Page 45

Elijah

W e arrived home late last night and although we didn’t get much rest after discussing the move and merger of the two packs with Dad, we did squeeze a few hours in. I called a mass pack meeting for this morning.

There are some people exempt from it, mostly those in mourning.

Although Dad wants to know the reason behind the meeting, I’ve refused to say anything.

We are sitting around the kitchen table, the sun barely up in the sky. Being back home makes Liam’s loss hit harder. Right about now he would be training the first group of warriors. He was meant to be my Delta. Fuck.

Scarlett wants to visit his parents, as well. I told her to go for it, she’s not needed at the meeting, anyway. I think they’d appreciate her visit. I’ll be going too, but I need to somehow figure out my own emotions before I do. I have to be strong for them.

I look over at her. The pain of his loss is hitting her harder than I thought it would, and it confuses me a little. They weren’t that close. That kiss… I push the surge of jealousy away, knowing I’m being irrational.

“I’m going to go shower. I’ll be right back,” Scarlett announces, standing up. She’s barely eaten.

She bends down, cupping my jaw, kissing me, and I kiss her back, but it’s fleeting as she pulls away and leaves me alone with Dad and Jessica.

“Dad, as you know, we need someone to oversee things with the Desert Storm Pack and we can all agree Scarlett suffered the most there,” I begin, cutting right to it.

“I understand that,” Dad agrees.

“So, I think you and Jessica should do it. It’ll only take a few months. I’ll handle things down here while you’re gone.” I look at Jessica, knowing it will be a little hard for her, but she may even feel better knowing she can do something to help them now. “Would that be alright, Jessica?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes. I know going there is going to be hard, but if Scarlett can, so can I. It’s the least I can do for the pack I abandoned, regardless of my reasons.”

“Great. So, Dad? It’s good, right? I think you can at least do that much for all the shit you gave us,” I remark, looking at my father, a frown on my face.

Dad frowns deeply, knowing I have a point about Scarlett, but he does not appreciate the rest of my comment. He sighs heavily, gritting his teeth, knowing I am right.

“Fine. I get it, I messed up. You two are mates. I’m not against you two being together now, so you can drop the snarky comments, Elijah,” he says, frowning at me.

“You mean we aren’t against the two of you, right? You’re not doing us a favour here. We are the ones who are fated mates,” I say coldly. Dad massages his temples.

“Okay, I’m sorry, alright?” he says in defeat, looking at me. I frown but give a curt nod.

There are still things that we need to fix between us, but I don’t know how. Not after everything.

“I’ll accept it for now, but you should go up north. The pack, knowing Jessica as well, might help a little,” I say curtly. “And since you are the Alpha, start initiating them into our pack.”

“Is Scarlett waiting until everyone is settled, then joining again?”

“Yeah. She gets that she can’t just break the link to her pack when they’ve already been through hell. And until they’re initiated, we can’t risk a mass pack of rogues on our hands,” I explain. Jessica nods.

“That makes sense, but she’ll feel each snap of a pack member leaving the Desert Storm Pack,” she says, concerned.

“I’m a strong woman, Mama. I can handle it,” Scarlett says, re-entering the kitchen. Her sweet intoxicating scent hits me, strongly mixed with her body wash and shampoo. She smells beyond divine.

I pull her into my lap, taking in how gorgeous she looks in her oversized black knit dress. Her wet hair is left down and she’s not wearing makeup, still looking as breathtaking as ever.

Her heart races and I tug her down, cupping the back of her neck before running my tongue along her lip, and then claiming hers in a passionate kiss, doing my best to keep my tongue behind my teeth and keep this kiss tame as Dad and Jessica are here.

When we part, she wraps her arms around my neck and buries her head in my shoulder to calm her erratic heartbeat. I smirk. My hand slips under the hem of her dress and I stroke her thigh, which only makes her body heat even more. Anymore and I know I’ll have her turned on.

“Well, since that is sorted, I will go pack. We will leave right after the funerals,” Jessica says, smiling at the two of us before giving Dad a firm look.

He nods, and she leaves the room. Just the reminder of the funerals makes Scarlett lift her head, the mood becoming sombre. We will be having the combined funerals the following day, and she is dreading facing every one of the lost pack members’ families.

“Care to share what your meeting today is for?” Dad asks again, in a clipped tone.

I’m not ready to give Scarlett more stress and decide to answer Dad civilly. The things I do for her.

“There’s a traitor amongst us. Did Daniel not say anything else?” I ask. Scarlett frowns.

“No, and I’m sure if there was, don’t you think he would have?” Dad counters. Scarlett nods in agreement.

“Only if there wasn’t something in it for him… It’s a shame you don’t let me tear him apart for what he did,” I growl.

“You know the rules, Elijah. We can’t mess with another’s pack. His allies are already isolating him. That is enough.” Dad stands up. “Let’s get to this meeting and put your mind at rest.” I say nothing. I know he is right. I will get my answers soon enough.

“I’ll see you later,” Scarlett says before pressing her lips against mine, kissing me deeply, making Dad shake his head and leave the room first. I pull her close, making her shift in my lap until she is now straddling me.

“If you’re going to kiss me, Kitten, make it hot,” I murmur, nibbling on her lip. And this time I don’t hold back, slipping my tongue into her mouth as I caress her tongue with my own. Cutting back a deep groan when she rubs herself against my growing bulge.

“Don’t tempt me, Alpha,” she whispers before our lips meet once again. I twist my fingers into her hair, taking control. My other hand slips under her dress and cups her ass, realising she is only wearing a thong. I curse against her lips, her arousal hitting me hard.

“Fuck, you’re driving me wild,” I murmur. Her breathy moans are making me crazy, but before I can do more, she forces herself back.

“You have a meeting to attend, remember?” she reminds me, tracing my lips with her finger as she gets off my lap, still a little breathless. I run my hand through my tousled locks and adjust my pants. Smirking at how her eyes flash when she looks at my obvious hard-on.

“Elijah!” Dad calls.

“Fuck, we need our own fucking place,” I mutter, standing up and delivering a sharp slap to her ass. I smirk as she jumps and glares at me. I wink at her before I leave the room, ready to face this meeting.

A short while later, I look around at those I have gathered. There are certain members, like Monica, Jessica, and the younger wolves, that I didn’t call to the meeting.

I have my suspects, Fiona and her father, are at the top of that list since they do have a reason.

Although I am not expecting it to be Fiona, not thinking she is capable of something so cruel. Then again there’s a possibility her infatuation with me drove her to it. Who knows? I’m not taking any chances. That day, I had caught her scent when we were leaving, accompanied by the strong feeling of being watched.

I glance at her. She stands quite close to me, watching me with that irritating look in her eyes. I wish I had never fucked her to begin with. Just the thought now repulses me.

“I’m not here to waste my time when I have many things to attend to. If it wasn’t for someone in this pack sharing intel with the enemy, we may not have lost as many as we did,” I say. My eyes flitting between the Williamsons, not missing the way Fiona’s eyes widen, the colour draining from her face, her heartbeat quickening.

My stomach twists. I just got my answer.

I almost scoff. “Before I even ask anyone to step forward, what do you think is the befitting punishment for such a crime?” The members exchange looks, a few muttering to one another and shaking their heads.

“Throw them in the cells to rot!”

“Better yet, exile them from the pack, declare them rogue; they can die or fend for themselves.”

“Kill them. I mean, we lost loads! I lost my sister!”

“As Alpha, you need to set an example. Kill them.”

“A lash for every person we lost,” Uncle Nick suggests coldly. Liam’s loss had hit him hard. He was like a son to him, too.

“I like that idea,” I say quietly. “And then death.”

Fiona gasps, her heart thundering as she takes a step back. She stares at me, her heart hammering, but even as she struggles to calm herself, she’s a fucking open book.

“Fiona, step forward,” I say icily, my cold eyes glaring into her hazel ones. Everyone stares at her, shocked that I called her forward. She’s known to all as a sweet and caring young woman.

Could I be wrong? I don’t think so, not after her reaction. Letting my Alpha aura roll off me, I step closer to the trembling girl.

“Did you tell anyone about what car Scarlett was travelling in?” My command for an answer vibrates through the room. Her father tenses; his eyes wide as he stares at his daughter in shock. Fiona drops to her knees, sobbing as she makes to grab my leg. I step back smoothly.

“I love you! I did it for you! I deserve to be by your side! I didn’t mean for anyone else to die! Just Scarl-” My eyes flash, white-hot rage blazing through me.

“That’s my mate you’re fucking talking about!” I spit.

Leaning down, I grab her, yanking her to her feet and squeeze her neck. I want to kill her right here, but death is too easy for her. I throw her to the ground, not caring for the cry that leaves her lips.

My eyes darken as my wolf surfaces. I turn and look at Uncle Nick, trying not to snap right there. “Throw her in the dungeons. Since she wishes to spend time with me, I will personally see to her lashing. She will be put to death if she survives the lashes,” I say coldly, clenching my fists as I try to control my rage. The smell of blood fills the room as the pack members see the red droplets trickling down my clenched fists.

“Please, Alpha…” Fiona whimpers, but I’ve had enough. I have been too nice. Not only has she cost so many their lives, but she also wanted Scarlett hurt or dead. That is something I can never ever forgive.