The Wolf's Prey (17 page)

I bite my
lip and wash my one good hand. Brenda is already at the toaster.
"How's the hand?" She questions as I stand beside her.

"Its
fine, thanks."

"I'm
sorry about Rachael. You know it's not your fault." She says,
sympathetically.

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"She
seems confused and lost. How could she resent my mom so
much?"

Brenda
glances at my mom and back to me. Mom steps over to us. She looks
almost guilty about something.

"Let's
move. I want to be there as soon as the bastard lands." Dads voice
booms across the room, stoping anything mom was going to
say.

We stand
there watching them leave. Lennox turns to me and I blow him a
kiss. He smiles and walks out the door.

When the
last man leaves mom clears her throat. "It's my fault. Rachel was a
very demanding child. Who could blame her? For a year it was just
her, Travis and T. When I came into the picture I took them away
from her. She was loving at first, then I had you and lost you. I
wasn't the mother I should have been and Travis was the same. We
were devastated, we mourned. Essentially, we ignored Rachel and
wallowed in our grief. Then I got pregnant with the twins and they
became my focus, then Jessica." I nod getting the
picture.

"So, she
didn't feel loved and ended to resenting the whole
family?"

"Yes,
it's not that I didn't see it. I knew she was disappointed in me as
a mother and Travis as a father. But I wouldn't expect this of her.
However, it doesn't surprise me either. I've seen her nastiness and
I tried to talk to Travis about it. He never listened, he'd give
her whatever she asked for, trying to make it better. I told him,
it's not like she was neglected, but he insisted on making up for
our behavior towards her. Nothing ever changed, she would be sweet
one minute and spitting nails the next."

I feel
sorry for her yet she's trying to hurt my family. It's hard to be
that sympathetic. She's a grownup she should be able to see that
her father and "mother" love her. Even if they weren't what she
expected them to be as parents, she's old enough to know they were
hurting and trying their best.

"You
shouldn't look so guilty. She's old enough to see what she's doing
is wrong. That you tried your best and that you love her." I say,
giving her a hug.

She hugs
me back. "It still hurts that she thinks so badly of us. I know
Travis is taking it hard and I don't know how to help him." She
cries.

"Oh,
Jenna. Just being there for him is all he needs. He'll cope with it
in time. It's just a shock, T is the same way." Brenda
replies.

"How long
do you think this will take?" I question, watching the entry
way.

"Who
knows? I don't know what his plans are for Chris Rhys." mom
answers, wiping her tears. Jessica comes dancing into the room.
"Where did you go?"

"To watch
Adrian leave." She answers, sighing.

I laugh.
"Your crush, I take it?"

"Nope, I
love him."

"He's too
old for you." Brenda scoffs.

"He is
not he's perfect." She replies defensively.

Brenda
rolls her eyes and looks at me smiling. "He's the biggest man-whore
in the pack."

I try not
to laugh at Jessica's appalled face. "If you weren't pregnant with
my niece I'd clobber you."

"Ohhh,
I'm so scared." Brenda responds mockingly.

Mom
ignores them and sits down to eat. I join her. "Aren't you
nervous?" I ask, worried about Lennox.

"Your
father is the second scariest man I've ever met. He knows what he's
doing. He even has two alphas behind him, he'll be fine." She
smiles.

I can't
stop thinking about it. I don't want anyone getting hurt. "Who's
the scariest man you've ever met?" I question, trying to think
about something else.

"Alpha Lennox
Hall." She states.

"He's not that
scary." I reply, surprised she thinks he's scary.

She looks at me
like I'm crazy. "Trust me, that man can be terrifying. It took me a
while to get used to him."

"Andrew doesn't
seem to think so. He's constantly challenging him." I say,
frustrated.

"Andrew is a
strong alpha, he doesn't like not getting and what he wants. All
alphas are like that. It's the chase, it’s the fact that they can't
have it all that drives them crazy. He's jealous of your
relationship with Lennox. Lennox would win in a fight, but it would
be a good fight. Not like Lennox's usual fights. Andrew can hold
his own, that's why it's best if they don't fight. If they're
allies it's beneficial to all three packs.

"He's not as
scary as he used to be. You've changed him, he looks more relaxed."
Jessica adds, coming to the table. "He even smiles and
laughs."

*******

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Alpha
Lennox Hall

I don't
want to leave Jocelyn, but I know she's safe. Rachel isn't anywhere
near us, she went where Travis and I don't have any influence.
Rachel might not be completely stable, but she's not stupid. She'd
pick a pack we’re not allies with and ask for
protection.

We get to
the air strip just in time to see a small plane a lot like mine
land. I know we don't need all the men we brought with us, but
Travis likes to look very intimidating and menacing. Word of this
meeting will make its way through the packs and image is
everything.

The doors
open and three men get out shoving a tall skinny man in front of
them. Chris Rhys doesn't look scared or angry about his son’s
betrayal, merely resigned to the fact he's going to die
today.

Travis,
Andrew and I walk towards the four men, meeting them half way.
"It's been a long time Chris." Travis says, almost
politely.

He nods.
"How have you been? How's Jenna?"

"She's
happy to have our daughter back." He replies, for the first time I
hear his barely contained rage.

"But you
lost another I heard." Chris says smugly.

"I guess
we know where Rachael went." Andrew states amused.

"Tell me
what you know and I'll kill you quickly." Travis offers.

"She's in
Canada. From what I heard she said she was making her way into the
Red Wolf Pack." Rhys replies.

"She's
smart, I'll give her that." I say. The Red Wolf Pack is as large as
mine. They stick to themselves and refuse outsiders on their land.
They've never been in a feud with another pack, simply because an
attack on their lands would be a disaster. The land is rugged, it
would be like attacking in the dark, not knowing where or what to
expect.

"I just
hope she stays there." Travis replies, tiredly. "That's all you
know?"

"She came
to Brett for help. She wanted to mate with him and discuss
attacking your pack. She is convinced she knows where your pack is
weak and could take you out. She even talked to other packs and
tried to make allies for a possible strike."

"What
were the results?" I ask.

"She
didn't get anyone to bite." He answers.

"I didn't
get any phone calls." Travis replies seriously.

"No one
wants to get involved in your family problems. She sounded like a
spoiled brat talking to Brett. Just like the rest of the alphas,
Brett told her no and to get off his land. When she left she said
she didn't care, that the Red Wolves were going to help her. No one
is taking her seriously and I doubt the red wolf pack will
either."

"How did
she even get on their land? They're not known for their
hospitality." Andrew asks.

Rhys
shrugs and we all share a look. He doesn't know anything else. I
know what's coming, so when Travis ends the conversation I'm not
surprised.

"Let's
go." Travis says, motioning for Chris to walk ahead of us. As soon
as we take two steps Travis grabs Chris head from behind and twists
it to the side snapping his neck it seconds. His body fails and
Travis orders the three men that brought him here to take him back
home.

We stand
by the cars discussing options regarding Rachel's revenge plot. Our
only real course of action is to call Alpha Renoir of the Red Wolf
Pack. "Do you think he was telling the truth?" Travis
asks.

"Maybe.
We need call around and see what the other alphas have to say."
Andrew states.

"Jocelyn
and I are leaving today." I say. I need to get home, work is piling
up and Jocelyn still has school. Plus, I really want her to myself.
I want to have breakfast and dinner with just the two of us. I want
to let my guard down with her, I haven't been able to relax. As an
alpha on another alpha's territory, it's impossible to feel
completely at ease.

"You'll
bring her back for Halloween, Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas?"
Travis asks, as we get in the car.

"Sure.
We'll see about Christmas." I agree. Knowing we’ll be back for
every holiday. I know it will make Jocelyn happy.

Jocelyn's
POV

I hear a
commotion and start walking to the front door. Lennox is the first
through the door. It's been over an hour and although I could feel
he was fine, I was still worried. I walk up to him and he pulls me
close. "We need to leave." I nod, but still look at him expecting
more of an explanation. "I have work and you shouldn't miss anymore
school." I know he's right, but I don't want to leave. "We'll come
back." He says, smirking down at me.

"Okay.
Can I say, goodbye?"

"I'll go
pack our things. Take your time." I look for my dad and find him in
the kitchen. Mom looks so sad, it doesn't look natural on her. The
first time seeing her so feisty and bubbly and now she almost looks
depressed. It's been a long day and I know this thing with Rachel
is wearing on her.

I walk to
her side and hug her. "Lennox and I are leaving
shortly."

"Your
father told me." She replies sadly. "Do you have to go?"

"Lennox
has work and I have school." I explain.