REJECTED AND LOVED BY A RED WOLF

ALPHA'S RAGE

CHAPTER 5

Brandon threw his smartphone on the couch when his call was rejected several times by Ava. His lips were firmly pressed against each other in a thin line of displeasure. His calls were always considered important and had never been rejected by anyone...until now.

In his mind, how could the effin Stark woman reject his call, when they were the ones who needed his help? He wanted to confirm the volume of woodii strobil that CatStark needed and match the requirement with their stock and future harvests.

The precious woodii strobil (a cylindrical bud, measuring 20 to 40 centimeters) could be harvested twice or thrice a year, although they have excess from their pharmaceutical requirement as opposed to what he said to Ava. He just said it to discourage her and leave them alone.

Nevertheless, the volume was not discussed, and even in the proposal coming from CatStark, volume was not specified. It was only indicated that CatStark would buy any volume Nickwell would sell. He wanted them to specify now…it was the reason why he called Ava. And she dared to reject his call.

Brandon was displeased out and out.

He never wanted to sell in the first place. He intentionally advised that he would talk with CatStark, only if and when Ava was the negotiator because he believed Ava wouldn’t and couldn’t face him. But she came, and he believed she would also agree to his implausible condition of marrying him.

“The fvck, Brandon! What were you trying to do to yourself?” he whispered.

Brandon touched his face to calm his nerves. He knew he made a mistake by attaching marriage to the supply condition. He never wanted to see Ava again and definitely…he never wanted to marry someone who had broken him.

He checked the time on his Rolex, it was normal for him to work until after midnight which left him a few hours of rest before another day start again. Working hard and late was a routine, something he did with ease every day since three years ago.

He never thought that Ava would reject his call, it totally changed his mood. He was distracted, the rest of his work would never be done that night. Brandon kept his eyes on his laptop, annoyed and dismayed.

“That woman made my night even worse!” He muttered with gritted teeth.

Suddenly, he sensed his doorknob turned and in a heartbeat, the door swung open.

Easton and Colton, his Betas, silently stepped inside the room and lounged on his couch. They have no idea of their Alpha’s rage as Brandon displayed an emotionless facade all the time. Even if inside... he was seething.

“Are you not done yet?” Easton asked, as he saw Brandon’s eyes never left the laptop monitor, even when they arrived.

“You may go, I still have work to do.”

“Alpha. You know that’s not possible. We live at the same Estate, and driving late alone was not advisable for you. You have survived several attempts in your life and with your enemies' threats becoming more certain, expressed in detail. They were just around the corner waiting for the best time to plant a bullet in your head.” Easton emphasized.

“I do not care!” Brandon growled, “I am not afraid of them!”

“Alpha, we are not dealing with one group here. They were far too many, at this point.” Easton muttered, a matter of fact. He had several death threats and had escaped several ambush attempts.

“Was that the reason why you wanted to be associated with the Stark family?” Colton asked.

With the mention of the Stark name, Brandon lifted his head, and almost reached for his Beta to give him a taste of his fist, but Colton was not just his Beta he also owed his life to him. Although he didn't like the implication of Colton's words. He would never rely on anyone for support. He could die while defending himself and his pack but he would never ask for help to fight his own battles. He wouldn't hide behind the shadow of any group.

“It was Stark who asked for us to supply them with woodii. They came to us, it was not the other way around.” He reminded Colton, in a voice so low, that had become a warning.

“Yes—but—you attached marriage to Ava in the agreement. Your past has nothing to do with it, right? It had been years, Brandon!” Colton advised. He was worried for Brandon.

“I know what I am doing. I will ask your advice if I need one,” Brandon grunted.

The two Betas were used to Brandon, he was like a bear with a sore head, and he was very quick to anger. He had been like that since he lost his pack almost five years ago, and he blamed himself for everything that happened. Gone were the days he was calm, considerate, and easy to please. All his good qualities were replaced with unspeakable ones–ruthless, power-thirsty, and callous. He has no regard for others aside from his new pack and his employees. All others he considered dispensable and immaterial.

Colton never liked the idea that Brandon had asked Ava to marry him–making marriage a conditional offer to supply CatStark. He knew their past. He knew how Ava broke not only the heart but the PERSON of their once kind-hearted and lovable Alpha.

“You need rest,” Colton suggested. He could see the tiredness in his eyes.

Brandon looked up and breathed out as if the air was hauled into the deepest part of his body.

“I need a good fvck! Ask them to send an omega to the spare room as soon we arrive home,” Brandon ordered. He packed his laptop in his briefcase and strode towards the door. His two Betas had no recourse but to follow him.

Colton and Easton simply shook their heads, they knew another omega would again suffer at Brandon’s merciless hands.

*****

The next day.

Ava woke up refreshed and energized. Her temper piqued by Brandon last night eased out through the night. She readied herself for the task at hand–her work with CatStark. She agreed to handle the events coordination of the company.

When she went down for breakfast dressed appropriately for her new role with the company, she found Avie on the breakfast table, enjoying his meal while waiting for her.

“Good morning,” Ava greeted warmly.

“Same to you, little sis. By the way, Avon and Avis were gone before I woke up, so don’t look for them,” he cleared up the absence of the two brothers.

“I see–I thought, all of you had gone to your own place last night,” Ava remarked while chewing a piece of croissant. The triplets very seldom stayed in their family estate. They have their own apartments near their places of work, and Avon stayed in the community away from London.

“Nope! We decided to stay and talk about the business last night,” Avie imparted. “Are you sure, this deal with Brandon didn’t put too much pressure on you?” He queried concernedly.

“I told you I am good,” Ava responded nonchalantly.

“Do you love him? It’s marriage, Ava–. Something that--” Something that you should think about carefully. Avis wanted to say.

But--

Ava interjected, “Hey! We’ve talked about this last night, I am good brother dear, save your worries. And regarding if I love him or not? That’s what I don't understand about MATE BOND…but hopefully, I will– when I spend more time with Brandon.”

Ava was really curious about their bond–sure she felt the attraction–a very strong attraction indeed but was the mate bond just physical? She had cared for him before but nothing as magical as…LOVE, as she saw with their parents. Or was she just so ignorant of the emotional connection between two people? Perhaps, she didn’t know what love was all about. She told herself.

She was no longer a teen or young adult. She also had gone through bone marrow deep sorrows and had made several wrong decisions in life and yet the full connotation of what love was, remains vague in her heart and mind.

“Sorry sis, I couldn’t help, I haven’t met my mate!” Avie chuckled.

Avie's low tone of voice broke her brief zone out.

“Okay. Let’s forget about this first and concentrate on today’s task. I am ready to face the day, so if you are good. Let’s go to CatStark kingdom.” Ava prompted, with a genuine smile on her face.

Avie dismissed his own apprehension at the moment, he agreed with Ava that they have work to do for the day.

Ava's excitement to meet her new team was palpable. Those men and women who worked hard to make their company and marketing events successful would be the people under her management from this day onwards. The position had been reserved for her for a long time but since she never took office, it was entrusted to Avie’s assistant while she was unavailable.

It took them about thirty minutes to reach the office and as soon as they arrived she immediately proceeded to the floor assigned to her. It was a floor below Avie’s so she stepped out of the lift sooner than him.

“See you when I see you, brother,” Ava waved at him before the lift door closed.

With the size of CatStark building, bumping on each other the whole day was almost next to impossible, besides she knew how hectic Avie's days always were.

“Take care sis, enjoy your day!” He said with his schooled neutrality features now on full display. He was no longer just a brother, he was the President of CEO of this company, a load of obligation rested on his shoulders as well as the livelihood of more than 10,000 employees in his hands.

It was a tough job–a job bigger than Avie and Ava understood why she was obliged to secure what they needed to keep going for the families of both humans and werewolves who depended on them for survival.

Ava’s team shared the floor with the marketing team as their work was closely related. The marketing was handled by one of her twin sisters-Amira, but– she was with her family enjoying the three months annual vacation abroad. So, to take care of her team, another of Avie's assistants was in charge temporarily.

The staff greeted her as she walked toward her space. When she was closer to her office, her assistant, Jane rushed to her side. She bowed and uttered in a slightly shaky voice.

“Miss Ava. You have a visitor,” she relayed.

Ava’s eyebrows automatically twitched, in her thoughts…a visitor, while she had yet to settle in her space? Who would visit her so soon when she hadn’t started her day?

Ava checked the time on her wrist, it was 15 minutes before nine in the morning, meaning it was 15 minutes before the start of her work day.

She looked at Jane, silently asking who the brazen visitor was, but before she said his name. A whiff of a distinct smell of freshly cut grass toned with peppermint and woody scent tickled her nostrils, she knew who her visitor was.

“Mr. Brandon Nicholas-Abioye, the President of Nickwell Unlimited, they owned Nickwell Pharmaceuticals. I let him inside your room,” Jane explained.

“Alright, I will handle it from here. Please bring us two cups of coffee,” she replied.

As she walked closer to the door, her heart pounded faster in her chest, and her breath fragments into short bursts. There was no doubt in her mind that it was him inside the office.

She opened the door and the man clad in an expensive black suit and white shirt came into her vision. His dark turquoise eyes fixed on her as soon as she entered the room.

She stepped closer, “Mr. Nicholas–” she wanted to greet him, but he interrupted her.

“What the fvck did you take me for? Our deal is off!” Brandon blurted out at the top of his voice.

Anger equivalent to a turbulent storm flashed in his turquoise eyes.