Page 66 of Rejected By the Alpha

“You came to Ivory Fangs in the beginning not to join it, but to make sure your fellow packmates found a pack that would accept and protect them. Is this correct?”

“It is.” His voice is neither quiet nor loud, and full of respect.

“Now, you wish to join Ivory Fangs as a warrior, willing to put your life on the line if need be, to serve and protect those weaker than you. Is this correct?” Amelia’s blood throbs as the power within meets the power of Lucas’ head-on. I shiver, my own blood humming stronger as our energies fill the air. All eyes are on the three of us, but I focus on my alpha and my ex-mate. It seems that Lucas is not fighting back, being as he is an alpha, but accepting and even reaching out for Amelia, wanting to be accepted by her.

“This is correct.” I shiver again, his voice deep and mesmerizing. The mate bond hums, wanting to reach out and accept Lucas, but I hold back. I am still not sure how I feel about him, but I am happy to be packmates again.

“Then do you, Lucas Rider, accept me as your alpha and leader, and do you swear your loyalty to the pack and the bonds it provides?” Amelia asks, her eyes filling with tears. Lucas looks up, his eyes meeting my gaze first as he sends me a questioning look. It’s as if he is asking if I am okay with him joining. I find myself nodding, sending him an encouraging smile before he breaks our eye contact and turns to look at Amelia.

“I swear my loyalty to you as my alpha, and to Ivory Fangs as my pack and family.” His words seal his fate as I feel his power clasping onto mine and Amelia’s. The mate bond mends a little more and after probing it, I realize it needs just a little push to mend completely. I am shocked when his bond clicks into place on the pack link. It is bright and welcoming, commanding respect. But it slowly is subdued, as if accepting its new spot on the pack hierarchy.

Amelia helps Lucas to stand, her tears flowing as she pulls him in for a hug. His shoulders slump with relief, and without a second thought, I step forward and place my hand on his shoulder.

“Welcome to the pack, Lucas,” I congratulate him, watching as he pulls away from Amelia to turn to me.

“Thank you. I am happy to be here.”

71

Kurt

Pulling up to the farmhouse, I let out a nervous breath. This is the first time in years that I will be seeing Maya again. My niece and I had been adamant about not seeing each other, for the safety of her and the others. Had Ramos learned some of the wolves of Harvest Willow survived, he would have hunted them down and killed them himself.

“I thought you said they lived with humans?” Ash questions, looking out the windows of the bus.

“They do. The city is just a ten-minute drive from here, and the pups go to the nearest schools,” I answer, standing from the driver's seat and stretching. Seven days on the road with minimal stops left me feeling sore, but thankfully I did not have to drive all the way.

“Besides, I own the farm and land here.” Ash was in the middle of drinking some coffee when I revealed this, nearly spitting it out in shock. Chuckling at the young hunter, I open the bus door and step outside, ignoring his questioning look as I walk towards the front porch. I can feel the gaze of others watching me as I walk closer to the farmhouse, figuring that the fifteen wolves inside are curious to see who is approaching them.

“Uncle Kurt!” a voice calls out as the door opens and Maya runs out, jumping into my arms. I catch her, holding her tightly as I take in the scent of elderberries and apples.

“Hey, Kiddo,” I whisper, feeling my throat tightening as I hold back tears. The memory of finding her and the others in a hidden bunker, dirty, shaking with fear, and skinny from lack of food still fresh in my mind.

“You look good,” I manage to say, as I pull away to look at my niece. She has gained weight since I last saw her, no longer the thin-as-a-branch she-wolf I remember. Instead, she has put on some muscle, her body sturdier than ever.

“Thanks. Working as a freelance construction worker helped a lot,” she answers, looking past me as the other three men join us.

“Are these Ivory Fangs wolves?” Her voice becomes a whisper, her green eyes holding suspicion as Ash, Edison, and David stop a few feet away.

“Yes. Come, let me introduce you to them.” Taking her hand, I pull Maya towards the others, introducing Edison and Ash first, the two being gentlemen thankfully, or I would have had to kick their asses.

“I am David Saint, Luan to Ivory Fangs.” David holds his hand out to Maya, who takes it gingerly as he introduces himself. I hold back a chuckle as she looks between David and me, confusion on her face.

“So, what’s a Luan?” Maya finally asks, sticking closer to my side with unease in her posture. Ash snickers a bit, getting a smack upside the head from Edison and a glare from David, before David returns his attention to Maya.

“A male Luna. Amelia is the alpha, and I am her Luan. I basically perform the duties of a Luna,” he clarifies. I watch as Maya’s eyes light up in surprise. All she has known is the regular hierarchy, where males rule and the she-wolves are submissive. It must be a shock to see the roles reversed.

“You’re okay with your mate being the alpha?” my niece asks with skepticism, getting a smile from David.

“I like doing the ‘traditional’ roles. Gardening and planning new ways to better the pack makes me happy. Leading and protecting them makes Amelia happy.” This answer seems to be the one to make Maya warm up to the others, as she steps closer to David, a smile on her face.

“And she is okay with us joining Ivory Fangs?”

“We all are. We might end up going to war with Oak Fur next year, once Ramos learns Amelia and Kaylee are the alpha and beta, so now is your chance to back out.” Ash answers this time, a playful smirk on his lips. Maya rolls her eyes at him, ignoring the hunter, and I nearly growl a warning to him. I can see he is interested in her, but they aren’t goddess-given mates. Maya would have launched herself at him if they were.

“Me and the others have a grudge against Oak Fur. If they want a fight, count us in.” A bloodthirstiness emits from my niece, and I shudder. It seems that this is something they have been planning for the last few years, and I don’t blame them. It’s been nine years since Ramos killed nearly everyone in Harvest Willow. Even I want a turn at ripping that man’s throat out.

“If you all aren’t in a hurry, come settle in for the night and we can leave tomorrow,” Maya states, nodding back towards the farmhouse. With a unanimous yes, we all follow Maya into the house, and the scent of the wolves hits me. They no longer smell like Harvest Willow, but like rogues. Some wolves sit in the living room that the front door opens up to, two teenagers relaxing on recliners while three pups work on what look like art and puzzle books.

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