Page 57 of Rejected By the Alpha King

“You have the most defendable land, and our witches will be protected. It will be the safest place for them. You’re my first call, Jax, but I only need two more alphas to agree, and the meeting will be on your land. Consider this a courtesy call.”

She hung up, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Maeve could be vicious on the ground, but she also enjoyed her mind games.”

“As you can see,” I told my lingering annual members, “some people are more concerned with this threat of consolidated power rather than my choice in bed mates.”

“Just because a second witch was killed,” Celine started….

“This,” Calden interrupted sharply, “just means that we need to replace Irene. We have a list of witches…”

“Irene is fine,” I cut him off. “We do not need another witch. Irene will be fine. Maeve is right. This was a courtesy call. The other alphas will agree, at least Emerson and TK will. “I need to strategize. This is our focus. Not another word about Anna. My decision with her is final. You want a new alpha, find someone worthy enough to challenge me. Until then, we need to prepare for our guests.”

Hate glittered from their eyes, and I pushed my power through the pack bond. Enough to make them gasp and remember that I was their alpha.

They bowed out quietly, and I glanced at the time. The day was over.

It was time to do battle.

I told Anna she could have complete freedom of the territory as long as she returned home at seven every night to eat with me. Every day, I stationed a guard to follow her, but she never left until today.

Time to see if she returned.

“Jax,” a voice squealed just as I approached the house. Briella, a young and pretty redhead, was waiting for me on the front porch. She’d spent her early years as a rogue until she and her family had been chased into my territory. They claimed sanctuary, and I allowed them stay. Now, then years later, she was a lovely girl of twenty and looked at me with stars in her eyes.

“Briella,” I greeted as I opened the door. “How can I help you?”

With a giggle, she fell into step next to me. “I just haven’t seen you in a while, and I wanted to let you know that I’d missed you. Have you had dinner yet?”

“I’m about to right now.” The house was quiet, but that was nothing new. Unlike the other alphas, I didn’t keep a staff.

Someone came in to clean once a week, but I ate with the others at the mess halls and restaurants. Not lately. I’d been grabbing take-out dinners with my mate.

A trying time for us both.

“Is that from the food hall? Oh, let me cook for you! Please, alpha! My wolf has been feeling a little wayward lately, and I think spending some time with you would do me some good!”

“Actually, I think you’ll find the exact opposite will happen if you don’t get your fucking hands off my mate,” Anna said coldly when we reached the dining room.

Anna was at the table waiting for me. Some nights, she had an interesting surprise. Once, there was a formal dress from a closet of discarded clothes she’d found.

A scandalous red that looked much better on her than it did on its former owner.

The next night, she wore a pair of filthy jeans and a jean jacket.

Tonight, she is in a pair of green panties and a bra with a gem dangling between her breasts.

For fuck’s sake.

I heard the danger in her voice, but apparently Briella did not. She didn’t remove her hands, even when Anna rose from the table, violence in her eyes. “What are you doing in his house? Aren’t you supposed to be in some attic somewhere?” Briella said in an annoyed voice. “Jax, what is she doing here?”

I didn’t say anything. Anna advanced, and I felt the wolf glowing in her eyes. Well, shit. This was an unexpected turn of events, although I couldn’t say I didn’t like it. Knowing that Anna was jealous, watching her defend me, made me harder than I wanted to admit.

“What the fuck did I tell you?” Anna hissed as she lunged. I caught her quickly, wrapping my around her mid-section and sitting her back down. At the same time, I stepped away from Briella.

“It’s all right, baby,” I assured her. “I’m yours.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped at me. “What’s your name?”

Briella was clearly shocked that I’d taken Anna’s side. “B…Br…Briella,” she whispered.

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