Chapter 4

Nathaniel's POV 

The whip cracked against my back, and I clenched my teeth to keep from making a sound. My father, Alpha of one of the strongest packs in the region, stood before me, fury radiating from him. This wasn’t the first time I’d been on the receiving end of his anger, but it didn’t make it any easier.

“How dare you make such a decision without consulting me?” he barked, his voice echoing in his study. I didn't speak until he was done venting his anger

When the punishment was done, he tossed the whip aside and crossed his arms. 

“Stand up and explain yourself.”

I pushed myself to my feet, my back throbbing with each movement. My father’s eyes bored into mine, demanding an answer. 

“I did it because it was the best decision for the pack,” I began, keeping my voice steady. “Father, you’ve been planning to take control of other packs gradually. But with every new territory we gain, management becomes harder. There have already been signs that our resources are stretched too thin. We might not be able to manage a pack too large for long.”

My father frowned but didn’t interrupt.

“You’ve made it clear that expansion isn’t a priority right now,” I continued. “The reason you wanted me to mate the Moonfury pack Alpha’s daughter was to unite both packs and be able to defend against any attack from Duncan’s pack,.”

My father’s expression darkened, but I pressed on.

“The Moonfury pack is small, sandwiched between our pack and Duncan’s. If they were attacked, it would almost certainly come from Duncan. And when that happened, we’d have no choice but to help them, marriage alliance or not. That’s why I proposed the mutual help contract. It’s a formal agreement that binds both packs to aid each other in times of war.”

I paused, letting my words sink in. My father’s jaw tightened, but he still didn’t speak.

“As for announcing Phoebe Peterson as my mate,” I said carefully, “that decision was about more than just her. At first, I planned to reject her. But then I realized we could use her to unite the pack. Many of our members joined after surviving pack wars. They’ve always felt like outsiders, treated unfairly by those who’ve been here longer. By accepting Phoebe as my mate, I showed them that we value everyone—no matter their background.”

I tried to make my father think Phoebe was just a pawn being used.

I glanced at my father, waiting to see his reaction. He was unreadable. 

“This was the right move for the pack,” I said firmly. 

“Even if it means sacrificing my own happiness, I’m willing to do it.”

For a long moment, my father just stared at me. The silence was heavy, and I felt the weight of his judgment pressing down on me. Finally, he stood and walked toward me.

“I’ve always known you were my most capable son,” he said. His voice was quieter now, almost thoughtful. “That was a good decision.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder, a rare gesture of approval. “If you ever meet a she-wolf you truly love, let me know. I’ll handle it. Peterson's daughter won’t dare object. But you made this choice without telling me first, and for that, you deserved the whip. Now, go.”

I nodded, and left the study.

Outside, one of my men was waiting for me. “How did it go?” he asked

“I’m fine,” I said. The pain in my back was sharp, but the injuries will heal soon.

He hesitated, then asked, “What about Phoebe? Do we need to increase security around her?”

I thought for a moment before answering. “Yes. With everything that’s happened, someone might try to target her. Just make sure she is safe, send men to go and see to her safety.”