Lucas lets out a chuckle beside me as I continue to try and wrap my head around this Alpha Nox person. Contrary to his dark appearance, Alpha Nox seems easygoing.
“You took art?” I blurt out, not knowing what else to say.
“Out of everything I have said since coming into this office, what surprises you is my taking art classes?” Alpha Nox asks with wide eyes, his attention completely on me.
“I mean, I expected the Council to step in and deal with Blood Oath. It was part of our plan when coming to Oak Fur,” I shrug, getting a chuckle from Alpha Nox.
“I like this pup, Amelia. She’s a lot like her mother, Joan,” Alpha Nox smiles, turning to look at Amelia for a brief moment. “Call me Uncle Nox, Kaylee. I can’t wait for the two of you to become alphas so we can sign a treaty.”
I smile, feeling happy to know another wolf who knew my mother. Lucas stares at Uncle Nox, his eyes narrowed as he pulls me closer to his side. I roll my eyes, noticing his jealousy at how friendly Uncle Nox is being towards me.
“Calm down, little wolf. I have a mate of my own,” Uncle Nox says to my mate, his green eyes watching Lucas with a mischievous twinkle to them. Lucas scoffs, turning his face to nuzzle my hair, and I realize he’s breathing in my scent.
“In three days’ time, when we become alphas of Oak Fur, Kaylee and I will gladly sign a treaty with all the wolves here,” Lucas states, his face still hiding in my hair as he continues to breathe in my scent.
I smiled helplessly, deciding to stay held like this by Lucas. He isn’t snarling jealously at Uncle Nox, which surprises me. It seems he’s definitely changed from the overtly possessive man he used to be to someone who can read the room and understand that neither of us is in danger.
“Glad to hear that. But there’s more to what we must say about Blood Oath being destroyed.”
Lucas lets out a deep sigh, carefully pulling away from me to turn to Amos. The Council Representative looks at each one of us in turn, his eyes feeling like deep oceans.
“When Nox and his men disbanded Blood Oath, Nathaniel’s pregnant mate managed to escape,” Amos explains, shocking all of us in the room. To think Nathaniel Cross had mated another she-wolf, this time getting her pregnant. “From what we found in their medical facility, this she-wolf is carrying a son. We believe there may be trouble in the future either because of her or her pup.”
I shiver, realizing the implications of Amos’ warning. If this mate of Nathaniel’s tells her pup about their pack being disbanded because of Lucas’ email, we may have another battle ahead of us.
“Will she be a threat now?” Lucas asks, his fingers tightening against my side.
“We don’t think so. The she-wolf is a rogue right now and will need to worry about the pup inside her.”
I close my eyes and place a hand on my stomach. The bump grows with each passing day, and I think about my pup, Aspen. We’ll need to create a strong pack and provide a safe home for her so she can grow up without too much fear or worry.
“If you don’t think they’re something to worry about for now, then we won’t focus on the threat they might pose,” I state, looking towards Amos with a determined gaze. “Right now, we’re rebuilding a pack from the ground up. By the time Nathaniel’s son and mate are a threat, we’ll be ready for them.”
Amos looks me in the eyes, his brows furrowed. After a brief pause, he smiles and nods his head.
“I understand, Alpha Kaylee.” With these words, Amos informs us that he will be in his room for the rest of the day, completing his own work.
Uncle Nox asks if he can stay to give Lucas and me some guidance and get to know me. Lucas doesn’t like this idea but complies.
After the meeting, I decided to walk around Oak Fur with Amelia and Uncle Nox. I wanted to hear stories about my mom from this new wolf while noting how the changes to Oak Fur are progressing. Apparently, Lucas and David had taken control of planning where greenhouses and new vegetable fields would go yesterday when I had fallen asleep from grieving the loss of mychildhood home. I’m curious to see how things are going in that area.
79
Lucas
Sitting at the vanity in my room that Kaylee had placed here, I watch as she slips on the pure white dress Amelia and her had bought in town. It’s been seven days since we took back Oak Fur from Ramos and Marilyn. Seven days of executing traitors that sided with those vile wolves. Seven days of restructuring the pack and working with Simon, Evette, and Royce to learn everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and what ranks would suit them the most. We were surprised by how many omegas should have been hunters or warriors. Those wolves would be promoted during the initiation ceremony.
“Can you help zip this dress up?” Kaylee calls out, her blue eyes meeting mine in the mirror. I smile, standing from the seat and moving behind her. I carefully zip up her dress, feeling Kaylee shiver as my knuckles graze her skin. With a chuckle, I bend down to kiss the mark that graces her neck, getting a surprised gasp from her.
“Behave,” she chastises me, turning to slap my chest gently.
“I have been behaving,” I muse, sneaking my arms around her waist and pulling her back against my body. My hands rest on her stomach, the slight bump making me grin from ear to ear. Kaylee fought hard a week ago and still kept our pup safe. My mate is strong, and I’m glad I left Oak Fur to find her.
“Tonight, I want to repeat what we did all those months ago on your birthday,” I whisper into Kaylee’s ear, nibbling on the sensitive skin. I can smell her arousal for me grow, and I grin. Kaylee’s hormones have grown with each passing day due to her pregnancy, and it’s incredibly easy to turn my mate on.
“If you don’t stop teasing me, you’ll be sleeping in your office,” she growls gently, wiggling free from my arms and walking towards the door. I laugh at her flustered reaction, watching Kaylee flip me the middle finger as she leaves our room.
I know she’s embarrassed by her reaction to my teasing, know that she is trying hard not to think of all the things I will do to her body tonight, and can’t help but feel amused. Kaylee has always been easy to tease, but only when she feels comfortable with the person teasing her.
