My Laughable Fate

26. Relieved and hopeful

LEIA POV

NEXT DAY

Watching on the sidelines last night… didn’t sit well with me. The mission I’m on here is important in the long run but… I should have been there. I would have found the wolf that dropped the ball and strangled his defective ass.

My cousin-in-law should never have been there but, since she was, she should have been wrapped in Teflon. “It’s a good thing she and the pup are okay.” Sian said optimistically. Alex had kept us updated since Robbie wasn’t using his words right now. No one blamed him either.

Luke had let me listen in from where he was, miles from the camp. Whoever was out of position and didn’t alert Roman on the walkie… let’s just say the last time I heard my brother’s voice sound that outraged, someone lost an eye before he was restrained. It’s the quiet ones you must look out for.

It wasn’t easy for Luke to ask Maeve, his cousin’s pregnant mate, to sneak into the enemy’s camp, but his hands were tied. The council had Ariel working on some top-secret mission. My parents assured everyone that there was no way they could reach out to her right now.

“Robbie might not let her see daylight for the next millennia, but she and the pup are fine.” That’s what matters. Doesn’t stop my gut from hurting. “That hit too close to home.” I held my stomach, looked down at my unappealing breakfast. Who could eat right now?

Maybe just two shewolves and it’s probably under duress. I'm positive that Robbie is catering to his mate, force-feeding her. Just like Alex is doing to Heidi. Everyone else might be too out of sorts to have an appetite, to enjoy a meal, but they don’t have that option. Pups need nourishment.

The air shifted around me, hair standing on the back of my neck. f**k me, what the hell does he want? I’d felt former Alpha Danie’s eyes on me as soon as he walked into the dining room. He was creeping around, making weird, constipated faces at me. “I think he's smiling at you.” Sian snarked.

A smile? “Maybe just ask him what he wants?” I locked eyes with the former Alpha and raised an eyebrow. He seemed stumped by my action and looked behind him. Of course, Paul walked in. He didn’t look at me as soon as he walked in. No somehow, he was already looking at me. Even before I was visible to him.

It was so different from his usual avoidance. With his eyes still on me, he said something to his daddy before walking away. In my direction. “What… what does he want?” Sian stuttered. I didn’t like how nervous she sounded. My lobita’s taken her mates rejection like a champ, just like me.

We both shed our tears early on and agreed to bury whatever sorrowness we felt deep down. Maybe a little too quickly, but given the circumstances, we did what we had to do. Staying focused on our anger keeps us on track. It’s our instinct to be with our mate after all. “Doesn’t matter. We have a call with the council in thirty.” I looked down at my watch.

The last update we had was about Maeve and her pup. That good news allowed us to get a few hours of sleep. We hope to hear more good news at this meeting. It would make Luke feel less guilty if Robbie’s mate and pup didn’t nearly die for nothing. If the tracker didn’t work or was found… we could be back to square one, and we couldn’t have that.

By the time Paul reached the table where I was sitting with some of my warriors, Herc excluded, I got up. He seemed taken back by that, as if it wasn’t part of his plan for me to get up and now, he didn’t know what to do. “Yes?” I asked and peered behind him, silently asking him to move out of my way.

I had some room to move around him, but that’s now how we deal with things where I’m from. It’s not the Sensmeier or Cruz way. “We need to speak.” He looked at each of my warriors, then back at me. “In my office, in private.” He added, with authority. Damn, someone found his Alpha pants. Good for Natalia...

We were past assessing the pack. All items of concern have been brought up, addressed and some have even been corrected. The biggest task he has, which he’s avoiding, is removing some underqualified wolves from their positions, and replacing them with wolves with high marks on their assessments. Easy, right?

“Have you taken care of the dead weight?” If we weren’t going to talk about that, there wasn’t more to say. Until those spots were occupied by the best wolves in the pack, and they were all following the new protocols, I couldn’t leave. Not even if we rejected one another, or if I waited for the full moon. Not until he got his s**t together.

His blank stare spoke volumes. “I.. I’m handling it this afternoon.” After his initial splutter his words came out rushed. “Actually, that’s what I need to speak with you about.” He avoided my eyes and tilted his body, making room for me to walk. “My office, please.” He extended his hand for me to lead.

I didn’t like this, none of it. He wasn’t acting aloof and douchey in his usual way. His requests to meet usually come from someone else. His Beta, Gamma or my Herc… why did I smile at that? “I have five minutes.” I said before heading for his office. He better not waste my time. It's hard enough being in his presence.

PAUL POV

Had that smile been for me? “Siming at us?!” Idris growled. “You let some other mutt get his filthy mitts all over our mate and you think she’s smiling for us!?” My wolf was beyond furious with me. I couldn’t even begin to list his reasons, there were too many. Most I agree with.

It’s not lost on me that I’m showing up to the party a day late. And admittedly, if she wasn’t an Alpha, I wouldn’t have allowed myself to take this chance. My pack is still in the red financially, and I’m taking a huge risk going to her with my tail between my legs.

I could still claim Natalia, and benefit from the pairing as planned. It didn’t seem like such a huge sacrifice before I met… Leia. Did I just smile? It was a good thing I was walking behind her, not only for the amazing view, but I didn’t need her seeing my goofy face. Her peachy ass nearly had me snarling.

The point is, I did meet Leia, and she’s been living rent-free in my head ever since! At first, I misinterpreted her brashness for disrespect. Thought she was an uneducated and classless wolf. I didn’t take her werearmy rank seriously and felt she was “playing” Alpha. How could she tell an Alpha how to run a pack?

Then she and Commander Jordan laid out plainly just how inefficient and unproductive my pack is, and not just financially. It was hard to swallow, but she wasn’t just some brawny shewolf warrior that couldn’t possibly know how to run a successful pack. Leia more than demonstrated her knowledge and class, actually, she shooved it in my face.

When she reached my office, she pivoted on her toes, turning to face me and stood by the door, waiting. I could tell she was struggling to be patient, but she again proved her class. Like a proper Sargeant Master, she waited for me to catch up to her.

Her impatient glower made her lips pout. “Take her inside, beg, then claim her.” Idris ordered in a hiss. Pushing him to the back of my mind, I reached for the knob and opened the door for her. I tried to give her a polite smile, but she rolled her eyes and walked past me. Not a good start.

She walked in and to the right, as far away from my desk as possible, then leaned on the wall. “You now have two minutes.” The slight tilt of her head. The way her lips twitched, as if holding back a laugh. She enjoyed messing with me. I was starting to enjoy it too.

I exhaled a laugh and closed the door, leaning on it. Her eyes immediately shot at the door. “I wouldn't try to hold you here against your will, Mate.” That's all I could do, try. Her eyes widened at my words before she frowned. Her mouth opened but she hesitated, and I saw my opportunity.

“I took a chosen to save my pack. I never imagined I would meet you. My mate.” I laughed nervously. Truth is, I never thought about my mate. My father didn’t want me getting my hopes up and if I claimed my chosen before meeting my fated, it wouldn’t matter. Things didn’t happen as planned.

“Or that she would come here and show me how to run my pack.” That statement had a hint of irritation, but it was true. She smiled, and that one was for me, but she quickly covered it with a scowl. The tide was quickly turning, and I was running out of time. “Before you kill me, let me say one more thing.” I held my hands up in surrender, waited.

Seconds later, I was still standing, and she was glaring at me to hurry up. “I don't want us to reject one another.” I felt relieved and hopeful as the words left my lips. Leia… The words hit her like a tidal wave. She’d gone from leaning on the wall casually to holding the chair nearest her. Standing upright.

She wasn’t saying anything, but I could see her eyes flickering, her wolf was speaking to her. It made me hopeful. I didn’t dare say anything, but I didn't have to. Leia and her wolf finished quickly and, just like that, she squared her shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes.

I considered asking Idris for help, but he was whimpering behind the mental wall I had built. He’d be no help. I nearly stumbled back when she appeared in front of me. She’s a ninja. “You have until after my meeting, one hour, to vacate the positions we agreed on. Then you have two days to fill those positions.” She bit out.

At first, I had no idea what she was talking about. Before I could make sense of it, I was shoved to the side, and the door nearly smacked me in the face as she opened and shut it behind her. I just told my mate that I no longer wanted to go through with the rejection, and her response was to order me to do something I really didn’t want to do.

There was a small silver lining and I brought down my mental wall. "Idris, she didn't tell me to screw myself." That was good, right? "That's... that's good, I guess." He didn't sound convinced, but it had to mean something. Leia isn't the type of shewolf to play games. If she didn't want me anymore... ouch, my gut hurt at the thought. If that was the case, she would have said so. There's still some hope!