Page 49 of Whisper of an Alpha
The elder nods. “Her actions were egregious, yes, but the council believes that banishment is a fitting punishment. She will not be allowed to return to the pack lands under any circumstances.”
I glance at Octavia, the uncertainty in her eyes mirroring my own. “And what about her family? They had a hand in this.”
“They will also face consequences,” another council member interjects. “They will be stripped of their titles and will have to relocate. However, we cannot act against them with the same severity as Rachel, given the lack of direct involvement.”
I shake my head, my frustration boiling over. “This isn’t enough! Rachel is a danger to all of us, and allowing her to walk free, even if banished, puts us all at risk!”
The council members exchange glances, their expressions impenetrable. “We understand your concerns, Alpha Wyatt, but this is the decision we’ve made. Rachel will be monitored, and if she breaches the terms of her banishment, we will take further action.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotions. This isn’t over. I can’t let Rachel roam free, even if it’s outside our lands. “If she comes anywhere near Octavia, I’ll deal with her myself.”
With that, the council members nod in understanding, and as they leave the room, I turn to Dalton and Harrison, the weight of the decision still heavy in the air.
“We need to keep a close watch on her,” I say, my voice low and resolute. “And I won’t let my guard down, not for a second.”
Octavia steps closer to me, her hand slipping into mine. “What if she tries to come back? What if she tries to hurt us again?”
I pull her into my arms, holding her tightly. “She won’t. I promise you. You’re safe with me, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
As we stand together, the reality of our situation sinks in. The battle may be over, but the war is far from finished. Rachel is still out there, and I won’t rest until I know she’s truly gone from our lives for good.
But for now, in this moment, I hold Octavia close, drawing strength from her unwavering spirit. We will face whatever comes next together.
27
GOTTA GO
Octavia
The sun filtersthrough the window, casting warm golden rays across our small kitchenette. I sit across from Wyatt at our coffee table, plates of half-eaten sandwiches and glasses of iced tea sit between us. I can feel the tension coiling in my stomach, a tight knot of worry that won’t loosen. Rachel's banishment from the council is still fresh in my mind, the way it reverberated through the pack, a shockwave that left us all reeling. What will her family think? What will they do?
"Octavia," Wyatt's voice pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts. His deep emerald eyes — always so full of mischief — are now laced with concern. "Are you okay about the Luna Ceremony next week?"
I force a smile, trying to mask the unease. “Yeah, I’m okay,” I lie, but the tremor in my voice gives me away. The truth is, the supposed celebration feels tainted. “I would love that, actually. I can’t wait to be Octavia Saltman.”
A low, sexy growl escapes Wyatt, causing my heart to race. It’s that sound that always makes me feel alive, igniting theflame inside me. In an instant, he abandons his sandwich, lunging across the table to tackle me to the floor. We land with a soft thud, laughter spilling from my lips as he showers me with kisses — first on my face, then my neck, my lips, my forehead. Each kiss sends butterflies dancing in my stomach, my wolf inside me purring with delight.
“Wyatt,” I giggle, squirming beneath him, my cheeks flushing with warmth. “We’re supposed to be having lunch, remember?”
He pauses, his lips hovering just above mine, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Lunch can wait. I need you to know how much I love you.” His voice drops to a low whisper, and he leans down to lick the mark on my neck, the bite that binds us together. “I will claim your body with my cock later, first I want dessert,” he winks, and just like that, my heart races even faster.
Before I can retort or pull him back down to me, there’s a knock at the door. The sound slices through the moment, and I can feel the heat of the moment dissipating like steam. Wyatt groans playfully, rolling off me to stand up. I fan my flushed face, still sprawled on the floor, trying to regain my composure.
“Stay right there, baby girl,” he says, shooting me a playful grin as he walks toward the door, shoulders broad and confident. I can’t help but admire him, my heart swelling with affection.
He opens the door, and I catch a glimpse of who it is. My heart sinks just a little. It’s Marcus, one of the council members — a serious man with a reputation for being no-nonsense. His presence only heightens my worry about Rachel's family.
“Wyatt,” Marcus greets, his tone clipped. “We need to talk.”
I watch as Wyatt’s expression shifts, the playful glimmer replaced with a more serious demeanor. The air grows heavy with tension, and I sit up, bracing myself for whatever news Marcus has brought.
“What’s going on?” Wyatt asks, his voice steady, though I can sense the underlying concern.
Marcus steps inside, glancing at me sitting on the floor before meeting Wyatt’s gaze. “It’s about Rachel’s family. They’re not taking the banishment lightly. There are rumors they might take matters into their own hands.”
I feel a chill run down my spine at his words. “What do you mean?” I interject, my voice shaky.
“Let’s sit down,” Marcus replies, gesturing toward the table where Wyatt and I had been enjoying our lunch. I swallow hard, pushing aside the remnants of my sandwich as they both take seats.
