Page 33 of The Beta's Heart
“You bet,” Acksel said. “How long are you going to wait to marry Kismet? Do fairies have wedding traditions?”
“Her dad insinuated it would be a good idea if I askedhimfirst and then asked Kismet, so I was thinking of doing that when we’re there next week.”
“That sounds like a good plan. Always best to be on the in-laws’ good side,” Acksel said.
Sam stopped the SUV. Ren looked out the window and saw Lucian in his truck. They all got out of the vehicles, and the moment Ren was out in the open, he scented other wolves and searched the area, finding Stef and two males with her.
“I…don’t fucking believe it,” he said under his breath.
“What?” Acksel asked.
“That guy with Stef is Tanner, the one who lost his finger to Jack during the Dorlan battle.”
“Holy shit,” Acksel said. “It’s a good thing Mal’s not here, he’d already be over there pounding his face in.”
Lucian’s eyes glowed red and he growled low. “There are others nearby. I count four more males.”
Acksel nodded and cracked his knuckles. “Let’s make this quick and find out what the hell she wants.”
Ren and Sam flanked Acksel with Lucian bringing up the rear. It didn’t matter to Ren that they had less people with them than Stef, because Lucian was a fierce male and a monster in his berserker form. She could have brought fifty with her, and it still wouldn’t have been a fair fight with Lucian on their side.
Their group stopped a few feet from the picnic table where Stef sat. The males stood behind her, arms folded. She rose slowly and smiled at Ren.
“Thank you for meeting us, Alpha Acksel.” She spoke to Acksel but stared right at Ren.
Her voice was syrupy sweet and made Ren’s hackles rise. His wolf wasnotinterested in anyone making googly eyes at him but Kismet.
“Stef,” Acksel said. “You can call in your other wolves.”
She blinked rapidly, her smile slipping for a moment. “What?”
“The four that you have hanging out in the area. I’m aware of them, and I don’t appreciate the deception.”
“I just didn’t want it to look like we were trying for a show of strength.” She made a motion and the four joined them. “Please sit.”
Acksel sat across from her, but no one else did. “What did you want to meet about?”
Her gaze flicked from Acksel to Ren. “I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve recently taken over Payler as my pack’s territory, and I’m looking for an alpha male to lead with me.”
“Iknowyou’re not here for me,” Acksel said.
“No,” she said, looking fully at Ren. “I’m here for Ren.”
He barely held back the snort of derision. “I’m mated, Stef. And even if I wasn’t, I’m beta in the Wilde Creek Pack and very happy where I am. I have no desire to change the circumstances of my life, so you came here for nothing.”
“In high school, you wanted to be alpha someday.”
“People change.”
“No, they don’t,” she said with a derisive sniff. “In accordance with pack laws, I’m asking you to reconsider leaving your pack and joining mine. I can make you happier than your mate. I know what you like.”
Ren’s wolf pushed at his skin, wanting to shift and defend Kismet’s honor. “You don’t know me at all, but it doesn’t matter one way or the other. There is no pack law that separates truemates. And even if there were, my answer is a hard and resounding no to everything you’re offering.”
She opened her mouth, but Acksel growled and slammed his fist into the picnic table. The wood cracked with the blow and Stef jerked back, her eyes wide.
Acksel rose to his feet, towering over her. “You asked and you were answered. Take heed of this warning, she-wolf. You might consider yourself an alpha because you found some wolves foolish enough to follow you, but that doesn’tmakeyou an alpha. You’re not welcome in Wilde Creek. Donotstep foot in my town or contact any of my pack members, or you will suffer my full wrath.”
Her face flushed brightly with fury, her eyes flashing with her beast. Her jaw ticked as she ground her teeth together, and the wolves with her tensed, but no one moved.