You Have Always Been Mine

Chapter 17 - Honor part 2

Max meets the alpha’s eyes and realizes he can do it.

He can actually beat the alpha in arm wrestling this time. Show all these bullies and everyone who had ever looked down on him that they are wrong and they should be bowing down before him instead. Finally, with his wolf by his side, his luck has changed. The Moon Goddess has truly blessed him!

It nearly brings tears in his eyes.

He glances up at the sky. Clear and blue, the moon still hours away from showing herself. He will have to thank her later. As his gaze falls back to the match before him, he catches something in the corner of his eyes. Ginny, at the window of the floor above them, watching them. Her gaze anxious as she stares at her father who appears to be struggling.

When their eyes meet, she gives him a confused look, her expression hurt and a little angry, as if she can’t understand why he’s determined to humiliate her father in front of his men.

‘Wait…’ he tells his wolf who snarls at him in frustration. ‘It’s… not right.’

‘What the hell are you talking about!?’ his wolf growls. ‘We deserve this! This is our chance to officially win our mate’s hand! Why are you hesitating now!?’

‘It’s not right,’ he growls back. ‘The Alpha and Luna have always been good to us, especially to Mum, all these years. If he loses… I can’t—I can’t do this to him…’

‘You have got to be kidding me!’ his wolf snarls, turning against him in frustration. ‘He was going to do it to you! Humiliate you in front of everyone because you dared to lust after his daughter! I’m giving you the chance to prove to everyone present that we deserve our mate!’

The Alpha’s face is red as beets now, and he’s sputtering curses as he begins to tire, while Max remains as he was when they started. Even the Luna looks uneasy now, glancing nervously at Max but saying nothing. Her mate’s pride is at stake, after all, but she must remain on neutral ground since she has publicly encouraged this match be as fair as possible, given the circumstances.

The bloodlust in Max’s wolf is strong, he can feel it overwhelming everything else, defying everyone, and he knows with utter conviction that it would be so easy. So damn easy to take the win and seal his dominance. To finally gain rank and status, and get them all back for how they treated him all these years. For every insult, every mean joke, every condescending look that says he’s worth nothing. A win would prove he is stronger, more powerful now than their own Alpha.

He can even take over and lead the pack now, if he wanted to. For a moment, the idea was so tempting... so within his reach.

‘But at what cost?’ he whispers to himself as his conscience prevails.

He can almost see the ashen look on the Alpha’s face once he’s defeated. Timothy will be utterly humiliated, his reputation ruined by pup who is not even of age yet and who has no wolf (not that he knows of, at least), no rank, no good social standing...

And nothing to show for pedigree except a mother who taught him better than to hurt those who have been kind to them in their time of need.

His mother. Lettie would be so disappointed. She will not speak the words that would shame him for choosing what is easy and selfish, but one look and Max would feel that heavy weight of guilt.

Luna Grace, who is all that is kind and fair to them, would be devastated, sharing the shame of her mate’s defeat. And Ginny…

Oh Goddess, Ginny would hate him for the rest of their lives.

“...I will be devoted and love her unconditionally…” Max had vowed.

“Is that a promise?” The Moon Goddess had asked him.

It was.

The Moon Goddess had favored him with a wolf because he promised to be devoted to his mate. To love her and never hurt her intentionally. Max glances up at Ginny again, who is chewing on her nails. Beside her, Max’s mother appears, asking Ginny what is going on. She then looks out of the window and sees the scene, understanding everything with one sweep and frowning as she looks at Max. Very subtly, she shakes her head.

‘I have to lose…’

‘WHAT!?’

‘If we’re going to win Ginny's heart, I have to throw this match.’

‘You’re not making any sense!’

But he is. He is certain of that now. Because If Max loses, he just goes back to being the same loser he has been all these years. A small sacrifice compared to the devastation he could wreak if he follows his primitive urge.

Nothing much will change, really. Sure, they’ll rough him up for a few days, and he’ll have to endure snipes and sneers from the usual people, but he’s used to that, and after a bit they’ll get bored and soon enough forget about his miserable existence again. He’ll be set back another year with formal training but he can just continue exercising at home or outside.

With regards to Ginny, it’s not really a big issue since she won’t be ready to take a mate until she’s of age anyway. He has waited all these years, he can wait for a few more.

However, if Max beats him, Alpha Timothy stands to lose everything. No matter how loyal the pack is to him, word of his defeat will spread and reach the other packs, the other leaders. It will be a disaster of epic proportions, a PR nightmare for him and the whole pack. Max could take over the leadership but he’s young, with very little experience, textbook knowledge only. He would end up destroying the pack businesses that support so many families reliant on the Alpha and Luna's good management. He has no allies, no friends… and judging by the look on Ginny’s face, no mate if he ruins her father.

That seals the deal for him.

Slowly but surely, Max begins to pull away his strength, gently leading his wolf away from the match.

‘It’s okay…’ he whispers, calming his wolf's bloodlust with his quiet conviction. ‘It’s not our time yet.’