“I’ll ask around the other packs. Let me feel them out. I’m glad you are able to be so level headed through all of this. Most people end up hysterical when their wolves go dormant.” Alpha Scott took a few steps away towards my door. “I have preparations to look over now. Remember Denny, someone is to stay with Clover at all times.” He then promptly walked out of the room. Leaving us in silence.
The air in the room was thick and I already knew what look Joey and Denny had on their faces before I turned around. They were both staring at me with a mixture of emotions. I knew that our talk wasn’t finished. And that they would have much more to say about me leaving the pack.
“Look there isn’t anything that can be done. I know you both don’t like it. But I don’t have a choice. I can’t live here. What kind of life can I have here?” I decided just to get the elephant in the room over with.
“I understand… but I hate it.” Denny said quietly which I was shocked by. He wasn’t known to be this rational. Although maybe things were different for him now that he knew he could take Andrea as his mate. It was Joey that stunned the both of us though.
“I’m going with you.” Joey’s eyes were locked onto mine as my mouth parted slightly. “I can’t take it. I can’t take not seeing you or knowing how you are doing. I have to be there to look out for you.”
I smiled up at him and shook my head. “Joey, Denny needs you. You are his beta. He can’t lose you too. He is already going to have to find a replacement officer for his delta. Losing you would be too much. Not to mention-this is your pack. They love you.”
“What if I love you?!” Joey interrupted with a low growl.
Okay, I was not expecting that. I glanced over at Denny who was throwing murderous glances between me and Joey. But Joey wasn’t in love with me, was he? Or at the very least I wasn’t in love with him. Not that I couldn’t see myself with Joey. It’s just I could never allow him to leave his pack and abandon his alpha for me.
“Joey, it’s okay. You don’t have to protect me. You may love me, but you aren’t in love with me… right? You care about me like a brother would his sister. But it isn’t in a romantic sense… Besides, I won’t allow you to leave the Sulfur pack. With Denny taking over as the new alpha they need you to be by his side. Denny needs you-“
“You need me.” Joey’s eyes were unwavering as he studied my face. “You don’t have Sheena right now. I know you are trying to put on a brave act, but you are in pain. Don’t you think I know this about you?” He ran his hand through his hair and glanced up at the ceiling. “You really had no idea how I felt about you?”
I chose to ignore that last part. Because if I ignored it then it wasn’t said… right? “Joey, look over at Denny. Look at him.” I shook my head with a small smile. “You can’t leave him. He is the one who needs you… more than I do.” Denny did need Joey. It would be catastrophic for him to replace two officers right before taking over as the alpha. However, if I was being honest, I needed Joey too. I was terrified of leaving without my wolf. I wouldn’t have anyone to look out for me. If Joey wasn’t Denny’s beta-maybe it would be different. But he was so there was no point even thinking about it. And I could see by the look in his eyes now he understood it too, that there was no way he could leave Denny.
“Then stay with me Clover.” Joey said the next words that would shake the storming globe I was in. “I’ll be your family… be my mate.” He must have seen the surprised look on my face because he quickly added before I could object, “Don’t answer now. Just think about it. Please.”
How could I? How could I live in a pack that tried to kill me? How could I raise a family here? Would my children be the next ones they tried to kill? I just couldn’t see how it could work. Not to mention, Joey hadn’t met his fated mate yet. This wasn’t fair to him. And to be honest… it wasn’t fair to me. He was offering me the one thing I wanted more than anything, but the conditions weren’t practical.
Still… I couldn’t bring myself to outright refuse his offer. In fact, I was contemplating it in my head. What if this was my last chance to have a family? Even if it was while living in murder valley. I couldn’t answer him though. I didn’t want to give him false hope, and yet, I was thinking about it. The Sulfur pack was the problem. I could be happy with Joey, but not in the Sulfur pack. Just like with Denny… this relationship couldn’t work.
Yesterday was the most traumatic day of my life and today was the weirdest day of my life. I didn’t leave the pack house at all today. I didn’t join Denny for pack training. I stayed with Joey for most of the day. And it was not weird at all; we carried on like always. It was comfortable for both of us despite everything.
It was late evening when Denny and Jude finally walked back into the pack house. It was the first time I had seen Jude since yesterday. I watched as his eyes landed on mine and he quietly stared at me. I started to feel a bit awkward under his gaze as I was still sorting through my feelings. Afterall it was his girlfriend who set me up and he knew it.
I watched as he slowly walked towards me, as I stood there not knowing what to expect. When he reached me, he brought my head to his chest and wrapped his arms around me. He held me tight against him. I didn’t know how to react. I just stood there frozen at first. I felt his head rest on top of mine and his hands trembled slightly.
‘Jude…’ I decided it was best to mentally link with him.
‘Dam.nit Clover, I am so sorry. I can’t believe she would… it’s my fault. What happened to you is my fault. I should have known. The signs were there, and I ignored them. God Clover, can you forgive me?’
My lips parted as I took in a shuddering breath. I wasn’t going to let myself cry. But I can’t tell you how much his words affected me. Then there was more shock as I realized that I had mind linked with Jude. I felt like I couldn’t before, and now I was able to reach out to him naturally. It’s strange though. It feels different than before. As if I am communicating on another level.
‘I’m going to tell Denny about Taylor. I broke up with her and locked her in solitary confinement so she can’t escape. Please, Clover don’t leave. This is your home. I’m going to protect you better. I’m so sorry.’
I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat as my arms moved around his body. “Jude, it’s okay.” I whispered out to him. ‘This isn’t your fault. This would have happened eventually. Taylor was just the one to set up the situation. But it could have been anyone. This pack…’ I took in a shaky breath. ‘This pack is not my home. I can’t live in the Sulfur pack, Jude.’ The place I thought was my home-wasn’t. I was supposed to be the delta of this pack who was responsible for protecting the alpha. I couldn’t stay here. The three of them would always be worrying about me and trying to protect me.
I couldn’t live here no matter how much I wanted to try to make it work. I couldn’t be Joey’s mate. I deserved to be wanted. I deserved not to be treated like an outsider. I am an alpha’s daughter. This is why I am strong. I don’t know all the details behind the war. I am sure there are two sides to the story. I wonder if all the members of the Chaos pack were killed… or if maybe some remained? Maybe some are part of the Seekers? Perhaps I should look into finding Chaos pack members.
“Jude, what is all of this about?” Denny moved next to the two of us and looked over at me. I could see there was confusion in his eyes. Obviously, there would be because I shouldn’t be able to mind link.
I watched Jude lift his head to look at Denny. “Denny… This is all my fault-“
“JUDE!” I sighed and shook my head. “Just stop. Let it go.”
“No, Clover! Why should I let this go?! You are an officer of the Sulfur pack. This act deserves punishment!” Jude growled. “And I am going to get the other names. If you won’t give them to me… I have another source now to get them from.”
“Who?” Denny’s voice was a low snarl.
“It could have been anyone. You can’t punish the whole pack! And it could have been any of them. Just because there are a few who acted on it doesn’t change how most of them feel. It’s pointless. It doesn’t matter. I am leaving here tomorrow whether I find another pack or not.”
“Clover!” Joey’s eyes looked wounded as he met with mine. I could feel his heartbreak. I gave him a small smile and shook my head.
“It can’t work Joey. I’m sorry. It just can’t work.” I went to say something else when Jude interrupted angrily.
“Taylor! Taylor was the one who sent Clover out there all on her own. I have her locked in solitary confinement until she can be questioned.” Jude looked up at my shocked face. “We can’t punish everyone. But we can punish those who acted on their thoughts. I want you to know you are worth it Clover! What happened to you shouldn’t be overlooked. It was wrong. And we need to let other pack members see there are repercussions for these actions!”
I looked over at the darkness growing in Denny’s eyes. A low growl reverberated from his throat as he took a few steps towards the door. “Let go have a talk with her.”
“I’ll be taking over from here, Denny.” Alpha Scott said as he stepped into the room. I watched as he had a minor stare down with Denny. “I heard everything. You are too emotionally involved. You are welcome to come with me, but I will handle the interrogation.”
“Fine.” Denny scowled and then looked over at Jude. “You don’t have to come-“
“I’m coming.” Jude took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m seeing this through.”
I watched as Denny nodded to Joey. I know it was him saying to keep an eye on me. He then walked up to me and placed his hand on my head. I could see there was so much he wanted to say to me. His eyes wandered over my face and then he leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply