DYLAN ||

Fear.

The only emotion I truly felt when Raiden asked me about my hearing aids.

I mean he didn't directly say "hearing aids," but he asked what was in my ears and that was enough for me to dart out of his hospital room without looking back.

I had to find his nurses that could help him with his physical therapy because I just couldn't bring myself to keep up with it right now.

The moment I walked back into his room with two of his nurses in tow, he watched me with such intensity. I knew he was curious, but I wasn't even ready to accept our bond fully, so how the hell could I tell him about my disability?

No, no I couldn't tell him about this. Not right now, not anytime soon and not until I can trust him to keep my secret.

This bond got the better of me when I pulled him so close to me trying to help, but it just ended up biting me in the ass when I gave into it.

All I wanted to do was help my mate, my friend with his physical therapy, but nope. Nothing good ever comes out of me helping someone. Nothing.

The last time I actually cared about someone or helped them in anyway when they were down, was when I became the blunt of every fucking joke in high school.

If it wasn't for my older brother, Bennett passing away during battle, he would be Alpha and not me. This was meant for him in every way, not me and the 2 assholes of my high school, Nicholas and Evan made sure to let that be known along with my hearing problems.

It was all my fault really. I made the dumbest fucking mistake with helping out one of the omegas they were picking on. They literally had the poor kid cornered, his face was bloody, he was crying, he needed help and I helped, but it cost me.

That one mistake cost me my greatest secret staying mine.

Their nonsense went on for months before I got the courage to tell my dad and uncle Jake. When they found out it was Nicholas and Evan spreading the news of my hearing problems and slandering my claim to becoming Alpha, my dad and uncle Jake handled it.

Needless to say, they kicked them the fuck out of the pack. Parents and pups, everyone had to go. I don't know what happened to the 2 assholes, but I hope I never come into contact with them again.

If I'm being completely honest, I hope the fuckers are dead. Eaten by the damn rogues.

"Dylan."

Raiden's voice brought me out of my current state of misery and allowed me to look at him again. I tipped my laptop down to peak over the top.

"Yes Raiden?"

"Are you alright? You were zoned out for awhile."

Am I alright?

That's a loaded question.

"No I'm not." I answer honestly, but not wanting to go into detail.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Raiden asked and I looked at him again before I shake my head. He nods.

"Ok. Just know whenever you feel the need to talk, I'm here and I'm a great listener."

I chuckled at him and his genuine expression right now. This man is too kind for his own good. He just doesn't understand what comes with being mated to me.

"Thanks Raiden. I appreciate that." I smile at him before I feel my cheeks heat up and I hide my face behind my laptop again.

Stupid leopard.

The next few hours went by without issue. Raiden slept for most of it with his pain meds and I got majority of the pack paperwork done.

I was pleased with what I was able to accomplish, but it would have felt a lot better to hear Raiden tell me that he was proud of me for all my hard work.

Just as I was putting my laptop into my dufflebag, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." I called out to whoever it was as I looked over at Raiden to make sure I didn't wake him up with my unnecessarily loud voice right now.

The door opens and my parents, uncle Jake, aunty Sophie, Garrett, Theo, Kaylie, Angie our housekeeper, Gabe, Avery, Hunter and Roman walk in.

Literally the whole damn gang.

"What are you all doing here?" I ask getting to my feet to hug my family.

"We just wanted to come check on you nephew." Uncle Jake said and I smiled at him.

"We also wanted to check on your.... Mate." My mom said narrowing her eyes at me. I swallow before tearing my gaze from hers before glaring at my brother and cousin.

They were the only two in this room that I knew for sure would have told my parents about this. Gabe and Hunter swore to secrecy until I was able to tell them myself.

"Hunter, find a way to get Roman out of here now. I don't need him hearing this conversation." I linked him and he nods before quickly finding the dumbest excuse to get his mate out of the room.

I sigh before looking back at my family.

"Son, why would you hide the fact that you've found your mate from us? And why would you allow the pack to believe your mate was a murderer before getting all the facts?" My dad asked and I looked at him in disbelief.

"I didn't allow the pack to believe Raiden was a murderer dad. You and mom told me that there was a leopard on the borders killing rogues. Well Raiden is the only leopard around here that I'm aware of and he confessed to killing those rogues..." I explain quietly before looking over my shoulder to make sure Raiden was still sleep. Roman had now made his way to the bed, so I sighed in content before looking back at my parents.

"And as far as hiding him from you, I didn't do it intentionally, this has been a lot for me to deal with. Finding my mate, finding out he's a man when I'm not gay, he's a feline which makes no sense to me and the fact that he was the one that caused the rogue attacks. I didn't know how to process it all."

"Nephew, have you spoken to your mate about why he killed the rogues? And have you apologized for your behavior towards him this past month?" Uncle Jake asks and I nod.

"Yes I told you all back at the packhouse why he did it, he said they attacked him first and he didn't know the area by the waterfall was apart of our territory because we don't have gated borders and yes I have apologized, to my surprise he accepted it and agreed to be my friend after everything."

"Yet you still locked him away sweetheart?" My mom asks and I nod.

Confused why she would ask that. Surely that's what I was supposed to do and I know that's what everyone told me to do.

"Why would you do that Dylan? He's your mate and you've put him through enough. Jake and your dad told us what happened back in the forest the day you captured him and Garrett and Theo confessed to mistreating him during his time in the cells.... Yet Gabe and Hunter told us that Raiden told them the same thing he told you and why he killed the rogues. So why would you not get all of the facts first before locking him away or before keeping him there?" Aunt Sophie asks and I shrug, really not knowing what else to say.

"I don't know Aunty, I really don't."

I was so fucking confused right now.

"My son, you need to make this right. Can you imagine the surprise we all got when we learned Raiden is your mate. I mean for Goddess sake, your dad and uncle and pack members have treated him horribly. This is going to cause serious issues when they find out that Raiden is your Luna-."

"Shhhhh." I quickly cut my mom off. "Raiden doesn't like being called Luna." I chuckled at the memory of him snapping at Garrett and Theo about it.

"Well son have you explained the concept to him? Technically he is your Luna." Dad says and I shaking my head before nodding.

Yeah everything was confusing.

"Yes I have explained it to him, he didn't outright say he doesn't accept it, just that he doesn't want anyone calling him Luna."

"Well that's fair enough." Uncle Jake laughs.

"So what should we call him?"

"He wants everyone to just call him by his name." I explain happily, but my smile soon turns to a frown as the thought of my family being oddly comfortable about the fact that my mate is a man.

"What's wrong honey?" Mom asks, clearly trying to figure out the cause of my frown.

"Are none of you upset about the fact that Raiden is a man? That our pack will have two men leading?" I ask narrowing my eyes at my dad who started shaking his head while laughing.

Surely they would be upset about this, I mean that's what I thought. Deep down, deep rooted, I could have sworn they would be mad. Would they have been mad in the past? Or now? Or even at all?

Fuck. Why am I so confused?

"Why would we care about that son?" Dad asks, which only causes my frown to deepen.

"Yeah who the hell cares. Goddess doesn't always give us what we want, more often than not, she gives us what we need." Uncle Jake explains as my mom and Aunty Sophie nod smiling.

I was honestly taken aback by their responses. Yelling, screaming, hysteria, crying we're all things I expected. Not agreement, well shit more like lack of care.

They seriously didn't give a shit about this.

Why don't they care? Why do I feel like they should care?

Am I the only freaking out about this??

Why am I the only one freaking out about this?

"What umm..." I start before taking a deep breath. "What do you think the pack will say about this? Having two men as leaders? Their Alpha being bound to a man?" I ask, trying to shake away the extreme confusion that was now making it's home inside of my damn brain.

"Honestly son, they won't give a damn. They follow us and trust us to lead them, guide them and protect them. As far as I'm concerned, two male Alphas just intensify the protection for our pack members. They won't care who leads them because you're their Alpha. Whoever is by your side, they will trust them as much as they trust you." Dad explains and I smile at the joy his words brought to me.

Although I couldn't help but get a little more confused because I was having such conflicting thoughts.

Why don't they care when I feel like they should?

"Yeah and if they don't, you can just tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine." Uncle Jake laughs and I smile at him before playfully shoving his shoulder.

"Well ok, but what about the fact that they all know Raiden is the one who's caused the rogue attacks? They couldn't possibly want to see him leading them if he's caused the pack so much pain." I say as I look at each of my family members.

"What if we tell them that Raiden wasn't the leopard responsible for the attacks?" Garrett asks.

"We can't do that Garrett. They already know that it's him, that would just be lying to them and that wouldn't sit well." Theo said.

"Ok, well what about explaining the situation to them just as Raiden explained it to you. Tell them that you commanded the truth from him and he told you that he killed them because they attacked him first." Aunt Sophie said and I nod, taking in her suggestion the most.

"That could work aunty."

"Can you call a pack meeting tonight or tomorrow morning about it? The sooner we get the word out about our pack having their rightful Luna, the sooner things will start looking up around here." Mom said and I smile at her.

"Raiden hasn't been discharged from the hospital yet, but the moment he is, I will call a meet-" I try to explain, but I'm cut off by Raiden's voice.

"Dylan."

I turn around to see Raiden sitting up and staring at my family behind me. I walk over to the side of his bed holding a smile, trying my best to show any type of happiness and not the fear that he was so clearly showing right now.

I don't even have to ask why he would be fearful of some many wolves in his room, much less the wolves that helped capture him.

"Dylan, what's going on?" Raiden asked as he continued to stare at everyone behind me.

"Raiden, this is the rest of my family. The women are my mom, my aunty and my cousin Kaylie, then the men are-"

"I recognize the men Dylan." He said cutting me off before I seen him swallow nervously, never tearing his eyes off my family.

"Raiden, you don't need to be afraid." I whisper and he finally looks at me.

"I don't need to be afraid? Your family... your family is the reason I'm in here Dylan."

Damn it..

"I know Raiden and I can't tell you how sorry I am for my actions. I was the one who commanded everyone to capture you that day, I'm the one responsible for damaging our bond, not them. You can trust that my family won't hurt you anymore." I said, but my mate immediately shakes his head.

"I beg to differ Dylan, you may have been the one to give the commands, but they carried them out and then took joy in coming to that cell and trying to break me... I've been willing to mend our bond and offer you a friendship because that's what you want, but don't ever tell me that I can trust the wolves behind you because we both know that I can't and won't."

My jaw clenched as I stared into my mates eyes. At this moment, I seen nothing but fear and panic. I can't even begin to imagine what he's been through this last month and all at the hands of a pack that's supposed to be his. At the hands of my family that's supposed to be his.

"I'm sorry Raiden." Uncle Jake said and I look over my shoulder to see him slowly walking towards my mates bed. Raiden scooted in the opposite direction and growled quietly.

"I'm very sorry Raiden. What you've suffered at the hands of my family and our pack is unacceptable and please believe when I tell you that I speak for everyone when I say that we are very sorry."

Raiden stayed completely quiet as he listened to my uncle's apology, just as he did when I apologized to him.

"Raiden." Dad said before taking a few steps forward. "I'm sorry for my part in what's happened to you. I would have never laid a hand on my son's mate had I known about your bond."

"Same here, even though I already apologized, I can't stress enough that I fucked up." Garrett cursed, earning him a slap upside the head by mom.

"And me too Raiden. I know you heard my apology, but I want to say I'm sorry again too. Our behavior was unacceptable and I beg you not to report this to the Council. We would have never touched our Alpha's mate if we knew." Theo said and I swallow before looking back at Raiden, who was still staring silently.

His eyes slowly left Theo's and then met mine, that's when I truly noticed the tears that were swimming at the surface.

The sight of him being so hurt caused my heart to tighten in my chest.

"I appreciate the apologies everyone, but it's going to take time for me to be able to accept them and move on from what's happened... Thank you for...." Raiden started before he stopped talking all together and his eyes started glowing before slowly flickering to a brighter yellow, then back to his normal amber.

"Raiden?" I ask, staring into his eyes intently before I heard him gasp and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Without even thinking, I cupped his face in my hands and wiped away the tears that slipped out before I remembered what the hell I was doing and quickly snatched my hands away.

I continued to stare into his eyes that held a far off expression for a few more seconds before he blinked a few times and looked back at me.

"Onyx." He whispered.

"MATE!" Maddox whined happily.

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