Chapter Twenty-Five
“Stop fucking calling me boy. I’m a twenty-seven-year-old man.” Derek snarled, but I just smiled.
“If you want me to treat you like a man, like a male worthy of the Beta title…then act like it.” I turned to Vince. “Are you ready?”
“I am quite busy.” He started, but froze when another savage growl ripped out of me. He raised his hands. “But I will make the time to come down with you right now to remove my command.”
I nodded. “Good.” I looked down at the ground. “Sorry, I am obviously on edge. She is the last member of my pack and I failed her.” I looked at the wall and waited for Vince to nod.
“No Alpha wanted to feel like they failed a member of their pack. And I can understand your anger. You left her in my care, and you came home to this.” Vince scratched the back of his neck like he was feeling bad. But I knew this was just an act. “I apologize for my hand in this mess.”
I nodded. “I appreciate it. As long as it is rectified today.”
Brandon walked over and grabbed my hand. “I’ll tag along.” He nodded solemnly. “I know what you’re saying, but I want to see Lynn for myself. I want to see the impact this kind of thing can have on a wolf.” I looked into his eyes and nodded.
Then, like we planned it, the three of us turned to Derek. I tilted my head. “Make your choice. I’m over these games.”
Derek looked at Brandon and then Vince before he sagged. “I’ll accept her rejection.”
I nodded. “Good. Let’s go.” I spun on my heels and opened the door, holding it open for the three men. “I assume you know the way to my house.”
Brandon turned with a confused look. “Did you walk here?”
I laughed. “I ran here.” I shut the door behind us as they trailed down the stairs.
“We aren’t walking, are we?” Derek looked disgusted.
“I’ll drive us.” Vince walked to his car and slid in. He wanted this done as soon as possible. Good. So did I.
I slid into the back and Brandon, who I assumed would sit in the passenger seat, slid in next to me. He settled close, grabbing my hand and pulling it to his lap. “Do you mind?” He looked down at our entwined hands and slowly looked back up at my face with a small smile on his.
I looked out the window, ignoring him completely. “No, I don’t mind.” He squeezed my hand as we drove.
“I meant it, you know.” His words were soft.
“Meant what?” I turned to face him, confused.
“That if you would say yes, I would make you my Luna.” I let surprise show on my face. “The letter I wrote you. I meant it.”
“We are friends.” He nodded.
“We are, and we could be more.” He smiled as he leaned closer.
I knew he was going to kiss me. I was battling against myself to allow it or not when the car stopped.
He pulled back, but I watched everything drain from his face.
The smile was replaced by what I can only call revulsion.
“You did that?” His words were full of horror.
He turned to Derek in the front seat. I was forgotten.
“I saw Lynn before I left for school. She was strong, vibrant, funny even. She was full of…” He was at a loss for words, but I knew what he was trying to say.
“Life.” I finished for him. “She was full of life.”
He turned his eyes back to me and I could see the pain there. I couldn’t tell if he was faking it or not, but it was there. “I understand.” I nodded and stepped out of the car.
“Lynn.” I walked over to my wolf, where Toya was holding her up. Her hollow eyes were full of malice as she stared at the car. Derek and Vince got out of the car and came over. Lynn started to tremble. I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or anger, but I wrapped my arm around her.
“I’ve got you.” I hugged her close and faced the men.
“Do it.” Derek lifted his lip in disgust, but I held my hand up before he could speak.
“I want you to think about what you are about to say. I am on a knife’s edge.
The only reason you are still alive is because I respected Brandon and Alpha Vince.
If I didn’t, I would have ripped your head from your shoulders the minute I saw you. ”
He scoffed. “Brandon held you back.”
Brandon sighed. “She allowed me to hold her back.”
Derek looked at his friend. “What?”
“Amy is better trained than most of our warriors. She already told you that. She was trained by her father.” Brandon continued as Vince shook his head. “She could have killed you before either of us could have reacted.”
“You’re lying.”
I smirked. “Do you want to try? Or do you want to do what you came here to do?”
Vince cuffed his head and stepped up. “Lynn, I remove any and all commands I have laid on you since you came to my pack lands.” Lynn sagged as the command left her.
“Derek?” The threat was in my voice as I called for him.
He snarled, but stepped forward. “I accept your rejection.” Then he spun on his heel and got back into the car.
“Amy.” Brandon tried to reach for me but Lynn turned to me.
“Alpha.” Lynn’s ragged sob ripped through the air, and her tears came fast. She sagged into my arms.
“It’s okay now. I have you.”
I looked back to Brandon and I mouthed a silent apology. I wasn’t, but I needed him to think I was. Then I turned Lynn back towards my house and brought her inside. We headed straight to my bedroom, but I froze. The fucking door.
“Toya?”
“Yeah?” She came up behind us.
“Take Lynn to my room. I need to speak to my mom about some food.” She saw the look in my eyes and nodded.
“Of course.” She sidled up next to Lynn. “Hey honey, I’m Toya. We are going to become the best of friends you and I.” Lynn barely registered her, and just leaned on her. They started upstairs, and I turned back to the kitchen.
“Mom?”
“Yeah baby?” She came around the corner and she saw my face.
“Did you kill that boy?” I just shook my head.
“Pity.” She turned around and headed back into the kitchen.
I followed her inside and leaned against the counter.
I needed a second. “That bad?” I nodded again.
She just came over and hugged me. “You did good, baby.”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t. If I had, this would never have happened.”
She stroked my hair back from my face. “The Goddess gives her wolves the lessons she needs them to learn.” She leaned in and kissed my temple. Then she slides a plate in front of me. “Eat.”
I wanted to laugh, but I just shook my head. “I can’t.”
“You need something, right? That’s why you are here? Then eat, or it’s a no.” I stared at her for a minute and then I grabbed the sandwich from the plate. “There’s my girl.”
I huffed, but took a bite. I was hungrier than I thought because before I could blink; the sandwich was completely gone. “Okay.” I raised my eyebrow, and she nodded.
“What do you need?”
Wait. Nix called out. I raised my finger and pointed to my head. My mom nodded and started to wash dishes, waiting for me to talk to my wolves. This is Morgan’s house. We don’t know what he’s put around here. Tell me what you need and I will tell her, wolf.
I looked around the kitchen and grimaced. Nix was right, we had no idea what or who might be listening. I thought about the page. We need sage, mint, thyme, and turmeric. She nodded and then turned around and ran back to the trees.
“I need nothing.” I smiled as I went to the fridge.
“Toya and Lynn are leaving tonight, and she wanted to know if you have a few extra spices. Getting stuff to the island is harder than she wants to admit.” I grabbed a can of soda and closed the fridge.
I turned to find my mother already rummaging around in the spice cabinet.
“I have a few extras. I can replace them later. So I’m not worried.” She put them into a zip-top bag. I took a sip of my soda, doing my best to seem relaxed. I wouldn’t put it past Morgan and Vince to have cameras set up around here. “Does she need anything else?”
I shook my head. “I’ll be putting in a food order to deliver to the port for her and Lynn.
She just said that the store near the port didn’t have many spice options.
Her dad used to have to drive hours to get them.
” I lifted my shoulder. “I also ordered them a car, but that isn’t going to be delivered for a few weeks. ” I sighed.
My mother turned around, and she had a look in her eyes. Nix must have told her what we were doing. “That’s generous of you.”
I shook my head. “Not really. Daddy left me way too much money to ever get through it all. Plus, my own investments have been doing very well.”
I saw a flash of hair at the wall, and I knew Shannon was pressed against the wall, listening. My mom nodded. “How much do you have now?”
I puffed out my lips. “Goddess, I can’t even remember. Daddy left me almost one hundred billion, but I’ve made almost double that since I started school.” I heard a faint gasp and soft footsteps away. Nix was back and she and Megan snorted.
That child is too foolish. Nix huffed out a breath. Megan nodded.
“That’s amazing baby.”
“Yeah.” I heard two sets of footsteps come back and I wanted to smirk.
“I bought all the girls their dream cars as graduation gifts. Toya’s is taking the longest, but Wendy’s mom has hers.
Hanna’s and Micca’s should be at their packs by the time they get there today.
” There was a honk outside and this time I did smirk.
But it was gone before my mother could see it.
She furrowed her brow. “I wonder who that is.” I grabbed the zip-top bag of spices from the counter.
She was already walking out of the kitchen, causing Morgan and Shannon to scramble. “Let’s go see.” I followed her outside and then bumped right into her back. “Mom?”
“What is going on?” Her whisper was soft, but she turned to look at me as the brand new bright red SUV was being unloaded.
“Surprise!”