Chapter 55: Ada's Mate

Gregory

I watch the vehicles approach us and I curse under my breath. What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this? This is not my problem and should not concern me. Keeping my forty people alive is already a struggle. Now I have goddess knows how many more.

“It’s just one night,” Kimble, my wolf reasons.

“One night too many,” I grunt.

“You’re just too stubborn to admit that it was good to hear that someone cares about you and needs you,” Kimble grins.

“That’s also what angers me,” I grunt. “This is the closest I’ll ever get to being an alpha and I don’t need the reminder.”

It took me – what felt like an eternity – to get over my childhood dreams and expectations. I was raised to be the alpha. Everything was in place. I found my mate, and future Luna, and a week before Craig was supposed to step down, all went to hell. Not only did I have to deal that my father is not my father. I had to let go of the one thing for which I was raised. And just when I adjusted to being rogue, I lost the only two people that loved and cared for me unconditionally. Ada’s plea tonight made me feel useful again, and I want to kick myself for being so weak.

Ada is a master manipulator and I fell for it – twice. I was going to kill her that first night, but she manipulated me into a couple of dinners, and I caved. Then she somehow weaselled herself into the alpha title, kicking Tyler to the curb. And still, I fell for her pretty face and sweet words when she called me brother.

This was the last time I fell for her tactics; I swear.

People are starting to pile up in front of me and I do not miss the stares of hatred and fear they are throwing my way. But I cannot care less. I will never see any of them after tonight.

“Hello Gregory,” Willow smiles as she walks up to me. “Things have changed quite a bit since we last saw each other.”

“Things maybe, but not people,” I snort. “I’m still the angry bastard you met that night.”

“And I’m still the b*tch that will put you in your place when you overstep,” she smiles sweetly at me.

“Is that a challenge?” I chuckle and raise my eyebrows.

“Only if you want it to be,” she shouts over her shoulder as she walks away, and I shake my head in amusement.

It does not take long for the people to settle before me and soon we start walking towards the mountains. It is quite a distance and I keep the pace fast. It does not take long for me to realize my mistake when the children start to fall behind.

“Shift,” I command my men and Willow and I place the bigger children onto their backs while the parents carry the little ones.

“Look, a bunny,” a little girl, about four years old, shrieks excitedly and jerks her hand free from her mother’s.

“Abby, no,” her mother yells and runs after her.

“Stay with the group,” I say sternly. “I’ll get her.”

“Keep moving,” I shout over my shoulder as I ran in the direction where Abby disappeared to.

“There you are,” I say as I grab her from behind. She giggles and turns to face me. But it is like a punch in the gut when I look into her laughing brown eyes. Suddenly I am back in time, playing hide and seek with my daughter. Sadness threatens to overwhelm me, and I close my eyes briefly to regain focus.

“You shouldn’t run away from your mother,” I say when I regained my composure.

“There was a bunny, did you see it?” She asks happily as I carry her back to the group.

“Nope,” I swing her over my back and onto my neck as she laughs ecstatically. I hold on to her feet and she playfully starts tugging my hair.

“Did you know there are sharks in the sea?” She asks.

“Yes,” I smile. “It’s their home.”

“They should go,” she pouts. “I want to swim.”

“Where do you want them to live?” I chuckle.

“On the sand,” she replies without hesitation.

“Then they’ll bite you when you build sandcastles,” I reason.

“Oh,” she replies deflated. “Did you know cats can swim?”

“Yes,” I laugh carelessly. “But they don’t like water.”

“My cat scratched me when I took a bath with her,” she sighs. “Did you know …”

“Abby,” her mother rushes over to us. “How many times do I have to tell you not to run off like that?”

“There was a bunny,” she defends herself.

“Thank you,” the mother looks at me apologetically and stretches out her arms to take Abby from my shoulders.

“No,” Abby’s fingers curl painfully into my hair.

“I’ll carry her,” I smile and instantly Abby relaxes her hold. “It’s no problem.”

“O … okay,” the mother stutters and I walk next to her to calm her nerves.

Abby immediately starts her did-you-know questions and I play along patiently as I fight my emotions.

I am devastated all over again about losing my family. This could have been us walking together to safety. I am riddled with guilt that I initially refused to help these people. If Ada’s words and actions did not get through to me, more families would have suffered the same pain as I. And regret is eating me alive for killing those people when I went on a rampage. I have ripped families apart in my anger and I cannot fix that. Taking them to safety does not begin to make up for what I have done.

“Where’s your husband?” I ask when Abby finally gets tired of talking.

“He’s a warrior,” her voice is filled with concern. “He’s on border patrol.”

“Don’t worry,” I try and comfort her. “I’m sure Ada knows what she’s doing. She wouldn’t have kept him there if there was too big a threat.”

“I get what you’re trying to do, but it’s not helping,” she smiles weakly. “The announcement of her taking over as alpha might only have happened tonight, but it’s no secret that she has been calling the shots for a while now. Ada is a tough and ruthless alpha. She doesn’t take any cr*p and has high standards for herself and her warriors. Which includes risking their lives.”

“Sounds like you’d prefer Tyler as the alpha,” I shamelessly fish for information.

“Not in his condition,” she shakes her head.

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“He cannot possibly make sound decisions with death looming over his head,” she shakes her head. “I know I wouldn’t.”

“Tyler’s dying?” I gape at her.

“You didn’t know?” She looks at me with big eyes. “I’m so sorry, I assumed … Ada said you’re a friend. Naturally, I thought you knew.”

“No, she didn’t tell me,” I grunt.

“Don’t be upset,” she looks at me pleadingly. “We only heard about it tonight. I’m sure she would’ve told you if she had time and this didn’t happen.”

“Probably,” I smile stiffly.

“Anyway,” she shrugs. “Ada is doing an excellent job, especially if you keep in mind what she’s been through. I know she thinks it’s a secret that Clyde molested her, but people love to gossip. Even more so when it involves the alpha’s family. She could’ve killed him when she became alpha, but she didn’t.”

I am too stunned to respond. Have I misjudged Ada completely? Because the person this woman describes does not sound like a manipulative b*tch at all. Ada did not manipulate me the first night – she truly wanted to prove her innocence and help me find the responsible person. She did not weasel her into Tyler’s position. She stepped up when he could not do it.

Tonight, she risked facing me and asked for help. She did not allow her ego to stand in the way. Even before she knew that we were related, she was the first person to show me humanity since I went rogue.

“We’re here,” I give Abby to her mother and help the people settle in and get comfortable in the caves.

“Kimble, I’m a terrible person,” I admit in shame. “I wanted to be alpha, but all I did was kill those who wronged me. I knew that Clyde and Killian are out for Ada’s blood and instead of helping her, I threaten to kill her. I have not done one single good thing since Craig kicked me out.”

“Then fix it,” Kimble says dryly. “Be the man you want to be. It’s not too late.”

For a moment I consider Kimble’s words.

“Willow,” I run to her. “You’ll be safe here. I must go, take care of your people.”

“Where are you going?” She shouts as I leave.

“I’m going to kill Clyde,” I shout back before I shift and run as fast as I can.