CHAPTER 64: GET IT TOGETHER

Ares pushed open the door to his office and stepped inside, the clean lines of the space doing nothing to settle the unrest clawing through him. He began pacing, slow and restless, each step echoing in the quiet room. What has come over me? He thought, dragging a hand through his hair. His chest tightened as fragments of the dining hall replayed in his mind. Rhea’s defiant stare, the way his wolf had surged forward at any hint of defiance from her.

He exhaled sharply and sank onto the sofa in the corner. It creaked under his weight. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, fingers pressed against his temples.

He should feel nothing for her. They had rejected each other. Their connection was supposed to be severed. That should have been the end. Yet something inside him tugged every time she challenged his authority. Instead of anger, he felt something disturbingly close to... interest. Even a spark of satisfaction. Why does it seem like I enjoy it when she defies me? he wondered. Is her ridiculous plan actually working? All her attention seeking antics... why does it seem like they are getting to me?

Conflicted heat curled in his stomach. His wolf was agitated, pacing in his mind, demanding attention he refused to give.

With a low groan he pushed himself up from the sofa and crossed the room. He sat behind his desk, lowering himself into the heavy chair. His fingertips tapped absently against the carved wolf head on the armrest, the familiar grooves grounding him slightly.

A sudden frown pulled at his brow. He felt someone outside the door a second before the knock came. He already knew who it was and irritation rippled through him. He was not in the mood.

"Come in," he said reluctantly.

The door opened. Eberhard stepped inside first, broad shoulders stiff with indignation. Nikki followed close behind, her chin lifted defensively. Just beyond the doorway, Seraphine and her daughters stood waiting. Nikki shut the door behind her with a sharp snap.

Eberhard wasted no time. "Alpha, what was that all about back there? How could you let that wench insult and disgrace you in front of the entire pack and let it slide?"

Ares closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaustion weighing down his limbs. He was drained. He wanted silence. He wanted a bit of alone time. Instead, he got the Krolls, who lately seemed determined to test his patience. He was starting to see what Ellie saw. Eberhard and Nikki never let anything rest. They craved retribution from Rhea constantly, as if she lived purely to offend them.

Nikki stepped forward. "Yes, Alpha," she said, picking up where her father left off. "Why did you let her get away with what she did earlier? It is unlike you. Now the pack might start looking down on me."

Ares lifted his head, eyes narrowing. "Looking down on you?"

Nikki pouted, nodding earnestly. "Yes. Nobody will respect me again after what happened at breakfast."

Ares stared at her, baffled. "How does Rhea’s disrespect toward me have anything to do with you?"

Nikki froze, caught off guard. Her lips parted, but no sound came.

Ares leaned forward. "I am the one she disrespected, yet somehow you believe you will be the one disrespected in the pack? Explain that to me."

Her eyes darted to the floor. "As your chosen mate, any disrespect toward you affects me too."

Ares went still. "Chosen what?" he asked, voice sharp with disbelief. "Since when did I choose you as my mate?"

Nikki’s face drained of color. She stuttered, her voice trembling. "I thought... I thought..."

Ares turned his gaze to Eberhard. "What is going on? How did your daughter come up with the idea that I chose her as my mate?"

Eberhard’s eyes snapped to Nikki in a furious glare. She shrank under it, face burning red with shame.

"I thought... I thought..." she repeated helplessly, hands twisting anxiously.

"Enough," Eberhard barked. "Not one more word from you."

Nikki flinched.

Eberhard turned to Ares and bowed his head. "My apologies, Alpha. Please excuse us. My unruly daughter needs to be taught a lesson for speaking out of turn."

"Father," Nikki protested, panic rising in her voice.

"Follow me, this instant!" Eberhard snapped. He turned sharply and strode to the door.

Nikki hesitated for half a second, then hurried after him, fear flickering in her eyes.

Ares watched the door close behind them, incredulous. He let out a long breath, rubbing his forehead. "What has come over her?" he muttered. "Chosen mate..."

He snorted. Then chuckled.

"Chosen mate," he repeated under his breath. "How on earth did she imagine I would mate with someone who cannot think past her own nose?"

He chuckled again, shaking his head at the sheer absurdity of it. He leaned back in his chair, eyes lifting to the ceiling, a disbelieving smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Impossible. Chosen mate my foot. I would rather mate with Rhea."

He sat up straight the moment the words left him. Now where had that come from? he thought. Why would he even consider mating with the daughter of the man responsible for his parents’ deaths?

Still, the thought refused to fade. If anything, it sank deeper, stubborn and persistent.

But why does it seem like it does not matter? Why does the idea of mating her feel...

"I need to get myself together," Ares cut off his own thought, scrubbing a hand across his jaw. He pushed away from the desk and strode to the small fridge in the corner of his office. He pulled out a bottle of water, twisted the cap, and drank deeply, letting the cold settle the heat swirling in his chest.

He lowered the bottle and placed it back inside the fridge.

Suddenly, Rhea’s face flooded his memory. Her expression. Her tone. Her complete lack of fear.

And that bum short she had been wearing earlier... it stirred something in him he would never admit out loud. A hot pull in his stomach. A tightening in his chest. A distraction he had no business feeling.

He shook his head hard. "Get it together, Ares," he muttered.

Just then, a knock came at the door.