CHAPTER 3 — I CAN'T DO IT

~AIDEN MULROSS~

“GET OUT!” I demanded, pushing my body upright from the chair. My fists slammed into the ebony table beneath them, causing a vibration to ricochet off the expensive wooden surface. Silence quickly followed as the room stilled.  No one contested me. They didn’t even dare to give me eye contact. Good… I would happily spill their blood at any attempt of interaction. With my expression fixed, I scanned the room. Now was not the time to try and compromise with me, so why are these bastards still sat in their seats? Are they scared to move? Mmm, damn right they should be. Or… Are they challenging my authority? ‘Just kill them already.’ My wolf urged.

    I needed them to leave. A low elongated growl resonated from within my throat as my anger increased. Just knowing they were still in this room after I ordered them to leave, provoked me further. Upon hearing my fury, everyone stood up and headed towards the exit, leaving me alone in the conference room which was used for our council meetings. Dumb fuckers!

    Right now, my wolf and I were ravenous for violence. We couldn’t think straight, and we were god damn pissed off. I felt my eyes pulsating, signifying the change from mine to his, and the heat rising from my skin became intense and uncomfortable. All I could see in the forefront of my mind were those idiots I had just banished from my meeting room. I needed to regain my self-control because, at this rate, I would blow. 

    Still standing, I unclenched my fists, allowing my palms to stretch out on the tabletop. With my arms supporting my body, I bowed my head. I could hear my heartbeat intruding my ears. It was both loud and rapid. Closing my eyes tightly, I tried to calm us both down.

    My wolf continued to pace. He was livid. Raging. Furious. If it wasn’t for me, he would have beheaded more than one of the speakers during our meeting. His persistence grew greater and greater and his energy was murder. I couldn’t allow him to have his way. To have the blood of an elder on my hands. Not today anyway. Plus, I didn’t know how I would have removed dead bodies from my office without any humans seeing. After all, we employed them. They didn’t know we were werewolves and it was much better that way.

    ‘Fuck the elders!’ My wolf’s voice was filled with venom. He didn’t care who he killed or what status of supremacy they held. He wanted them dead, regardless of whether humans saw or not.

    Out of the two of us, he had the physical power but wasn’t the slightest bit logical. He was instinctive and animalistic. I had the brains and the rationale not to murder on my own doorstep, no matter how much restraint that required.

    After a few minutes of cooling down, our anger started to subside. My wolf finally began to retreat. The pulsing within my eyes had ceased, reverting them back to my own and we both became harmonized with each other.

    The many smells within the room were now evaporating, yet one lingered. Someone was still in the room. Her…

    “My order included you, Tia!” I raised my head and lifted my hands off the tabletop. Rolling my shoulders back, I straightened my spine and reactivated my posture.

    Without making eye contact, I walked towards the large wall of transparent glass windows and rested my hand upon one of the many panes, as I peered out over the city below.

    “Why so uptight my King?” Tia toyed, lengthening out the word King. She stood up from her chair and moved closer towards me. I felt her behind me, I could hear her breathing, I could smell her. She traced her long nails across my shoulders, making me shudder underneath her touch.

    “Just leave me alone Tia,” I repeated, this time a little milder in the hope that she would take the hint.

    “Ok, if I must. See you later my love… My Alpha.” Her hand skimmed down my back as I maintained my stance, refusing to give her any form of attention. Her heeled shoes clicked against the floor as she moved closer to the door. I glanced up to see her leaving before my guards closed the doors giving me some much-needed privacy.

    Peace at last.   

    Tia was a stubborn yet strong woman who always dressed immaculately. Her slim, tall figure was always dressed in high heels, pencil skirts and blouses with high collars which covered her neck. There was never a jet-black hair out of place, which I don’t recall ever seeing out of a bun or a ponytail. Her makeup was always flawless against her green eyes and pale skin. A strong look for a strong woman I suppose. She was the head she-wolf, the strongest she-wolf, my packs Luna.

    I walked over to my large leather chair at the head of the table and sat down. Even though I could no longer see the city, the view was still perfect. The sea of blue had my attention as my gaze was affixed to the outside world.

    My wolf and I had finally started to relax now that we were alone. I agreed that we would go for a run later to take our mind off things and he was happy with that. For now.

    A loud sigh left my mouth as I tilted my head back, resting it against the seat. What a fucking day. Their words subconsciously began to repeat, awakening my annoyance once more. Fuck the council!

    A knock on the door returned my awareness back to the room.

    “YES!” I shouted. Why is it so hard to understand that I need to be alone?

    “Aiden, it’s me. Can I come in?”

    “If you must.” The back of my head remained pressed up against the seat.

    Kieran, my brother, walked in and closed the large frosted glass door behind him.

    At 29, he was four years younger than me, but he possessed great qualities of those you would find in the old and wise. He was strong and vigilant. His wolf was obedient and powerful. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother, Beta. The ladies loved him and his strong facial features. They would swoon over his messy dark brown hair and his hazel eyes which would always tell secrets when he lied. Not to mention if they caught him with his top off. I would have to say my brother was a handsome man, after all, he was the same blood as me. The she-wolves and humans were always trying to get closer to him, some would flirt, others would basically offer it on a plate, but he was never interested. He wanted his mate, who sadly, he was yet to find.

    I watched out of the corner of my eye, as he walked over towards where I was sat and slumped himself down into the chair next to mine. “You ok buddy? I mean… It’s not every day that you can kick the council out of a room.” He teased.

    The council was formed many years ago, before my father’s time. It was decided that due to our elder’s experience, they would create the council to guide the Alpha and his pack forward with their wisdom and knowledge. They also created laws and rules in which we must… or in my case, should follow. They were highly respected. But today, they pissed me off.

    I turned to face Kieran. My eyes burning a hole in his skull.

    “What do you want?” I asked sternly. He was my Beta and my brother but my god, his face was annoying me right now. I just needed to be on my own within my own thoughts. Why was that so hard for everyone to understand?

    “I wanted to see if you were ok…genuinely.” He replied with a slight sympathetic look.

    I mimicked his gesture. A large sigh left my mouth as my shoulders dropped and my posture rounded. I rubbed the back of my neck in an attempt to ease the tightness that today’s meeting had inflicted on me. My eyes locked onto those of my brother.

    “That fucking council… And those fucking Elders! They want too much from me.”

    “I know, brother, I know.” He acknowledged my displeasure. “As soon as they said it, I wanted to rip their heads off!” His eyes started to darken. He hated their words as much as me.

    “I can’t do it, Kieran. I won’t do it.” The council have asked so much of me, all of which I have abided to. But not this. I couldn’t do what they asked of me this time. My wolf sure as hell won’t let this happen either.