Page 7 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

“That’s pretty much out of our territory, but it will border us for sure. We have pack all the way to Lake City.” Bae looks concerned, but only mildly.

“Why are they doing all this?” Dane asks. “For years, they’ve stayed behind the lines. Why move on other packs now?”

I let out a deep sigh. “There is nothing up there, and I mean nothing. Traveling in the opposite direction to Silver Meadows, there is Norwood, which is the closest anything to Sawpit, but it’s still pretty empty. They wanted to move on Silverton, but Montrose and Orchard City have greater resources. Basically, they need supply routes.”

“For drugs, guns, and tobacco?” Sasha snaps.

“Yes,” I agree, nodding. “But also, for staple foods, soap, clothing… they have nothing up there.”

“It sounds like you feel for them,” Bae says in a hard tone.

“I do. It’s hard to live in a place for so long and not develop some connection to it. They became savage from the scarcity of the region. And the fact is, the pack is getting bigger.”

“Will they settle, if they gain access to a trade route?” Bae asks.

I shake my head slowly. “No. They are vengeful. They want to hurt others just for the sake of it. There is no helping them.”

Bae sighs, nodding. “Understood. What intel do you have?”

“I have all of their den locations. I can mark them on a map for you, as well as their patrol routes. The new alpha’s name is Jethro Martin, and he’s a savage son of a bitch. I’ll give you full intel on him, as well as all their supply routes.”

“Good,” Bae answers. “That’s more than enough intel to fuck them right over if we have to. I don’t think we can let them take any territory to the north. It will be too tempting for them to hit us.”

“I agree,” I mutter. “These are bad people, violent and completely disconnected from modern society. They don’t live by civilized rules.”

“We are extremely proud of you, Kyle,” Bae says, smiling. “You’ve done a fantastic job. Thank you for your service to the pack.”

A warm wave of pleasure tingles through me. Approval, acceptance, this is all I’ve ever wanted. Finally, I’ve earned my place in the pack.

The meeting begins to break up, but Jack gestures for me to stay. I finish my sandwich and beer while the others leave until only Bae and Jack remain.

“I’ve got some news for you,” Bae says. “Another job, really. Your duty to the pack.”

“Okay,” I agree, nodding. “I was looking forward to a breather, but I can head straight out again if you like. What do you need?”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that,” Jack says, waving a hand. “You’ll be close to home. Well, you’ll kind of have a new home, actually.”

“What?” I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Bae laughs softly. “We’ve had so much luck and goodwill from the arranged marriages, we are going to continue with it. You’re the next male to fulfill this duty to the pack.”

The room seems to diminish around me, leaving me sitting on a tiny island where I’m isolated from my own senses.

I don’t know how to take this.

“There are a few candidates,” Jack says. “But it looks like Leslie Shaye is the most definite. Gladys and Decker are pushing pretty hard for this one. Do you know her?”

The sense of vertigo increases, and my skin feels hot and prickly. I try and sit completely still, hoping my discomfort doesn’t show.

My wolf is shrieking inside me, all claws and teeth and primal urges. While I was undercover, I went through some tough times. Only a few things enabled me to stay on track with the mission.

My duty to the pack, to please Bailey and Jack. And Leslie.

Knowing that she was safe, and that my work would keep her that way, saved my sanity. I thought about her every day, a deep, aching sadness that permeated my entire being. I counted every second until I could get out of there and see her again. I was going straight to Silverton after this meeting,

I always intended to win her back. I know that breaking up with her was the biggest mistake of my life. All I have wanted to do every day since is fix it.

“Are you alright, man?” Jack asks. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

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