You Have Always Been Mine

Chapter 18 - Honor part 3

Ardghal growls, resentful, but allows himself to be pried away from sustaining him with strength. Max’s calm conviction is catching, and his wolf understands who their priority is.

As the alpha regains control of the match and Max feigns to struggle, the older man’s confidence returns, and he laughs as he forces the younger man’s arm down. The spectators cheer as their Alpha wins---something they were expecting but was starting to fear was not going to happen---and even their Luna howls with joy. Probably with relief as well, although she easily hides it.

Ignoring the taunts of his peers, Max sighs and offers to shake the winner’s hand.

Alpha Timothy stares at his hand before accepting it, smiling tightly at him. He then turns to his men and boasts about pretending to be at a disadvantage, to give the pup the illusion that he might actually win. He agrees it is not quite a fair fight, but the ambitious pup needed to be taught a lesson and put in his place once and for all.

Ardghal growls 'buffoon' under his breath. They both know Timothy is just trying to save face. Of course everyone is lapping it up. No one would admit, not even under the pain of torture, that for a second there, they were all starting to worry because the possibility of Max beating the Alpha, even just in arm wrestling, is too weird, too unbelievable... too out-of-this-world for them to fathom.

Max would bet his entire savings that if he had won, they would have still found a way to explain it in a way that makes their Alpha look good. They would have said that Timothy lost on purpose so that Max would get that specials training with Beta Collins. They would praise the Alpha’s benevolence and think their leader is just humoring the pack's mutt. Instead of a win, Max’s victory would be tainted by the label 'CHARITY CASE'.

Luna Grace embraces Max, tapping his cheek fondly, her eyes saying what she cannot say out loud, for they both know the truth. Timothy had bitten off more than he could chew and was about to lose—would have lost, if Max hadn’t chosen to do the right thing.

Thank you.

“Is there something I should know, Max? Something you ought to have told me?” Alpha Timothy asks as the others start to return to their posts, including Beta Collins.

Max stiffens. “No, sir.”

The alpha stares at him for a long time, most likely trying to read his mind. Max wonders if he can sense Ardghal now, but his wolf assures him that his mind is protected by walls that cannot be breached.

He can see it in the alpha’s eyes. The frustration building, mixed with curiosity and disbelief. Oh, and fear too. Fear of the unknown. Perhaps, at the moment, he is even wondering if he did the right thing, allowing Max to be in such close proximity to his precious daughter.

Alpha Timothy sighs and looks away. “This will be our last match, boy,” he tells Max. “I have indulged you in this amusing little tradition of ours for a long time, but soon you will no longer be a child, and I have my family to protect. I’ll be too busy when I return anyway. In any case, the territory has grown and it won’t be easy to manage her. The river might break her walls but it will take more than brute force to bring down the fort and claim the land.” His expression lightens up and then he glances at Max pointedly and smirks. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”

Max nods. He understands what the alpha is telling him. While he is not willingly giving him permission to court his daughter, he is silently acknowledging who the true winner in this match is, but he is also saying it is now out of his hands. It’s up to Max now. Ginny is young but she’s not going to be easy to win over.

It doesn’t matter. Max will just have to find another way. He looks up at the window where Ginny was standing before. She’s no longer there.