Chapter 17
The walk back to the pack house was quiet. Most of the pack members were in their own homes or asleep. I entered the pack house and headed into the office, where Zain was waiting. He looked up and smiled when I entered. I nodded and walked over to my desk, and sat down. Zain looked at me and sighed. “A man on a mission,” he murmured. “I know that look, and I ask you to try not to kill anyone.” I looked over at him and frowned. I could hear Lynx snigger in my head, but I ignored him. “They have an hour to get here,” I muttered, “If they are not here by then, you are going to get them.” Zain looked at me with wide eyes. “You are taking charge of this situation,” he said, sounding surprised. I nodded. “Someone has to,” I said. “I’m her mate. I need to do this. I don’t want her to leave.” Zain nodded. For the hour, I explained to Zain what I had planned. For every detail I mentioned, Zain agreed, and so did Lynx. “So if this all goes to pot with her family,” he said, “You want me to fix a room for her to stay on your floor.” I nodded. “I don’t want anyone near her, only me and you,” I said. “The family must learn to listen to what I say.” Zain nodded and was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Zain and I looked at each other as he moved to the door to open it. The door opened wider, and Jenny, her parents, and Josh walked in. They all came in and stood in front of me. Zain moved away after closing the door and came over to me. I asked him to stand by my side. “I’m going to get straight to the point,” I said before anyone could say anything. “I had a mind link earlier from a nurse informing me that you four made a scene outside Leah’s room.” “Alpha,” Jenny murmured, but I cut her off with a growl. “DON’T INTERRUPT ME,” I shouted. Jenny flinched, and the others shuddered. “I am going to take this matter regarding Leah in my hands,” I said, making Jenny stare at her parents and then back at me; Josh was still. “I am going to say this once,” I said, “And only once. If you mess up, I will bring Leah to the pack house to live.” “YOU CAN’T DO THAT,” shouted Jenny’s father. I growled. Lynx moved closer and was ready to take on whoever disrespected us. “I’M THE ALPHA,” I shouted, moving out of my chair and glaring at the man. “IT WILL BE UP TO ME, NOT YOU.” The man glared at me. “If your father were here, he would…” he started to say, but Zain growled. “My father’s not here,” I growled, but Zain placed his hand on my arm, which made me look at him. He was pissed. “ENOUGH PAUL,” he shouted. “ONE MORE OUTBURST FROM YOU, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN THE CELLS FOR THE NIGHT.” Paul looked at him, but his face went into a hard line. I watched as Jenny’s mother tried to soothe him, but he moved his arm away. I glanced at Jenny, who was staring at her father, but she looked back at me. “I know you want Leah to move in with you and want to do what’s best for her,” I said. “That’s fine, but I suggest only Josh and you be in the house. The children can stay with your parents or someone else until she is ready, but your parents will not go there until I say so.” Jenny looked at me; her face was unreadable. I needed to tell her about Leah trying to escape. “Jenny,” I said. “If I didn’t go to the hospital when I did, Leah would have escaped, and goddess knows where she would have ended up.” Jenny’s eyes went wide. “She tried to escape,” she whispered as hurt formed. I nodded, watching Josh place his arm around her to comfort her. “I got her back into her bed, and she is now asleep with a nurse watching over her,” I said. “I think you need to be more careful with approaching her. Leah told me she needs space, and you are not listening to her needs.” Jenny stared at me, dumbfounded. “She spoke to you,” she asked. I nodded. Jenny looked at me and sighed. “Alpha Carson,” she said. “She’s my daughter; I should…” I placed my hand up and stopped her from talking. “Don’t,” I said. “She may be your daughter, but you haven’t been in her life for the last few years and can’t expect her to be okay with it. You and Leah need to talk, but only when she is ready. You can’t rush her or force her.” Jenny’s face changed slightly as a lone tear escaped her eyes. “I’m not coming between you,” I said. “But I will do what is best for Leah: to make sure she is safe and heard. I suggest that you and Josh make arrangements for the boys, and tomorrow, when Leah is ready to come home, the three of you will go home and try to make some sort of normal out of it.” Jenny stared while Josh nodded. “Why would our alpha be interested in an abomination?” Paul muttered, which made Zain and me growl. This man was starting to get on my nerves. “Zain, make sure Paul is in the cells tonight,” I said, which made Paul more pissed. Zain stepped aside and walked over to Paul, placing his arm on his to guide him out. Paul didn’t say anything, but his eyes went to his wolf’s color, then back to his again. He was annoyed. I didn’t care. The way he was talking about Leah was getting to me. How could he? She was his granddaughter. Lynx growled and wanted out. I tried to calm him down, which he did eventually. When Zain and Paul left, I looked between the rest of them. “Now,” I said, “I am stating this only once; if there is any trouble or Leah gets upset or even tries to run away again, I am taking her from your care and placing her into mine. Do you understand?” Jenny and Josh nodded, but her mother stared at me. “What am I supposed to do?” she asked. “You have sent my mate to the cells, and I am alone.” I shrugged. “That’s not my problem,” I said, “I suggest you leave and make sure you keep your mate in line, or you may find that there will be a ban for the both of you.” Her mother looked at me, stunned. “What does that mean?” she asked. “Well, if there is any trouble from either of you,” I said, “I will place you either in lockdown or a cell, and will come up with a punishment suitable for you, even may suggest banishment.” There were gasps, but I didn’t care. “You can’t banish us,” her mother shouted. “She is human. We are your pack members, not her; why should she get the royal treatment?” I felt Lynx move closer, but I closed my eyes. “Don’t,” I muttered, “Calm down.” Lynx growled but took a step back. He was on edge. I might have to go for a run after this. I opened my eyes and looked back at them, only to be stared with concerned looks. “I will state this,” I gritted out. “I am getting annoyed with everyone who thinks they are above me. I am the alpha of this pack, and what I say goes.” All three nodded. “Now, I suggest you leave,” I muttered, “And think about what I have said.” Jenny and her mother nodded; they both turned and walked out the door, leaving Josh, who was staring at me. “Your father would be proud,” he said as he sighed. “I know why you are doing this. I will state Jenny was only going to introduce me, not them. They didn’t listen to her, they overstepped, and when Jenny came out, Paul shouted at her, telling her how disrespectful Leah was.” I stared at him as he continued. “Jenny wants what’s best for Leah,” he said, “And I know she is your mate, but she doesn’t know about our kind. Jenny and I have devised some rules for Leah to follow, but it may be hard for her as she is used to coming and going as she pleases.” I growled. “Josh,” I gritted, “She is my mate, and I mean what I said; I will take her from Jenny and your care.” Josh looked at me and sighed. “I understand,” he said, turning away. The door opened, and in walked Zain as Josh left. Zain closed the door behind him and sighed. “What was that all about with Paul?” he asked. “I have never seen him so pissed toward someone supposed to be family.” I sighed. “I know,” I said. “Can you do some digging into him?” Zain nodded. “Would love to,” he said. “Something is clearly off with him.” I didn’t say anything but moved out of my chair. Zaion looked at me and frowned. 1 “Where are you going?” he asked as I stepped away from my desk. “I’m letting Lynx out,” I said, making Lynx jump in my head at the sound of a run. “I had to calm him down a few times in here. He needs the run; if not, he will have me awake all night.” Zain nodded. “Can I come?” he asked. I nodded. I knew Zain wouldn’t talk or do anything, but what happened in the office moments ago clearly wound him up. A run was what the doctor ordered. We headed out of the office and to the front of the pack house. Without a care in the world, I let Lynx take over: shredding my clothes and jumping from the top of the pack house steps, he took off running with Zain’s wolf, Kai, following right behind us.