The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 16

“I feel like I’m a broken record, but I’ll ask again. What is the plan, Dean?” Dad asked, leaning back in his chair, watching me with an intense glare.

“What makes you think I have a plan?”

“Dean,” Dad said, looking exasperated at me.

“Seriously, why should I have a plan for every little thing,” I argued.

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Dean, listen to me, you need to be ready for the fallout.”

“What fallout?”

He shook his head as he looked up at me. “You need to be prepared when Nicole’s crusade to lead her pack fails.”

I inwardly sighed and glanced up at the ceiling. Hoping whatever divinity was up there would lend me a hand. “Didn’t you just agree to help her?”

“Our laws are pretty black and white when it comes to the ways a challenge can be made. Maybe, just maybe, if her father hadn’t given the pack to her brother we could’ve found some room to breathe, but he did. So thus you need to be ready for the fall out Dean. I take it she didn’t take the news of her brother’s take over very well, and I expect she will receive the reality of this situation even harder.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I said, getting angrier. “Why did you agree to help if there is no way she can take the pack back?”

“You saw, I tried to warn her. Nicole didn’t want to listen when I tried to warn her. If I refused once again, I’d be the evil alpha and right now, I don’t see where playing the part again would help either of you. Which brings me back to my question, what is your plan, Dean?”

I shrugged with a sound that was both a mix of a growl and a sigh.

“Dean, this isn’t something you can bullshit through, here. You realize as her mate, if you accept her as such, you will be at some point asked or expected to challenge Nicole’s brother for her or perhaps he’ll demand one from you. Have you thought what your answer would be? Are you prepared to fight him?”

Unease crept into me. Nic hadn’t asked me to fight for her. Honestly, I couldn’t see her asking me to do so, but the others...they would or will...I shifted in my seat and shrugged, feeling like I was back in school with the teacher waiting for me to answer a question I neither listened to and probably wouldn’t have an answer too.

“That’s what I suspected,” Dad said, shaking his head. “You need to be prepared. Either with an alternative to fighting or for the fight itself. I know this isn’t easy, but just like Ryder…”

I made a scoff of exasperation. “Right. Ryder. Well, guess what, Dad. I’m not the perfect son and future alpha, like Ryder. I never will be. Stop trying to make me just like him because it’s not going to happen.”

“Dean that’s—” Dad started, but I stood up and left before he finished.

I ran my hands through my hair as a stalked down the hall and outside where I sat down in one of the patio chairs. God, this sucked. I didn’t want to fight Nic’s brother. I hate dominance fights and challenges. I hated fighting in any situation if it wasn’t defending myself or someone else. Yet, it looked like everyone was going to expect me to do it. I couldn’t suggest something else. The pack was everything to her, and she’d hate me if I suggested anything close to giving up.

“There he is,” Kara said.

I looked up from my lap as the others sat around me. “Hey guys,” I said flatly.

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good. What’s up?” Ryder asked.

“Besides the fact I’m not you?” I asked, sarcastically.

“Thank God for that,” Andy chimed in.

“What happened?” Brook asked, worry in her face.

I took a slow breath and told them what Dad had said to me.

“He has a point,” Ryder said with a shrug.

“You’d say that,” I replied.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, looking offended.

Brook gave him a little a little push and shook her head at him before looking at me. “Let me guess you and Nic haven’t actually sat and talked about what’s next, right?”

“Yeah, getting her pack back.”

“How? Have you talked about the how or the what if everything goes butts up?” Andy demanded. Yet, once again, I shrugged. “Dude, you need too. You guys need to make sure you’re on the same page. Don’t be like Ryder and wait until the crap hits the fan to talk about things.”

“Really, man?” Ryder demanded.

“Don’t you dare be offended, Ryder. Andy’s right. Your dad told me we were mates and it wasn’t until I was recovering in the hospital after everything did I start to understand what it actually meant. So yeah, Dean, talk to Nic and don’t be like Ryder,” Brook said.

I snickered, now a lot better after hearing those words. “Okay, so I have to talk to Nic, but what am I going to do about the whole fighting thing. Dad says I’m going to have to sooner or later.”

“That’s up to you,” Kara said. “All relationships require compromise, but of course, there has to be a line. If a challenge fight is something that would violate who you are, you’re going to have to tell her, because if it is and you don’t tell her or let her think it’s an option, you’re a huge douche bag and I’ll kick your ass.”

I grinned, definitely a hundred times better. God, I loved my friends. “Look, Kara, I’m taken now I can’t be freaky with you anymore. I know Andy is lacking—” I jumped out of the chair and ran from Andy as he leaped at me.

“Come here, you little creep. I’ll show you who's lacking,” he threatened.

“Relax people, I will not be used like this. I am a person not your toy to vent your sexual frustrations,” I complained, keeping a good distance from Andy.

“Not even in your dreams dude,” Andy growled, trying to grab me. “I’d rather screw a cactus!”

“Perhaps he is kinky enough, Kara. You should give him a try,” I said, winking at her just before I ducked and dodged Andy again.

“Dean, you’re horrible,” Brook said laughing.

“I know,” I replied. “Now, I got a mate to talk to so I can’t play Andypoo.” I dodged him again and ran into the house, closing the door and locking it, before he followed me in. With a grin, I went to find Nic or one of her gang. It was time we really talked and had an idea of what we wanted to do next, even in the worst case scenario. I didn’t want to play the part Dad was trying to force me into, but he had a point. If the worst happened, what were we going to do?