Page 19

19

Kaylee

Watching the Hummer with the Council Logo drive off, I sighed in relief. The interviews with wolves who had experienced Ramos and Nathaniel’s destructive behavior had gone well. Many wolves originally from Oak Fur or Harvest Willow had stepped forward, giving Amos new insight into their terrifying lives in both packs.

I was surprised to see three Ivory Fangs wolves come forward near the end. These wolves explained that they had met Ramos and Nathaniel separately and recounted their own experiences. With all the information gathered over the last four days, it’s guaranteed that Nathaniel, Ramos, and Marilyn will face execution soon.

“When will we get the news that they’re dead?” Marco asks as he stands beside me, his own hatred and relief flowing from him in waves.

“Hopefully, within a month. Any longer, and it means something is going on in the shadows of the Council,” Amelia answers, a sad sigh escaping from her lips. “The other members of the Council still need to review the footage Amos took. If they decide the evidence is enough, Ramos and Nathaniel will be brought for execution, and their packs will be disbanded,” she adds, patting my shoulder and giving me a look of pride.

“Wait—you said Ramos and Nathaniel. What about Marilyn?” Lucas asks while we all make our way inside. Amelia looks at us, her brows furrowed as she tries to find the right words.

“There’s no other way to say this, but Marilyn is pregnant with Ramos’ pup. She will be kept alive until the pup is born,” she answers him with a sigh.

“What will happen to the pup?” I ask, unsure if I want to know the answer. The pup is innocent in all of this. As much as I hate knowing that Marilyn will live, albeit only for a few months, I can’t condemn a pup for the crimes of its parents.

“The Council wants either David and I to raise it or for you and Lucas to raise it,” Amelia answers. Instinctively, I place a hand over my stomach, feeling the need to protect my pup from harm. Lucas must feel the same as he gently pulls me behind him, a look of determination to protect me and our baby on his face.

“We don’t want anything to do with that pup,” he states angrily, glaring at Amelia for suggesting the idea.

“Neither do we.” David appears from the steps, a worried look on his face. “Amelia and I have already discussed it and will decline the offer to raise it. If you and Kaylee won’t take in the pup, then the Council can adopt it out to a couple who needs an heir.”

I’m relieved by this solution and agree it’s for the best. If the pup is brought here, he will become a pariah in the pack. None of us will be able to raise and love the pup properly. Allowing a childless couple to adopt it will be the best outcome for the little thing.

“This also depends on whether Marilyn can carry to term. There’s been unrest in Oak Fur and Blood Oath. Wolves are trying to leave both packs due to Lucas’ email weeks ago, but Nathaniel and Ramos have their borders locked down securely. No one can leave or risk being killed instantly,” David continues.

Lucas just scoffs, stating they deserved this mess for what those two alphas have done to smaller packs. Amelia and Marco agree with him. David sighs, saying we must devise a plan if the Council decides to go to trial. We’ll need to bring a few wolves directly affected by Ramos and Nathaniel, namely Lucas, Marco, Maya, and me. From there, Ramos and Nathaniel will inevitably learn that we are the leaders of Ivory Fangs.

Marco mutters about needing to check with Maya and see how she’s handling being the Female Head Warrior. Today is her first day with the title. Marco, Amelia, and I had agreed that Maya should lead the female warriors a few days ago. I tell him to link me if Maya needs help and he waves me off, stating that Maya will be fine. With a shrug, I look at Lucas, smiling now that it is just him, Amelia, David, and I.

“You have some training to do, too,” I say with a grin, watching his angry look fade to one of confusion.

“What kind of training?” he asks skeptically.

“Training with me and Kurt,” David answers with his own grin. “Since you and Kaylee are in a relationship now, and it’s only a matter of time until the two of you mate, you’ll be trained to be my beta,” he states, patting Lucas on the shoulder and grinning at his nephew. I wish I’d been recording this moment—Lucas’s face lights up, happiness in his eyes at this news.

“I...I’m going to be a beta?” he asks in disbelief, making me chuckle.

“Yes. Since I am a beta, that makes you, my mate, a beta,” I confirm, only to find myself in Lucas’ arms. He spins us around, laughing from happiness as he holds me close.

“You called me your mate!” he nearly shouts, making me smack his shoulder.

“You’re also a beta in training. Now put me down,” I demand, finding my feet return to the floor instantly.

“Screw that part, you called me your mate!”

Amelia laughs at his exuberance, and I glare at her. She backs up with her hands raised and scoots closer to David, who watches in amusement.

“Yes, I did. You are my mate,” I admit with a slight blush.

He is my mate, that much is clear, and he’s proven that he has the strength to help grow this pack by taking over some of my duties the last two days.

“Come on, lover boy, we need to start training,” David says with a chuckle, grabbing the back of Lucas’ shirt and dragging him away. Amelia and I watch in amusement as Lucas helplessly follows his uncle, the two of us agreeing that we won’t see Lucas or David until later tonight.

We both decided that today, we would focus on reorganizing the living situation within our pack. With the Council planning to disband both Oak Fur and Blood Oath as soon as they make their decisions, we’ll most likely see another influx of new packmates.

“When do you plan to complete the mate bond?” she asks as we walk into the conference room where we will work today.

“I’m not sure,” I answer, sitting in front of my laptop and opening the file we’re working on. “I know Lucas has been proving himself these last two weeks. He and Marco even put their issues in the past and have become friends. But I need to make sure I can trust him with Ivory Fangs before I can trust him as my mate,” I continue, looking up to see Amelia watching me with understanding.

“Is this why you asked me to have David and Kurt train him last night?” she continues questioning. I nod and explain that I’ll let him mark me as his if he can be a good beta for this pack. This surprises her, and she moves to hug me, placing a kiss on top of my head.

“Will marking you hurt the pup?”

Her question makes me pause for a moment. I’d never thought about what being marked while pregnant would do to a pup, but I knew just the doctor who would.

“I’m not sure. I plan to ask Hannah when I see her for my next appointment in two weeks, which should be enough time for Lucas to prove he is a good beta wolf,” I state, blushing as I catch Amelia staring at me with a cheeky grin.

“Well, when you decide to complete it, let me know. I’ll give you both a few days off to let the bond form and settle.”

Without thinking, I throw a pen at Amelia playfully, getting giggles from her. After muttering about how embarrassing this is, I force myself to focus on work, with a smile on my face, knowing that Amelia supports me and my decisions.