Page 80 of Wolf Targeted
“Just like we didn’t let Jara get sabotaged and fall through a stair?” I ask with a growl.
No matter what anyone says, I will regret this incident for the rest of my life. Would she have been so depressed had I actually communicated with her? Probably not.
Would she have been paying attention to where she was walking and seen something out of place? Maybe, but maybe not.
Is Patrick right that only the person who cut the step is responsible for the incident? No. Angela should have been there. She could have helped Jara out of the stair at the very least, and at the most, it would have never happened in the first place.
Patrick holds a hand up for me to stop. He points straight ahead, and metal glints beneath the sun shining through the tree branches.
They aren’t even really trying to hide the cages and traps.
“I don’t smell any humans,” I grumble.
“They are blocking their scent somehow, alpha.” Patrick steps closer to the trap, but I stop him with a hand to his arm.
“Just because the cage isn’t hidden, doesn’t mean they don’t have bear traps or something waiting to snare us.”
Animal traps and cages are a big deal, but I’m increasingly irritated that they thought this was a situation that warranted disobeying my orders. No one but the enforcers go in the forest. It’s not that big of a deal.
Jara’s safety was a hundred times more important. Angela should have known that and gone right back to the house.
Although, could she have planned this? Is Angela the one that wants her dead?
“Why is this more important than guarding my mate, Patrick?” I clench my fists and my shoulders stiffen.
“There are traps and animal cages in the woods, alpha. It’s a major problem.”
“Why? No one is allowed in the forest. Or is Libby still being rebellious?”
That was a low blow. Patrick and his mate do their best, but Libby is going to be an alpha female one day and take the world by storm.
Our pack loves her and wants to protect that little girl and the rest of the pups no matter the cost, but she needs to learn boundaries. She hasn’t yet, and it’s a fucking problem.
“No, Alpha. She is on complete restriction. She doesn’t leave the house without me or my mate,” Patrick says as he spins on me.
“That’s my point. I would hope two grown men would be able to handle a few traps and cages while on patrol.” I place my hands on my hips as I scan the small patch of forest.
My chest tightens in pain at the realization of what I’m going to have to do.
I have to banish my beta. It’s the only way to show I’m not weak. If I do anything else, I run the risk of losing my pack along with my mate. We will be too busy fighting amongst ourselves to see the threat for what it is.
Total annihilation.
Angela has to go. She’s not as loyal as I thought. I’ve known her my whole life and never thought I would have to do this.
“Get someone out here to map the traps and the cameras. Everyone else I want in the town square in an hour.” I turn and stomp back to the clearing.
This is going to piss a lot of people off, especially my mate. Am I willing to piss her off to keep her safe? Fucking absolutely.
Angela failed the alpha couple when she didn’t stay with my mate. She will pay for that disobedience. I just hope the pack will forgive me for what I do because all that matters is my mate, and she almost didn’t survive.
21
Jara
My stomach pulls as I stretch, and I flinch. It’s still sore but not as bad now that I’m not stuck in the stairs.
I smile as I remember how tentative and loving Archer was before I fell back to sleep. Is that how we are going to be from now on?
