Chapter 174 - 173

Hans' private little house was a bit bigger than usual. He already had a black polished desk placed there with a worn out chair while piles of papers were scattered everywhere. When Philip entered the tall man was sitting there, scratching the back of his head while he read something with a skeptical expression. His eyes were moving fast,  hopping from line to line until he jumped slightly, too preoccupied with his reading that the door closing loudly by Philip surprised him. 

He placed his hand on his chest as he inhaled loudly, a relieved exhale escaping his lips as he met eyes with the young werewolf. He placed down his paper, seeing how fast he rushed over, standing in front of his desk and slapping his palms on the desk, the papers slightly moving and Hans looked at his tanned hands and back at him, making him take a step back. 

"Better." he commented. "Hello Philip, what brings you here?" he asked him.

"You can't think why I am here?" he asked him back, an annoyed expression on his face and Hans lips turned into a thin line. He tilted his head to the side, playing ignorant. 

"I have no idea." he said and Philip groaned.

"Stop playing dumb with me. It's not funny. How could you do something like this without asking me first? Really? Recommend me to become the Alpha? Me! This is ridiculous." he exclaimed and watched the tall man get up. Hans was two heads taller than him, he looked like a wall, a giant with an understanding heart and that was the reason why Philip hadn't tried to get into a fist fight with him. The blond man had helped him many times, he was just agitated and mostly confused.

"I think you can do it." Hans simply said, grabbing a pile of papers and placing it on top of the other. He seemed to want a way to occupy his hands while they talked, as if it was impossible for him to sit still.

"I don't agree with you. I am not fitted to be an alpha, I am not even twenty yet. I…my life is a mess right now. I can bear the responsibility. I will mess up and make everything worse. Mikain will seem like an idyllic leader in comparison to me." Philip said, letting out everything he had thought about on his way there. The truth was he didn't believe in himself. Yes, he was strong but physical strength was not enough when it came to being a leader. He needed to be smart, compassionate, cunning and think like a diplomat. Up to now the only thing that Philip had been thinking about were hookups and then Kai. He was practically a child, hearing Hans recommend him almost sounded like a sick joke.

"You ought to trust yourself more. Now that Mikain is dead, taking the leadership is reasonable. He had no children, you are the strongest in the pack…even if someone dared to challenge you you would probably tear them to pieces so where is the problem?" Hans asked and heard Philip sigh heavily, rubbing the back of his neck as he paced back and forth. He didn't know how to express it, he was actually embarrassed. 

"I…Hans I, I have a vampire for a mate." he announced and the Beta stared at him for a second, his eyes slightly wide but he hid his surprise fast. 

"So?"

"Don't you think that's a problem?"

"No, I actually think that it's quite progressive. It would help bring back good relations with the vampires and the pack." he told him and Philip grimaced, he didn't believe what he was hearing. Just a few month ago his pack was going after murderous vampires ripping them to shreds and now they wanted him to be mates with one. It sounded ridiculous.

"I am not with him, I will never be with him. I…I have a lot going on in my mind right now. I can't do it, you should recommend someone else. I am sorry if this is bringing you trouble, I know I sound immature but…" he said but Hans cut him off. He took a step towards him, getting close while his expression changed from friendly to stern. They locked eyes and Philip felt the hairs on his body rise, shivers on his spine.

"Listen Philip. You think I don't know who killed Mikain? Have you forgotten who was the brains in this whole era of Mikain's rule? I am keeping you alive, I know of the crime you committed but I choose to overlook it because Mikain was indeed a shitty Alpha and a shitty person but that does not mean you will get to run free after what you did. You killed the Alpha, you played a big part in this and you have to step up. Or do you want someone else, one of Mikain's lackeys to get on top and mess everything up agai?" Hans asked him, making him gasp.

"You knew?" Philip stuttered and the blond man scoffed.

"Of course I knew. Mikain wanted to kill your lover, who is obviously your mate. He had a bounty on your head and on your friends'. I think you and the other two little pups had the perfect motive. That and the fact that you were here when he died. Listen Philip, I may act like I don't see things, I may be silent but I know very well what is going in. So hear me out. You will get the position of the Alpha and you will try. Because no one else in this forsaken pack that Mikain polluted like a fucking virus would be able to do it and I will not let so many young children, the families in our pack to live with hate and greed. Not this time." he announced. 

"Hans…"'

"Don't. You still murdered someone. All actions have consequences. Now go, get some rest just in case someone dares to challenge you tomorrow." he ordered him, making clear that he didn't want to hear anything else.. "After you become the Alpha, there are things we need to discuss, about a trip."