Chapter 117 : Alphas
MAXINE.
I sit on one of the chairs in front of the hospital ward, finding it surprisingly comfortable after everything that happened today.
Theo is sitting right beside me, covered in bandages and still attached to an IV pole, staring into the distance with me as we wait for the results of Ajax’s emergency. Jonathan is standing in front of the door, trying hard not to peek. Livia, who I’m still surprised to see here, is sitting across us, bouncing her knee in anxiety. I know about the story of how she got here, but goddamn she still feels like a mirage.
In fact, everything feels like a mirage.
The Unclaimed… well, claimed the Alpha Supreme’s mansion. They managed to get Ajax into the hospital in time too, but the possibilities are still very well unknown. Jonathan was the one who rounded them up and roused them into moving. The Beta, who left a couple of minutes ago to ask for an update, was the one who convinced the Alphas that what was happening is wrong. Like what Bianca said, though. They were too scared to act. Judging by their absence, I can say they’re still scared.
However, I’m not anymore. At least, not afraid of the Alpha Supreme.
He’s gone now, eaten by the same things he helped create. Vivienne told me that only fire could get rid of those things, but even as they all burned down the mansion, they were not sure if they were all taken down.
I sigh and get to my feet. The waiting game is killing me. I’m about to get into his room when suddenly, the Beta and the doctor exit the room.
We all freeze like zombies, with Theo shooting up to his feet so fast he almost knocked over his IV. Livia is also scurrying to get close.
In fact, it’s her who says, “Well? Is he alive or not?”
The doctor looks at the Beta and smiles. “Ajax Cavaliere is very much alive and well. In fact, he requested to see you all.”
“Fuck yeah!” Livia says, engaging Jonathan and the rest of us with a very strange high-five.
“In groups of twos,” the doctor adds, eyeing her warily. “He requested to see Maxine Kane and Theodore Bailey first.”
Theo looks at me, his eyes alight with happiness. It feels good to know that he and Ajax developed real brotherhood despite the circumstances. Both of them deserve the best of each other.
He holds my hand and together, we enter the hospital room. Ajax is sitting up in his bed, still wincing and wrapped stiff with bandages. So many tubes and wires are still attached to him and his eyes are still giving away the pain he’s feeling, but the joy in his gaze is hard to miss.
“I hope you enjoy me and my connections,” is the first thing he says, and I can’t help but laugh.
But I stop myself, knowing that I just killed his brother and his father. I hang my head in shame.
“Hey, none of that,” he tells me, as though knowing what’s on my mind. “Beta Jackson already briefed me about what happened, and what you had to do. I’m so sorry it was up to you. It shouldn’t have been. But I need you to know that I harbor no bad feelings about it whatsoever. They all had it coming, and I’m happy I can start over.”
I lift my gaze to look at him, and he gives both Theo and me an affectionate smile.
“Thank you,” he whispers, and it’s the only thing he needs to say.
“No, thank you… brother,” Theo says, reaching out to hug him. But their wires get tangled with each other and they both laugh. “Well, I didn’t say I wanted to be bonded forever like this. I didn’t ask to be tangled like twins in utero.”
“I totally would have devoured you in utero,” Ajax gets back at him, and I wince.
“Are there no other jokes?” I splutter. “Am I going to have to deal with all this now that you know you’re brothers?”
“Well, yes,” Theo says. “But come on, he clearly has the worst jokes.”
Ajax gently shoves him. “Don’t say that to your new Alpha Supreme.”
“Holy shit,” Theo cusses.
When we both just gape at him, he shrugs. “I tried to offer it to Beta Jackson, but he refused. He said that I’m the rightful heir. I thought about you, Theo, but I know that you would not want to take it, so I decided to give you something else instead.”
Theo’s eyes narrow. “I’m not going to be your shoe-shiner or anything, right?”
Ajax smiles. “No. You’re going to be the Alpha of the Unclaimed Pack.”
Happiness floods over me, spreading in the room like a ray of sunshine. I can tell that they feel it too, and we’re all just basking in it. After so many weeks of suffering, this feels like complete paradise. My mate and my friend. Both amazing men who have given so much even after losing nearly everything.
But of course, Theo has to ruin it by asking, “Hold on… if the Unclaimed is now a pack, then why are they still called Unclaimed?”
Ajax’s eyes go blank. “You’re right. You can’t name them Claimed pack. Unclaimed sounds cooler.”
I sigh and roll my eyes. Boys will be boys.
I’m about to tell them to stop being idiots, but then the door opens and Livia comes in.
Ajax’s face lights up. I think his whole body lights up. It’s as though someone pulled the curtains right off their hooks and let all the light in. He sits up straighter. His mouth is slack. And even with the bruises in his arms, he tries to fix his hair.
I almost burst out laughing with glee.
He likes Livia.
“I know they said only two people at a time, but I really wanted to be here,” Livia says, and Ajax is just starstruck.
Theo and I exchange knowing looks, stepping away but not enough to miss what’s going to happen. Jonathan tries to get in and speak but we intercept him, making him look at what’s unfolding. For the first time since we’ve seen him today, he smiles.
“It’s okay,” Ajax says, his voice deeper than usual. “I just didn’t expect you to be here.”
“I didn’t expect to be in a world full of big furry dogs either but here I am.” Livia grins and reaches out to hold his hand. “I’m happy you’re safe, savior.”
“I’m happy too.” Ajax stays grinning like a fool, not even noticing that Livia is about to leave. But then he panics and stammers, “Um, Livia….”
She turns around. “Yeah?”
“Will you go on a date with me? When I’m, you know, out of here?”
Livia smiles. “I would love to.”