Page 44 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked, clearly amused.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. He didn’t rise to the bait.

“What’s the status from your patrols?”

Kieran raised a brow. His towering 6’3” frame filled the room as he closed the door behind him.

“Good to see you too, Vale,” Kieran said with a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes backward.

“I literally just cleared out a horde of angry demons for you, and I’m—”

“They’re all gone now?” Aza cut in, interrupting Kieran.

Marcus knew why she asked. She was probably already thinking about escaping, but he wasn’t going to let her.

“Is he your ‘reinforcements’?” she asked, now turning to Marcus.

“Reinforcements?” Kieran scoffed. “That’s what I am?”

Marcus rolled his eyes. “He’s a squad member. He’s helping us get to a safer location.”

Kieran was the lead tracker. He could trace the faintest magical signatures—the residual energy left behind by spells, magical beings, or supernatural events. It was why Marcus had requested him. If anyone could help now, it was him.

Kieran usually kept to himself, drawn to the quiet of the natural world compared to the rest of the squad members. They teased him by addressing him as a loner. But when he did speak, he sure knew how to amuse himself.

He stepped toward Aza, extending a hand.

“I’m Kieran Nash. Lead tracker of the Hunters Organization and a member of the Elite Hunters’ squad. I’m the major reason we found you. You are welcome.”

He offered a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“So you’re the one behind my apprehension. It’s not a pleasure,” Aza replied flatly, not taking his hand.

Good girl, Marcus thought, smiling to himself inwardly.

“Ohh, she is feisty,” Kieran said, throwing a playful jab at Marcus.

“I take my earlier words back. She’s not boring.”

“Anyways, Vale, I hate to break up whatever was going on here, but we need to move.”

Kieran said, his voice shifting into a professional tone absolutely devoid of whatever amusement he had shown a few seconds ago.

“I’ve got a safe zone mapped to the west. And we need to hurry. My patrols are holding the perimeter, but the area is crawling with dangerous magical activities.”

Marcus nodded in understanding. He turned to Aza. “We have to leave. Get Riley ready.”

Then he and Kieran stepped outside.

***

“There’s a kid?” Kieran queried in confusion as soon as they walked out onto the cabin’s verandah.

He had questioned who Riley was at Marcus’s mention of the name.

“Why wasn’t I briefed on that? I didn’t make provisions,” he pressed.

“Adrian didn’t update you?” Marcus asked.