Page 15 of Rejected By the Alpha

“What about me?” Looking into his eyes, I see respect glittering in their depth as Marco smiles at me.

“We want you to be our beta.” Stepping back from the shock of the news, I look at Marco, then at the pack, then back at Marco. There is an amused look on his face as I try to process what he just said. Me? Their beta?

“I haven’t even started my training yet!” I try to protest, looking to Miss Amelia for help, but she just smiles and shrugs. It is clear she won’t help me.

“But the way you stepped in and helped with the menial work is what a beta would do when the alphas are handling the bigger projects,” Marco retorts, with his hands squeezing mine. I look back to the crowd, watching as they all nod in agreement. I just did what was right.

“But I have no experience.” I don’t know why I am fighting against being a beta.

“Besides, the current beta couple of Silver Paw is in the pack hospital, healing from the attack,” I continue. Marco’s smile falters at the mention of this pair. I had met the two wolves the day before, wanting to express my sympathy for their loss andask if they were still willing to train me once fully healed—which they agreed to do.

“They stepped down earlier today. The loss took a toll on them, but they did tell me to tell you that they will be mentoring you as our beta, if you accept the position,” Marco counters. Hit with this new piece of information, I free my hand from his grip and wrap my arms around myself. What if I do something wrong, and they banish me like Oak Fur did? What if I am not strong enough? I can feel the dam inside my mind bend, feel the pain seep out faster. I am scared of being abandoned by a pack again, and I hate this feeling.

“We won’t hurt you like they did, Kaylee,” Marco whispers, pulling me into his arms. His scent of citrus floods my senses, and I focus on that to push away the pain and doubt. I am a beta, with alpha blood mixed in. The goddess chose me to be a Luna, but my mate defied that by rejecting me. I am meant to be a leader.

Taking one last deep breath, I pull away from Marco and stand tall, my arms no longer wrapped around me.

“Alright. I accept the position as your beta,” I agree, the Silver Paw wolves cheering at my words.

“But I have one condition.”

15

Lucas

“What do you mean Silver Paw won’t let anyone near their borders!” My hand is frozen as I pause my intended knocking. I had gotten a report from the council about Silver Paw rebuilding their pack, and that they have chosen their new alpha and Luna. Some of us speculate that this person is the head warrior Marco Giovanni, but I have met that wolf a few times at the Annual Assembly of Alphas that takes place every August first. He seemed happier leading warriors under the beta than leading a full pack.

“It is what our men say, Alpha. They’d flown the plane as close as they could to the pack without being noticed, but when they tried to sneak onto the land, they were stopped and threatened that Silver Paw would kill them for trespassing.” I recognize the voice as Beta Kurt—the man who had replaced Kaylee’s dad last year. Shocked by the news that my father sent our men to spy on Silver Paw, I pull back the power radiating from me in hopes ofhiding my presence. I knew my father wanted to bid for the land in the hopes of trading it in the future, but sending wolves before the seven-day grace period is over is an open declaration of war.

“As far as our men can tell, Silver Paw has become organized in the last five days after the attack,” Beta Kurt continues reporting. I can feel my father’s rage from here. Feel the power in his blood, mixed with something that worries me. Something dark and twisted. I force myself not to flinch. I can’t have the two men in my father’s office notice me.

“What changes have our men seen?” A growl vibrates the walls around me, and I shiver. My father is angry, angrier than I have ever seen him.

“The patrols are spaced at even intervals, and from our men’s attempt, there seems to be a secondary patrol a little further in, and that is where they were threatened. When the plane managed to get close enough to see the pack, they noted many places under construction, and that any residue of the attack is gone.” I listen intently as Beta Kurt continues the report. He lists off things any pack would do after being defeated in an attack. How houses were built. How someone had cleared some open land for a farm. How the pack seemed to be flourishing. The shattering of glass cuts off the final point, and I step back in fear. My father had snapped.

“And there are no signs of an alpha or Luna?” he questions, his words eerily calm.

“None.” A feral growl reverberates along the halls of the pack house, and I take this as my cue to leave. I wanted to discuss with my father the email that had been sent by the council, but that can wait. With my father enraged, he will skip out on patrollingthe packlands today, or risk himself turning on our packmates. This duty will fall on me now.

Climbing down the staircase, I notice Marilyn sitting in the sitting room with her friends, the four girls laughing as they discuss our upcoming wedding. I can tell she is excited. She finally gets what she’s always wanted, while I am forced to give up everything. Suppressing a growl, I continue out the door towards the shed where we keep the ATVs. As much as I need a good run in wolf form, I need to complete my patrols as I am now.

“Lucas, wait!” Turning to the sound of the pack house doors, I see Beta Kurt come jogging towards me with a look of concern on his face.

“I scented you outside of your father’s office,” he begins, holding his hand up when I open my mouth to say something.

“I lied to your dad. I know who the new alpha is because she messaged me. Wolves have been having a hard time since you rejected Kaylee. They want to leave, and so do I. I am only staying till you and Simon take over the pack,” he continues, his hazel eyes boring into mine.

“Why are you telling me this, Beta Kurt?” I ask, suspicious of this man.

“Because your father is going to ruin Oak Fur. I am not going down with it when he does.” His lips are set in a grim line, and I am left speechless. This is my father’s beta, and if his words were to get back to him, my father would kill Beta Kurt.

“I have to plan a few patrols with our head warrior,” I say.

He places his hand on my shoulder, the tone of his voice dark and low. “Be careful of him and Marilyn. I know the deal that was made to keep Blood Oath from attacking us, but I think something else is going on.” With those final words, Beta Kurt backs away, before turning around and rushing back inside the pack house. I watch him go, my mind reeling from the warning.

Something catches my eye, and I notice a few pairs of eyes staring at me from the window. Marilyn and Pearl stand there, their faces void of smiles. Glaring at my fiancée and her best friend, I turn on the ATV and drive off. Something tells me I need to talk to Simon later. For now, I will focus on my duties to the pack.

16

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