Page 30 of Cruel Alpha Bully

When I reach for my phone, it’s completely blown up by messages and missed calls. From the way Gina gasps in surprise when she grabs hers, it’s exactly the same.

“I’m being called to an immediate meeting,” I say gruffly.

“Me too,” she answers. She looks fragile and wounded, sitting there on the edge of the bed, as if last night tore her to the bone. I want to take her in my arms and comfort her, but I’m not sure she’d accept it, so I keep my hands to myself.

We get ready and head to town, taking a cab because I left my car at the party. Out the back of Shelley’s, we find Carson, Sasha, Seth, and Dane waiting for us.

“Sit down,” Carson says, pointing at the end of the table.

Gina and I each take a chair. She keeps her eyes down while I look around the table, letting the elders know I’m here to be accountable and I’m not going to shy away from my own mistakes or the consequences of them.

“The whole pack is talking about last night,” Sasha says. “This is a completely unacceptable situation. Whatever problems you two are having, they should be talked out, not aired at top volume in a public place.”

“Agreed,” says Dane, nodding. “The gossip is ripping through the pack like wildfire.”

Gina looks up, and her face is a mess of tears. She looks tortured as well as exhausted, and my chest aches to see it. I can’t bear her pain.

“This can’t be allowed to go on. We’ve made a decision, and it is final,” Seth says.

My stomach goes cold, even as my heart beats faster. What are they going to do? Separate us?

Surely, they can’t do that!

“Take it easy,” Carson says, waving his hands lightly as if he can feel the tension rising in the air. “There’s no need to turn this into another fight.” He looks at me. “What we have decided is that you should leave on your mission to Mount Wilson immediately, and Gina is going with you.”

“What?” I cry out as I hear Gina gasp. “It’s dangerous!” I yell, banging my fist on the table. “I can’t just take her into enemy territory, especially when they are known to be hostile.”

Sasha shrugs. “She is an alpha mate. She has just as much responsibility as you do, and she needs to learn how to negotiate and even fight, if needed.”

“What’s the matter, Bae?” Seth asks, his voice hard. “Do you doubt your ability to protect your mate?”

I glare at him, clenching my fists. That’s a low blow, completely uncalled for. I know exactly why he did it—to force me to accept—and I hate that it fucking worked.

“Fine,” I say, sitting back in my chair. “Let’s do it. Let’s go, right now.”

“What if I don’t agree?” Gina asks.

The elders all exchange looks before Sasha turns to Gina. “You can refuse, but you give up your position as the alpha’s mate. You also become an outcast. You cannot return to the pack or run with wolves ever again. You will receive no protection or aid from us, or any other wolf. You will be known as a rogue—heartless, damaged, and not worthy of a place with us.”

Gina visibly gulps, and her breathing speeds up. She wraps her arms around herself, rocking a little. She glances over at me, then back to the elders.

“Okay,” she whispers, her voice thick with tears. “I’ll go.”

Chapter 11 - Gina

Later that day, Bae and I head out towards Sawpit, the closest town to Mount Wilson. We drive some of the way, but as soon as we reach the hiking trails, we leave the car and load ourselves up with gear for the long trek.

We need to go in on foot and stay near the human camping grounds, at least initially. We don’t want to make it look like we’re here to make a challenge, and it’s important we get a good look at what’s going on out in the wilderness.

I know members of our pack are probably watching us, or are at least somewhere nearby within hearing distance in case we need backup. Bae spoke with some of the scouts not long before we left.

As I get out of Bailey’s pickup, the chill wind blowing down from the peak hits me straight in the face. I’ve always liked the cold, but there is a ferocity in the air today that whispers of snow and ice.

It’s going to be freezing up there, quite literally.

Even though the chill makes me shiver, I can feel the excitement of my wolf. She won’t get cold, and she’s craving the excitement of running across snowy plains in the dead of night, the perfect white of the landscape reflecting every single shining star.

“Looks like it’s going to be a nice hike,” Bailey says. “Very clear air. We should try and get up a fair way before it gets dark, though.”

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