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Amelia

Slamming my office door shut, I link everyone not to disturb me while making my way towards my desk and collapsing into the soft leather chair. So much has happened in the last two weeks that I feel Ivory Fangs is slipping out of my control as alpha, and now, with this attack just at the borders of my pack, it feels like the world will crumble down on top of me.

I knew that leading a pack would be a lot of work. I knew that my misogynistic, power-hungry bastard of a younger brother would feel inferior when he learned I was an alpha, a wolf on equal footing to him. I never thought he would let his hatred and views on women cloud his mind so much that he would attack innocent pups to satisfy his own ego and pride.

What’s worse is knowing that Kaylee and Lucas plan to leave the safe home I’ve tried so hard to build for them to take down Ramos. I know for a fact that Nathaniel is too busy with the news of his heir coming to be too involved, but how long will his attention be diverted before he decides to take revenge on my pups for them killing Ramos, Marilyn, and their unborn pup?

“Love.”

Looking up at David’s voice, I watch my mate slowly close the door and walk towards me. I push off the chair and rush into his arms, letting his scent and warmth wrap around me as I finally cry out all the pent-up anger, frustration, and fear that has been building inside me, thankful that my office is soundproof.

“Shhhh, darling. Everything will be alright in the end,” David says soothingly, rubbing my back.

I just cry. Cry for the pain my pack will face soon. Cry for the fact I feel useless right now and couldn’t stop enemies from sneaking into my borders, cry for the fear of losing Kaylee and Lucas to a war my brother caused due to his own ego. I cry and cry and cry until I can no longer cry and am left breathing in David’s scent, my mate just holding me lovingly and peppering kisses atop my head.

“Feel better?” he asks when I have calmed down.

“A little,” I admit, wiping away the remaining wetness on my face with my sleeves. David hums, tucking my head under his chin. Somehow, we’ve ended up on the sofa in my office with me curled in David’s lap.

“Want to talk about it?” he asks.

I mull over the question, unsure if I want to. So much has happened since Kaylee was kidnapped. My worry for her has grown, and somewhere along the line, I stopped thinking of her as my goddaughter but as my actual daughter. She’s such a bright young woman, and for her to endure so much pain breaks my heart.

I love Lucas. He’s my nephew, and I will always see him as such, but Kaylee is the little girl I looked after long before I became a mother. Her parents left her in our care, and watching her be a target in all this mess hurts.

“I’m worried about them, about Kaylee,” I finally admit. Now that the floodgates have opened, I tell David about all my fears and worries, including how I don’t want to see Kaylee leave now that she’s been given a chance to be herself outside that oppressive pack. David is silent through all this, letting me rant and get the frustrations and thoughts off my mind until silence again settles over the room.

“Kaylee isn’t being herself here,” David finally says with a sigh, catching me off guard. “Yes, she was trained to take the beta role and has expected it since she was a pup, but the Goddess chose her to be fated to Lucas, to become a pack leader with him. Her taking back Oak Fur with Lucas is what she is meant to do—all we can do is support her and be there for her.”

Silence settles once more. I want to argue with him and say that Kaylee belongs here with us, but I know my mate is right deep down. Kaylee was chosen to be a leader, not someone who takes orders from another wolf.

“So what do we do now? Everything feels like it’s slipping out of my control, and I’m trying to keep a brave face on for the pack, for our pups,” I say, resting my head against David’s chest and listening to his steady heartbeat.

“We keep doing what we’re doing. We call Amos and explain the situation we just had, and we tell him that in seven days’ time, we’ll be leaving to kill Ramos and Marilyn and take Oak Fur back,” David answers, holding me tighter to him.

“I guess I’ll call our Council Representative then,” I sigh, climbing from David’s lap and moving to sit at my desk. David follows, sitting across from me as I pick up my office phone, dial Amos’ number, and put the call on speaker.

“You’ve reached Council Member Amos. May I know who’s calling?” Amos greets.

“Hi Amos, it’s Amelia. We have an update on our situation with Oak Fur,” I answer. David smiles at me reassuringly.

“Amelia, hi. Have your plans to take back Oak Fur changed?” Amos asks, sounding more alert.

“They have,” I answer. I then recount today’s events and inform him that we’ve learned Ramos and his allies have moved their ambush closer. Amos curses, furious to know that Ramos is still not abiding by the rules set forth by the Council.

He should have declared his intentions to the Council weeks ago. He should have stated why he wanted to go to war with Ivory Fangs, and the Council would have reviewed his declaration. If they approved of it, they would not interfere. We would not have been warned, and Ramos could have attacked us without any worry.

If we hadn’t gotten lucky learning Devon was a spy sent by him, the Council and I would not have known about the attack so early. We wouldn’t have been able to plan and train our wolves at all. Ramos was sloppy, thinking he was above the law, and it would be his downfall.

“Do you know if Blood Oath is helping him yet?” David chimes in once Amos has accepted our change in plans, wishing us good luck. The line grows silent after David’s question before Amos sighs.

“As far as our reconnaissance team knows, no. Nathaniel Cross is not involved with his daughter and son-in-law’s plans,” he answers, and relief washes through me. If Nathaniel Cross were part of Ramos’ allied forces, it would leave us in a difficult position.

“I can tell you, though, that the Council is keeping an eye on him and gathering more evidence to take him down. Focus on your battle ahead and put thoughts of Blood Oath aside for now,” Amos states.

I look at David, a smile on my face, and see him smiling back at me. It seems we won’t have to worry about Blood Oath after all. Kaylee and Lucas can take out Ramos and Marilyn and focus on taking control of Oak Fur and restructuring it once all the fighting is over.

“Anyway, I have work to finish. If you need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to call me.” With that, Amos bids his farewell and the call ends.

David places the phone back on the receiver before reaching across the desk and taking my hands in his.

“Everything is going to be fine, love,” he says, his eyes full of excitement. “Lucas linked me during our call, saying our intruders are awake, and a very pissed-off Kaylee is ready to rip them to shreds. Why don’t we meet our pups and help interrogate these intruders of ours?”

I smile, agreeing instantly with my mate’s suggestion. I want to know why these wolves thought they could just sneak into my pack, attack my members, and get away alive.