Page 7

7

Lucas

Watching Kaylee drive away, I turn in the opposite direction and decide to head to my dorm room. Today has been an eventful day, from the mate bond reaching out to me just as I finished my patrol shift to finding out Kaylee is pregnant and, finally, the mate bond reforming. I can tell from how the mate bond hums with happiness instead of uncertainty that Kaylee is leaning toward keeping our pup. I hope that after the ultrasound in three days’ time, I’ll know her decision for certain.

Walking into the dormitory, I notice a few wolves lounging around the main room while a movie plays on the large television. Ryder is one of the wolves, and after noticing me walking inside, he waves me over.

“I heard you had an eventful morning after patrol,” he says playfully, making me roll my eyes as I sit beside him.

“Yeah. Not my finest moment, especially since I’m still new to the pack, but the mate bond was too strong to ignore,” I admit, thanking the wolf, who hands me a beer from the mini-fridge beside him.

“As long as you don’t attack anyone without reason, we can excuse your barbaric behavior when it comes to Beta Kaylee. We understand that with you two being mates—and un-mated mates at that—your emotions can get the best of you.” Ryder shrugs as he winks at me, and I groan.

It seems my actions have really made their way through the pack, and I’m not happy about it. Hopefully, my aunt hasn’t heard anything about it yet, and if she has, it’s because Kaylee has told her. Hopefully, I won’t be given a lecture if so.

“I promise not to attack anyone. Besides, Kaylee and Alpha Amelia might skin me if I do end up hurting someone, even if accidentally,” I answer as I crack open the beer and take a sip.

The wolves around me chuckle at my words, some joking that I’ll be in the doghouse with Kaylee if I so much as think about hurting one of our packmates, and I have to agree. I’m just starting to regain Kaylee’s trust, and I can’t risk losing it again by attacking a packmate.

I decide to stay and chat with Ryder and the other wolves, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. A while later, I finish my beer, explain that I’ll be helping Kaylee with a project after my patrol tomorrow, and bid everyone good night.

“Lucas, wait.”

As the elevator doors are about to close, Ryder calls out to me and I manage to stick my hand out in time to stop them and allow my friend in with me.

“Is there something you need?” I ask, weary of him chasing after me.

“There isn’t. I just want to warn you that Marco seems to be getting broody when it comes to Kaylee.” He sighs and presses the button for the third floor. “Everyone knows he has feelings for her, but we know you’re her mate. I just want you to be careful until Kaylee decides who she wants to be with.”

A growl escapes my lips at this information while I press the button for my floor. Marco has been sticking closer to Kaylee since our return from Shadow Moon. At first, I was worried that Kaylee would choose him over me, but the bond was still broken at the time. Now that it’s fully mended itself, I refuse to allow another wolf to try and claim what is rightfully mine.

Taking a few calming breaths, I remind myself that as long as Kaylee doesn’t reject me this time around and as long as I keep working to regain her trust, we’ll be together eventually.

“Thanks for the warning, Ryder. It means a lot to me knowing you support me being with Kaylee.”

Turning to face my friend, I thank Ryder for taking the time to talk to me alone about this. I can tell that, although Marco is his superior, Ryder respects the sacredness of the mate bond, and I’m grateful for that.

“Not a problem, Lucas. Just remember me when you become our male beta,” he jokes, nudging me playfully with his shoulder. I chuckle, pushing my friend away as the doors open once more.

Ryder waves to me as he leaves, telling me he will see me in the morning for our patrol shift, and I wave back. Now left alone, I think I would have never allowed anyone to playfully bump into me weeks ago if it weren’t for Kaylee or Simon. How I would have instantly pinned the other wolf to a wall and threatened to tear their arm off for disrespecting me, their future alpha. Looking back, I’d been a complete and utter asshole to my packmates back in Oak Fur, and it wasn’t until I rejected Kaylee and saw the situation the pack was in that I began to change.

The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open. I step out, making my way towards my room with a smile on my face. Kaylee is the reason I’m changing, and I know it. I want to be a better man, a better wolf. I want to be the person packmates can come to with problems and help them through their struggles—help everyone grow stronger like Kaylee has been doing for Ivory Fangs.

She’s the true definition of an alpha—even if she doesn’t see it yet—and part of me wishes that one day, she and I could rule over a pack of our own. We already know that Ramos will cause a war once he learns of Amelia and Kaylee being the alpha and beta of Ivory Fangs, and I pray that the war doesn’t come until after Kaylee and I have completed the mating process. But fate is cruel, and if news leaks out before the next Annual Assembly of Alphas, Ramos will send his wolves here without a second thought.

[Simon, you free?] Opening the link between my friend and me, I enter my dorm room and sit on the edge of my bed. I know Simon will be the voice of reason I need when it comes to Kaylee, and I hope he’s not busy with his own mate.

[Yeah, man, what’s up?]

Hearing Simon’s voice, I flop back onto my bed in relief and question whether or not I should voice my thoughts to my friend.

[Do you think if Oak Fur and Ivory Fangs go to war, Kaylee and I could reclaim our rightful place as alphas?] I ask, closing my eyes and picturing her by my side as we fight. I can’t help but feel slight anxiety for the pup still growing inside her, but part of me feels like she would fight no matter what, and there’s nothing I could do to stop it.

[Lucas, I have to leave in the morning, and this is what you want to talk about?] he scoffs into our link, making me chuckle. By his tone, I’m guessing Simon thinks I’ve gone insane.

[Sorry, but the thought just came to me, and I need your opinion,] I apologize, hearing him sigh in frustration.

[Honest answer is maybe. I know Kaylee loves being a beta and helping her pack grow. I have noticed her potential since joining Ivory Fangs, and I feel like if she doesn’t become the Luna—]

[Alpha. Kaylee deserves to be an alpha like my aunt,] I correct my friend, getting an amused chuckle from him.

[Right. If Kaylee doesn’t become an alpha like she is meant to be, she might grow restless, and problems will arise,] Simon continues.

I muse over his words as I push myself off my bed. Simon is right—if a wolf meant to fulfill a certain position does not do so, they become restless. Their animal instincts will take over slowly, and the wolf may lash out at other packmates. I’ve felt this restlessness myself a few times. Even now, I sometimes have to stop myself from snarling at a fellow warrior if he gets too close to me while on patrol.

[Are you thinking of leaking the information about Kaylee and Amelia to Oak Fur?] Simon cuts through my train of thought, and I pause, a snarl forcing its way through my throat at the notion that I could do such a thing.

[Are you stupid? If I did that, I would be putting everyone in danger, and Kaylee would reject me for good,] I practically yell back, feeling Simon’s presence in the link shrink at my anger.

[It was just a concern, Lucas. I like being in Ivory Fangs and don’t want to see anything happen to the pack,] he defends himself, his tone calm and collected. [Everyone here is so welcoming and accepting of each other, and I have my own mate to worry about, and your questions had me a little on edge.]

I sigh and look out the window. Simon has a point—my questions are ones not many wolves would dare ask or risk being called a spy or traitor. I can understand his position, and after calming myself down, I finally reply.

[I won’t do anything to hurt anyone here. I promise you that. I’m just worried about Kaylee and what will happen if she stays as a beta.]

Our link goes silent for a moment. I know Simon worries about Kaylee almost as much as me. If he knew she was pregnant, his worry would only increase.

[I believe you, Lucas. We can talk to your aunt about this later. For now, I think we should just keep an eye on Kaylee and focus on welcoming Harvest Willow into the pack,] Simon concludes, and I agree.

We close the link after I wish him luck on his first hunting trip tomorrow. I know I should try and get to sleep, but so much has happened that I find myself sitting on my bed instead, wondering what the hell I will do now.