Chapter 99

Rachel POV

Moonglow Pack Territory

Loud bangs on the door woke me.

Tyler groaned before easing off the bed, doing his best to straighten his pants which were hopelessly wrinkled after he slept in them all night.

"Open the door, Wright! I've got you a change of clothes and we have to get to the Alpha House."

"Do you ever have the urge to strangle him? No? Must just be me."

I giggled as Tyler went to the door to let Art inside. Art offered a duffle bag to Tyler which must have been familiar because he took it without comment. Knowing Tyler as I did, it was probably a go-bag he had stashed in the sedan as a just-in-case measure.

Art threw my hairbrush at me, saying, "Do something about that rat's nest on your head. We want you to look somewhat put together. I'll take a lot put together, but I know that's pushing it right now. Do you have a black dress with you? Something expensive looking?"

Money talked.

"Yes. I did pack a little black dress, Art."

I got out of bed to go over to the Modesty Cabin only to stop midway out the door. I turned to look at the men behind me. Tyler was sorting through his bag's contents while Art was observing with his arms crossed over his massive chest in an impressive display of silent annoyance.

"Art?" I tried, not sure if I should go over alone or not.

The Alpha Inspector turned to look at me, dropping his arms as he realized why I was standing at the door. I hated being hesitant to go on my own -my independent streak had only gotten stronger after Rayne awoke in my mind again and bonded with Wynd- but I knew pride wouldn't keep me safe here.

"Sorry. I'll walk you over. Lewis isn't in the Modesty Cabin. He didn't come back last night after he went running off."

Art shrugged as if he didn't know what to do; Tyler snorted with derision while shaking the wrinkles out of a neatly folded pair of dress pants.

These Alphas were the epitome of what it meant to be Alpha. I mourned losing my connection to Nathan because he was the kindest Alpha I knew. A part of me had even wondered if he was an Alpha given how kind, how gentle, how understanding he could be.

"Thank you," I said, stepping onto the porch before saying something to upset Tyler.

We had just renewed our mating. There was no reason for me to stir up trouble with him when Nathan had been the reason to spur our mate bond being resumed. I deserved a little of his smugness since he had been the one to tell me Nathan would not settle for only friendship from me.

Art walked me to the Modesty Cabin and waited in the main room while I went into the bedroom I'd been meant to use for my own rest. I was surprised I couldn't catch his scent in the room. He must have sprayed it down with scent suppressant though I had no idea why. I dressed quickly and took my suitcase outside with me.

I knew we couldn't drive to the Alpha House, but I thought I would have my belongings ready to go just in case we left after our meeting with Alpha Campbell.

"Ready to go, are you?"

I nodded, looking up at Art with a raised brow, "Aren't you?"

Moonglow Pack hadn't been the most gracious hosts for any of us. I wondered how Art was usually welcomed as an Alpha Inspector.

His position with the Alpha Council would afford him respect---but what kind of respect? Was it grudging? Rude? Hostile?

"I've been to worse places. I like the lack of city sounds here. There's definitely something to be said about the Great Outdoors."

"There's something to be said for indoor plumbing," I muttered, feeling bitter about the fact I was going to have to take a walk for my morning constitutional, "Can we take a quick trip to the bath house?"

"Your wish is my command."

"I doubt anyone other than the Council gives you commands."

Art chuckled, "You are wrong, but I so wish you weren't. My exes call me with orders all the time. I also get demands from every Alpha I get assigned to during an investigation. It's a nature thing: they want to express their dominance any chance they get. Sometimes? I let them get away with it."

There was a twinkle in his eyes which said he "sometimes" didn't let another Alpha get away with trying to order him around, too.

We made the trip to the nearest bath house in companionable silence. By the time we were on our way back to the visitor cabins, I was feeling calmer.

We were going to go to the Alpha House. We were going to officially drop my claim on House Campbell. We were going to leave this place and I was never going to think about Moonglow Pack again.

An unfamiliar young man was waiting outside the visitor cabins when we got back. I could tell from the look on Tyler's face the guy had upset him. I couldn't tell why from the look alone.

"Your DNA results are here," Tyler announced, tipping his head in the direction of the stranger.

Oh. A messenger. I wondered if the guards had opened the letter before giving it to him to deliver. How else would they know what was in the letter?

"Have you seen it? The results?"

Tyler frowned at me, "No. Why would I have seen it?"

"It's not been opened yet, luna. By anyone," the messenger clarified, holding the envelope out to me.

"I'm not---"

"She's not comfortable carrying it. I'll take that," Art interrupted, taking the letter before gesturing to the path, "You go on ahead, kid. I'll get everyone to the Alpha House. We've been summoned, right? That's why you're delivering this now?"

The boy nodded, obviously glad he didn't have to tell the Alphas they were supposed to report to his own Alpha.

I didn't blame him for being grateful for a way out of the situation. There was too much testosterone around these Alphas for me, too. I would have taken off down the pack if I weren't terrified of what would happen to me if I broke the rules of this primitive pack by being caught out as a single female on their lands.

"What are we waiting for? It's time to go say hello to the Alpha who matters around here."

Art led our strange group to the Alpha House. I didn't care about the walk because Tyler held my hand---and he'd never done that before.

We had been together for three years as a mated pair without him holding my hand once outside of the bed.

I felt the sun on my face warming my body, but it was his hand wrapped around mine which warmed my heart; I didn't care one bit what the DNA results said about me and House Campbell.

I knew where my place was in the world and it wasn't with Moonglow Pack.

Nathan was waiting inside the Alpha House when we were let inside. He was dressed neatly as if he'd spent the night getting all the rest anyone could ask for and I couldn't see a hint of damage on him from his Lycan rage. He smiled at me with the same boyish charm I expected to see from him.

"Good to see you all finally made it! Alpha Campbell is going to meet with us in the Morning Room. His daughter Lindy is preparing a breakfast tea."

I had no idea what to say to him so I murmured a good morning alongside Art who clapped Nathan on the back as if they were buddies.

We were shown to the Morning Room as a group. I was directed to sit beside the end chair where Art placed himself, Tyler took the seat beside me while Nathan took the seat across from me. Having Art in the middle of us felt right at the moment.

"Good Morning! Glad you all have gotten here on time. I do hate tardiness. Lindy, dear, go ahead and start serving tea, will you?"

Several things happened all at once as Lindy moved to place the tea tray in the middle of the table.

I bumped her arm, causing a splash of boiling water to drop from the spout of the teapot onto her hand.

Lindy screamed out at the sudden pain of being burned.

Alpha Campbell flashed fangs at me as his wolf showed in his face and Tyler got up from the table to growl back at him, Wynd letting out a rippling roar which made cold sweat break out on my entire body.

Strangest of all---Nathan stood up and yelled at Lindy Campbell, "What kind of lying, deceitful bitch are you?"

No one seemed to have an answer to his question at all, but the shock of it was enough to settle down the growling Alphas, Art placed his hand on Nathan's chest to hold him back, and Lindy began crying while also smiling at the same time.

Inexplicably, the crying, smiling girl said, "You're my mate!"