Rejected By the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #5)

25. Kaylee

25

Kaylee

Walking into the pack house, I am making a beeline for the dining room when Marco steps into the hall and blocks my path, a grim look on his face. I stop where I stand, the smell of food wafting from behind him tempting me to tell him that whatever it is can wait, I am hungry.

“Amelia wants us upstairs in her office,” he states, before I can walk around him on my quest for food. I groan and turn on my heels. If Amelia wants us in her office, then our alpha has gained some bad news. News that requires her beta and head warrior to handle. Making my way towards the staircase, I stop as pups come running inside with their parents, these ones coming from the ten to fifteen training group.

“Slow down before you walk into Beta Kaylee!” Royce calls out, the lanky man running a hand through his hair in frustration as he leans against the open pack house doors.

“Amelia linked me. It’s bad, isn’t it?” the new head hunter asks as he comes to join Marco and me. I shrug and motion for the men to go up the stairs first, before following after them. My stomach grumbles as soon as we enter Amelia’s office and she chuckles, telling me she already linked Evette to bring us some food. Thank the goddess.

We hold off on this impromptu meeting until Evette arrives, rolling a cart of food into the room and telling us to link her if we need more. I walk her out and close the office door so that no one can hear our conversation, before returning to my seat with a plate of food in hand.

“So, what’s the problem?” I ask, taking a seat across from Amelia as she turns her computer monitor to face the three of us.

“David already knows and is preparing for it, but we have a bit of a situation,” she begins to explain, running a hand through her hair.

“A neighboring pack wants to come visit Ivory Fangs to meet me and you, Kaylee.” Shocked, I put my fork down on my plate as everyone looks to me.

“Me? Why me?” I ask. I am just the beta. I provide additional support when Amelia and David are busy handling more important pack matters.

“Because at eighteen, you are the youngest beta in the country, and he wants to see if you are his mate.” Marco scoffs this time at Amelia’s explanation, swiping a piece of bacon from my plate and earning himself a glare from me.

“We all know who my mate, is so there is no need for me to meet this alpha,” I shrug, picking my fork back up and taking a bite of my food. Amelia lets out another sigh and rubs her temple, and I take this as a sign that she is trying to come up with the right words for what she is going to say next.

“There is a reason why we can’t say no to this alpha coming, and this is why Marco and Royce are here.” The boys grow rigid at this, their eyes narrowing into slits as they take in the apologetic gaze Amelia sends their way.

“By now you know that three weeks ago, the son of the previous alpha of Shadow Moon challenged and killed his father for attacking Silver Paw.” We all nod, unease settling in the room as Marco reaches out and takes my hand. I can feel him shaking, sensing the same rage inside him that I feel whenever someone mentions Oak Fur around me.

“Well, he was just made alpha last week, and wishes to come here to compensate us for—”

“No!” Marco stands from his chair so fast it falls back, his body shaking as rage builds inside him. I set my plate down and move closer to my friend, wrapping my free arm around him and trying my best to calm him down.

“Marco, we can’t not accept this peace offer,” Amelia tries to reason, allowing her calming tone to wash over us.

“His father killed our packmates. Killed innocent wolves, all because of a land dispute,” he shouts back. Royce has fallen to his knees, wrapping his arms around himself as he tries to stop a panic attack, and I look to Amelia helplessly. Having your enemies come to your pack after destroying it is something no wolf would accept.

“Marco, take a deep breath,” I command calmly, gently taking my hand from his and pulling his face towards me. I breathe in deeply, and Marco copies me. Once his focus is on calming down, I back away and help Royce, the head hunter following along until both men have calmed down from the shock of the news.

“Look. I know this is hard to take in, but this alpha wants to make a peace treaty, and has offered us a good fifty acres of land, plus an additional three million dollars we can use to expand the pack.” Once everyone has returned to their seats, Amelia continues to explain the situation and this time Royce and Marco are able to accept this. Their pack was destroyed over a land dispute. With Shadow Moon willingly giving us land, they are admitting to their own guilt and misdeeds.

“It is a good deal,” I muse, this time reaching for Marco’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. He closes his eyes, and we give him a moment to think. The late wolves of Silver Paw were part of his family. He felt each and every one of their losses personally.

“Have you accepted their deal yet?” Royce asks breaking the silence.

“No. We have until the last day of their stay to decide if they truly feel remorseful,” Amelia answers with a sigh.

“When will they be here?” Marco chimes in, making me smile as I see a sort of understanding in his gaze.

“Tomorrow. The alpha and ten of his wolves will be here tomorrow.”