Chapter 32

(Owen POV)

I woke the next morning just as the sun was rising and a soft glow of the new day was peeking through the window. The golden glow was still soft, but it provided enough light in the room for me to see Amelia lying beside me. Her skin was soft, and I couldn’t resist brushing my finger along her cheek. The touch made her smile slightly and she opened her eyes and looked directly into mine. I smiled back at her and my whole body tingled as she ran her hand up my arm to rest it on the side of my face.

“Morning.” She says in a soft whisper.

“Good morning.” I say to her with a smile of contentment.

Last night was different than the night we mated, because this time Alexander was there too. I had expected it to feel strange that the three of us were together in that way, but Amelia did well. She was also very attentive to both of us, and it happened all very naturally. Although I would be glad to have those moments alone with her, this would happen from time to time I assume.

“Why are you awake?” She asks me.

Her voice was so soft and warm I just wanted to wrap her in my arms and fall back asleep, but I had to meet with my dad today. We needed to take the next step and try to find out as much as we could about what my father had planned. I knew there was no way he would tell me everything, he didn’t trust anyone enough even me. Even with his own men, no one person knew every part of my father’s plans. It was not a good quality and it resulted in a strained relationship with his original beta. His first beta was an old friend of his, and when my father became alpha, he couldn’t take how paranoid my father became.

He left the pack after less than a year of being my father’s beta and no one saw him again. The new guy was an order follower, never questioned and order and never gave any input. Exactly the kind of man my father liked to keep around.

“I want to go see my father as soon as possible.” I tell Amelia taking her hand in mine and kissing her palm gently.

She smiled at me again. “It’s still so early, can’t you stay a little longer?”

Her voice was so soft and sweet I would agree to anything she asked.

“Ok.” I whisper back, and I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into my chest.

In my eagerness to hold her I had pushed Alexander’s hands away and he groaned in annoyance, but I ignored him. I don’t know why he even went to sleep at all, boredom I guess. Maybe lying against Amelia’s warmth lulled him to sleep, which I would understand because it did the same to me. I pushed all thoughts of Alexander’s sleeping habits out of my mind once Amelia nuzzled her nose against my neck and kissed it softly. The action sent chills down my spine and I groaned.

“If you keep that up I won’t leave this bed.” I warn her.

“Sorry.” She whispers.

We laid like this for a few more minutes until to sun was fiercely shining through the window, and I knew I needed to leave.

“I really have to go now baby; my father will be going to check border security soon and I want to catch him before he leaves.” I tell her hating every word.

She nods and starts to loosen her grip on me and looks up to me with a pout on her lips. I coo at her and place each of my hands on either side of her face and kiss her cute pout several times until it turned into a smile. She scrunched her nose and let out a little laugh that made the whole thing even cuter. I really didn’t want to leave her now, but I pushed through my urge to stay and gave her one last kiss before pulling the covers away.

I stopped at the bathroom door and turned to give her one last look and she smiled at me one last time. I would never get tired of waking up like this, and no matter how crazy things where I would hope we would always wake up beside each other. We would have to discuss forgetting the separate room situation, because I didn’t want to spend one night away from her ever. I didn’t care if Alexander was on the other side of her, as long as she was beside me the rest didn’t matter.

I quickly showered and changed and exited the bathroom to see Amelia snuggled into Alexander now, and I smiled. It made me happy to know someone would be here with her whenever I had to leave. Alexander looked over at me and I gave him a nod which he returned with a salute. Yeah, the guy was a piece of work, but I guess I could put up with him for Amelia’s sake. So, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and left them alone.

The air outside was refreshing and I felt this my wolf pushing to break out and run but that would have to wait. Instead, I decided to jog to the pack house in human form. As I ran, I saw the patches of blood where many of our people had been injured in the recent attack, but thankfully they had finally all been taken away to get help. Some pack members had kindly offered their homes according to Liam. He messaged me late last night updating me on all the progress, proving to me again how good of a Beta he would be to me one day.

I trusted Liam with everything, and I couldn’t wait for the day when we could work together to turn this pack around. I also filled him in on our plan and he offered to help in any way he could. He also mentioned to me what had happened between him and Alexander, and I explained to him that we were all doing fine, and he shouldn’t worry too much. Of course, that didn’t settle him completely, but I understood as a big brother that protective side would probably never be satisfied.

When I finally made it to the pack house I smiled when I heard the various voices in the kitchen. I missed the early morning bustling at the pack house with all the members cooking together and eating together. It was always my favorite time of day! This morning it wasn’t as boisterous or happy as it usual was, but everyone was still together. I greeted everyone as I walked by and made my way to my father’s office. I heard voices inside and it sounded like my father was giving his orders for the day, and not a minute later the door flew open and three of his men walked out. They looked just as unhappy as my father.

He didn’t greet me when I walked in, in fact he kept his face down even after he heard the door close behind me.

“What is it?” He asks ruffling through some papers.

I could feel my annoyance growing already, and I tried my best to push it down.

“I need to talk to you.” He still did not look up. “About my mate Amelia.”

That caught his attention.

“I want to reject her.” I say standing in front of his desk looking down at him.

His eyebrow rose slightly and held out his hand to tell me to take a seat.

“That is a very serious decision Owen.” He says putting on the good father act suddenly. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Her lack of knowledge when it comes to life in a pack or even what it would mean to become Luna is enough to make her the wrong person for me. I thought I could overlook these things, but after what happened here, I realize I need someone more experienced as a mate. Someone who is committed to me, and not someone I have to fit myself around. She has too much baggage that I can’t deal with right now.” I tell him.

“Even if that is true, she is very unique.” My father says sitting back in his chair. “We could use a wolf like her in battle. Isn’t that why you left with her to California? So, she could be trained?”

I hadn’t told him everything about Amelia yet, but from how he was talking I was sure someone else had filled him in. Everyone was loyal to him as the Alpha, so by now he probably knew everything he needed to know about my mate. Except the important part, that we were mated already.

“Yes she is, but what good would she be as a Luna? She has never even spent real time with a pack. I just don’t feel like we are a good match.” I continue.

“I can see how that may be true, but you must like her a little since I can smell her scent on you.” He says with a smirk.

He was testing me, but I was ready to play his game.

“She made a move on me when I told her I didn’t want her, and even though I don’t want her I may have given in to temptation. I am a man after all.” I say.

He laughs at that and looks annoyingly proud. “Indeed you are. I admit I had hoped you would not find your mate at all.”

“Oh?” I say playing dumb.

“You know I have been speaking to Alpha Cole about an alliance and that he offered his daughter to you. I had hoped that once you two met, maybe you would be willing to take her as your mate instead. She is an Alpha’s daughter and knows everything that goes into running a pack. She is a perfect mate!” The way he spoke of her was a little strange, but I ignored it.

“After the attack I am ready to do what is best for the pack and make us strong again. So I do not object to meeting her.” I say firmly.

“Great! They should arrive the day after tomorrow. With this new development, I am sure the alliance will move forward smoothly! I admit I am a little surprised at what you have told me, but I am also glad I don’t have to convince you to leave that girl.” He says standing and walking over to his personal bar and pouring himself a drink.

I don’t know how to answer him, so I just watch him.

“Has the girl left the pack lands yet?” He asks me.

I look to him and shake my head. “No, she is stayed with me last night after we were together. I didn’t want to give it away just yet that I didn’t want her.”

“Good, I want to speak with her about an alternate option for giving you up without a fight.” He says leaning against the bar counter.

“What do you mean?” I ask him.

“She is a special wolf. That howl the pack heard came from her, which means she is a very special wolf. And although she serves no purpose as a Luna, she could be a very useful tool for the future.” He says with a smile.

I felt uneasy by the look he had in his eye. He wanted to keep Amelia here, but not as just any pack member. He wanted to use her. What would do to her if she is brought before him?

“Why not just send her away? She would cause more trouble staying here wouldn’t she?” I try to remind him.

“Don’t worry son, she will not cause you or your new mate any trouble. We will keep her secure where she won’t be any trouble at all.” He says walking toward me and resting his hand on my shoulder. “She won’t be a problem at all.”