Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Kingston I reluctantly let Ayla go and went to answer the door. Once I opened it, Mina pushed her way through and went straight to Ayla, throwing her arms around her.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes,” Ayla said lightly. “I really am fine.”

Briggs nodded toward me as I allowed him into the suite. Alpha Harden was right behind him.

“Ms. Garner,” Alpha Harden said, “I want to formally apologize. Alpha Conner’s behavior was appalling and absolutely unacceptable.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” Ayla asked.

“That will be a topic of discussion for tomorrow,” he replied. “We have laws for the Gathering, and every Alpha that attends is agreeing to also a**de by the laws of the hosting pack.”

Ayla nodded.

Alpha Harden gave her a reassuring smile, then turned to me. With a look, he indicated he wanted to speak with me in the hall. I followed him out of the suite. Leaving Ayla with her cousin and Briggs.

“Alpha Conner will remain in custody until tomorrow,” Alpha Harden said. “But there’s something I need to ask you.”

I had a suspicion about what he was going to ask. It made me nervous. I wasn’t sure how I was going to answer.

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15:21 Chapter 58. Kingston 288 (Vouchers “I know Ayla only recently joined your pack. Where is she from?” Harden asked. “What do you know about her family?”

“Ayla was a Greytooth,” I said. “She came to me as a rogue. She cut her ties after a dispute with her mother and sister. Who were also born and raised as members of the Greytooth pack.”

“What bout her father?”

“He died when she was fourteen,” I stated. “Why are you asking?”

“Kingston,” he said seriously, addressing me informally, “I know you felt it too. She commanded us. All of us. That shouldn’t be possible. Not to mention every unmated Alpha here has been drawn to her since she arrived.”

“She’s a strong she-wolf,” I insisted, worried that he would figure something out that he shouldn’t. “She’s a natural Luna.

Tensions were high down there. We were all more susceptible to commands. It doesn’ t mean anything.”

Harden nodded. “Okay,” he said. “If that’s what you believe happened, then that’s what happened. But do her a favor and take her home. Whoever she is, she’s a target here. And the others may start asking questions as well.”

He definitely suspected something. This wasn’t good. I suddenly felt incredibly st**id for bringing her here. It’s not like her family was ancient history. Harden probably remembered when the Onyxcrown Pack fell. The only packs I trusted to be allies to the Dominis family were the ones who allowed us through their territory when we were fleeing. The Blue Fang Pack wasn’t one of those. I had no idea where he stood on their downfall.

He must have sensed my unease.

apter 58. Kingston 288 Vouchers “Kingston,” he said quietly, resting a hand on my shoulder. “No one knows anything. If you say she was a Greytooth, she was a Greytooth. Nothing else.”

“That’s all she was,” I said. “Now she’s a Sablemane.”

“Okay,” he said. “Still, you should get her home. We have enough witnesses to handle this without you two. Everyone will understand your absence tomorrow.

“Yeah, we’ll head out in a bit,” I agreed. “Let me know what happens with that ba**ard.”

“I will.”

“He better be punished, Harden,” I insisted, my anger returning. “If you don’t take care of this, I will.”

“You have my word. There will be consequences.”

“Thank you,” I said, returning to the suite.

Ayla and Mina were on the couch. Ayla had changed already and gotten comfortable and otherwise seemed no worse for wear. I was grateful she didn’t seem too traumatized about the night’s events, but my own anxiety grew. I couldn’t help the dread that I had put her in danger by bringing her. But with the things happening back at the pack, I wouldn’t have been able to leave her either.

Pierce was supposed to arrive early this morning but had to stay behind. He called me early in the morning to tell me there had been another break-in. This time it wasn’t at the lodge. This time, someone broke into city hall.

I had led Ayla to believe I didn’t know who had broken into my lodge. I didn’t know exactly who it was, but I had recognized the scent. It was AA 179.

1288 Vouchers a scent that shouldn’t have been there. The person who had that scent died many years ago.

If he was still alive, he could only have been searching for one thing. He was likely the one who broke into city hall, looking for any records that would give him what he needed. I couldn’t risk him finding it.

But had bringing her here only brought attention to and suspicion about her identity?

I needed to get her home. I could keep her safe at home. No one would find out who she is.

I sat on the arm of the couch next to Ayla, rubbing my hand down her back. I needed the connection. Probably more than she did. It reminded me that she was safe at that moment.

“Alpha Harden said we won’t have to stay for the trial tomorrow,” I said. “I think we should head home early. I’d rather you not have to deal with all the attention. Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” she said, looking up at me with a soft smile.

“I guess we’ll leave you to get some rest then,” Mina said, leaning in to give Ayla a strong hug. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Ayla replied.

“Talk to you soon?” she asked.

“Every chance we get.

They smiled and hugged again. Ayla gave Briggs a hug, too, and thanked him for coming to help. She walked them out as they said all their goodbyes. When it was just the two of us again, I could see she was tired. It had been a long day. I wrapped her in my embrace, kissing 68.02%

年 15:21 288 Vouchers her firmly as I tried to breathe her in “Let’s get to bed,” I said. “It’ll be an early morning.

She nodded and held my hand as I led her to the bedroom. I tucked her in before stripping down and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I would have to throw the shirt out and get the suit dry-cleaned. It was covered in Alpha Conner’s blood.

At least I was able to protect Ayla from that animal.

I slipped under the covers beside her, wrapping myself around her small frame. I would be smarter from now on. She had to be priority now.

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