Three Fated Hearts
Chapter 60

~Landon~

Tia left a while ago to sit with her mom. While her mom staying here isn’t an issue, Lincoln and I are aware that there is something going on that Tia hasn’t told us. I don’t want to pry, and I’m sure Tia will tell us everything when she’s ready. I just want to make sure we are prepared for the consequences of her mom staying with us.

Lincoln left a bit ago to speak to some of the warriors while I’m toiling away in the office. Anyone who thinks being Alpha is all glitz and glamour has no idea what this job really entails. It takes a lot to make sure those around you are safe and healthy. My pack members will be relying on my brother and me to take care of all of their needs. That is a tall order, and it’s an extremely important job to have.

The door slams open with a loud bang. I look up to see a furious Stuart in the doorway. He must have been training because there is sweat all over his face, and his shirt is sticking to his body. He has his legs spread, and his hands are fisted at his side. He is breathing heavily, his chest moving up and down.

I slowly stand from my chair, my hands fisting at my sides. How dare he barge into my office as if he owns the place. I should rip his head off from his body. I stare Stuart in the eye, and we stand there, sizing each other up. “Where is she?” Stuart is using a low, guttural voice. If I were anyone else, I might be a bit intimidated or even scared. I’m a f**king Alpha; Stuart hasn’t got s**t on me, head warrior or not. “You hear me, boy? WHERE IS MY MATE?!”

I slowly start to stalk over to where Stuart is standing. I make it a point to show my size by walking tall. I’m some inches taller than Stuart, and I make sure to look down on him when I get in front of him. “Who the f**k do you think you’re talking to?” Stuart scoffs.

“I’m talking to you! You haven’t taken your vow yet; you aren’t the Alpha.” I shake my head. It doesn’t matter whether I’m official or not, to be honest.”

“You had better watch yourself. I’m soon to be Alpha and command the same respect as a sitting Alpha. I’d hate to have to take out my own head warrior because he lost his f**king mind.” Stuart takes a step toward me.

“I want my mate back now! She doesn’t need to be anywhere but with me, in my house.” I say nothing; I just watch Stuart. I expect him to start swinging at some point, and I want to be ready when he does. He may be the head warrior, but he isn’t unstoppable. “Just what did Portia say to get you to take her in?” He says his daughter’s name as if it’s the most disgusting thing that could cross his lips.

“She said she needed somewhere to stay.”

“She has somewhere to stay…..with me.” I roll my eyes. Stuart continues to take small toward me, expecting to get me to move back. I’m standing my ground regardless of the tough eyes he keeps giving me. I wish I could just slap him right now, but anything between us would have to happen by his hand, not mine.

Before I could get a response out, I hear humming down the hallway. I don’t bother to look and see who it is. I can smell her scent as clearly as I can smell my own. She gets right next to us, looking between both of us. Neither of us breaks eye contact to greet her. “What’s going on here?” Neither of us answers her, too busy trying to tear the other down with their stare. “What are you doing here, Stuart?”

“I came to get my mate back, Luna Kimberly.”

~Stuart~

Her scent is driving me wild; honeysuckle and vanilla. Why is it so strong? Why am I having a hard time focusing on this weak b***h in front of me? I can feel my wolf stirring in me, but I refuse to give in. I look down briefly, and the issue immediately becomes apparent. I left my watch in my office. I hate to train in my watch, and she never comes to training.

I try to focus on the issue at hand. I had just finished up training and was giving a few individuals some specific tips when it comes to sparing. I get a mindlink from Adela telling me that her mother is gone. Of course, I figured it was just to the store or even work. I knew she couldn’t be with Portia since I forbade her to go. Imagine my surprise when I replace out that she is with Portia and has every intention of staying there; Goddess knows how long.

I was pissed. Who the hell does she think she is to just leave the house? To just up and decide that she will be staying somewhere that isn’t our family home? And Portia…..oh, I’m so sick of her s**t. She just comes to my home and packs my mate up? Hell no! None of this will stand.

All I want to do is grip her by her throat and toss her around a bit. There would be no need to kill her. I can get her to submit without violence; I just need to take away everything that she loves. The thought is tempting, but again, that isn’t what the focus is here.

No one is saying anything, and it’s taking everything in me to keep my anger and my wolf at bay. That prissy a*s b***h is eyeing me as if he could take me. Kimberly is looking lost, as she often does, instead of ordering her kid to give me my mate. “Maybe we should all go into my office to talk about this.” As Kimberly speaks, she touches my arm. The sparks are real, and I snatch my arm away as quickly as I can. I can’t afford to get caught up in this right now.

Kimberly notices my movement and a slight frown graces her face for a second before she pulls it away. Her hand drops to her side, and she turns slightly to face her son. “Mom, there’s no reason to talk in your office. Dr. Colby is where she needs to be at the moment.”

“WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE?!” I could feel the b***d rushing to my head. I want to rip his f**king head off once and for all. What the f**k is going on right now?! Why does he think he can interfere in my life like this?

I feel her presence before I see her, and I’m set off all over again. Portia is walking toward us, having come from upstairs. There are stairs in the back that lead up, but only a select few can make use of these. The majority of the pack is expected to use the main stairs. “I imagine all of this drama is your doing?” Kimberly hisses at Portia. This causes Landon to growl and position himself in front of Portia. I growl in return and shift to put Kimberly behind me as much as I can without being obvious about things.

“You leave her out of this. This is between him and I.”

“The hell it is! You have Dr. Colby here? For what reason? Is she giving an exam or something?”

“Mom, don’t,” Landon said as a warning, and it’s a warning that I don’t care for. He shouldn’t be talking to her like that.

“It’s okay, babe.” Portia walks up to Landon and places a hand on his back, rubbing it in circles. “I can handle this.” I laugh from deep inside. She can handle what, exactly? She would have no chance against me. “My mom is here and she’s staying here.”

“The hell she is! I want my mate back home and it needs to happen now!”

“I won’t be going back with you, Stuart.”