“She can but it won’t be given.” Said Kira bitterly.
Lilah traced patterns on the wooden table with her finger, unable to look at anyone. “I’m married to my Alpha’s son. He… he doesn’t treat me well. I tried to tell my Alpha but he wasn’t interested. So we left.”
The muscles in Adam’s jaw ticked. “You mean he hurt you? Physically?”
Lilah gulped but didn’t answer. Adam felt his claws and fangs lengthen. If there was one thing he couldn’t abide it was male wolves mistreating their females. He’d witnessed it once too often when his father was Alpha; his father had considered females property to be used however their mates saw fit. A lot changed when Adam became Alpha, and those wolves who were unable to change were driven away.
Rosalee held her breath waiting for Adam to speak.
Adam placed a hand on his heart. “My pack will protect both of you. You have my word as Alpha.”
Rosalee flitted round the table and gave her mate a lip smacking kiss. She knew he’d do the right thing.
Kira felt tears spring to her eyes as her wolf pranced around joyously. “Thank you Adam.”
Adam pulled his mate into his lap. “Perhaps it would be better if you lay low for a while though, I don’t mean hide but just no disappearing to go off shopping to Alexandria for eight hours.”
“One time…” Grumbled Rosalee.
The twins nodded in agreement. “I’ll have Alec reach out to the Charming pack Alpha about arranging a meeting to discuss the situation. For now we’ll find a pack mate for you to stay with. We’ll discreetly introduce you to pack members and when your situation has… resolved itself we’ll induct you both into the pack on a full moon run. But for now you are still welcome to join us on the full moon.”
“Must you meet with the Alpha?” Asked Lilah tentatively.
Adam trained a hard look on the little she-wolf and she cowered a little, but he spoke to her kindly. “Yes, he has to agree to let you go. Otherwise we run the risk that he might turn up here and drag you back, not caring who he hurt in the process. I have to protect all my pack.”
Lilah nodded glumly.
“But for now we’ll just reach out and say we want to meet, we won’t say why.”
“Thank you Adam.” Repeated Kira. The longer they could postpone the reunion with Joseph and Joseph Sr. the better.
Adam chuckled. “You don’t have to keep thanking me. You more than earned both your places here.”
Lilah looked at them inquiringly but didn’t say anything. Kira still had to divulge everything that happened on her last visit to Rose.
Adam stood up taking his mate with him. “We’ll go get dressed, you two make yourselves comfortable.”
Adam pulled Rosalee upstairs before she could object. Kissing her soundly he pushed her into the shower and swiftly stepped in after her. As they washed each other they talked about who the twins should stay with.
“What about Carly?” Suggested Rosalee. “She’d be sensitive to Lilah’s situation.” Carly Finlay was the pack Omega.
Adam rubbed her shoulders. “It’s a good idea but Carly already has enough responsibility, I don’t want to overload her.”
“Hmmm, maybe Jolene then…”
Adam placed a kiss on her neck. “You think that’s a good idea?”
Jolene was recently divorced from her husband. He had worked as an accountant for the pack construction company and had been found skimming money. Adam had given him the option of being arrested or returning the money and being banished from the pack. He chose the latter. Jolene having been unhappy for a long time chose to remain with the pack. Since then she’d been a little depressed and uninterested with pack life.
“I think Jolene would be kind to them and looking after them would bring Jolene back to the pack.”
Adam smiled and spun his mate round to face him. “Remind me again sweetheart how I managed to persuade someone as perfect as you to mate with me.”
Rosalee snuggled into his warm body. “Animal magnetism Alpha.”
*
Kira and Lilah waited nervously with Rosalee as Adam went to speak to the she-wolf Jolene. After what felt like an age Adam came back with Jolene in tow. He introduced the three she-wolves who awkwardly said hello and Jolene told them she’d be pleased for them to stay at her house.
Jolene was in her late twenties and like most she-wolves was tall and lithe. She-wolves tended to be powerful, healthy looking women, unless they were Omegas. In which case they were short and dumpy thought Kira sourly.
Kira once again thanked her new Alphas for their help and the twins set off to Jolene’s house driving behind her. Jolene had a small but homely little cabin not too far from town.