Page 48 of A Secret Baby By the Alpha

“I’ve considered your story,” Lex said, addressing us once more. “Given the marriage between you two and your shared child, we will leave.”

Excited chatter from the Marsden pack met his declaration, but he wasn’t done yet.

“However,” he continued, “our alliance with Franco’s pack does not extend to you. An official banishment will be decreed for all members of the Marsden pack. You are not welcome in Sparkle Hollow. Anyone found on our territory will be immediately imprisoned.”

I nodded at him, understanding the implications of what he said. It made little difference to me or the rest of the pack, but Christa and Jenny would never be able to visit the home where they grew up. To be a family, they were required to cut all ties with their past. It was a steep price, but as Christa squeezed my hand, I knew it was one she was willing to pay.

“We accept your terms,” Christa responded.

“If any threats are made toward Franco’s pack, know that Sparkle Hollow will respond with the full force of our power—as will our allies,” Lex added.

“We have lived in peace with Franco’s pack for some time,” I reminded them, aiming my explanation in Franco’s direction. “We have no reason to quarrel with you.”

“See that it stays that way,” Franco warned.

Without another word, Lex shifted into his wolf form and howled for his people to follow him. As they disappeared downthe street, I breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to reassure my pack that all was well.

“Let’s all go back inside,” I announced. “It’s done.”

Chapter 24 - Christa

The resolution with Sparkle Hollow was an uneasy one, but considering how quickly it had escalated, it seemed like the best option we could have hoped for. It wasn’t an alliance; that would be far too much to hope for. But the promise of them leaving us alone for the time being was a good start.

After they had departed, we returned to our wedding celebration. It was somewhat dampened by the events of the afternoon, and Jenny refused to leave Colson’s side.

The adrenaline was still coursing through my system, which helped me get through the rest of the day and put on a brave face for Jenny and the pack. Once we got home, however, I felt exhausted.

“Get some sleep,” Colson urged me as he carried Jenny—who had fallen asleep—to her room for the night. “It was a long day.”

“But it’s our wedding night,” I pouted.

Colson chuckled at my expression, shaking his head at my petulance as I removed my shoes.

“You’re too tired, and so am I. We always have our honeymoon,” he pointed out.

“Where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute. I’m just going to put Jenny to bed.”

He disappeared into the hallway and reappeared a moment later. He doffed his suit jacket and untied his tie before sitting next to me on the couch. I opened my mouth to repeat my question about the proposed honeymoon when a sharp rap on the front door startled us.

“Stay here,” he ordered, jumping into action. He hurried to look through the peephole, and I saw his jaw tense as he spied who it was outside.

“Trouble?” I asked.

“Better not be,” he replied with a scowl.

The door opened, revealing Alpha Franco—alone.

“What are you doing here?” Colson demanded. “I thought things were finished between us.”

“I have a message from Alpha Lex and Sparkle Hollow. The official banishment,” Franco said.

“Come in, then,” Colson said, softening slightly. To anyone else, he would have sounded the same as he did before, but I knew him well enough to pick out the hint of defeat in his voice as he was reminded of the conditions of our truce.

Franco came inside and stood awkwardly in the entryway as I made my way over to them. He handed me a thick piece of parchment paper. The top of it showed the flowing script of Sparkle Hollow’s official documents.

“This has all the details concerning the banishment of Christa and Jenny Lionel from Sparkle Hollow,” Franco said. “There’s another sheet beneath that explains the consequences for any member of Pack Marsden if they encroach on the territory of Sparkle Hollow. It will be up to our allies if they want to extend those rules to their own territories, so you will want to contact the other alphas before they make any travel plans.”

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