Chapter 133
There’s something off with the way Kaylee is behaving. It feels rehearsed or perhaps automatic. The pack elders have arrived, as well as the Lycan elders, who will be relocating to accommodate Ivar here in the city. And as predicted, the rest our team has volunteered to move here when our training is over at the end of this year.
There is a plethora of opportunities here, and the petitions for relocation are coming in from all over the world. Lycans. want to be here because of the city’s already established economic reputation.
“You did something.” I say when we’re walking to the cars.
“What do you mean?” Ragnar plays coy. I look back to see that Ivar isn’t here, so he won’t be joining us. I open the door and get in as quickly as possible. The asshole has the audacity to smirk before getting inside. I growl at him lowly when he takes his sweet time closing the door. “What did I do?”
His entire demeanor screams guilty to me. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t shake the feeling. His emotions are strong in our bond. He doesn’t know how or perhaps chooses not to block our connection, and he can get to be a lot. This is one of those moments.
“You tell me,” I cross my arms over my shoulders. He takes a deep breath and leans back to stare out the window, avoiding eye contact. “What did you say to Kay to make her so agreeable? I’ve known her here for a long time, and the girl who was just read her new rights is not that girl.” He still says nothing. “Ragnar?”
“I used my King command on her,” he admits when we stop in front of the mainhouse. When he looks back at me, the guilt is written all over his face. “I had to. She wasn’t going to cooperate, and Ivar is going to be under a lot of stress as it is.”
“Ragnar, that wasn’t the kind of choice you make on your own. When-”
“If,” he tries to cut me off.
“When,” I insist. “When Ivar finds out, he’s going to be pissed. Do you really think he doesn’t know anything about her? He didn’t react the way he did when she rejected him because he was heartbroken. He’s a lot like your father in that department He already knows everything about her, and you pull this?”
“I’m trying to help him,” he insists.
“I know,” I scoot closer to him. His arm comes around my waist, but he still doesn’t meet my eyes. “I get it, but this is Ivar we’re talking about. I’ve been trying my best not to push him on this too far. It’ll be a long time before she can trust him or he her. After he finds out, it’ll be a long time before he can trust you with this again as well?
“What was I supposed to do? You saw the way she came in. You had a black eye until late this morning, Soph. She swung at you. What am I to expect of the danger she’s going to bring my only brother?” he sighs and reaches for the door. “He can be. mad at me all he wants. So as long as he’s alive.”
For the most part, I feel it’s a valid response. I find myself agreeing with it. I stop him from opening the door for a second. He looks back at me and finally meets my eyes.
“I’m on your side. The last thing I want is for this transition to be harder on him than it has to be. But you have to remember that this will all be on his terms,” I sit back to think about this new reality. “I just wanted them removed from their position. The Alpha King is a grade A dumb ass.”
“Expanding wasn’t on our to–do list, but his giving the people to us was a tactical move on his behalf. Just as telling the people what he did was yours. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be. I agree.
1/3
7:46 am PPP
Chapter 133
He finally opens the door and steps out. Our security team pushes the press back as I follow Ragnar inside without addressing anyone. A lot has changed here, and I’m not talking about the takeover. I mean, my peers have successfully gotten to the positions we talked about growing up.
The older kids are on the council now. Some of them are lawyers and here to represent their friends and family. I recognize a lot of faces in the press crowd. There are a whole lot of angry betas and alphas present as we make our way to the grand
hall.
Ragnar helps me up to the podium we’re escorted to. Ivar is here with Kaylee, who is staring down at her hands, trying her best to avoid eye contact with anyone. Now that we’re here, everyone else seems to be eager to get to their seat and hear what comes next.
There is no doubt in my mind that Ragnar is going to put all these people in their place. The Lycan elders don’t look as old as the pack ones, and it’s a little funny. The envy could be cut with a butter knife. Ragnar pulls me closer and interlocks our fingers.
“Relax. This is a meeting. Not a battlefield. The more anxious you get, the angrier I’ll get,” he reminds me. I give his hand a squeeze and look down at our hands together. He lifts them up and kisses the top of my hand. “Head up at all times. You’re my mate. You bow your head to no one.”
All I can do is nod once more. I scan the room until my eyes land on Kaylee, who is now watching the two of us. The part of me that respected her as the Junior who took me under her wing because she had been friends with my brother is still there. It misses her and has been eager to catch up with the friend I thought she was.
The rest of me is upset that she would cheap–shot me the way she did. I’m angry still. More than I’ve ever cared to admit, and with the way those close to me are whispering my name, that anger is turning into bright red rage.
I look across at the elders who glare in my direction. None of them thinks that I was worthy. An omega doesn’t deserve what I have taken back in their eyes. I find that our contempt for each other is mutual because my thoughts are turning dark. I hate them just as much as they hate me. I don’t want to be here any more than they want me here. This has never been my home, and it never will be. They know that. I know that.
Ragnar stands to address everyone. His elders and people bow their heads respectfully, but the wolves can care less about him, and it bothers me. He calls out for everyone to settle down, but it goes ignored. I can feel the irritation boiling in his chest.
“He said settle down!” I find myself screaming as I slap my hands on the podium.
My affinity lashes out. The water in the pitchers provided begins to bubble. It catches the elders‘ attention, but the rest don’t see it.
“Sophia,” Ragnar calls out.
“Settled down.”
My growl echoes in the high ceilings, and just before the final pitch gives out, the pitchers and glasses all burst. I pull on the water and lift off the tables, splashing all of them. Everyone immediately stops talking and turns to look at me. Those who were standing sit down. I feel the moment Ragnar pushes down the laugh he wants to let out. Ivar and some of the elders
don’t hold back.
“Calm down,” Ragnar pulls me close to him. He decides that my sitting in my own seat isn’t enough. He pulls me onto his lap and holds up the cards my grandmother prepared for him. “These dogs aren’t worth your anger, Darling. Let’s begin.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
