Page 52 of Whisper of an Alpha
The argument escalates, with Lena and Eugene exchanging heated words. I glance at Wyatt, my heart racing. We can’t let this devolve into a confrontation.
“Octavia,” he says quietly, “stay back for a moment.”
I nod, stepping to the side as Wyatt and Dalton exchange glances. They seem to communicate without words, and I can see the tension in their bodies as they prepare for any potential fallout.
“Lena,” Dalton says, his voice firm but measured, “this isn’t just about you. It’s about the entire pack. You know the rules, and ignoring them will only make things worse.”
Lena crosses her arms defiantly. “And what if we don’t care about the rules? What if we want to stay?”
“Then you’ll be putting everyone at risk,” Marcus replies, his tone unwavering. “We won’t allow that.”
I watch as Lena’s expression shifts, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. But then she straightens, her resolve hardening once more. “You think you can scare us into submission? You think we’ll just pack up and leave without a fight?”
Wyatt steps closer to her, his voice low and steady. “This isn’t about fear; it’s about responsibility. You may not see it now, but you’re putting your own family in danger by clinging to a past that no longer exists. We’re trying to protect you.”
“Protect us?” Lena scoffs, bitterness dripping from her words. “You’ve already taken everything from us!”
Eugene moves closer to her, trying to reason with her. “Lena, baby, please. We can’t afford to make enemies right now. We don’t know what Rachel will do next.”
That seems to strike a chord with her, the reality of Rachel’s chaos finally settling in. I can see the conflict in her eyes, torn between loyalty to her daughter and the very real consequences of her actions.
“Let’s just pack our things,” Eugene says quietly, his voice filled with resignation. “We’ll leave. We need to think about our safety.”
Lena’s expression flickers, a mixture of anger and uncertainty. “You’re willing to just give up?”
“It’s not giving up,” he replies, earnestness in his voice. “It’s being smart. We can regroup and figure things out later. Rachel is out there somewhere. We need to try and find her.”
For a moment, it seems as though she might relent, but then her eyes flash with defiance once more. “I won’t let them push us around. If we leave, it will be on our terms, not theirs!”
My heart sinks as I watch the tension escalate again. I want to reach out to her, to help her see reason, but I know better than to intervene. This is about their family, their choices.
“Lena,” Marcus says, his voice calm but firm, “this isn’t just about you. You’ve put everyone in danger by refusing to see the bigger picture. We’re trying to help you, but if you don’t leave, we may not be able to protect you. We can’t let you stay here, not after what Rachel has done.”
The mention of Rachel’s name seems to trigger something in Lena, and for the first time, I see her anger begin to waver.
“Fine,” she says, her voice trembling with emotion. “We’ll leave. But I want to make it clear that this isn’t over. You think you’ve won, but we’ll find a way to make things right.”
Wyatt steps forward, his expression unwavering. “This isn’t about winning or losing, Lena. It’s about survival. Take this opportunity to protect your family. That’s all we’re asking.”
Lena hesitates, her expression softening as the reality of their situation sinks in. “What do you want us to do?”
“Start packing your things,” Dalton replies, glancing at Marcus and Wyatt. “We’ll help you move. Just please, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
With a reluctant nod, Lena turns and disappears into the house, Eugene following closely behind. The tension in the air lingers, but for the first time, I feel a glimmer of hope.
“Let’s give them some space,” Wyatt says, his voice low. “We’ll help them, but we need to make sure they understand the urgency of the situation.”
As we stand outside, I can feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. This wasn’t just about Rachel; it was about the threads that connected us all, the choices that shaped our lives.
“Are you okay?” Wyatt asks, his voice soft as he leans closer.
I nod, though I can’t shake the fear that lingers in the back of my mind. “I just… I want this to be over. I want to move past all of this.”
He nods, his expression understanding. “We will. I promise you, we’ll get through this together.”
As time passes, we can hear the sound of footsteps inside the house, the rustle of boxes being moved. I glance at Dalton, who stands beside us, his expression cautious.
“Do you think they’ll really leave?” I ask, my voice filled with uncertainty.
