Chapter 30
âIt was my decision, Meredith. And I donât regret it one bit. I donât care if what you did was because of your selfishness because honestly, I did the same. If you were using me, I was using you. You used me for my bloodline, I used you for the title. We both got what we wanted here but I still got more of the bargain. The house is just a small token of thanks.â Finally, Meredith smiled. She shook her head in amusement and breathed in.
âI may have been the one to rescue you that day, but you saved me.â
She whispered to herself. Taking my left hand in hers, she gave me a gentle squeeze before flipping the small box open. Inside was a ring. A green stone in the center with small carvings of flowers in the golden band. An engraved âGHâ was on the inner band of the ring. It was beautifully elegant.
âThis is the Greyhound crest.â
She explains, taking the ring off the slit. She slowly slid the ring on my middle finger. I found myself surprised to see that it fit perfectly. The green stone shined brightly under the light. It felt empowering to wear it. My wolf feeling overwhelmed but at the same time pride was swelling in her chest. She truly felt like an Alpha, now that she was wearing it.
âI wouldâve given you this a while ago, but⦠I didnât know whether or not you wanted to continue being Alpha.â
She moved the ring around my finger, smiling brightly at the way it fit.
âI had it resized and everything⦠I wouldâve put it on your ring finger but,â
She peered up through her lashes to give me a sly smirk, âIâm sure youâll find someone whoâs willing to slide one on for you in the future.â
I snorted reflexively at her insinuation. Meredith has been actively trying to convince me to find someone. Sheâd send a few profiles of eligible mateless Alphas or Betas who came from oversees every week. Once, she actually brought one to the pack house when I was down in the torture/interrogation room. Imagine the shock on the poor manâs face when he saw me coming up from the basement drenched in blood with a butcherâs apron around my neck. Itâs safe to say Iâve never seen a wolf run that fast in my life.
She was set on the whole âbringing my love life to lifeâ, or so she says. She knew of my history with mates and my family. She understands me, to say the least. Or well, she tries to. The only thing she didnât understand was why I didnât want to get involved with someone else. Unlike her, my mate didnât want me. Thereâd be no betraying on my part if I chose to move on like he did with Hestia.
Itâs not like I was saving myself for Landon, the man can di e for all I care, but I wasnât keen on looking for romance just yet. I wasnât against the idea but now was not the time.
Besides, I doubt anyone would be interested in âThe Hellhoundâ.
Ah yes.
My favorite nickname of all.
?
19 20
It was a play on the pack name but also quite scary to the ears. I honestly donât know from which story that one stemmed from, but it caught on. Noah would mess around with it, âaccidentallyâ calling me that when he told his mate, Mailia, about his day right in front of me. I inwardly grimaced when I remembered the pups in the pack retelling the stories they
heard from our warriors.
The rogues were so scared!
They saw the Alpha and begged for mercy!
The hellhound is upon us!
As amusing as it was to see pups under the age of seven circling around pack territory calling out Hellhound this, Hellhound that, it actually started getting old really quickly. Suc king in a breath, I gave Meredith an apologetic look.
âMeredith, you know Iâm not interested in that sort of stuff right now.â
She held her hands up in mock surrender but failed to hide the smile on her face.
âAll Iâm saying is that you shouldnât be so closed off on the idea. If someone who catches your interest comes along, donât be so quick to sh ut the door.â
With these last words, she got up and set the box on the bench. Without taking another look in my direction she made her way out of the gym.
âThank you.â
I said suddenly, twisting the ring around my finger. Meredith stopped in her step to listen but didnât turn around. She waited quietly for me to finish.
ââ¦For everything.â
Meredith turned over her shoulder, a warm smile gracing her face as she stared at me. I always felt such a deep connection to her since the moment I met her. I guess it was because she became somewhat like a mother figure to me. She was always there to push me when I needed the push.
Always there to console me when I had those attacks until I learned how to control it.
She was there for everything.
Like Bentley was.
âYour welcome. Oh, by the way, I past by your Gamma on my way here. He seemed a little on edge, mumbling about something. I suggest you go talk to him before the young lad rips.
his hair out.â