Rejected By the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #5)

71. Kurt

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.

“We already informed their teachers we are moving, and that the pups will be transferring schools,” Maya explains as I wave to a boy I recognize. Andre Morisson was five when the attack happened. He should be fourteen now.

“Everyone is excited to have a pack, finally.”

“And we are excited to have them as well,” David chimes in, sending a friendly smile to the pups.

“We have a guest room with two sets of bunk beds. It’s not the most comfortable, but it’ll be better than sleeping on a bus. It also comes with an attached bathroom we keep stocked,” Maya states as she leads us up the stairs and to the aforementioned room. After telling us dinner is in ten, the four of us pile into the room. Ash and Edison take the top bunks, while I take the first shower. It’s clear by how simple the furniture and linens are that Maya budgeted every dollar they made, and I am happy that I will be bringing them all back to Ivory Fangs tomorrow.

These wolves deserve a second chance.