Page 85 of Wolf Unleashed
“In this, yes.”
Soren shook his head. “First Freya, and now this female.”
“First Freya what?” Rafe asked, looking at his sister, but her eyes went wide, as if telling Rafe to drop the subject. Gunnar sank back into the crowd. If Alyssa had to guess, Freya had been challenging Soren as well.
“And how will you be alpha with two other males sharing your female?”
Rafe lifted Alyssa’s hand and kissed her palm. “I’ve already been told I cannot be alpha during my private hours. As for Maddox and Tiernan, they will be my counsel when it comes to matters of the pack.”
“Outsiders?”
“They are pack.My pack, Father. If you accept me back, you accept them too. And before you say anything further, know that if you accept me, you accept an alliance with Drake Novak’s pack. I spoke on behalf of this pack when I had no right to do so, but I was desperate. If you don’t accept me, then you avoid the alliance and the fallout will be on me.”
“You bring a female shifter related to WSSO killers and the deadly Bordelons, male castaways from other packs, and now an alliance with the White Wolves and expect me to take you back?”
“I expect nothing. I offer all that I am, my loyalty and devotion to this pack, but not at the cost of my mate and my pack. There will be no compromise. You either accept me and all that I bring with me, or I say my goodbyes to you and this pack now. Forever.”
“You’ve changed, Rafe. Learned responsibility somewhere along the way.” Soren’s eyes fell on Alyssa. “And I think you are responsible for that, female.”
“The name is Alyssa Monroe. Or you can call me Daughter, Soren.”
He raised a brow. “She speaks her mind.”
“Always,” Rafe said, grinning.
“Like your mother. And your sister. I can see why she is good for you.” Soren turned and continued the rest of the way up the hill. “We’ll talk further at dinner tonight, Rafe. Bring your new pack to the house. And find your wayward sister. Perhaps you can suggest what I’m to do about her.”
Freya rolled her eyes. “His wayward sister is standing right here, Father. I’ll be at dinner. I don’t want to miss the show.”
“Show?” Alyssa asked.
“You and your guys. I plan to ask you every dirty question I can think of at dinner in front of everyone, Alyssa, so be prepared.” Freya kissed her cheek and hustled off into the crowd as Alyssa stood there with her mouth open.
“Heir, you didn’t tell me how much fun your pack is.”
“Shut it, Maddox,” Rafe said as he pushed up on Alyssa’s chin, closing her jaw. “Freya goes for shock value. Her way of rebelling.”
“I can do this,” Alyssa said, repeating the mantra several times as Tiernan took her hand and they followed behind Rafe.
“Your border defenses stink, Heir,” Maddox said from the rear of their pack.
“Stop calling me that,” Rafe said.
“If you’re going to be the Alpha Heir again,” Tiernan began, “shouldn’t you be able to shut him up on your own?”
Alyssa laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Rafe asked.
“I’m not sure who I feel sorry for more. Your dad who has to adjust to all of us, or you, Rafe, because if you haven’t figured it out by now, you never will.”
“And what haven’t I figured out?”
“That you’re essentially related to Maddox and Tiernan now. Brothers-in-law, in a sense.”
“What are you saying, Artemis? I’ve just gained two brothers I didn’t want?”
“Little brothers, to be precise, as they’re both younger than you.”
