Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Border

Demetri’s POV.

The Cold Lightning Pack’s emblem faded from Rose’s arm. She was making this as difficult as possible for us. Lately, there hasn’t been much concern regarding the conflict between our two packs. Rose was going to make us an even bigger target if she stayed.

I gave Freya a look and mindlinked her, ‘Are you going to talk to her about this?’

‘I’ll try… if Gabriel did something like this I’d want him to come home so we could make things right. I’d want him to be safe with our pack and I’m sure her Dad wants the same. Ask them if we can have a little more time so I can convince her.’ Freya was the perfect mother, I wouldn’t want anyone else for my child.

I left the pack house and shifted into my wolf form to run towards the border.

When I got to the border I shifted back and the warrior who alerted me went back to patrolling the border. It was only Alpha Cornell’s Beta and Gamma, no warriors to back them up. If they really did come alone then today wouldn’t end in bloodshed.

Beta Oren was a tall slim man with light brown skin and a bald head. He was Freya’s birth father. “We’re here for my daughters, both of them,” Beta Oren said but I wouldn’t entertain someone taking Freya from me for even a second. I’d rather kill him and start a war. “One wasn’t enough, you had to kidnap them both.”

I stifled a snarl, trying to keep things civil. “I didn’t kidnap either of them. My father is responsible for taking Freya and Rose came all on her own, she’s rogue and is free to go.”

“Bring Rose to us and we’ll go,” Oren said. “We’ll come for my other daughter another time.” That sounded like a threat to me and my wolf didn’t want to let Oren leave in the condition he came in.

“Freya is a grown woman,” I said. “She makes her own decisions and it was to rejoin our pack where we can protect her from you.”

Oren’s eyelids lowered as I hit a soft spot and he said, “I’m not here to discuss that.”

“I can bring Rose to you within a week,” I suggested since that should be long enough for Freya to convince her.

“Absolutely not,” Oren said.

I mindlinked Freya, ‘They’re not interested in waiting.’

‘Rose is more stubborn than I thought,’ Freya mindlinked. ‘I need more time but I don’t know… she seems scared.’ You can’t choose the pack you’re born into, Rose needed to accept that until she’s eighteen and can make her own decisions.

Kyle and Brandon appeared, their wolves running to my side and they shifted into their human forms. “She refuses to come on her own accord,” I said. “Does that mean anything to you?” I asked, implying we’d have to use force to bring her to them.

“Don’t lay a hand on my daughter,” Oren said. “Take us to her.”

“I’ll take your Gamma.” I didn’t want Oren to even set his sights on my mate. Oren and his Gamma looked at each other and Oren nodded, giving her permission to go. I turned to my Beta and Delta. “You two stay here and keep an eye on Beta Oren.” Brandon and Kyle nodded, staying put as I and Oren’s Gamma shifted.

On our way I warned Freya, ‘I’m bringing their Gamma to talk to Rose.’

I led her to the packhouse and we shifted back before going in. Freya and Rose we exactly where I left them, in one of the longues.

Rose frowned when she saw her former Gamma and she stood up along with Freya. “I’m not going anywhere Gamma Sarah,” she said with certainty in her tone.

Sarah crossed her arms. “This is absurd,” she said. “You’re a child, you don’t have a choice.” When Rose didn’t respond she went on. “You don’t know how much you hurt your father when he felt you disconnect from the pack. Is that what you want? To hurt your father and leave him with no one?

Her words were getting to Rose.

“H-he won’t listen to me…” Rose mumbled, looking down. “Freya listens to me.” she raised her head and sidestepped closer to her sister.

Sarah’s interest was peaked when she heard Freya’s name. She looked at her with intrigue and I grabbed Freya by the waist, pulling her to me for protection. The blush on her face nearly distracted me but kept my guard up in case Sarah tried anything. “I’m sorry for not introducing myself, it’s nice to meet you, I’m The Cold Lightning Pack’s Gamma, you can call me Sarah.” she put her hand out but I gently pushed Freya’s hand down when she was about to shake it.

“This isn’t why you’re here,” I reminded her with a glare.

Sarah tried to hide any intimidation she felt and gave her attention back to Rose.

“Tell her you want me to stay,” Rose muttered to Freya.

“If you allow Rose to stay with us for a little while, we promise she’ll be safe and well-protected if anything goes wrong,” Freya said and nudged me with her elbow. “Right, Demetri?”

I nodded, annoyed but if that was what my mate wanted then I’ll provide it. Sarah’s eyes clouded over, most liking communicating with Oren. “Very well,” Sarah said. “Contact us when you’re ready to come home but you won’t stay longer than two weeks.”

Rose stared at Sarah and didn’t say anything, she made no promises.

“Can you tell your Beta something for me?” Freya asked, worrying me. Sarah gave a slight smile waiting for her message. “Tell him I said, stop. My Dad was in a coma because of the violence inflicted by the Cold Lightning Pack. If attacks continue unprompted it's only going to end in Rose and I hating him and the rest of you.” Rose held Freya’s hand, standing with her sister and her words.

Sarah’s smile dropped in surprise. “Alpha Demetri, you can escort me back to the border,” was all she said.

“I’ll meet you in the dining hall when I come back,” I said to Freya before leaving with Sarah.

I was proud of Freya for standing up to The Cold Lightning Pack, blood or not.

Once we got to the border Oren said to me, “We’ll be back for Rose in two weeks and there will be no more negotiations.” Tell her that not me, I wanted her gone.

When they were gone I turned to Kyle. I wasn’t sure if he was still upset with me. “Thanks for coming out here,” I said.

“No problem,” Kyle said. “It’s part of my duties as Beta.”

“Yeah but again, I’m sorry.” This time I meant it.

Kyle nodded. “Okay, I hear you.”

“Finally,” Brandon said. “Now can you talk to Caroline?”

The last thing Caroline needed was for me to push her to open up to us when she wasn’t ready. “I can try.”

We went back to the packhouse and I went straight to the dining hall to eat with my family. Becca was at the table with Freya and Gabriel. Brandon, Kyle, and I all sat down.

“Okay so I got a reservation for a new restaurant for tomorrow night,” Becca said with a smile on her face. “The four of us are going to have such a good time.”

I looked over at Kyle, he was annoyed but didn’t say a word. Freya continued eating without even a comment and I didn’t have anything to say either. Since none of us protested, it was actually happening.

My first date with Freya was going to be a double date.