SWNOVELS Chapter 71
Chapter 71: Kingston
Ayla left five days ago. We talked every day, but it didn’t do much to calm my anxiety. I didn’t know how I would make it through weeks of this.
Maybe I could talk her into coming home on the weekends at least?
I was strongly considering the request when Pierce mind-linked me.
‘Alpha, we have a guest. You’re going to need to speak with him.’
I knew it had to be serious if he was addressing me by my title.
‘Who is it?’
‘It’s Alpha Harden.’
Alpha Harden? What was he doing here?
‘Send him up.’
I didn’t know what this was about, but it worried me. The last time I spoke to Alpha Harden was right after the Alphas’ Gathering when he told me the outcome of Alpha Conner’s judgment. There was a knock on my office door.
“Come in,” I said.
The door opened and Alpha Harden entered the office. I stood from my desk and walked around to shake his hand.
“Alpha Kingston,” the man greeted me.
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“Alpha Harden, to what do I owe the unexpected visit?” I gestured for
him to take a seat.
“I’m afraid it’s nothing good, Alpha,” he said. “I have to ask you, have you seen or heard from Conner Elkins, former Alpha of the Shadow Claw pack since the Gathering?”
I sat up straighter in my chair. “No, I can assure you, I have not. Why are you asking?”
“He’s missing,” Harden said, “which is concerning. Since he isn’t supposed to leave Shadow Claw territory. No one has seen him in over a week.”
“Yes, that is concerning,” I said. “So, why come to me?”
“The new Shadow Claw alpha, Alpha Trent, suspects foul play,” Alpha Harden said. “Now, he hasn’t provided any evidence to support that theory. However, I’ve been tasked with following up on his
disappearance since I oversaw his judgment trial. Naturally, everyone knows you would hold the freshest grudge against the man.”
“I have not had anything to do with Conner,” I insisted, insulted that he would even entertain the idea. “I was content with the punishment. There was no need to waste any more time on the bas**rd.”
He nodded. “I figured you would think as much. But that causes a different concern. If he left on his own accord. He may be coming here. He may be coming for you or worse, Ms. Garner.”
That was my first thought.
“Yes, I’ll have my warriors on the lookout for him,” I said. “But if I do find him in my territory or trying to come anywhere near Ayla, there won’t be a trial, Harden.”
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“Understood,” Alpha Harden replied. “How is Ms. Garner? Has she recovered from the ordeal?”
“She’s fine. Fully recovered.”
“That’s good to hear,” he said. “Where is she today? I’d like to say hello.”
“She’s out of town at the moment,” I said. “But knowing Conner is on the loose, I may have her come home early.”
“Or she may be better off where she is,” Alpha Harden said. I had to suppress the growl that threatened to escape. “Kingston, as one friend to another, I suspect you know Ayla is… different. You may think a different name and twenty-six years means everyone has forgotten, but I haven’t. I knew that family before they fell. Jack was a friend.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I insisted, putting a warning behind my words.
“I think you do,” Alpha Harden countered. “I don’t know how, and I don’t really care right now. What I do care about is your stup**ity in bringing her to a conference full of powerful wolf leaders. She’s unmarked, Kingston. There’s no telling what kind of effect her being there had. The Arrowclaw and Moonshadow agreement has fallen through. There are rumors Alpha Andrew might reject his mate. I know my own son…”
“Had better stay away and forget about her,” I growled. “She’s mine. She belongs with me.
”
“Does she?” Harden challenged. We stared each other down for a few moments before he shook his head. “That’s not even our biggest concern. I’m not the only one who remembers why the Dominis family was targeted. If anyone starts to suspect who she is and it gets back to
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the society, you won’t be able to protect her.”
“Watch me,” I declared.
“Don’t be a fool, Kingston,” Harden barked. “You put a target on her back just because you wanted to wave her in front of everyone. This will be the first place they look if they find even a shred of information that could tie her to the Onyxcrown legacy.”
“The Waar P*k Society was hunted down for what they did. There aren’t enough left to be a real threat.
“You’re so sure about that?” Harden asked. “Because you know all about secret societies older than you?”
Ididn’t respond. I did know quite a bit about the Waar P*k Society and
its current dealings. I’ve been tracking the group that murdered my family and slaug***red my pack since I was a teenager. I hunted more than my fair share down.
Alpha Harden stood from his chair, straightening his suit.
“Alpha Kingston, I’m going to leave this in your hands for now,” he said. “But only because I believe you genuinely care for Ms. Garner. But if I find out you’ve put her in danger again just to soothe your own ego, I won’t stand by again.”
I shot up from my chair, no longer holding back the snarl. We glared at each other until he turned and left the room. Pierce entered soon after. I knew he had heard everything.
“You have to tell Ayla about Conner,” he insisted.
“If I can get her back home, I may not have to,” I said.
“Even if she does come back, Kingston, there’s no reason to keep this
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from her,” he said. “She deserves to know.”
“She deserves some peace,” I countered. “She doesn’t need that kind of stress to worry about.”
Pierce shook his head. “What has gotten into you, Kin?”
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