Page 45 of The Dragons' Healing Mate

“What the hell are you doing up there?” he shouted.

“What does it look like? I’m repairing a roof,” I said, holding the hammer aloft.

Judging by his darkening expression, he didn’t like my sarcastic response. And as much as I would have just backed down on any other day, the pain in my damned head was making me especially moody.

“You should be getting someoneelseto do that. That work is below you,” he shot back, disgust plastered all over his face.

“Below me?” I reeled, echoing his icy stare. “No work isbelowme, especially when it helps the horde. I would think you’d agree with that.”

My father had been extra vocal of late. Over the past several years, he’d allowed me and my clanmates to run the horde without interference, but now he seemed to have an opinion on every little thing I did. It was exhausting.

Sighing, I put the hammer down and made my way from the roof and onto the porch, where he was waiting. A few steps behind him was Tanner, his little helper.

“What can I do for you?” I asked, wiping my hands on a rag I found lying around.

The pain in my head was getting worse, the pressure building. I had no time to deal with anyone’s bullshit, least of all my father and his lapdog.

“We need to talk about the trouble thathumanhas caused. Byron is going to lose his mind. Yes, his horde is small, but he could cause problems.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. My father had been banging on about this since the day we had brought Rowan home with the new family in tow.

“I’ve been overruled,” I replied, hoping a simple answer would do the trick.

“Well, you shouldn’t be,” he blustered. “Youare the son of the Alpha.Youare the rightful Alpha of this horde. Those three aren’t.”

I paused. He had never outright said that he didn’t see my clanmates as rightful Alphas. I’d suspected as much, but hearing it so frankly was something else.

“And whatexactlydo you mean by that?” I asked, cocking a brow.

“Youare Alpha by blood. You should have the deciding vote. You were raised to be an Alpha. The others weren’t. They have no idea what it takes to be arealAlpha.”

I resisted the urge to snort, bile burning the back of my throat.

Yes, he’draisedme to be an Alpha. If by that he meant that he had been cruel, neglectful, and had hardly shown me any kindness growing up, because he wanted me to be the hard, unkind Alphahehad been, then yes, he had indeed raised me.

“The horde loves having a baby around. I’m not changing it,” I said. “We can try and figure out some way to placate Byron.”

“I know him better than you do,” my father insisted, stepping forward.

“I’m sure you do.” I ran a hand through my hair to disguise the growing pain. “But if we try to return Allison now, I’m pretty sureourhorde would riot.”

He shook his head. “You’re too soft on them. You allow your horde to dictate what youdo.Youare the Alpha.”

“Dad…” I trailed off, already too tired to keep this up. Fighting with my father was a high-energy sport, and I was running on fumes.

“Don’t use that tone with me. You know I’m right. You need to step up and be a man, anAlpha.”

I really didn’t have the energy for this. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I growled low and threatening as my temper flared.

Could he fuck off? Forliketwo goddamn seconds.

“Unless you have a solution to the problem that doesn’t involve exiling that couple and their baby, I don’t want to hear it. I need to get going.”

“And just where do you think you’re going?”

“I’ve got a headache,” I explained shortly, not looking to discuss this.

“You’d better not be going toher,” my father spat, obvious disgust multiplying on the last word.