Page 72 of Rejected By The Alpha Heir

I straighten up to my full height, meeting their glares evenly. "Gage was being attacked by a human boy. I was only trying tohelp. The way you’re treating him is cruel. Just help him, or if you won’t, allow me to!”

I look over at the boy again and am gratified that he takes a cautious step toward me.

“It’s okay, you can come over here,” I call out, encouraging him.

Sylvie scoffs. "We don't need your kind of help. We take care of our own."

Her other pack mate grabs the boy by the back of his shirt, tugging him back with a grunt.

I open my mouth to argue, but I hear movement and turn to see who is coming.

I freeze as Cleo's innocent voice reaches my ears. My throat becomes dry.Cleo.

“And then, do you know what I saw, Daddy?” Cleo says happily, “I sawthreebutterflies. One was gold, one was purple, and one was orange!”

Austin looks up, his gaze meeting mine, and I see the confusion in his eyes as he takes in the tense standoff. He straightens when he sees Sylvie and her friend, his posture taking on that of the Alpha.

Before I can say anything, warn them away, Sylvie whirls around and stalks toward them.

"Well, well, if it isn't my dear ex," she drawls, her voice dripping with disdain as she looks Austin up and down. Cleo stops mid-sentence, looking up at her with interest.

“Who are you, and why are you being rude to my Daddy?” she asks before looking over at me. “Hi, Mama!” she says, waving.

What are you doing here?" Austin asks tersely.

Sylvie’s lip curls in a sneer. “He’s not your Daddy, little mutt,” she growls, crouching down to Cleo’s level.

Cleo's small hand tightens around Austin's. He steps protectively in front of her, forcing Sylvie to back up.

"Leave. Now," he commands. The Alpha timbre rings clear in his voice. “And don’t you ever talk about my daughter that way again.”

Her friend cackles. “Daughter? I thought she was your little pet.”

I feel my anger rising. How dare they speak that way about my child!

Austin growls, the sound reverberating through the parking lot. His eyes flash amber. Sylvie's bravado falters slightly.

Sylvie’s eyes widen in surprise as she looks from Austin to Cleo and finally to me. I can see her mind working, trying to come up with something to say.

"The great Alpha, slumming it with a weak little Luna and breeding mongrel pups. No wonder your pack is going to the dogs," she hisses.

"Get out," he warns again, his voice low and dangerous. “We are on neutral land, which is the only reason you’re walking away from this right now, Sylvie. Take your people and get out or, mark my words, Nightwing Pack willmakeyou leave.”

Sylvie's friend flexes her fists, gears up for a fight. My heart pounds, the tension ratcheting up.

I move swiftly, blocking Sylvie's view of Cleo.

"That's enough," I say sharply. "You heard him. Go. Now."

Sylvie snarls, her eyes flashing amber for a brief moment before she reins in her wolf.

She turns on her heel and stalks away, her friend following with a scowl.

“Get up, you worthless thing,” she spits, grabbing Gage on their way across the parking lot. The small boys' whimpers echo behind them.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Austin squeezes my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

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