elder Marrow retorted.
“Because it’s none of your business,” Liam bit back.
“That doesn’t exactly entreat me into believing a word coming from your lips,” Elder Marrow replied.
Dante came to the edge of the clearing in time to see Liam throw up his hands in exasperation. “And when have you ever believed anything I’ve ever said? All of you, every single one of you godforsaken Elders, have treated me like a problem to be fixed for years now. Why the hell would I explain anything I do to any of you? You don’t care about me. You don’t even care about him. All you care about is that your precious plans with him go exactly the way you set them up years ago!”
Elder Marrow jabbed a finger in Liam’s direction. “Do not presume to know what we think or feel, Liam. You were given many chances when you were younger, and you threw all of them back in our faces. Even our willingness to keep you in the fold, even if it was at the outskirts, was still not enough for you. You won’t be happy until you’ve stomped on every rule and law we have.”
“The law isn’t meant to be a hammer, but you guys sure as hell like to wield it like one,” Liam growled at him.
“Enough! I will not stand here and defend mine or the other Elders’ decisions to someone who can’t appreciate the favors he’s been graciously given,” Elder Marrow barked.
Liam snorted derisively. “And what favors are those? The ones you gave me only because you had a last-minute feeling of guilt because you realized you guys didn’t do shit to help us? Did you realize that for all the orphans caused by the war, that maybe, just maybe you could have done more for us? Is that what I should be thankful for, that you realized you screwed up and maybe shouldn’t throw some kid out, a kid who was lost, scared, and hurting, out into the world without a rope to cling to?”
Elder Marrow’s face twitched. “That…”
Liam stepped forward. “Or should I be thankful that you invited me here? Thankful you did exactly what protocol said you should do. If you could have found a way to not let the troublemaking Loner back for your precious party to hand Dante off like a prized pony, Gaia knows you would have done so. The only thing you ever did for me, Elder, was make it so that one day, I could finally meet Dante. But don’t think that means you did anything for me.”
Elder Marrow drew himself up to his full height. “I’ve had enough of this. Blame us for your choices all you want, but it doesn’t change the damage you’ve done here today. I had thought you had finally grown beyond your needlessly destructive ways. But having been dragged from my bed to find you attempting to destroy an arrangement you knew full well was made to cement ties between once enemy septs, you leave me no choice.”
“What, are you finally going to do what you always wanted to do from the very beginning and kick me out totally now?” Liam asked defiantly, but Dante could see the slight tremble in his fingers.
Elder Marrow turned to Erik, who Dante hadn’t noticed until just then. “Fetch the other Elders, and a few of the Warriors. We will need them to remove him.”
That snapped Dante out of his shock, and he continued hurrying toward them. “Elder Marrow, stop!”
The Elder turned, an angry furrow to his brow. “You should be off attempting to fix things with your mate. Leave dealing with the mess you helped cause to me.”
Dante stopped beside Liam, resting his hand possessively at the Loner’s lower back. “He’s not a mess, and Noah isn’t my mate.”
Elder Marrow growled in obvious annoyance. “Enough of these games, Dante. It’s time you grew up and accepted your responsibility. You are meant to be with Noah as his mate, and a member of his pack. Your time for flings and enjoyable times has past. Leave Liam where he belongs.”
Dante growled back with increasing anger. “Stop talking about him like that. Noah can choose his own mate. And I’ve chosen mine.”
Elder Marrow’s expression froze. “You’ve chosen…what is this? You cannot possibly tell me that you are going to throw everything away, all for the sake of him?”
“I told you Elder, that’s what I’ve been telling you from the beginning. Your precious boy is choosing to spit in our faces for some piece of Loner trash,” Brett spat.
Brett snarled. “Try me, little boy.”
Noah appeared then, his hand clamping down on Brett’s shoulder. “I think you’ve done quite enough damage tonight, my friend. I advise that you follow Dante’s advice.”
Elder Marrow’s anger drooped as he turned to Noah. “Alpha Noah! I apologize for all this trouble. I promise you this will all be settled shortly and everything can continue as previously arranged.”
Noah shook his head. “No, Elder Marrow, I don’t believe it will. Dante’s choice has been made, and I honor it in its entirety. You have been admirable hosts, and we thank you for your hospitality. That being said, I do believe we have imposed on your hospitality long enough.”
Elder Marrow grew flustered. “I assure you, Alpha Noah, this is a momentary lapse in judgment. Dante will be set aright, and all will be well. There is no need to return to your sept so hastily.”
Noah smiled gently. “And I can promise you he is as right as he can be. I can also promise that my leaving is not a judgment upon you, or your sept. I came here for one thing, and I know now that will not be happening. I must return to my own sept and resume my duties. Our alliance continues and will not fall apart over a paltry matter such as this.”
Elder Marrow whirled on Dante, hissing. “Fix this!”
Noah caught Dante’s eye over Elder Marrow’s shoulder. “Perhaps you should tell the Elder what you told me. That little secret of yours might go a long way toward easing the tension.”
Dante blinked, confused for only a moment until he realized what Noah meant. Either he’d grown so used to the habit of not speaking about his True Bond with Liam, or it had slipped his mind after seeing Liam under attack. He flushed when he realized that, once again, he had allowed a situation to boil over because he hadn’t divulged that particular information.
He stared at Elder Marrow. “Elder, this isn’t a fling. It isn’t me causing trouble, and it’s not Liam being destructive. A few days after he showed up in the sept, I experienced the Joining with him.”