Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron)

Chapter 103

"Oh dear." I laugh lightly, as if he's mistaken. "I guess we'll need to change cleaning companies."

It's a lame attempt at a joke.

Liam chuckles-bless him.

Tobin just blinks at me.

Inside, I'm dying.

Does Tobin mean me? Or is he sniffing out Marla. Upstairs. In

a trunk???

The other wolves all pause and look at us questioningly.

Aaron drops a hand on Tobin's shoulder. "We slaughtered two

steers for the event, and my chef roasted a whole p ig. Always thinking with your gut, huh?"

He doesn't rescind his comment. Just looks at me, then up the

stairs, then back at me again.

Sh it.

"It's this way," I say.

The others continue walking and the moment Tobin falls into step, I move to catch up to Karolina, not wanting to risk any more interactions with Tobin or him sniffing out any more information about me-or any dead bodies on our property.

Once within the dining room, the Elders position themselves at the long table.

Liam has instructed some of his wolves to move the serving.

platters and dishes to the opposite end to allow everyone to

sit comfortably.

Aleksei sits at the head of the table. Samsen and Petyr on

either side of him.

Karolina sits next, on the far side, so her back faces the wall.

Tobin remains standing.

Aaron guides him in and sits next to him.

Liam next, on the other side by Karolina.

Leaving me furthest from the group of them. And next to

Aaron.

Thank goodness.

I can feel myself sweating.

I've done nothing wrong, but the presence of so many Council members signifies something of importance. I can only imagine what that might be.

"Alpha Aaron," Samsen begins. "You accrued the powers

of Pack Leithrow when Alpha Brian Clemson né Leithrow attacked your Luna in the Grove on the night of the 18th."

Aaron nods. "That is correct."

Wait. What? Aaron absorbed more power!?

I didn't know that. But then...I was too busy trying not to d ie as I absorbed my father's lineage to really get a good grip on

what else was going on.

Just how strong is Aaron that he could absorb power like that and barely flinch? I'd been thrashing and convulsing and on the verge of biting off my own tongue. I thought my bones. were going to break from the force of it.

Aaron didn't complain. Not once.

He bore the transition of power and when it was all over, he

escorted me out of that Grove and took care of me, when he

had to be hurting and exhausted too.

Da mn.

I touch his thigh and he squeezes my hand for a second.

Then another thought occurs to me and I wonder if this is why he didn't make such a big deal about letting me stay here or

why he didn't insist on being in the same room. Because he

was off taking control of a whole other pack.

'Busy week for you," I whisper.

More than a few lips twitch. Karolina nods like she agrees with

1.

But I should've known. He should've told me. Not that we've

been talking all that much, but...still.

He gives the slightest shrug.

And I have my answer.

I should've known.

It is a basic pack principle in the succession of power.

An Alpha wills their strength to the person who will claim it

next. This can be done at any time with blood or a bit of hair, some 'marker' so the power flows into that specific person.

Thinking of the lock of my baby hair, I have a pretty good idea. of how my dad managed to leave his powers to me. And then. he did go and notify his pack and that word got back to the Council. Or at least, I'm assuming that's how it happened.

Liam never said, but somehow in the course of that night, it became clear that I was set to inherit, not my brother.

Maybe there was another note.

I'm not sure where my father pulled the trigger and I haven't had the courage to ask. I don't know much about the details. surrounding his death or how it played out with Liam or the other wolves in this community.

Liam had been groomed since we were kids to follow in my father's footsteps and become the next Alpha.

Before my father took his own life, anyone could have challenged him. And that's what transpired with Aaron in the Grove. Brian attacked me...and Aaron challenged him.

There was an old movie my dad made me watch with him as a

kid called Highlander. The premise was that these immortals. had to fight and kill each other to absorb their powers, because 'there could be only one.

Wolves aren't so different from that.

It's why only the strongest can rule-

And... likely why these Council members are here right now.

Because I'm not strong.

Not in the slightest.

I'm human.

Aaron leans toward the center of the table so he can address.

the Council members present.

"I've been to the lands and have let the inhabitants of Pack

Leithrow know that they are welcome to remain on their

lands or to join us on Rathborn properties. We believe in

accommodating all wolves. And I have a team of wolves already in place, with my Beta, James, personally overseeing the merge of our packs. I will divide my time accordingly, to

ensure all of my packmates have the support and attention they deserve."

Samsen grunts. "While Pack Leithrow is not sizable, the lands

and resources are."

"I've yet to complete a full assessment," Aaron says. "But I anticipate an accounting by the next meeting, which I will

present to the Council, and, of course, factor in for our

monthly donations and Pack taxes."

Karolina snorts.

Tobin watches the room with eyes that are full wolf. I don't even want to breathe for fear he'll scent me-my baby. My body dying. Marla's scent on me. Or-da mn it-the scent of Aaron. We'd had s*x scarcely an hour ago.

I lean back from the table a bit, but that has an adverse effect.

His gaze cuts to me, like my tiny movement to retreat triggered his wolf.

Aleksei steeples his hands on the table. "Let's get to the heart of it, shall we, Alpha Rathborn? You rule Pack Rathborn and

now hold claim to the former Pack Leithrow. By marriage and merger-for-peace you have a direct line to Pack Roberts. Will you assume control of this pack too?"