Page 14 of Rejected By the Alpha

“To burn into ash and turn into fertilizer. The omegas and I are making plans for a vegetable garden that will supply the pack, so we don’t have to go into town so frequently,” I answer, resuming my work of butchering the buck, signaling that I am done talking. Marco and Royce watch me, while Edison and Ash take their catch inside. With no one distracting me, I am able to finish processing the buck and call a few of the omegas over to wrap and label everything before they put it into the freezer.

Putting my knives down, I turn to examine the boar, trying to decide how I will handle it. The skin has no fur or other use, so that will have to go. Maybe I can gut it and clean it out first.

“Save the pig for later. The pack and I have something we want to talk to you, David, and Amelia about at dinner, and if you haven’t noticed, it’s almost dinner time,” Marco calls out from the boulder he sits on, Royce grinning like a child who just received a box of candy.

“I was actually thinking of using it for a pig roast,” I shrug, deciding to listen to my new friend. I call for Evette, asking her to take my knives inside for me while I wash and sanitize the table. With my station cleared off, I begin to hose down the table, washing away the blood and other fluids from the game I have been butchering.

“I am going to have a shower and get changed. I will see you both at dinner.” After putting the hose away, I turn to Marco and Royce with a wink before heading inside the pack house. Due to everything that needed to be done, I asked Marco if I could move in here temporarily so that I can help if an emergency arises. He immediately agreed that this was a great idea, and was more than happy to help me move some of my essential items into thepack house before David hitched my trailer to his truck and took it to my cottage.

I wave to the omegas in the kitchen as I pass by, getting a few smiles from the omegas I have gotten close to before I make my way to the front of the pack house where I climb the stairs and smile. The pack house was left a mess after the attack, but the omegas and I got it cleaned up and turned it into the heart of the pack it was meant to be in no time.

I make a beeline to my temporary room and shut myself inside my little sanctuary. As much as I hate that I have been busy for the last few days, I am also thankful that the work has kept me from thinking about him. I still feel him, feel the bond that sparks every so often in hopes of being rekindled. I know it’s because of the pain I am holding back, and that the bond will fade as soon as Lucas marks Marilyn. That bitch has everything she wants, including me gone from her sight. If she takes one step onto Silver Paw land though, I won’t hesitate to kill her.

Shaking my head to clear the thoughts of my ex-mate away, I remove my clothes and throw them in my hamper before stepping under the spray of the shower. I just need a quick rinse-off to remove the stench of blood, and I will be fine.

14

Kaylee

Looking out at the Silver Paw wolves that are gathered in front of the pack house, I smile at how they joke and laugh. The sadness of losing their packmates lingers, but they have grown from this. Pups run around with a ball to the left, while their mothers watch on. Everyone has a plate of food or a bowl of Evette’s rabbit stew in hand.

Just a little further from the pack house, the aftermath of the attack barely remains. Everyone, including the pups between the ages of fourteen to eighteen, has done a good job cleaning the rubble and debris, and some houses have even been given a fresh coat of paint or been washed clean. It is proof that Silver Paw is growing stronger. That we all are growing stronger.

“You’re late,” a voice calls to my right, and I grimace, turning to face Miss Amelia, who is followed by David. Their pups must be running around with the others somewhere nearby.

“Sorry. I was butchering today, and realized a quick rinse wasn’t going to get rid of the smell,” I apologize, stepping forward to give her a hug. She chuckles as she wraps her arms around me, giving me a quick squeeze before releasing me.

“I see you still have the skills James taught you,” David muses, taking his turn to give me a squeeze as well. James was my dad—the beta of Oak Fur before his passing.

“What can I say, it runs in the blood,” I joke back. I spy the familiar red hair of Marco, the wolf making his way over to us with a wide grin on his face. His eyes roam my body as he takes in the sundress I changed into. Something different from the overalls I have been wearing the last three days.

“Took you long enough,” he jokes, ruffling my hair when he joins the three of us. I growl at my friend, swatting his hand away as he backs up, laughing.

“Anyways, now that you three are here, it’s time for our announcement. Follow me,” Marco continues, motioning for us to follow him onto the front steps of the pack house. Excited to hear what this announcement is, I stand on Marco’s left, while David and Miss Amelia stand to his right. His eyes glaze over for a moment before I watch as the Silver Paw wolves slowly begin to come closer to us. Even the pups join the crowd, finding their parents as the chatter dies down.

“Now that our final wolf of honor is here, it is time we announce to Kaylee, Amelia, and David what the wolves of Silver Paw have decided,” Marco begins, once we have everyone’s attention. Turning to face David and Miss Amelia, Marco bows towards them, the pack following suit and surprising me.

“Three days ago, our pack lost our alpha and Luna, as well as countless members that were our friends and family. If you two had not come when you did, we would still be fumbling with trying to find our dead and heal our wounded. For that, the wolves of Silver Paw ask that you join, not as members, but as our alpha and Luan.”

“Don’t you mean Luna?” Miss Amelia asks, placing a hand on David’s shoulder and making him stand straight again.

“No. You will be our alpha, Amelia. And David would be your Luan—a male Luna,” Marco clarifies. Shocked, I look to Miss Amelia, who also has the same shocked expression as I do. We thought she and David would be regular members and help Marco ascend as alpha, but we were totally wrong.

“What about you? Don’t you want to be alpha?” I ask, stepping closer to Marco and placing a hand on his arm. He smiles down at me and shakes his head.

“I don’t have the skill for it. Besides, I would rather be hunting and training than leading,” he answers with a laugh.

“Are you sure this is what everyone wants?” David asks, wrapping his arm around his mate.

“It is. We need a strong alpha, and that is Amelia. No offense, David,” Royce steps forward to answer.

“None taken. Even I know Amelia is the alpha between the two of us.” Waving Royce off, David laughs at this statement before kissing Amelia on the cheek. The Silver Paw wolves laugh at this, and I smile. Miss Amelia is finally getting the credit she deserves.

“So, will you lead us?” Marco asks as the laughter dies down.

“I would be honored to.” The crowd cheers at Miss Amelia’s statement, and I feel my smile growing wider. The future of Silver Paw looks brighter now.

“That just leaves Kaylee,” Marco states, turning to face me and taking my hand.

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