Page 48

48

Kaylee

Standing to my feet, I rushed to the front door and called to Lucas, but I was too late. He was already racing towards the packhouse while Simon stood at the door. My friend’s anger radiates off him.

“We need to get to the packhouse,” he says, looking in the direction Lucas had gone. “Marco beat Devon up pretty badly, and Royce is keeping Ash at bay. He wants to destroy Marco for harming his mate,” Simon explains.

I nod, grabbing my keys from the hook and rushing to my truck. I drive off as soon as Simon climbs into the vehicle. The tires kick up gravel from my driveway in their wake while Simon holds on for dear life, his eyes wide as I drive through the forest much faster than usual. Lucas has now shifted into his wolf form and is just ahead of the truck as I catch up.

Deciding to have Simon explain everything from start to finish, I open a link between us and Lucas. As I’m about to ask Simon to start from the beginning, two more presences enter the link, and I feel Amelia’s anger and David’s weariness.

[Did Simon tell you what happened?] David asks as I veer left to dodge a pup who was about to enter the road.

[He told us that Marco beat Devon up,] I state, getting a growl from Amelia.

[He put Ash’s mate in the infirmary. Hannah is performing surgery right now,] Amelia answers. I look at Simon briefly, and he nods, his voice entering the link this time.

[Devon was helping with breakfast as usual. Marco came in grumpy and hungover with a few Growling Heart wolves from last night. They were chatting about the training we would be doing when Marco bumped into Devon, who was carrying soup to the table,] he explained. I frown, already not liking where this explanation is going.

[The soup spilled on Marco’s shoes, and he lost it. He called Devon a bunch of names, including a no-good spy who should have been executed. Before anyone could stop him, he dragged Devon outside and lay into him,] Simon continues.

A snarl rips through my throat as I press the gas pedal. The truck lurches forward, and I send out a pack-wide link for everyone to stay off the road before returning to the private link and asking Simon to continue talking.

[Ash and I were on patrol this morning, teaching some of the newly shifted teens to hunt, when he felt Devon’s pain. He bolted towards the packhouse, and I followed after him with the teens hot on our tail. But Ash was fast. By the time we got to the pack house, Royce was already knocking Marco off Devon while the omegas were taking the collar off Devon so he could be taken to the infirmary,] he concluded.

We finally reached the pack house as soon as Simon finished his explanation. A crowd had gathered by now, Titus and Kurt keeping Marco at bay while Royce held onto a snarling and growling Ash in wolf form. Amelia and David had also arrived, and their truck was parked beside Ash, Royce, and Lucas.

I can sense my friend’s murderous intent while Marco tries to defend his actions. Lucas is already there, his large black wolf standing before Ash, his eyes staring into our friend’s. Whatever he tells him is working—I can see Ash relaxing slightly.

As soon as I’ve parked the truck, I rush out towards Marco, who snarls at Titus, calling him a useless wolf who allowed his alpha to kill so many innocents. Furious, I walk right up to Marco and slap him, the sound causing everyone to settle down.

Bringing his hand to his cheek, Marco looks at me in shock while I stand there fuming.

“Kaylee, I—”

“Save it, Marco.” I snarl, allowing the newfound power inside me to come out. Marco backs away, showing me his neck in submission, while Kurt and Titus back up. Amelia watches on, her eyes wide. She’s rarely seen me this angry, especially when it comes to my friends.

“You’ve brought shame upon this pack in front of our allies with your actions. You attacked another pack member’s mate without regard and were disrespectful to a visiting alpha,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Why do you even care? You’re leaving this pack anyway!” Marco shouts back, stepping towards me. Simon steps between us, snarling at Marco.

“She’s still our beta, Marco. You show Kaylee respect, or I will make you,” Simon warns quietly. I place my hand on his arm, signaling Simon to step aside as I can feel Amelia approaching from behind.

“Kaylee is right, Marco. Your actions today concern me,” she states, her anger evident. “My Head Hunter causing a scene such as this. Sending a wolf cuffed in silver to the infirmary for the mistakes he is actively showing remorse for and disrespecting an allied alpha are large offenses. Even you know that,” Amelia continues, her disapproving gaze causing Marco to back down. His head hangs in embarrassment, his hostility dissipating.

“I don’t know how you can forgive Titus and Devon for what they did so easily. Titus—”

“—Was kept in the dark about what Jordan’s father ordered,” I interrupt, watching Marco look at me with guilt. “He was with Daisy, who was giving birth to their pup,” I add. Marco looks away again as Titus gives me a small smile for defending him.

“Not only that but when Jordan kidnapped me and tried to rape me into being his mate, Titus helped save me. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him,” I finish.

The crowd around us burst into whispers. Not many people knew what had happened to me—only that I’d been kidnapped by Jordan. To know that that vile man had tried to rape me and forcefully make me his mate was shocking. It was taboo even amongst our kind. Mates must be a willing pair. Once marked, only death can separate them.

“Then what about Devon? He came here to spy on us and give information to Ramos and his allies! Now there is a—”

“Silence!” Amelia shouts, placing an alpha command on Marco, who immediately shuts his mouth. No one knows what Devon did outside a select few, but now the reason why he’s been trapped in the packhouse with a collar is known.

“You know damn well a Blood Pact was forced onto him. Either he complied and completed the pact, or he would have died,” Amelia states. The anger and animosity that was starting to grow within the crowd immediately turned into sympathy. Add in the well-known fact that Ash had found his mate in Devon, and the crowd had completely forgiven Devon for his transgression.

“Marco, you need to cool off,” Amelia says once the silence has settled. “Kurt, Lucas, and Simon—take Marco to the dungeons, where he can sleep off his hangover and calm down. Kaylee and Ash, come with me to the infirmary.”

Marco goes to protest, but Amelia glares at him again. He shuts his mouth, and I let Simon take my truck since everyone can fit into it. David quickly disperses the crowd, apologizing immediately to Titus, who waves him off. He states that everyone is hungry and hungover, and tensions are high.

Thankful for his understanding, I promise Titus that I’ll teach his men how to forage later today before following Amelia to her truck and climbing into the passenger seat. Ash, still angry with Marco, jumps into the truck bed and curls up into a ball, his tail covering his face. Royce asks if he can join, his concerned gaze never leaving our friend, and Amelia agrees. With the four of us settled, she drives towards the infirmary, this time a lot more slowly than my mad dash driving earlier.

Reaching the infirmary, Ash’s gray wolf form jumps out of the truck bed before Amelia can park. Royce curses under his breath and is out of the vehicle as soon as the truck stops, chasing after Ash. I sigh, Amelia letting out a groan as well as she turns off her truck, and we follow after the men. Inside we find nurses blocking Ash from entering the rest of the infirmary, my friend pacing back and forth in front of them while Royce stays to the side, asking another nurse to bring spare clothes for Ash to change into.

“Ash,” I call out, allowing a command into my tone. He stops pacing, looking at me with his brows raised and eyes filled with worry. Worry that I can only assume is for his mate.

“Go with Royce to change into some clothes while Amelia and I find out how the surgery is going,” I say.

Ash hesitates, looking between the blocked door and me while whimpering before slinking toward Royce and following him to the bathroom. Thankfully, the nurse has returned with clothes by now, and Royce is holding them in his arms when the two disappear behind the bathroom doors.

Amelia takes this chance to converse with the nurses, explaining that Ash is Devon’s mate and asking how he’s doing. I keep my distance, waiting for Ash and Royce to emerge from the bathroom. By the time the two men came out, Amelia had returned to my side with a smile on her face.

“Good news?” I ask, feeling relieved.

“Great news. Devon is out of surgery, and his body is healing rapidly. Hannah will be out to talk in a moment as soon as Devon is settled into his room.”

I sigh with relief, watching as Ash joins us with a smile on his face. He must have heard what Amelia said.

“Ash, you can take some time off to care for your mate. Having you beside him will help with his healing,” Amelia says, placing her hand on Ash’s shoulder.

“Now, if you will all excuse me, I have a Head Warrior to deal with.”

I can feel Amelia’s irritation grow as she walks away. A member of her pack, a high-ranking one at that, has caused too much trouble today. Many will have already heard what happened through the pack link, and as much as we love Marco and care about him, he will need to face punishment for what he did and said.

Amelia’s leaving also gives me the opportunity to talk to Ash and Royce alone. After today, their friendship with Marco will be rocky, if not non-existent. Ash won’t forgive his childhood friend for what Marco did to his mate, and I can’t blame him. Had someone attacked Lucas that way, now that I’ve forgiven him and am building a future with him, I would be on a war path to destroy them.

“I have some news of my own,” I state once Amelia is gone and the three of us have settled into the waiting room chairs.

“What is it?” Ash asks, his eyes weary but relieved now that Devon is on the mend.

“Lucas and I talked about what you three asked. The answer is yes,” I state with a smile. Royce and Ash look at me with wide eyes before I’m pulled into a link.

[Are you serious? We can all join you?] Ash asks, his voice filled with excitement and joy.

[Yes. We had already agreed to it before Simon came to tell us what happened,] I begin to explain, closing my eyes for a moment.

[But after what Marco did, I don’t think leaving you three in this pack is a good idea. At the very least, there will be bad blood between Ash and Marco, and the discord will hinder Ivory Fangs’ growth. Having Ash and Devon join Oak Fur when we take it back is the best option for everyone,] I continue, feeling my friends’ eyes on me. I open them and turn to find Royce in near tears as he mouths ‘thank you.’ Reaching over, I squeeze his hand reassuringly.

[Also, we can’t leave Royce behind since this was his request first,] I add jokingly, making my friends chuckle.

Hannah emerges from the back of the infirmary, her eyes finding us immediately. I stand, motioning for Ash and Royce to follow as I greet my friend, a frown on her face.

“Ash, your mate is in recovery now,” says Hannah. “It was touch and go for a while, with him being collared, but once we got the wounds cleaned and some medication into him, the healing process started. He’s still unconscious, but I can have a nurse take you to his room. Only you, though. Devon needs quiet to heal.”

Ash agrees, already walking towards the doors as a nurse rushes to his side to guide him to his mate’s room.

“What is it you’re not telling us?” I ask, watching Hannah close her eyes and take a deep breath.

“Devon isn’t just unconscious. He’s in a coma. For how long, I don’t know, but Marco did a number on him,” Hannah answers, sounding worn out and sad. “I’ve already informed Amelia. I’m hoping it doesn’t last long and that Ash being by his side will help Devon heal faster, so I didn’t want to worry him further.”

I nod, looking to Royce, who is clenching his fists. His eyes are closed as he takes deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

“Let Ash have some time with Devon. When you’re ready to tell him about Devon’s coma, Have Royce be there to help him,” I state, placing my hand on Royce’s arm.

His eyes snap open, his gaze meeting mine. I can tell Royce is worried for Ash—the two were growing up and slowly climbing the ranks of Silver Paw together long before they met me.

Giving him a reassuring smile, I ask Hannah if it is okay for Royce to be with Ash and Devon, to which she agrees. If Royce can be the rock Ash needs right now, she’ll allow anything as long as it doesn’t harm another wolf or disturb her patients.

Relieved to have everything sorted out, I tell Royce I’ll be in my office if he needs anything before leaving the infirmary. So much has happened this morning, and I could use some quiet time to process my thoughts.