Chapter 214
Talen Arctos let his anger loose with a massive roar. A roar so loud the other men sitting around his cabin headquarters turned to glance at him with open shock.
Though Talen was not the most social bear clan leader, he got the job done. His clan built giant cabins without wasting the resources on their planet. Most of the cabins were built in unusual locations and used caves and other areas available as extensions to their build.
“What do you mean Paxten isn’t coming with me?”
He ground the words out, curling his hands into fists and wanting to smash it on the table so hard he’d probably break the antique into smithereens.
His right-hand security officer, Dylan Sroden, grimaced.
“I’m sorry, Tal, but Paxten was pissed that you said he wasn’t allowed to spend time with both Lashelle and Marla.”
Tal clenched his teeth so hard he swore he was going to break his jaw. His brother tested his patience every single day of his life since his parents had died. As clan leader, Tal had no time to give in to Paxten’s petty mood swings.
“You realize this is all my mother’s fault,” he spat while trying not to be angry at his deceased parents.
His mother had given Paxten everything he ever wanted and treated him like a baby well into his adulthood.
“Don’t be so angry,” Gable, a younger bear who was friends with Paxten, said. “He’s a bit frustrated.”
Talen stared down the other bear until he glanced away. There was no excuse for Paxten’s attitude and actions lately. He’d pushed his limits and was giving the clan a bad name.
“You think his wanting to lead two females on and getting their hopes up is mere frustration I should tolerate?” he growled at Gable.
Now Tal needed Paxten to step up and make his own mark in their family business. The business wasn’t a necessity since their clan owned the western forest down to the majestic falls of Aurora. The vast forest land was perfect for living, and with a giant river to feed from and farm, they needed for nothing.
But Tal’s father had liked to work. He liked to do things with his hands, and when he created their secondary family home out of a cave and combined it with a cabin to create a new type of living quarters, the rest of the clan loved it.
Word got around. Everyone wanted them to build for them. From the dragons to the tigers to the jaguars. Hell, the group had even gotten requests to visit Galaxa, one of the neighboring planets, and build for them. The king of the alien warriors wanted new hunting lodges, and Tal had been talking to him about doing business.
“I’m sorry,” Gable said.
He stepped back, his long hair covering most of his face as he put his head down, not meeting Talen’s gaze.
“It is the fact everyone has made excuses for him since he was a child that has made him into the mess he is today.”
“You’re right,” Gable nodded, his voice low, and though apologetic, sounding annoyed. “I just think maybe you could let him decide who he wants to mate between the two females without interfering.”
“I wouldn’t have interfered if their parents didn’t come to me demanding Paxten stop what he’s doing.”
Tal’s bear roared inside.
“We are not like the weak human males who go back and forth between females to decide which one they like most. We allow our animal to choose and then we mate. Simple.”
Anger lit and diffused in Gable’s eyes.
“I understand.”
He turned to go.
“I’ll see if I can talk some sense into him.”
Tal watched him go. He didn’t like the way Paxten and his friend wanted to do things their way without any repercussions. That’s not how the Arctos clan worked, and it never would as long as Talen was in charge.
“Paxten is acting like a kid instead of a grown man.”
The bear inside Talen wanted to come out and destroy something. Anything. He’d been edgy for months. Between his brother and Tal’s refusal to mate, the animal was pissed, horny, and ready to break down a few trees.
“I’m sorry,” Dylan sighed, lifting and dropping his large shoulders.
His arms flexed in the sleeveless shirts they liked to work in. The western forest was always cool. Leaves fell and grew constantly, giving the place a look that resembled fall and spring on Earth. Tal had seen enough videos of Earth to hurt his heart. The way they destroyed the forests and didn’t put trees back when they took them down. It was shameful.
“I wanted him to come along and visit with Alyx so we could show the king that Paxten is growing into his position as my second-in-command,” Talen growled.
He marched to the giant wall of glass that immediately opened to let him out onto the edge of the cliff where his office cabins were located. Dylan’s footsteps followed.
“Go. Go see Alyx. Meet the future queen of Aurora and her brothers. Also, Alyx’s queen, Bella, is really nice. You’ll like her.”
“I don’t care for these kinds of events, Dylan.”
He turned to face his friend. Frustration filled Dylan’s gaze.
“I know you want me to be more outgoing, but that’s why I sent you to the wedding. This was going to be my first time meeting the queen and the babies, and I was counting on Paxten to help make this smoother. To show Alyx we are stable up here.”
Dylan frowned.
“I still don’t get where he is getting that you don’t have the clan under control.”
“Someone’s been complaining to him. Alyx didn’t say who, but he stated he wanted to see me there to speak and make sure we are all on the same page about our responsibility to our people.”
Like Tal could ever ignore his people. His clan was his family. His father had ingrained that in him from birth. The Arctos Clan was his life. They’d always been there for each other since birth.
“I’ll look for Paxten and send him to Alyx’s castle,” Dylan said.
A determined look was in his pale hazel eyes that Tal had come to know he could count on. Dylan did his job as his friend and security chief, and he took it seriously.
Back when they’d been kids, Dylan had always been the one to get Tal out of his grumpy moods. He was truly Talen’s best friend. When his parents died just a few short years ago, he found only Dylan understood Tal’s need to ensure the clan stayed strong and tight.
Tal slipped beat-up fingers through his short brown hair. He’d been carving wood earlier. Though he could have done it with his claws and saved some time, he’d chosen to use the tools of his ancestors. The same ones his father used to create some of the furniture in the house depicting images of the forest and the bears of generations past.
“I don’t even know if I should go at this point,” he muttered.
Anger flared brighter inside him. He was sick and tired of Paxten’s spoiled brat attitude. His brother was not getting his way with Tal, and he needed to realize that sooner rather than later.
“You have to. Since your parents died two years ago, you’ve been a recluse. Alyx has been good about letting you report via communicator, but I’m sure he wants you to go and talk to him. Show his wife and babies the respect pretty much everyone else on the planet already has.”
Dylan slapped a hand on Tal’s shoulder.
“You used to be friends. Alyx has never done you wrong.”
“You’re right,” he admitted ruefully.
Alyx had given his clan time to grieve for their leaders and Tal the space to get his shit together. He had to go and meet Bella as well as the babies.
“Hey, maybe while you’re there, you can find someone to spend some time with,” Dylan said.
His lips broke into a wide, knowing grin.
“I know you have a lot on your plate right now with Paxten, but why not look for feminine company?”
“Because females demand time. Time I don’t have right now. Once I decide what to do about my brother, then I can think of settling down.”
His bear grumbled inside. He already wanted a mate. He’d been trying to get Talen to find him a woman for some time now.
“You know, I heard Gerri Wilder, the matchmaker, will be at the welcome event for the future queen and her brothers,” Dylan said.
A curious look of interest had taken over his face.
“Why not talk to her. See if she could do you the favor of finding the woman meant to be with you?”
He frowned.
“I haven’t met her before. She knew my parents, but this is not the time. Not yet.”
“Your fortieth birthday will be on the same day of the event,” Dylan shrugged. “That’s usually the time our inner animals demand a mate, Tal. Aren’t you getting the urge yet?”
He snapped a glare at his friend.
“Of course, I am. But I control him.”
As if the bear knew he’d been talkin
g about him, the animal pulled at his control, making him tense his body so his muscles wouldn’t contort and the shift take over.