Rejected By the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #5)

64. Kaylee

64

Kaylee

The bonfire is going great. David and Kurt had done a good job organizing it, while Amelia was away at Shadow Moon and I was indisposed. Everyone has come up to greet me, welcoming me back home and telling me to take it easy and focus on healing. Thankfully, no one asks what I have been through, deciding that it is a taboo subject, and I am happy for that.

“He keeps staring at you,” Marco mutters under his breath, as a she-wolf named Clair explains that they have started planning our own decoy town just outside the pack borders. I turn to where the heated gaze I have felt for a while is coming from and find Lucas staring at me. I try to keep listening to Clair go on and on about a fashion boutique she plans to open before someone thankfully calls her name. I nod to Lucas, unsure how I feel about him still, before returning my attention to all the packmates coming to see me. After a few more minutes, I excuse myself, claiming to need a break, and Marco, Royce, and I head off to find a quiet area.

“How are you feeling, Kaylee?” Royce asks, lightly bumping his shoulder against mine.

“Tired. This is taking a lot out of me,” I admit, feeling slightly guilty. My body does not feel so sore from the forced heat, and my energy has slowly grown while doing nothing but resting and watching movies with Adam, Henry, and Lace. But having to socialize and stand for so long still takes a lot of energy.

“Well, how about you find a seat, and Royce and I will bring you food,” Marco suggests, getting an enthusiastic nod from Royce as he agrees. I thank them, and we find a small table for me to sit at before the two rush off toward the long tables filled with food. I can still feel Lucas’ gaze on me, and I look to find him talking with a group of warriors. Marco told me he was going to be the one Lucas would shadow, but David intervened and Ricky took his place. Even I had to admit that this was probably a good idea.

Lucas looks relaxed, something I haven’t seen him be in years. Even the scars on his face seem to have healed a bit since our return to Ivory Fangs. His gaze meets mine and he smiles, his eyes twinkling, and for a moment my heart feels like it skips a beat. I know it’s the mate bond trying to mend itself further, but I don’t seem to want to fight it right now. His gaze holds mine for a moment before one of the warriors grabs Lucas’ attention and I finally am able to look away, with my thoughts feeling like a chaotic mess. Lucky for me, Royce and Marco return with food and drinks in hand, my two friends coming to sit with me.

“He seems to be enjoying himself,” Royce shrugs, nodding in the direction of Lucas.

“It’s the first time in years he hasn’t had to put on a mask,” Amelia says from behind me. I turn to smile at her, offering her the only other seat at the table and she takes it, letting out a sigh as she sits.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, taking my right hand in hers.

“Sore and tired, but better,” I answer, feeling her squeeze my hand.

“Good. David told me you are on bed rest, so take as long as you need to heal. Your beta position will still be there when you are ready to return to it.” I thank her, happy to know that she and David didn’t decide to replace me and take my hand from hers so that I can eat. I ask how helping Titus take over the pack went. She explains that everything went well, but they found some information that concerns me and that when I feel up to it, we need to have a small meeting with Lucas and Kurt. Concerned, I ask if we should do it now, but she just tells me to enjoy the bonfire with the pack, and that we will talk either later tonight or tomorrow.

“That was unsettling,” Royce states after a moment of silent passes.

“What do you think she wants to talk about?” Marco asks and I shrug, not sure what to say. It is clear whatever was found is related to my kidnapping.

“Well, it’s clear we aren’t invited to the meeting, so why don’t we get Kaylee drunk enough off of moonshine to get her out of it as well?” Royce voices with a smirk, making me roll my eyes.

“No, thank you. Besides, I am underage still, and won’t be able to drink till I am nineteen,” I decline the suggestion, Royce pouting and looking like a dejected puppy while Marco lets out a chuckle. We decide to take Amelia’s advice and enjoy the bonfire, talking to our packmates, answering questions from the Oak Fur wolves that will be initiated soon and even have Simon join our trio and make it into a group of four.

It turns out that while I was being held captive, Simon met his mate and it was Evette, the omega in charge of the kitchen. I knew she had some hidden power inside her, and seeing Simon’s mark on her neck confirms that she is meant for more than just being an omega. The now five of us find a spot near the closest bonfire, roasting marshmallows while I tell Evette stories about Simon as a pup.

Evette seems to pop out of her shell the more we talk, from the shy omega I met my first day in the pack when it was Silver Paw, to a bold she-wolf teasing Simon with the rest of us, and making me laugh harder than I have in my life. The exhaustion from the last week seems to fade, and I find myself relaxing, surrounded by friends and family. For once, I am grateful that I was rejected. If I hadn’t been, I would have never grown stronger, never found myself to be happier.

My eyes once again meet Lucas’ and without thinking, I give him a smile, watching his eyes widen before he turns away with a blush. I may not be able to be his mate after the pain he put me through, but maybe we can be friends again.