Chapter 122 - Unreject Me

Pete’s pov

I watched them from a distance, feeling conflicted. While I was happy to be back in my true territory, my conscience kept telling me that it was time to leave the turf. I doubt they knew about the reality of the attack on Golden Crescent, but if they talked to Helena and Willam about me, they would have told them the real reason I left.

I wasn’t sure if I could face them after that.

After getting into their car, Helena and her mate took off. I watched the white Mercedes as I ran in the same way as they drove. As I threaded between the trees, I had no particular intention in mind. After witnessing Helena and Willam, I just didn't feel like facing Kaya and her partner.

I was able to keep up with them as I was in my wolf form. When they pulled up in front of their former pack house, I scoffed. Even after giving over their pack to the younger alpha pair, they were dwelling in the same spot. Theo and Kaya must have been gracious enough to provide them all the privileges they had enjoyed during their rule.

A sigh escaped my lips. The two guards at the entrance bowed their heads in respect when they walked inside. I sneered at the sight. It bothered me that they managed to sort things out in spite of everything that had occurred to them. The warriors were still paying them the same respect they used to several years ago. I felt like I hadn’t won this battle. Somehow he was winning. William had a beautiful she-wolf as his mate, wealth, and dignity, while all I had was just a fraction of what they had and a human wife. They didn’t have pups together, but neither did I. I refused to procreate with a human, and they just couldn’t after that attack. From where I stood, William was still ahead of me.

Envy crept into my chest, and I clinched my teeth. My retaliation wasn't finished. Jace growled, but I calmed him down right away. I wanted them to be unaware that I was observing them from a distance.

“Let’s go. If Kaya and Theo find out that we have been spying on them, it would be weird,” Jace said.

I grunted but didn’t protest. Jace slowly treaded away from the pack house, glancing over his shoulder from time to time. I noticed that there weren’t any guards near any other entrances of the pack house. I bet they were locked, but without security, those locks could easily be busted. A smirk curled on my lips as a sinister thought went through my mind.

“Jace. I want to check the inside of that pack house. I wonder if it is still the same,” I said.

Jace snickered. “I doubt you are interested in the interior of that pack house. Do you want to see Helena up close?”

My smirk widened. I didn't really have a plan, but there was a desire to make them suffer in my chest.

“Maybe. It is time for us to leave the territory anyway. Let’s sneak in and give them a little surprise.”

I shifted back to my human form and stealthily moved in the trees, making sure I didn't catch the attention of any unsuspecting eye. Since it was a pack house, the omegas who work there would be around. They weren't trained, but since they were werewolves, any suspicious scent could alert them.

I looked up at the lowering sun. As it was ready to signify the end of the day, its golden rays extended across the horizon. It wouldn't be long until nightfall arrived, making it simpler for me to blend into the shadows. I took refuge in the underbrush. Like a predator in ambush, calmly biding its time to strike its target.

I didn't forget about the dinner Theo had invited me to, but food was the least of my interests. I wasn't interested in going back after seeing Helena and William there.

“I don't think this is a good idea,” Jace suddenly said.

I grimaced. “What do you mean? You never go against me.”

“Yes, but right now, you are about to make a mistake. I say we wait and watch them for a couple of days. We learn their daily schedule before doing anything.”

I groaned. “And what do we do now? Go back to the pack house? I don’t really feel like going there anymore. Or should we go back to Kathy? She wouldn't be expecting us right now.”

“We will go back to the pack house. Maybe Helena didn't say anything about us, and even if they did, they couldn't have known the deal we had with Fin. Whatever happened in the past could be just dismissed. So much time has passed after that,” he said.

I scoffed. “So what now? I pretend to be happy for William?”

“If Theo and Kaya talk about them, yes. You are glad they are together.”

The sun set, and I observed the lights of the pack house. They had spectacular lights throughout the entire area. My forehead furrowed into a frown. The lights were not what they had been when William and I used to be buddies.

“You don’t know what else they had changed in there. You just might walk into a trap if you try to break in.”

My tensed muscles relaxed. Jace was right. To really hurt them, I needed a proper plan.

***

“We were about to send a search party. I was expecting you to return before the sunset,” Theo said.

I simply offered a smile and sat at the table. They had had their dinner by the time I took a shower and got dressed to come downstairs for dinner. I spent several minutes in my room, contemplating if I should join them. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to avoid them as long as I was in the Black Woods, so I decided to get it over with.

Besides, Jace was right. The worst thing Helena could tell them about me was that I had a bad crush on Kate and that I loved sleeping around.

That didn't sound too bad, did it?

“I got carried away. Going to the ruins of the Golden Crescent wasn't a great idea. It was… painful…”

Out of my peripheral vision, I watched Kaya’s reaction. Her stern expression melted a little, but I pretended I didn't notice anything. I knew she was watching me like a hawk.

“They had destroyed everything. Some buildings were badly burnt. Was there a fire?” I pretended to be unaware of anything that happened.

Theo glanced at Kaya. “Yeah. The Silver Claw set everything on fire after killing everyone.”

I looked at her. “It must have been terrible. Kaya, I am just curious. How did you escape?”

Her lips quivered a little as sorrow crept into her grey eyes suddenly. The memories must still hurt her.

“Mom hid me in a bunker. I ran away when they left. I guess they returned to burn everything down.”

I winced. Kaya had to have heard her parents' final moments. Perhaps that's why she felt so upset by those recollections.

“You ran?” I asked.

“Yes. I ran into his dad. Thankfully, he sheltered me. Ever since then, I have been here,” she said.

I nodded my head. “That's good. I'm sorry for everything that happened.”

She offered a smile. I expected her to say something along the lines of it wasn't your fault. Or it's okay. We are here now. But what she said made my blood run cold.

“Pete. How do you know Fin? Did you have any connections with him?”

I almost dropped my fork. Did she know? But how?

I looked at her, flabbergasted. She couldn't know. Could she? I hadn't told a soul about the deal.

“I don't know him truly. Why?” I said, ignoring my racing heart.

I shuddered under her intense gaze. She may be my niece and much younger when compared to me, but I felt like she was staring right into my soul. I was a little surprised at the intensity of her aura, but then she was a Robinson. Among all Alphas, my father's aura was the most prominent during his day. Perhaps Kaya inherited that.

“It's just that I have a feeling that you know him somehow,” she said, still staring right into my eyes.

I coughed, but thankfully I was able to regain my composure.

“I don't know why you felt that way. The Silver Claw were wild, and we didn't really keep in touch with them. But yeah, Fin used to join us in various events before he started his reign of horror. He dug into the past and came across a folklore tale that insinuated the Silver Claw were superior to the other packs. He kind of got lost in the tale and secluded themselves from everyone else. They became this self-centred, obnoxious group of wolves who thought they were better than everyone else. They wouldn't mate outside of their pack. If one of them found their mates from another pack, they rejected them. Their beliefs led them to attempt to subjugate everyone else. I think they believed that only a purebred Silver Clawer could procreate a true silver claw. You must have heard about the folklore. There was a silver claw on the wolf who formed the Silver Claw pack. That was what they wanted.”

Kaya's face relaxed. “Oh, that makes sense, I guess. So you knew him before he started to kill?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. We weren't close, though. Why?”

She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Nothing. I just got curious.” From the way she glanced at her mate, I knew there was something bothering her. I reckoned it had something to do with their little meeting with my ex and her mate. Despite feeling uncomfortable, I cleared my throat and asked her about it. I just wanted to get it over with.

“Is something bothering you?” I asked.

“Actually, yes. You said you gave something to Kathy that made her unable to conceive.”

My forehead creased as I nodded my head. That wasn’t what I expected.

“Did you formulate the elixir? Because if you have extensive knowledge of herbs and their uses, we can use it.”

My body relaxed. I was getting concerned for nothing.

“Yeah, I used herbs I found in the woodland during my runs. Kathy was living with me, and I used to make her favourite smoothie every time she returned from college. She would have a glass every day for a year. That did the trick,” I said, winking at her.

She sighed. “She was in college?”

I nodded my head. “She was speaking about getting kids once she graduated, and that kind of scared the shit out of me. So I did what I had to do.”

An archaic smile curled on her lips. “Why don’t you write down what you know while you are here? I bet you will be too busy once you return home.”

I smiled. “Sure. I will be here for a couple of days. I would like to roam around for a while. It has been so long since I left. Today’s run made me realise how much I missed my territory.”

“Sure,” Theo said. “You are our guest.”