\[Rosco’s POV\]
I head down the stairs while wondering whether or not having Marty watch Elise was actually a good idea. I was more than aware he was a natural flirt, especially when it came to a beautiful woman, and from what I knew, Elise wasn’t exactly shy either.
Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, I turn and look toward the room that the two are now alone in.
“Dammit.” I grumble.
Whatever. They were adults, and whatever happened between them happened. Honestly, if some type of romance were to emerge for Elise, then Marty would be the better choice. If it got William to leave her alone, I would actually welcome it.
Sighing, I tear my gaze away and continue to move, heading back toward where Denali and Serenity waited for me. However, before I could reach my destination, William appears.
“Cousin!” He calls, spotting me. “Just the person I wanted to speak with.”
“Speak with me?” I repeat, raising a brow. “And what do you possibly need me for?”
“Of course to speak with you about Uncle Hamilton’s request.”
“His request. And what exactly was his request?”
“For me and a few others to stay here for a month.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I sigh. “I can handle things myself.”
“That may be.” William agrees. “But you know, once he has made up his mind, the best thing to do is go along with him.”
Maybe in the past, I would have done the same thing. But since I denounced him and Crystal Fang, I saw things differently.
“Won’t that cause you to fall behind in your alpha training?”
I wasn’t sure if I was arguing this because I didn’t think he was needed or if it was my need to keep him far away from Elise. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I could almost physically feel something there between them, and if I was right about my feeling, then William could end up making a serious mistake that would ruin his reputation again.
“I’m not a child who needs your protection.” He says, seeming to read my mind. “I know what I’m doing, and helping neighboring packs is also part of being an alpha.”
“It is.” I confirm. “But…”
“But what?” William pushes. “Are you trying to hint at the fact that you don’t want me hanging around? Is there some reason you don’t want me here to help? If you’re worried about me getting into trouble, I can assure you that I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know you are.” I say. “But…”
“But what?”
Dammit. How was I supposed to approach this without dredging up past wounds for William? Didn’t he already suffer enough?
“Are you questioning my motives for going along with Uncle’s request?” William asks when I continue to remain silent. “Do I look like the type to focus solely on a woman instead of protecting my family?”
“I wasn’t saying that.” I sigh, though in a way, I guess I was without actually saying it. “I’m just…”
“Whatever it was you were trying to do, you need to butt out.” William snaps, going on defense. “I’m an adult and a future alpha. I know what needs to be done and what I should do. I don’t need you or anyone else trying to protect me from a damn thing. I’m more than…”
“Capable?” I growl, my anger spiking. “And how did that work out for you in the past?”
The words are out of my lips before I can stop them, and when hurt flashes in William’s eyes, I immediately regret them. However, since they were already out there, I couldn’t take them back.
“Since you brought it up, I think it is best to remind you to take a lesson from the past. If not for yourself, do it for Elise.”
Fuck. I was sounding like a complete bastard, but I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Even if I didn’t give two shits what happened to Elise, I knew that Denali would be devastated if she were to suffer because of William’s fascination with her. Even if he tried to play it cool earlier, I saw them there in the woods.
“I know!” William roars, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Don’t you think I fucking know? I have to live every fucking day with guilt over what happened to Marigold. I don’t need you or any fucking body to remind me. I won’t make the same mistake twice, so get off my case. I’ll be here for a month per Uncle Hamilton’s request, and after that, you won’t see me anymore.”
Finished speaking, William turns and begins to move while I’m stuck in place watching him.
“Fuck,” I growl, turning and continuing on my way. “I really need to get my shit together.”
When I arrive at my room, I find Denali sitting in bed reading. Immediately, I move forward and flop down on the bed. Not speaking, I snuggle close to her and inhale her comforting scent.
“What happened?” She murmurs, beginning to run her fingers through my hair. “You’re tense.”
“Am I too nosey?” I ask, trying to push away the image of William’s hurt expression. “Or overbearing.”
“Just a little.” Denali responds, causing me to jump up. “But,” she continues when my frown deepens. “You always have the best interest of the other person in mind when you are.”
Nodding, I begin to relax again, this time laying my head against Denali’s chest so that her heartbeat can calm me.
“I fucked up.” I finally say. “I dug up some skeletons for William.”
“Skeleton’s?” Denali repeats, her curiosity evident in her words. “What did you do?”
“I brought up his biggest regret.” I respond. “All because I don’t want to see him make the same mistake twice.”
For a moment, Denali doesn’t speak as she processes what I’ve said. When she finally lets out a long sigh, wraps her arms around me, and pulls me close, I know that she understands.
“Sometimes,” she begins, continuing to hold me. “We have the best interests of those we care about in our hearts, but what we want and what they want aren’t the same. And even though you think you’re doing what's best, you’re actually trying to control what they want.”
“Are you saying I should let him make the same mistake?” I ask slowly.
“If that’s what he wants, then all you can do is be there for him when it happens.”
“And what if it involves your sister?”
At my words, I feel Denali tense, but she quickly recovers.
“What exactly is going on?” She finally asks.
“Did you ever wonder why William wasn’t considered a candidate for being alpha before I left Crystal Fang?”
“Wasn’t it because you were the eldest?”
“That is a factor,” I confirm. “But it wasn’t the only determining factor. William could have been considered an heir had he not committed a grave sin.”
“A sin.” Denali says quietly. “And what was that sin?”
“He was mated to a rogue.” I explain. “And despite all the warnings both our fathers gave him, he still snuck around to be with her.”
As I speak, memories of that time begin to come to the surface, and once again, I feel a pang of pain go through me. Even if I wasn’t the one to suffer at that time, I had to watch William slowly self-destruct, and when all was said and done, he became a husk of the man he once was. Even now, he kept a mask in place, so no one knew just how much he was hurting, but I knew better.
“And what happened to her?” Denali pushes, snapping me out of my head. “I’ve never seen a woman around him, so what?”
“She was killed.” I respond. “Since William refused to leave her alone, his father sent warriors after her and her pack. No one was left alive.”
“That’s horrible.” Denali gasps. “How could…”
“Our fathers are ruthless.” I shrug. “If they think it is for our benefit, then they will do whatever it takes. That’s the reason I never truly searched for you in the past. If I did, then you wouldn’t be lying here with me now.”