The conversation wasn’t long, but Holden could tell from the shifting expressions on Corey’s face that it wasn’t going as expected.
When Corey looked back at him, he rubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t pull her off patrol tonight. There’ll be more rogue wolves around with the mating ball in full swing. But she’s agreed to come straight here after patrol.”
“Did she admit to it?” Holden practically growled.
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean-not exactly? Either she did or she didn’t. This pack is infuriating.”
“Ella didn’t,” Corey said calmly, “but her wolf likely took offense and caused the damage. I’ll pay for the repairs, of course. We’ll have the door removed first thing in the morning and replaced within twenty-four hours. The paint job might take a few days.”
“Is her wolf always this disrespectful to Alphas?”
“No. Just you, it seems.” Corey let out a small laugh.
Holden glared at him. “Are you even going to punish her? Fix the door-I’ll handle the paint job at my pack.”
“Of course I will,” Corey replied. “You can suggest an appropriate punishment, and I’ll decide if it’s fair. But remember-you disrespected her first.”
“That’s bullshit. She started this little war-the day she put an arrow two inches from my eye.”
“Be thankful it wasn’t in your eye. She must’ve been in a good mood that day,” Corey chuckled.
“Excuse me?” Holden’s anger flared. How did one she-wolf get away with so much? His thoughts shifted suddenly. She’s probably his daughter, he realized. Great-an unruly Alpha female.
“Ella doesn’t miss, Holden,” Corey said, his tone sharpening slightly. “She trained six hours a day, six days a week for years to get where she is. That arrow two inches from your eye? That was a warning shot. One you didn’t even see coming. If she’d wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t be standing here.”
Holden already knew that. He just didn’t like it.
He could have died that day-and it infuriated him.
He hadn’t seen her at all. Not once. Their scents had been masked, his entire team hidden-yet she had still found them. Outplayed them.
Outplayed him.
She’d even driven his own blade through his shoe, right between his toes. The she-wolf was damn good-and she’d been toying with him. He had aimed to kill her that day, only for her to step aside and let his blade sail past.
He never missed.
Except that day.
“Not to mention,” Corey added, a grin spreading across his face, “at the time… she was wolf-less.”
“What?”
“Yes, Alpha Holden. You were beaten by a wolf-less female. And I believe she’s still winning this little war of yours-considering you’re in here fuming while she’s out there, probably laughing.”
“Wait-wolf-less? Then how did her wolf scratch up my car?” Holden asked, genuinely confused.
“She only got her wolf a few months ago,” Corey replied. “Actually, the full moon right after your little encounter, if I remember correctly.”
Holden went silent.
Beaten… by a wolf-less female.
The thought knocked the anger clean out of him, replacing it with stunned disbelief.
“What time in the morning?” he finally asked.
“0630. That’s when she’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here at 0615,” Holden said, already turning toward the door.
Damn she-wolf…
She hadn’t even been a she-wolf that day.
He linked Jeremy. That mutt ruined my car-scratched it up and busted the driver’s door handle.
Maybe you should stop calling her a mutt, boss, Jeremy replied with a chuckle.
How’s my mate?
Fine. I’ll let you know if anything changes. I’ll join patrol and fight alongside her, boss. When are you going to come claim her?
In the morning. If she’s on patrol, she needs to be there. And from what I saw yesterday, she wouldn’t be impressed if I tried to claim her in the middle of rogue attacks.
Alright, Jeremy replied, though he sounded doubtful.
Holden returned to his room and sank onto the bed. Rip prowled restlessly in his mind but didn’t push to claim their mate immediately.
At least she was a high-ranked warrior. That meant she’d produce a strong heir.
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