Page 108 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

He continued, “As his son is gearing up to challenge him for the title, I’d say within two to three years he’ll be the Alpha. Plus, they have their Female Lead Warrior who is top notch. So, it feels like why bother?” I frowned, “What do you mean?”

He answered, “Well, for starters, they were attacked. They didn’t just take over their neighbor’s pack.” Elise sat straight up. She pressed, “But Ashley’s ok, right?” Alexander even leaned forward. Theo nodded assuring her, “She’s fine. She literally had a scratch. One, as in singular. It was healed by the time I left.”

My dad repeated, “So, what happened?” Theo smiled coyly asking, “Whose version do you want first? Keep in mind, I opted for the best, most accurate version last.” My dad laughed. Theo had reported after his initial meeting that Ashley Griffen had called her Alpha a bad Alpha to his face. Yet his wolf didn’t even growl at her, and no one stopped her.

In fact, she’d called their entire ranked group crappy at their jobs. He said none of them did anything. We thought it was because their wolves respected her because she’d beat them in a fight. My dad said, “We will follow your lead then and get Ashley’s story last. What did Alpha Davis have to say?”

Theo smiled, “They were attacked and defended themselves. It was decided they would push back into the attacking pack’s territory to kill their Alpha and those who’d attacked them.” He stopped talking. Brutus linked, “Is he done talking?” I replied, “It looks like it.” He grumbled in my head knowing that was the worst report ever.

I raised an eyebrow, “That’s it? That’s all he said? Was he even there when the attack happened? That’s barely a memo. Did his Beta add more to the report?” Theo smirked, “No, his Beta said the exact same thing.”

Phil snorted, “That’s pathetic. Team Ashley Griffen everybody. They suck balls at their job.” Alexander looked over at him. Phil shrugged “What? That girl and I would be best friends. I just feel it. She may be email buddies with Elise, but my heart knows she’s my best friend.”

He nudged my brother, “Don’t worry, it’s a totally platonic love that I harbor Alpha Cousin of mine.” I raised an eyebrow while Phil winked at me. Brutus said, “I’ll talk to Oden.” Good. I wanted answers. Gage asked, “What about his Gamma?” Genevieve nodded wanting that answer. Theo snorted, “Gamma Booker had nothing to do add.” They both made annoyed faces.

I asked, “What did Ashley say then?” Theo grinned, “She had quite the colorful commentary on it. I’m going to have to directly quote this because it might be the best sentence I’ve heard said to an Alpha’s face since your mother took a few people to task.” We all leaned forward.

He grinned, “She said, and I quote ‘While the spineless, gutless, ballless, pathetic, cowardice excuse of pack leadershiptucked their tails and barricaded themselves in their office WHILE THEY CRIED crocodile tears for their mommy’s, we defended this pack.’” He paused for dramatic effect. My jaw was on the floor.

Elise snarled in anger, “THEY HID?! OHHH I’M GOING DOWN THERE TO KICK THEIR ASSES!” I laughed and put my arms around her. “That’s my girl.” I pulled her into my lap to help her calm down since she was fuming.

Alexander asked, “How did Ashley defend the pack while their leadership hid?” Theo explained, “She ordered her Warriors, not the trash useless Warriors under the Male Lead Warrior mind you, to the west, east and south borders.”

I laughed complimenting, “Smart girl. She made them come through the North if they wanted to attack Black Path. That would just be stupid to continue the attack. With the terrain on their northside, they’d be exhausted just getting to the border.”

Theo nodded, “That’s what’s happened. Her Warriors held them off and forced them to come from the north. She fought on the front lines with the future leadership of the pack, minus the Gamma of course. He hid with the current leadership. Though, I can’t say the future Alpha, Caine Davis, plans to make Trevor McCann his Gamma. They all seem to hate him. Loathe might be the more accurate word.”

I growled, “He wouldn't be a Gamma here.” Theo shrugged, “He followed the lead of his father. I used to like that man, but something changed when he was a young pup.” He looked off to the side. My dad cleared his throat.

Theo said, “Anyway that was all once Ashley calmed down after my arrival there. That woman has the fury of one hundred hellhounds.” I questioned, “Why was she upset?” Theo chuckled, “Yet again I’m going to have to quote her. She told the pack doctor ‘If you ever look at someone to get their permission to save the life of a pup or other pack member no one will haveto ASK you where your balls are because I will CUT THEM OFF AND THROW THEM DOWN THE DANG HALLWAY! DO YOUR JOB OR THERE WILL BE A VACANCY FOR IT!’ Then she punched him in the face.” I gaped at him.

He added, “Alpha Davis told me she was emotional from the fight. She nearly punched him in the face before I stopped her. The shocking part was he was going to let her. I am remiss that I didn’t just let her do it. Hindsight and all.”

My dad questioned, “And we are certain the son is training to challenge his father?” Theo nodded, “I took the man aside myself and asked. He and the future Beta train with.” He trailed off then grinned, “just guess.” Alexander chimed in, “Ashley.” Theo nodded, “Yup. It seems daddy dearest isn’t handing down the fighting secrets.”

Elise grumbled, “Because his secrets are to hide in his damn office!” I told her, “Alpha Davis isn’t a bad fighter according to our intel. He is an Alpha, after all.” Theo chuckled, “An Alpha whose mate can’t stand the sight of him.” Our heads snapped back to him.

He nodded, “Yeah, Ashley has a way with words. Let me tell you that once she starts, she can’t stop talking until someone stops her. Which few are inclined to do, other than telling her to shut up. Which does not work.” From what I’d seen in email that was true.

Elise rubbed her forehead. I linked her, “Headache?” She nodded. Truthfully, I was getting one too. My dad was rubbing his temples as well. Alexander asked, “Who killed the Alpha of the other pack?” Theo gave the answer we all expected. “Ashley pursued the group that retreated with her two best friends. The Alpha’s daughter Addison Davis, and the Beta’s Daughter Sierra Kiern. With a group of Warriors of course.”

Elise asked, “Who does Ashley live with? In the pack I mean? She doesn’t talk about her home life, but she said she’s not in thepack house. She mentioned she had a family in name only there though.” Theo blinked admitting, “I had not heard that. She doesn’t live with family. She lives with a mated couple though. Mason and Hendrick King, and they love her as their own. They weren’t named Warriors until she became the Female Lead Warrior because they are gay.” I growled.

Theo shrugged, “Damn shame for the pack too. Those men are good fighters. I’ve been telling them for years that I’d be honored to have them in my pack. They always said they felt called by the Goddess to stay there.”

“Now I know it’s because they were waiting for Ashley. Selene knew she’d need them. I’d be damn proud of her if that girl was my daughter. She doesn’t take anyone’s shit. She calls it how it is, and they do nothing.”

My dad reasoned, “It’s not a problem with authority if she doesn’t insult you. You said she likes the future leadership of the pack too. I initially thought maybe she just felt bitter, and rightfully so. I thought they gave her leeway because of her family problems. Her reactions make sense for a hurt pup.”

Theo smiled, “She is not disrespectful to me, but if she was Titan would growl. I may understand she’s hurting because of what happened in her life, but our wolves don’t. She doesn’t look away in submission as other wolves do under my gaze either. She is intriguing. The boys of the pack fawn over her.”

Alexander practically snarled, “What do you mean?” Theo ground out, “They all want her. There appears to be a young man that even claims to be her mate.” Alexander growled and his fury hit me. I linked him, “What the fuck?” My dad raised an eyebrow at him.

Then my dad asked, “Claims?” Theo nodded, “Yes. Trevor McCann, the unlikely future Gamma, claims she’s his. On her end, she feels nothing for him but repulsion. She actually went as far to say he smells like a wet dog. I did not get the impressionthis was the first time she’d said those words since she turned eighteen.” My brother’s fury nearly had my eyes turning gold.

I said, “He should be punished for lying then. She would feel the mate bond.” Theo rolled his eyes, “He claims since she doesn’t have a wolf, she wouldn't feel the bond until they mated and marked each other.” My dad growled, “That’s bullshit! Tell me she filed a complaint.”

Theo sighed, “She didn’t. She told me she could handle it. I gave her the paperwork and told her to think about it. I told her that it’s a serious offense. She threw the paperwork in the trash after she made sure I was watching. Maybe Elise could….” He trailed off because Elise was already typing an email on her phone.

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