Chapter 121
One Hundred Twenty–One
Alpha Blake
It’s been one month since I saw her. One month. Gunner and I have been losing our minds over this situation. I had the lawyers draw up an order of custody which Dorian fought but with his name off the birth certificate and Walter’s testimony, I won temporary custody of Channing. And with his age it shouldn’t have been an issue but Dorian wasn’t going to let his son remain in my pack without being forced by the courts.
And since then I’ve been driving back and forth to the council demanding to see Ryley. My father and Walter have stayed here to find a way around their laws over Luna wolves. It’s a fairly new law. Before they would just find their mates but with their numbers almost at zero the council wants to control who they are with. If her mate had marked her, she wouldn’t be in this mess. Fated mates are sacred and not even the council can step in. But I’m not her fated mate. I’m just the alpha wolf who fell in love with her.
Now, I’m standing in the meeting room waiting in front of the council. I’m demanding to see her under the fact that she is my pack member. The council won’t recognize our relationship. Even if I would have marked her, they would have forced me to reject her. I don’t know what they have planned for her but it can’t be good.
Her scent invaded my senses before I saw her. The door beside the council seats opened and she was ushered inside.
She looked so pale, almost sickly. She was wearing a matching grey sweatshirt and pants. When her eyes met
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mine, hers filled up with tears. I was finally able to breathe now that I knew she was okay.
Gunner let out a growl when I noticed she had silver cuffs on her wrists.
“Alpha Orion, I already warned you,” the head councilman scoffed. I pushed my lips in a line, not taking my eyes from hers afraid she would disappear and this would just be a dream.
“Her scent is off,” Gunner informed me.
“Ryley, have they hurt you?” She shook her head.
“Channing,” she sobbed before she covered her mouth with her hands. The tears were flowing down her cheeks now.
“He’s safe with me,” I reassured her.
“As you can see Alpha Orion, Miss North is well and unharmed.”
“This is what you call well and unharmed?” I snapped. My skin rippled with the need to shift. Gunner had enough of being away from his mate and so have I. She was coming home today and I don’t care if I have to kill them all.
My eyes snapped from Ryley’s to the warriors standing on the balcony above the council meeting room. They had their guns pointed in my direction. I smirked, knowing full well I was able to give up everything to get her out of there. They underestimated me and it would be their downfall.
“Take the silver off,” I demanded.
“The silver is there for our protection.” My attention snapped
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to the head councilman.
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“You’re afraid of one wolf? The council of wolves is afraid of one wolf? If that’s the case then she should be in your seat.” I
retorted. He sneered.
“Alpha Orion, the council will not warn you again. Miss North is well taken care of in our care.” Another one spoke.
“If that were true you wouldn’t have her wolf suppressed with the use of silver. She would be here by choice, not force.”
“The council doesn’t need to explain our actions to anyone,” he growled and I gritted my teeth.
“You do if the council wants my pack to hand over any more fucken money. I refuse to enable a council who kidnaps women.”
“You would abandon our society for a lone wolf who only recently joined your pack?” One gasped.
Before I could answer, my attention was pulled towards Ryley. She was heaving as she held her stomach. I jumped over the railing I was standing behind uncaring if the warriors opened fire. The need to comfort my mate was the only thing I could think of. I pushed the councilman who was standing too close to her back before taking hold of her.
“Baby, are you okay? Did they hurt you?” I rushed out trying to get my emotions under control. The feel of her skin under my fingertips had my heart racing. It felt like a lifetime, not a month.
“Blake,” she whispered , looking up at me, my hands on her cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and I could
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see the pain in her eyes. My heart twisted painfully from the guilt of not being able to protect her.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I pleaded, resting my forehead against hers.
“Alpha Orion, move back or the council will have no choice but to use force.”
“Please touch me.” Her hands were planted by her side.
“I don’t want the silver to hurt you.” She cried. Ignoring everyone in the room, I grabbed hold of one of her wrists. She hissed at the force and I gritted my teeth at the sting of the silver. With my hands on the silver cuff, it broke under my will to free my mate. I could hear the cocking of the guns above me but I didn’t care as I tossed the pieces of silver to the floor before breaking the other one.
I could feel Lily coming to the surface like a wave, her scent hitting me full force. But it was different. Her scent and my scent seemed to have mixed. My eyes went wide with the realization before dropping to my knees. I lifted her sweatshirt, pushing my ear against her stomach.
“Blake,” Ryley gasped. I smiled knowing the council would never be able to dispute the fact she is my mate ever again. It didn’t matter that she didn’t bear my mark.
She was staring at me when I looked up at her with a smile on my face. She pinched her brow together, confused.
“Alpha Orion,” the head councilman yelled.
“I think I’ll be taking my mate home now,” standing up, I turned to face the council.
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“We have been through this,” he exasperated but I interrupted him.
“She doesn’t bear my mark yet she is pregnant with my child,” I announced. The council broke out into chaos but I didn’t care about them. I turned my attention back to my mate and the mother of my unborn pup.
“I don’t understand,” Ryley mumbled against my lips as I brushed mine against hers.
“As soon as Lily is strong enough she will confirm it but I heard the heart beating.” I smiled. Fresh tears filled her eyes before she buried her face into my chest. Her body relaxed in my arms as I held her tight. I was never letting her go again. She was my second chance.
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