Page 64 of Rejected By the Alpha

“Sound like someone we know?” I ask back.

“Yeah. A certain beta who always seems to have trouble finding her.” We both laugh at that, having watched Kaylee grow from a newborn to a leader. She would have made a great Luna, had she and Lucas mated.

“So, how did you meet Maya when Ramos had you trapped in Oak Fur?” Ash chimes in.

“He would take Lidia, me, and a few warriors with him to visit Harvest Willow every year, just to show his face. It was then I learned my brother and his mate had a pup, and I watched her grow up year by year.”

“Maya is your niece?” Edison cuts me off and I grin, looking in the rearview mirror to see the warrior looking worried and a bit afraid.

“She is. So, I suggest you two get any thoughts of courting her out of your head. If you aren’t her goddess-given mate, leave her alone.” Edison nods at my veiled threat. I return my focus to driving, the excitement at seeing Maya and the others growing. Seven days, and I will be able to hug my niece again. Then another seven days of catching up with her while we drive home.

Home.

I haven’t had a proper home since Ramos took Lidia and me twenty-five years ago. Now, in Ivory Fangs, I finally found that peace I have missed. A peace that I can share with my last remaining relative.

69

Kaylee

“You sure you want to live on your own again?” Amelia asks as we stand in front of my cottage. It has been five days since the bonfire, six since my bed rest started. The last few days, I have been busy coordinating with Amelia, Simon, Lucas, Royce, and Marco on training the pack. David and Kurt left the day after the bonfire, when Kurt convinced the Harvest Willow refugees to join Ivory Fangs.

Since I was unable to train, I decided to ask the omegas to help with freeze-drying fruits and easy-to-rehydrate meals that will last at least two years in storage, and will be added to the bunkers that have been okayed by Amelia to be built. Alexander had a field day when he was asked to budget for ten bunkers around the pack territory, that could fit a maximum of twenty people inside. It was part of the plan that Royce and Lucas came up with five days ago.

“I am sure. Tomorrow, I hopefully get a clean bill of health from Hannah, and from there I can resume training with the others,” I answer, taking a deep breath. Amelia sighs, but doesn’t argue back. For the last six days, I have stayed in her house with the family, either using their home office for my own needs, or watching movies with the three pups. As much as I love them, I was beginning to miss having my own space.

“I am not used to living with other people, and all of my belongings are here,” I admit sheepishly, getting an understanding look from Amelia. Without further hesitation, I push the door to my cottage open and step inside. It has been kept clean by David and Adam, the two coming to dust and water my house plants since the day I was kidnapped up until four days ago. Then Adam continued coming to help prepare it for when I decided to live on my own again. It is because of their love and help that nothing is out of place, other than smelling off from my scent fading.

My first stop is my kitchen where I happily find my stash of chocolate untouched, before I walk around double-checking everything. It’s been just over three weeks from when I was kidnapped till now. I’ve missed my bed, and really can’t wait for a night alone without having someone checking in on me in the middle of the night.

“Do you want me to stick around for an hour?” Amelia asks, as I return to the living room after checking my bedroom.

“No, thank you though.” Stepping closer, I hug Amelia and smile when I scent her rose perfume. She really has become the mother I needed.

“Simon is coming over for a bit to hang out. He is excited to become a full member of Ivory Fangs tonight, now that he has finished shadowing a warrior named Connor, and ready to find his place here.”

“I feel bad David isn’t here to celebrate with us. I even offered to initiate Kurt before he left, but he asked me to wait until the Harvest Willow wolves joined.”

“They know that the Oak Fur refugees have waited long enough, between me being kidnapped and the two of us being busy. It’s time to give everyone that came from Oak Fur a home,” I reason, getting a smile from Amelia.

“Some days, I feel like you are the alpha, and me the beta,” she jokes, poking my nose. I sneeze, pulling away from Amelia to grab a tissue and blow my nose, as I realize she has pollen on her fingers from the lilac bush. She laughs as I glare at her, wiping her hands off on her pants before her eyes glaze over. A moment passes before she sighs, stating the omegas need her to finalize everything for tonight, and tells me to have fun with Simon. With a smile, I plop onto my sofa as she closes the door, relishing in being back in my cottage. There are no sounds of Lace and Henry fighting. No yelling for who has the T.V. next, or who ate whose cookies. Just peace and quiet.

“Kaylee, you here?” Simon calls out as the door to my cottage opens.

“On the sofa,” I call back, sitting up and looking at my friend. He is standing by the door, his eyes scanning the room as he takes in my new home.

“It’s smaller than I thought it would be,” he muses, shutting the front door and coming to sit beside me.

“It’s perfect for a single she-wolf,” I point out, getting a chuckle from him.

“That it is, but I have a feeling you won’t be single for long.”

“Simon, you came here to hang out before your initiation, not to lecture me.” I stop him from continuing, getting a helpless sigh from my friend.

“He wants to make things right, Kaylee. You have seen how he has dived right in to help Ivory Fangs become stronger this week.”

“I know. Trust me, Simon, I know.” Running my hands through my hair and standing to my feet, I find myself pacing the length of my living room in front of the T.V. before I continue.

“He helped me through a forced heat. I knew he was reluctant to do it considering our past, but it was either help me, or watch me die. Then, when Kurt told us everything, he held me while I cried. I can feel his sincerity, feel his hope through the bond that is slowly mending, but I am scared.” Simon is up, pulling me into his arms and holding me tightly. I take a deep breath as I let my emotions settle.

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