Chapter 78

"You're not crazy. You were to young for the Alpha title, because Alexander had to step in and so..." I trail off not wanting to say exactly what I was thinking. The last one made sense. It would explain the way he hurts and the reason why its so hard for him to open up and trust.

"Well aren't you just the sharpest tool in the shed." He snaps as his face inches closer to mine. I lower my eyes feeling intimidated. He grabs my face roughly making me jump in fear, forcing me to look at him. I tear my eyes away from his, making him growl in anger.

"Look. At. Me." He demands in his Alpha tone. I clench my jaw and close my eyes trying to calm my breathing. I haven't seen him react like this in a while and I felt just as scared as I was in the beginning, when I first got here.

My hand unconsciously reaches up to his wrist as I meet his darkening eyes. I give his wrist a tug trying to get him to losen his grip on my face. He wouldn't budge. I should've just kept my big mouth shut. No one wants to hear of their own horrible past and of course my big mouth just had to say something.

He glances down at my ring, as the diamonds catch the moonlight making them glisten beautifully. His jaw clenches as he glares at the ring he gave me and he releases me from his hold.

"I'm sorry."

We say it in unison. He turns his head away from me, but I move closer to him. I don't want him to hide his face from me. I don't want him to push me away, not

now.

"Ajax..." My hand reaches up and lands on his shoulder lightly. I wasn't sure how to comfort him. All I knew is that I not only wanted to, but I had too. "You don't have to tell me anything, I'm sorry for even bringing it up in the first place."

"My father... He was openly abusive. He didn't care who was around. If I made one wrong move he'd hit me right there. In front of my mom, in front of the driver, in front of pack members... in front of your father."

My father saw him get abused? Well he must've said something and maybe thats way Alexander hadn't seen him until the death of Ajax's father.

"Did he step in?" I ask, my hand moving across his tense back and beginning to massage it lightly.

"Your father? No. No one ever did. My dad was a lunatic and no one dared to disagree with him. My mother was so blindly in love with him, it was like I didn't even exist in her eyes." His voiced filled with disgust and I could practically feel his anger building.

"So what drove you to..." I trail off.

"Murder my father?" He turns to look at me and I simply nod my head not being able to choke out any words.

"He abused me daily. He'd kick me and punch me until I couldn't breathe. I always told myself that one day it would stop. One day I would be old enough to leave and get away from him."

I didn't know what to say. I wanted to apologize and tell him I was sorry a million times over but I knew that wouldn't do anything to help.

"Around the age of eight is when he started bringing me on trips with him. We only visited one pack though, each time over and over again." He scoffs to himself and shakes his head in disbelief and disappointment. My wolf whimpered in sympathy and urged me to show him more compassion. I just didn't know how. I don't know to react to any of this. He clears his throat uncomfortably and looks up at the night sky.

My hand makes its way down his shoulder and bicep, pushing its way into his clenched fist. I intertwine our fingers and lean my head on his shoulder.

"You don't have to keep going if you don't want too. I can wait until you're more comfortable. I'll wait as long as you want."

He shakes his head once more, biting his lower lip. I place a kiss on his shoulder, before balancing my chin on it, looking up at his beautiful face. His jaw clenches, before his lips part to form words, "My father brought me to that pack so that the Alpha could abuse me as well."

I could feel my heart rate rise in my chest, it was as if my heart was trying to escape. It hurt me in ways I didn't even know I could hurt for someone else, to know the horrors that my mate had to go through as a boy. He was just a child. His father was supposed to protect him and cherish him, instead he abused him and allowed others to do the same. My eyes began to sting as tears welled, threatening to spill.

"I'm..." I trail off and hide my face in his shoulder. How could anyone harm an innocent child? "I am so sorry." It comes out as a soft whisper.

"Don't apologize," He wraps his arm around me and places a kiss on the top of my head. "I've come to learn how to deal with my past. The people who hurt me are dead."

His eyes glaze over as someone begins to mind link him. They're both dead? His father and the other man that hurt him. He killed another Alpha? Wait...

I swallow the lump that began to form in my throat. Was Jalex's father the one who abused Ajax? Is that why he killed him? Was Jalex abused as well? I wanted to ask Ajax but he jumped out of his mind link quickly, startling me.

"Siren crossed the border and is making her way to where she left her clothes." He stands up quickly and practically rips off his suit jacket and kicks off his shoes.

"What? Wait..." I stand up in shock trying to grasp the situation to make it clear. "Is there anyone else with her?"

"There are a few wolves beyond the border, they didn't cross. They might be waiting for her." He removes his tie and then his crisp button up shirt.