Page 40 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

Kenzie had ridden to the compound with me, and the entire drive had been utterly silent. I didn’t know if she was just upset about Senna’s news or if it was something else. She seemed particularly on edge, but who could blame her, right? Leon and Reginald had nearly killed Jet and destroyed the Edwards Pack, our family.

Revenge against those assholes had been my entire focus when I was Jet’s beta. I’d been searching for them constantly with few leads. Hell, finding them with Eli had been complete luck, and the bastards had slipped through our fingers—again.

“Yeah, I’ll have Choal bring them up from that lab.”

Kenzie just nodded, and I left her to stand in the entrance hall while I hurried over to catch Choal on the stairs.

“Hey, could you go get those notes from Eli? And where’s the best place to host a meeting with this many wolves?”

Choal nodded, pointing down the long hall to my right. I recognized it from the attack we’d launched on the Williams when Eli’s drugs had become too much of a problem in Kaiden’s territory. I hadn’t explored the estate much then, however. I was mostly concerned with making sure the antidote was flowing, and Kit was safe.

“There’s a banquet room down that hall. Last door on the left. I’ll get Eli’s shit. Umm…”

He hesitated, and I could sense the apprehension through our pack bond, his wood and earth scent charring with his nervous energy.

“What is it, Choal?”

“Well, there isn’t a good way to ask this, I suppose. So…am I staying here? Or do you want me to move on?”

He had a reason to ask, of course, and I considered how brutal the fight in the ring had been. Choal was one of Eli’s as well. He’d been there during the attack that night, and he’d fought against the wolves of Kaiden’s pack as intensely as he had me.

“Do you plan on causing trouble?”

Choal sputtered for a moment, looking at me like I’d grown a second head.

“What?” He shook his head. “Like, am I going to fight your ass again? Challenge you for Alpha in six months?”

I nodded. “That, and are you going to play nice? Or are you going to start rebellion among the pack members?”

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and I just continued to eye him, unblinking.

After a moment, though, he shook his head. “No. You won the challenge fair and square. I ain’t here to start shit just because I lost. Eli was a piece of shit—for the record—and I’m here with the others because I have family here. I won’t leave ‘em unless I’m forced.”

Reaching out, I extended my hand for a shake as I held Choal’s stare.

“Good. I like loyalty. Don’t cause any problems, and you’re welcome in the pack. But you won’t get another chance. This is it.”

Choal nodded back at me, a silent moment passing between us that signaled the agreement. I could feel that acceptance through the bond, and I answered it with a sense of respect for him. I understood what it meant to be devoted to your kin, even if other wolves didn’t view them as equals.

“I’ll get that stuff,” he finally said, and I nodded again, barely moving my head this time.

“If I’m not back, give it to Kenzie.”

Choal lowered his head and took off down the other hallway that led to Eli’s lab. As I watched him run off, I noted the solid feeling of that connection between us. Though it might be unconventional, to say the least, Choal and I had an understanding, and I knew he’d honor it.

I hurried down the other side of the hall to check out the banquet room. We needed a suitable space for everyone to meet. It was perfect, so when the others began to arrive, I ushered all the wolves inside.

Jet and Senna took their places next to me in the front of the long room, and Kenzie stood just behind me. I’d grabbed the notes from her, and during the few minutes we had before everyone was here, I looked them over.

What I found didn’t bode well, and I had a feeling it might have to do with Senna’s vision.

“Thank you, everyone.” Senna stepped forward, holding her own in the packed chamber. “Most of you know me. I’m Senna, Jet’s mate, and Luna to the Edwards Pack. I am also a V?lva. You may not be as familiar with what that means, but long story short, I cannot shift into a wolf. Instead, I have been given…gifts. Gifts that allow me to see glimpses of the future. Among other things.”

Senna conveniently left out the fact that she could stop time to a degree, but I had to assume that she didn’t want that one circulating just yet. It was a scary concept for most people to consider, and she wasn’t here to make enemies.

“I wanted to meet with all of you to tell you what I’ve seen. I wanted to meet withallof you because this affects every wolf and shifter, and I know that it’s our separation that’s holding us back.”

The room was enraptured by her words, and I could feel waves of fear, awe, and curiosity flowing off the wolves in my pack. I could still sense Jet’s Alpha gifts even as I wasn’t in his pack anymore, and the calming energy he released was settling his wolves. I tried to do the same.

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