Page 37 of Rejected By the Alpha

“It’s a long story, but not mine to tell. Besides, you’re no longer my alpha.” Shocked by this other piece of news, I search the pack link and curse. It seems while Simon was laying out these shocking bits of news, he had renounced himself as an Oak Fur wolf. Everyone but Kurt and I had actually renounced their status.

“I hate you.” Glaring at my friend, I watch as an amused smirk crosses Simon’s face.

“You just hate the fact you can’t boss me around anymore,” he retorts in a sing-song voice, twirling a pair of car keys around his index finger. With a sigh, I follow him towards the closest van, getting ready to climb into the passenger seat when Edison comes into view.

“You’re in the back, Lucas,” the warrior states, his voice neither commanding nor friendly. I sigh, resigning myself to my fate, and climb into the back seat of the van. I can feel those in Oak Fur trying to reach out to me through the pack link, feel their confusion at so many of our wolves flicking out and turning rogue. I close my eyes and take a deep breath as the rage and anger from Ramos come through. I knew he would feel the bond of our packmates flicking out. Oak Fur will be weaker without all of us, but they had their chance.

“Everything fine?” Edison asks. My eyes open to find that he has turned in his seat to look at me. Concern and suspicion fill his gaze, and I realize he must be worried about me.

“Yeah. I am the last one connected to Oak Fur, and there are a lot of emotions attacking the pack link from everyone left there. Mostly anger, but some with sadness,” I explain, closing my eyes once more.

“Well, you need to denounce your rights as the heir to Oak Fur and become a rogue before we can leave,” the warrior states. I hum in acknowledgment, taking deep breaths as I prepare myself for the pain that will come with denouncing myself to my ancestral pack. With me gone, the pack will grow even weaker.

With a final deep breath, I send a goodbye to the link before I mentally denounce my rights as heir of Oak Fur. A beat of silence passes before I feel the pain—like a sharp knife set aflame, slicing through my heart. I grunt as the pain consumes me, but realize it is dull compared to the pain I felt when Kaylee finally dealt with the pain of rejection. Nothing will ever be as painful as feeling just a tenth of what my mate felt that day.

“You okay?” Simon asks, and I open my eyes to find my best friend watching me.

“Yeah. This is nothing, compared to what Kaylee went through.” Reassuring my friend, I close my eyes again and focus on breathing. I hear Edison ask Simon what I meant, and Simon goes on to explain how I felt the residual pain Kaylee went through when she stopped holding everything in. A low whistle sounds from the Ivory Fangs warrior before the van roars to life.

The pain slowly dulls as we drive away, and I find it easier to breathe, the pressure slowly relenting until I can take a deep breath. I am a rogue now. Packless, mateless, and judging by the cold introduction to Ivory Fangs, unwanted. But this is nothing.

I will become stronger, become a better person, and will find Kaylee. I will show her I regret hurting her. Will prove to her that I will never allow anyone—other than her—to tell me what to do ever again.

Once we are safely at Ivory Fangs, I will thank the alpha and beta there, then set off to find my Kaylee.

38

Kaylee

Watching the cars of Shadow Moon drive away, I let out a sigh of relief and plop down onto the pack house steps. The last five days have been hectic, between creating a peace treaty with Alpha Jordan, showing our visitors around specific buildings, and trying to keep Alpha Jordan in check—especially with how his lust towards me was openly shown.

A few times, I had to break up a fight or two caused by Shadow Moon’s wolves goading one of my own, and I promptly sent the offending party to our prison cell for a night to cool off. Alpha Jordan was not happy when I did this, but Amelia and I told him to keep his wolves in check or leave. He grumbled and backed down after that, and on the third day of their visit, they did not cause any more fights. The only wolf that was willing to be friendly was Titus. I even invited the beta to a game of poker at my cottage, where Marco and I robbed him blind at the game, gaining just over three hundred dollars each.

Last night, we held an initiation ceremony to welcome the current group of Oak Fur wolves into the pack, as well as show the Shadow Moon wolves that we are growing. That Ivory Fangs is stronger than Silver Paw was and will fight back if they try anything ever again. It became a ‘welcome to the pack’ and a ‘good riddance’ party all in one, to celebrate our new wolves and say farewell to Shadow Moon.

“Ash called,” David states as he joins me on the steps. I lean against his body, feeling the familial comfort he radiates, and breathe in his scent.

“What’s the update on them?” I ask, feeling another headache begin. In two days’ time, Ash and Edison will return with the final group of Oak Fur wolves that will join our pack. Soon, I will have to face Lucas after almost three months since the rejection. Part of me is ready to lay into him, to demand answers while also kicking his ass for being an idiot. The other part of me is scared. He hurt me, kept secrets from me, and threw me away at the order of Ramos. So how could I trust him again?

“They will be back in two days.” David wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer to his side and giving me the familiar warmth my father used to give me when I was stressed or troubled. I close my eyes and relish in the comfort, while I weigh the implication of these words.

I only have two days before he comes.

“How is Amelia handling this news?” David groans at this and I laugh, already imagining what his answer might be.

“Let’s just say that nephew of ours is in for a beating from her,” he answers, pulling back to look at me. I catch the smirk on his lips and grin back, as a hint of realization fills his eyes.

“Make that a double ass-beating, because you deserve a chance to lay into him, too.” I find myself laughing again at this statement and wholeheartedly agree. When he comes, Lucas will just be a regular wolf, maybe even a warrior. It is up to me to decide if I want to forgive Lucas, or let the bond die for good and find a new mate. Of course, there is another option, and that is we can send him to an ally pack. But I have a feeling Amelia would want to keep Lucas here, due to him being family, and needing a second chance in a pack. That’s what Ivory Fangs is, a second chance to those in need. We haven’t just accepted Oak Fur wolves into the pack, but also rogues since our ascension as alpha and beta. Turning Lucas away would go against our pack’s beliefs.

“On another note, Simon and Ash hit it off, and I have a feeling Ash will be stealing him as a hunter,” David continues. I think back to my best friend, how his tall form made him fast when in both wolf and human form. He and I were trained by my parents on how to hunt, and could easily take down a large moose alone, or a bear when working together. His kills, like Ash’s, are clean and simple, and I think Ash made a good choice choosing Simon to become a hunter.

“Since I have two days before they come here, can I take those days off until they arrive?” I inquire, getting a nod from David.

“Amelia actually sent me to tell you to take a few days off. You did good in dealing with Alpha Jordan and his advances, and Amelia and I both agree you need a break.” I smile at David’s praise and instantly hug him. These two days I will spendlounging in bed, reading, or even just baking. I can prepare a room for Simon, and have my sworn brother move in with me until he finds his mate, and everything will be fine. Well, as fine as things can be.

Deciding to start my break now, I tell David that I will see him tomorrow for family dinner at his house, and rise to my feet. He tells me to enjoy my time off as he stands, waving at me before heading back into the pack house. Excited to be off pack duties, I open up the pack link as I start the trek to my cottage.

[I am taking the next two days off. Don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency,] I link to everyone, as I wave to packmates that tell me to enjoy the rest.

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