Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Ayla “Kingston,” I said, trying to pull my hand away, but he held it tight. “What are you saying? Have you been hunting...”

“Waar Pak members?” he interrupted. “Of course. The bastards thought they could come back. They thought they could come into my territory and work under my nose. But he got careless. I caught his scent.”

“Who, Kingston?” I asked, getting more nervous. “Who got careless?”

“Grogan,” he said. “Arthur Grogan. The asshole was supposed to be dead. I saw your father kill him myself. But he must have survived and escaped.”

“Who is Grogan?”

“He’s one of the Waar Pak leaders,” Kingston clarified. “But it’s okay. He won’t get away this time. I’m closing in.” He tugged me against him. “And he led me to you. So I know we’ll prevail. It couldn’t mean anything else. My goddess came to me.”

Did he mean me? Was he talking about the tale?

“What goddess, Kingston? How did Grogan lead you to me?” I asked, trying to step away from him.

“The night we met,” I said. “I was following his scent when you came around that bend. That’s why I was in the road. But I wouldn’t have caught him. I wasn’t ready. I needed the goddess’s support. I needed you.”

I managed to push away from him. “So you did know about the Blessed One,” I said, hurt filling my gut. “You did believe I was her from the start. And you didn’t tell me.”

“Ayla, you had to have known,” Kingston said, trying to reach for me again.

“How could I have known?” I yelled, dodging his embrace. “Did you know what would happen when we went to the Gathering?

Did you know they would figure it out?”

Kingston froze, guilt filling his eyes before he looked away.

“Oh, my goddess,” I murmured. “You did. You bastard, you did.”

“I didn’t know Conner would act like that,” he insisted. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt, Ayla.”

“No,” I bellowed, “you just wanted to use me as bait. You knew they would try to come for me. You used me to flush out whatever Waar Pak members you could. That’s why you’re hunting them down.”

“Of course I wanted to draw them out,” he spat. “They need to be destroyed. That’s the only way we can bring our pack back. It’s the only way we can return to our land.”

My eyes went wide. This had been his plan all along. He was going to use me to reinstate the Onyxcrown Pack. To become their Alpha.

“Kingston, that will never happen,” I guaranteed. “The Onyxcrown Pack is dead. I won’t bring it back. All I want is my father’s ring. Now give it to me.”

“No, no, that’s not how this is supposed to go,” he growled. “You came to me. You came to me because we are the last Onyxcrown ranking members. The Alpha and Beta. Now, the Alpha and Luna. You belong by my side, Ayla.

“No, I don’t, Kingston,” I said. “I’m not your mate. I belong with Theo.”

Devastation filled Kingston’s expression, quickly followed by rage. And I realized the mistake I had made. I started backing away toward the door.

“Kingston,” I said calmly, “calm down. I’m just going to go, okay? You‘ re not yourself right now.”

“You won’t leave me again, Ayla,” Kingston growled. “This is our destiny.”

I shook my head. “No, Kingston, it’s not.‘

I rushed for the door, but Kingston was too fast. He grabbed my arm hard and spun me around. His mouth was on mine before I knew what was happening. It was painful and sickening. I pushed and pulled to get him off of me.

“Kingston...”

“He thinks he can trick you into choosing him,” Kingston rumbled. “I’ll show him how wrong he is.”

His hold on me was hurting. He reached and started pulling my hair back. When he grabbed my chin, turning my head sharply, I knew what he was planning.

He was going to mark me.

Terror ran through me and tears formed in my eyes. I fought harder but he was too strong. He couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let him do this. I searched for the strength I needed.

“Stop,” I commanded.

It was enough to make him pause. I yanked my arm free, punching up against his jaw. I didn’t get enough leverage to break it but it did knock him back a few steps.

“Don’t touch me,” I followed.

His rage cleared and realization of what just happened filled his face.

“Ayla, I’m sor...”

“Don’t follow me, Kingston. Leave me and Theo alone.”

I ran out of the apartment, Kingston calling after me, and through the packhouse. I tore off the property and drove in the direction of home.

I was too shaken to call anyone. I just needed to get out of Sablemane.

I was almost at my mother’s house before I finally allowed myself to stop and collect myself. I took some deep breaths as I picked up the phone I had just purchased. I was still too afraid to turn mine on. Kingston had tracked me before.

I dialed Theo’s number. Praying he would pick up.

“Ayla,” Theo’s panicked voice sounded. “Please, goddess, tell me this is you, baby.”

“Yes, Theo, it’s me,” I rushed.

“Thank the goddess,” he muttered. I could hear the utter relief in his voice. “You scared the fucking hell out of all of us.”

“I’m not going back with them, Theo,” I told him. “I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I have a say in this, and I’m not leaving.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he replied. “Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

“I’m almost to Ma’s,” I said. “Babe, I had to see Kingston first. I just wanted to get Dad’s ashes and ring back. I promise.”

“Shh, it’s okay, baby,” he assured me. “I know. I’m on my way. We were already out looking for you, so I’m not far.”

“Okay,” I said, pulling off the side of the road. “I’m getting Kylee and Ma. I don’t care if they hate me right now. I’m not leaving them out here on their own.”

“Harden has agreed to take them to the safe house as well,” Theo said. “If you think they’d prefer that.”

“I’ll let them decide,” I said.

“Did you get it back?”

“I got his ashes,” I said. “But Kingston... he’s not himself right now.”

“Ayla, what happened?” Theo demanded. “Did he hurt you?”

”

“No,” I lied. I didn’t need to start a war on top of everything else. “At least not physically. He’s not taking the situation well.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Theo said. “I’m on my way, babe.”

I pulled into the driveway of my childhood home and my stomach dropped.

“Theo...”

He had to have heard the panic in my voice. “Ayla, is something wrong?”

“The door is open.”