Page 116 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

I replied, “Their poor wolves. That must be embarrassing.” Rhea agreed, “They are probably ready to move on just like I was. It’s hard when you get a shitty human.” It probably was and she’d know best. I could help their wolves move on though.

I did feel like I could get down there and kick those pathetic pieces of shits asses myself. EJ pulled me onto his lap. Rhea linked, “I’m just saying Alexander looks ready to join us in our noble quest. Oden is growling pissed off. Honestly, I’m also team kick their ass. Ashley could kill them, but she doesn't. I find that odd.” I did too.

I watched Alexander out of the corner of my eye. He was clearly interested in Ashley’s strategy to defend the pack. I couldn’t help but be proud of her all over again. She defended her pack and used tactical responses. She was just so damn smart, just like Melanie. That thought made my head hurt.

My eyes narrowed and Rhea growled when Alpha Theo talked about the future Gamma. I knew that Ashley hated Trevor with a passion. She never said why, but her hatred came through in the few times she’d mentioned him. She liked the rest of the future pack leaders though.

Alpha Theo description of Ashley surprised me. Was it just coming down from the fighting high? Rhea linked, “What do they mean her rage? They talk about that a lot, but it has never come across in our emails.” I agreed.

Her dislike for certain people did, but not rage. I genuinely wished she’d just leave that pathetic excuse of a pack. She’d been so upset she’d almost punched her Alpha which was a serious offense.

Rhea made a noise of disagreement before adding, “She did beat him and his wolf in a fight. He’s supposed to be her leader, and he hides. I’d punch him too. She’s having to act as the Alpha, and she doesn’t have Alpha blood. That very hard for someone to do. She’s overriding her own instincts to follow, which has to hurt her.” That pissed me off, but I couldn’t understand it really as an Alpha myself surrounded by exceptional leadership.

I could tell Eric had half a mind to just wipe the current Alpha out. I was so on board with that plan, but Alpha Theo was the bucket of water to my fire right now. Rhea reasoned, “You know Ashley likes The current Alpha’s son.” I wanted to groan, because I did know that Caine Davis was working to take over.

Ashley had told me Caine and the Beta’s son, Dax, were training with her now. She was a bit of a perfectionist abouttraining. She truly rivaled Alexander in that department. They would get along really well if she would just come up here.

I told my wolf, “Well, of course Caine couldn’t learn how to fight from his dad. His dad’s instincts were to hide while his untrained son and his Female Lead Warrior fought for his pack. That complete and utter coward!

Rhea told me, “Why would someone who is a good fighter not want their son to be?” I answered, “Because he doesn’t want his son to be able to take over his pack. Which doesn’t make any damn sense since he wasn’t even going to defend it if they were attacked. No Alpha would be able to look him in the face once this got around.”

It pissed me off because my dad would NEVER do this. Alpha Theo’s comments about Ashley’s rambling put a smile on my face. She rambled in emails so I wasn't surprised Ashley kept talking in person until someone stopped her.

I loved that about her because it reminded me of Melanie, before a manners and etiquette coach changed her. I wondered if Melanie still rambled when she was mad. Rhea told me, “What we need is for Melanie and Ashley to meet. It would crack the etiquette training she went through. Then we could all be blessed to watch that interaction. Solely to hear how much they talk.”

My head began to pound. Rhea whimpered in my head. I shoved those comparisons out of my mind. I linked Eric, “There was no need to ask who killed the other Alpha. It was definitely Ashley.” He replied, “She shouldn’t be able to do that.” I replied, “But she definitely did.”

Alpha Theo confirmed my belief. Eric linked, “I thought maybe she held him down and Future Alpha Caine did it.” I paused because that would make more sense. Caine would have the brute strength. What kind of workouts did Ashley do?

Rhea chuckled, “And can we get them? We’d be the unstoppable Alpha and Luna dream team with EJ.” I replied, “I mean, we already are.” She purred, “True.” I voiced my concerns about Ashley’s living situation. She told me that she had a relative in the pack and that’s why she was sent there. The thing was, we couldn’t find a single shred of proof that she had a blood relative there. Ashley didn’t like to talk about it either.

The Warriors Alpha Theo named did give me a sense of relief. I knew those names because they’d been recruited by packs in this area, but they’d never accepted. I didn’t know that Alpha Davis didn’t approve of them being gay. Fury slammed into me that was a combination of EJ’s and mine.

I told Rhea, “That guy needs to die. He needs to be tortured for being a hateful, bigoted coward. He’s a pathetic excuse for an Alpha!” She agreed, “He is but I am glad they’d stayed in the pack all this time. I am glad Ashley has them.” Rhea had a point because I could tell she was a little lonely. It tugged at my heart strings.

Eric linked me, “Is Theo wrong? Could Ashley have an authority problem?” I replied, “She’s never rude to any of us. I think it’s a matter of respecting the person in the position if they deserve it, as opposed to giving someone respect because of their title.” He nodded his head, “That makes sense. Around here Alpha’s deserve the respect that comes with their title, but where she is they don’t.”

I added, “I know she feels betrayed by her old pack. She’d been close with the Alpha’s family, and he turned his back on her. She was really hurt by that. So, she’s a little jaded about pack leadership.” He snorted, “Then the situation was compounded because she got sent to the worst pack on the planet.” I hummed in agreement.

What I didn’t understand was why she didn’t just tell Alpha Theo everything. He could help her, and she knew it. Rheareplied, “We all could. She just wouldn’t let us.” Which was annoying. Why was she so stubborn?

Rhea linked, “Did Alpha Theo just say the boys in the pack fawned over her? She never said that.” He did say it. I knew without looking at him that Alexander was mad. My headache came back with a vengeance. Jesus. Melanie and Ashely had so much in common.

We hadn’t heard about any problems with Melanie in New York though. Those problems seemed to end for her in New York. Maybe Ashley just needed a change of scenery. I’m sure her pack see a strong female in their pack now. That has to be new given how their pack used to treat women.

My heart felt frozen in time when Alpha Theo said someone was claiming to be Ashley’s mate. I frowned because Ashley told me she thought her mate was someone from back home. She said that after everything happened, he hated her just like everyone else.

Rhea said, “She still loves him though.” It was true and came across in her emails. Her heartbreak over his feelings for her made me want to punch him in the face. I linked Rhea, “TREVOR?! The stupid Gamma’s son is claiming to be her mate?!” Rhea sighed, “That’s what he said.”

I shouted, “But she is repulsed by his presence and feels nothing for him.” Rhea argued, “I think it’s more of disdain, but definitely nothing positive.” I wanted Trevor dead for his lies. How could she not tell me this? I would’ve been there in a second.

Fury lit through me. I linked Dalton, “I FUCKING HATE PEOPLE!” He replied, “I didn’t do it.” I snarled, “I know that! HOW DARE he claim he’s her mate, and that she doesn’t know because she has no wolf. That is just insulting. He is throwing her lack of wolf in her face even though she is clearly stronger than he is. No true mate would EVER do that.”

He asked, “What are we talking about? I mean clearly you mean Ashley Griffen, but who else?” I didn’t answer his questions, “Every wolf knows it’s hard to be wolf less even if you expect it. For her, it had to be a sore subject, because we’ve never talked about. I can just tell she doesn’t want to. How the FUCK could someone claim to be her mate, and then callously throw her lack of wolf into her face?”

He replied, “Because they are uneducated on the mate bond. WHO told Ashley that?” I snarled, “That whole scenario is complete and utter BULLSHIT! I want to kill him. EJ is going for punished. Be on MY side about him dying.” Dalton shouted, “WHO?!” I answered, “Trevor McCann.” He replied, “Oh yeah, he could die. I’m down.” Yes! One person on my side.

Eric linked, “You’re asking your brother to kill him?” I replied, “No, I asked my brother to be on MY side about killing him. Punishing him means he lives. I don’t like that scenario.” He agreed, “When Ashley files and we get to have a paper trail I’ll push for his death.” I told him, “I love you so much.” He chuckled in reply, but I was happy he agreed with me. EJ would get on my side.

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