Filed to story: Owned by the Alphas Novel
She grinned and almost ran.
I laughed after her and went to follow when I was yanked back outside.
I growled and spun on who it was.
Taylor.
I shoved her against the brick wall so hard, the smack of her head almost had the stone cracking.
She whimpered and coughed past the hold on her throat I had.
“Alpha Kai, I have news,” she sputtered.
I dropped her and she landed on her feet, panting.
I was not apologizing. She should have announced herself.
I peered into the bar where Lorelai was talking animatedly to Juniper who was scribbling on a notepad.
“What news?”
“We were on patrol and came across the rogues’ scent,” she rushed out, holding her throat.
I frowned, “They haven’t had a scent.”
“I know which is why I came to tell you. Especially because of where we found it,” she said.
She was a good fighter, a good pack member. But she still struggled with losing out on a chance at Luna. Her power issues would be the death of her if she kept letting me sense them.
But this was important so I let her keep talking.
“Where?”
“The exit from the tunnels. The ones underneath that were where we let the humans come and go through. I think they have been sniffing around, knowing there is another way in and out,” she explained.
I narrowed my eyes. I needed to tell Derik but he would be about ready to rip my head off by now so I’d tell him when we went back with a Luna safe and sound in the mansion.
“Why didn’t you tell me in the link?” I demanded, thinking of the wolves on patrol and where Taylor needed to be covering her part of that.
“Because no one knows there is a tunnel under there, Alpha Kai. If the rogues know it is there then–“
Realization dawned and I growled, “It means someone on the inside has told them.”
She nodded and I saw the real fear in her eyes. As much of a bitch as she was, she was loyal to the pack.
I appreciated that.
I nodded, “Keep that to yourselves for now. And be careful, they may have left their scent on purpose as a trap,” I said.
She frowned, “Don’t you want to put extra wolves on to guard it?” she asked.
I shook my head. I wasn’t that stupid.
“No. If the scent is there, it means they are still snooping and don’t know the exact location. If I put extra security there, they’ll know they are looking in the right place. But I will talk with Derik and Brax. We’ll put some more security on the inside of the tunnels where the scent is more covered,” I explained.
Taylor nodded and went to leave before looking back, “I am happy for you, Alpha. Even if I don’t show it,” she admitted.
I nodded, “And I appreciate everything you do for the pack, Taylor. I know you only mean well by it,” I offered back.
She smiled and nodded then took off back to patrol.
I would consider her change in attitude strange if she hadn’t let me have access to her entire mind in the link.
She was proving she wasn’t the traitor because one thing was for sure. There was one. Derik was going to love that. If he was bad before, he was going to be a tyrant now.
Even my rage bubbled at the idea.
I might just be the tyrant instead.
I went inside the bar, my heart faltering when I couldn’t see Lorelai at the wooden bar.
I growled at Juniper who just rolled her eyes, sliding an ale across the bar to me.
“She’s in the bathroom, Alpha Nikolai. Calm down and have a drink,” she said.
I stood, emptying some of the ale as Juniper’s brother, Julian peered out of the small serving window in the wall.
He had been attacked when he was younger and couldn’t speak but he was the best cook.
He rang the bell and placed a burger and fries on the ledge of the wooden serving window.
Juniper grabbed it and put it down as Lorelai came out with a huge grin that wiped my anger out.
She smiled, sat down on the wooden barstool and dug into her food.
“This is delicious.”
I grinned at how happy food made her then mulled over the tunnels in my head.
We had a traitor. The tunnels could be compromised.
It wouldn’t leave me alone.
‘Hank, have three wolves placed in the tunnels. Not too far down but enough that it is secure. Check for scents,’ I ordered in the link.
I felt his questioning back but he said nothing. He did what I asked.
I needed to talk to Derik.
And Brax.
I went to open the link when the wolves from training barreled into the bar rowdy and laughing.
“Alpha! You need to tell us, who had the highest score? The archery finals?” One of the initiates called, taking up a booth with his group he always had around him.
I yanked out the papers and read the scores.
Juniper set about serving them pitchers and taking orders as I got the final scores from Anetta who came in with the other pieces.
“Luna,” I said knowing she had come last.
Oscar scoffed.
“Not a chance, she didn’t even get a bullseye,” Oscar snickered.
Lorelai raised a brow at me, smirking as she ate more.
I smirked back and turned to Oscar.
“Is that so?” I challenged.
He stumbled in his joking. The other wolves quietened because they were smart and knew what happened when I sniffed out a challenge.
“I mean… of course she won. I was just wondering who was going head to head tomorrow?” Oscar redirected.
I chuckled. Fucking with them brought me as much joy as food did to my Little Luna.
“Don’t be a coward, Oscar. Another lesson. You know she didn’t win. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in, even if it’ll get your ass beat,” I grinned then read out the three who won, “Oscar, Eileen and Yuen.”
They all cheered and congratulated.
“What do they win if they win the head to head?” Lorelai asked taking a sip of water.
“Respect. The chance to beat Anetta. Which they never do. But if they do, they get out of initiates. It’s like a free ride.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?