His Wolf's Choice

by Mary Goldberger

  Alpha Leonardo was one of the strongest Alpha’s in the region and commanded respect from every pack. In return, he gave respect back to those same packs throughout the world. It was the wrong thing to do, Garin thought shifting his gaze back to Whitney, was disrespect a man in his own home especially after he offered help and support.

  She made a play for him after she first arrived, Alec’s voice was quiet through the pack link. He didn’t say a word, merely gave her a look before he walked away just as his mate entered the room. She was polite, but one could see the rage in her eyes. I’m surprised she was able to keep so calm about the whole thing.

  “That can be answered,” Leonardo said quietly shifting his attention to them, and Garin felt Alec stiffen next to him.

  “Sir,” Alec began only for his sentence to be waved away before turning his gaze to Garin.

  “Is the young lady doing well, Garin?”

  “She is doing fine,” Garin answered respectfully knowing that Alec gave Alpha Leonardo an honest explanation about his sudden return home.

  Garin found himself being scrutinized by wise eyes, and instead of feeling offended, the corners of his mouth lifted eliciting a snort of laughter from the other man.

  “That’s good to hear, but hopefully she can stay well until we find out who is targeting Alpha Female Whitney.” This was uttered with an upraised brow.

  Garin grimaced although his eyes lightened thinking about Daya. “She is very stubborn which I recognized from the first moment we met. I can’t say that she will not get into any more trouble.”

  Alpha Leonardo chuckled at the straightforward answer. “Maybe she will surprise you.”

  “Daya surprises me every day since our first meeting,” he admitted a smile drifting across his face.

  “Hmm,” Alpha Leonardo mumbled shifting his gaze to the others around them. “Do we have any more problems that need to be cleared up?”

  “No, Sir.”

  It was a consensus from everyone, and yet Garin noted Whitney’s eyes narrowed on him when he bowed his head along with the others and turned to Alec.

  After some brief words, Garin headed out to do patrol duty ignoring Whitney calling for him strangely surprised that his wolf didn’t scamper around at the sound of her voice.

  Hmm, his wolf merely uttered making Garin even more confused before he shook it off knowing that he needed his full attention on his duty shifting as he hit the bottom step.

  Alpha Leonardo watched the brief interlude between the two young men before Garin turned and walked out of the house. His gaze shifted to the Alpha Female who called out to him even while her mate stared at her.

  She is pissed. He heard his mate through their private link, and he frowned wondering what she meant making his excuses from the others.

  Entering the kitchen, he stopped to watch her for a second a smile coming to his face when she looked up from the pie she was making.

  “What are you talking about, Dena?” He asked walking over to the counter not going around it since he knew how she disliked anyone messing with her while she was baking.

  “Whitney was originally Garin’s mate according to Alpha Female Kala,” Dena informed him turning to the sink to wash her hands.

  “What?” Leonardo’s tone dropped, and his jaw clenched in a suddenly hard face.

  “I talked with Kala after Garin went back,” she admitted keeping her voice low. “She hadn’t been aware that we didn’t know about the connection between Garin and Whitney.”

  She stopped while she put her pies into the oven, and after putting on the timer, Dena turned back to him.

  “I also learned about the woman who Garin rushed back home to see.”

  “Daya,” Leonardo replied remembering the young woman’s name and he frowned. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “Because Daya is the name of Alpha Jordan’s niece,” Dena replied, and Alpha Leonardo’s eyes widened staring at her. “Five years ago, Daya Stevens moved there after her mate’s rejection and unaware of the pack in the area, she went to school starting a new life until about two months ago.”

  Leonardo was quiet a thoughtful look on his face. “What happened?”

  Dena stared at him before she went over to the refrigerator pouring them both something to drink.

  “How much do you want to know, Honey?” She asked taking their drinks over to the small table which was often used although not for meals.

  “As much as you know,” he replied joining her and leaned down to give her a kiss before taking the seat at the table accepting the drink.

  “Well,” Dena began slowly giving him a slow smile before she quietly told him what she had learned recently.

  Later that night after his patrol shift, Garin walked back into the house and headed up to the room he was using only to be met by Alec and Jaime outside of it.

  “I know you told Alpha Leonardo Daya is doing okay,” Jaime began once they were inside the room and Garin went to his bag to unpack.

  “She is,” Garin replied putting his few clothes away while Alec walked over to the window staring out with a frown on his face.

  Garin hesitated briefly before he uttered. “Alec, have you found her yet?”

  Alec turned sharply his narrowed gaze fixed on Garin with warning to lay off the subject. Although Garin hadn’t looked up, he sensed the glare Alec was giving him but decided to ignore it.

  “When you are mentioned as Trevor’s Beta, people get confused,” he continued, and Jaime nodded his head in agreement.

  “I’ve noticed the same thing,” he added. “Even here, when we first arrived, everyone assumed Garin or Sebastian was the Beta even though you were here before us.”

  Alec scowled at them before he turned and walked out of the room, and a few seconds later the door to his own guest room slammed shut.

  “I guess we pissed him off,” Jaime suggested with a grimace.

  “No,” Garin negated with a shake of his head picking up his bag and walking over to the closet to place it inside. “He is just getting tired.”

  Jaime gave him a brief look, but Garin didn’t elaborate since sooner or later Jaime would figure it out for himself.

  Garin wondered how long Alec was going to continue looking for his mate instead of admitting that he loved Brianna. Unlike Garin who had given up on his mate, or so he thought, Garin amended getting a grunt from his wolf, Alec hadn’t given up hope and although he had feelings for Brianna, he didn’t want to her hurt when he finally did find her.

  “He keeps himself away from the pack for a reason, Jaime,” Garin offered walking over to the window feeling the breeze against his skin since the only thing he wore was a pair of shorts left on the porch for the patrol groups.

  “I know,” Jaime argued in understanding, “but he is wasting time here instead of being with her.”

  “Probably, but I think he believes he will hurt her more if he accepts her only to have his mate show up when least expected,” Garin defended getting a sharp look from Jaime before he sighed and nodded his head in agreement.

  Going over to the night stand where he put his phone after unpacking it, Garin opened it to call Trevor deciding not to use the pack link.

  “I arrived safely,” Garin revealed when it was picked up on the other end.

  “Scowling the second he walked in,” Jaime teased letting the other matter drop.

  “Get out,” Garin said shortly with no heat or anger in his voice causing Jaime to laugh harder before sauntering out of the room.

  Garin shook his head going to close the door hearing Trevor laughing over the phone.

  “So, I take it everything is fine there?”

  “Yes,” Garin hesitated briefly. “How is Daya?”

  “She is doing well although the doctor wants her to stay in the hospital for a few weeks before being discharge,” Trevor explained an odd note in his voice.

  “What else did the doctor say?” Garin asked hearing it.

  Trevor sigh
ed. “According to Jordan, he wants someone to stay with her when she does until she has full motion of her leg again, so Kala and I were going to suggest she stay with us.”

  There was a brief pause. “We have to find a room for her…”

  “She can use my room,” Garin offered without letting him finish before he frowned. “Although being on the third floor probably won’t be…”

  “Brianna believes that it would be more beneficial even though it will be painful at first,” Trevor revealed.

  “Then, if it is okay, she can use my room,” Garin offered with a slight smile.

  There was a smug note in Trevor’s voice when he replied. “I didn’t think there would be a problem, but Kala figured I should make sure it was all right with you before I give it to her.”

  After that statement which Garin didn’t have a reply, Trevor gave him some information that Alec had requested.

  “I’ve called Alec, but he wasn’t in a speaking mood,” Trevor was blunt after giving Garin the info to pass on to Alec. “Did you say something to him when you returned?”

  Garin didn’t say a word and at his silence, Trevor sighed before quietly stating, “Garin, Alec has the right to do what he thinks is best. Besides, out of all my fighter wolves, Alec can match you any day of the week.”

  Garin had to laugh at the taunting tone of his Alpha although he, and his wolf, admitted it was true. Alec, if he hadn’t been groomed for the Beta position, would have been the best fighter wolf of their pack overshadowing Garin along with a few others. Garin knew this and although he disliked it, he learned to live with it a long time ago when they first met head on, and Alec showed how good he really was.

  “Believe me, I know how strong Alec is,” Garin retorted in a reluctant tone.

  There was a grunt from Trevor before he said ‘goodbye’, and Garin hung up with a rueful smile.

  A knock sounded on his door, and Garin frowned getting up from the bed to open it.

  “Get dressed,” Alec demanded his tone still hard. “Alpha Leonardo wants us in the office in ten minutes.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Garin replied giving Alec a single nod of his head before he closed the door slowly and turned to get dress.

  Two minutes later, they were walking down the stairs heading for the office while Garin filled Alec in on what Trevor had relayed to him.

  “Alec,” Garin began only to stop when Alec sighed heavily and put a hand on his shoulder.

  “I know you are looking out for me and worried about Brianna,” Alec finally said slowly. “So am I, Garin, because I care about her and I don’t want to hurt…” He smiled sadly when Garin gave him a pointed look. “More than I have already.”

  Garin stared at him intently before he nodded his head. “I know, Alec, so I hope sooner or later, you will know exactly what you are going to do.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Alec remarked when they reached Leonardo’s office and he knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Leonardo’s voice echoed back to them, but Garin and Alec shared a look noting the hard note in his voice.

  Stepping into the room, they were surprised to see Alpha Ralph there also standing at the window and staring out into the night.

  “Alec, Garin,” Leonardo greeted them while Alpha Ralph merely nodded his head without turning around.

  “Alpha, I can understand calling for Alec, but why am I here?” Garin questioned getting a hard elbow from Alec in return.

  “Because I asked for you,” Alpha Ralph spoke quietly turning then to look at them. “Whitney would like to go out shopping tomorrow and has requested you to go with her.”

  Garin scowled and he was about to reply when Leonardo spoke up his voice smooth, and yet there was an undertone that didn’t escape the three men.

  “Ralph, I’ve offered my support, and got Trevor to send his best fighter wolves, for the protection of her, but I will draw the line here.”

  He shifted his gaze to Ralph who stilled turning to meet Leonardo’s eyes. “If she needs necessities, then that is one thing, but it sounds as if she wants merely a day out and that I won’t condone. If she wants to go out, then have your own men take her because I won’t send any of these men out to do it.”

  “It is their job to protect her,” Ralph argued hands clenching tightly at his sides.

  “From what?” Leonardo asked bluntly leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. “So far, there have been nothing, no threats or suspicious individuals on my territory. I’ve had others helping to see if anyone was spying on the pack, and they haven’t alerted me to any issues.”

  Ralph paled while his mouth tightened not saying anything.

  “So, I will ask again. Who are we protecting Whitney from?”

  “I don’t know,” Ralph finally admitted running a hand over his face. “Whitney bought the notes to me and although I had my own men look, we found nothing to say it was anyone within the area.”

  “Have there been any more notes since you’ve arrived here?” Alec asked slanting Alpha Ralph a quick look.

  “Not that I know of,” Ralph admitted a muscle clenching in his jaw.

  Leonardo was silent after this statement staring at his desk.

  “All right,” he uttered after a few seconds shifting his gaze to Ralph. “I will give it one more week, but if there isn’t anything to indicate she is in danger then I’m sending Alec and his team home.”

  “But…” Ralph started to say stopping when Leonardo put up his hand.

  “I will talk with Trevor and request that two of his fighter wolves stay behind,” Leonardo replied meeting Ralph’s hard look. “I’m not going to keep them longer than necessary, and even then, I will ask Trevor for a month more.”

  Turning to Garin and Alec, he said clearly. “Decide who the two individuals are that will be staying.”

  “I will,” Alec immediately offered, and Garin gritted his teeth. “I will gather the others and see who else would like to stay.”

  Leonardo didn’t comment right away staring at Garin who had shifted his gaze to the wall over the Alpha’s shoulder.

  “I think…” Garin began.

  “We will talk to the others,” Alec cut him off giving him a narrowed look, and Garin glared back at him before shifting his gaze to Leonardo.

  “Yes, Garin, did you have something to add?” He asked leaning forward in his seat.

  “Not at this time,” Garin stated giving Alec a challenging look which earned him another glare.

  Leonardo nodded his head turning back to Alpha Ralph who was frowning. “Ralph, you know I’m right about this.”

  His frown deepened but he nodded his head. “I know,” he admitted a thoughtful look on his face eyes going to Garin who froze under that look while his wolf bristled slightly.

  He knows, his wolf growled lightly shocking Garin.

  Ralph turned back to Leonardo who watched the exchange along with Alec who immediately grabbed Garin’s shoulder.

  “We’ll go talk to the others,” he commented getting Garin’s attention who nodded his head before turning for the door.

  “Let me know something by tomorrow,” Leonardo called out before the door shut behind them.

  “What the hell happened there?” Alec whispered when they were heading out the front door while Garin frowned heavily.

  “My wolf believes Ralph knows Whitney is my mate, ex-mate,” Garin quickly amended unaware of the quick look Alec gave him.

  “That’s not good,” Alec remarked when they stopped on the stairs, and Alec sent out a message to the other pack members for a meeting.

  Garin didn’t comment wondering about the look on Ralph’s face, which hadn’t been anger but something else.

  His wolf wasn’t upset either.

  Garin found this surprising which baffled him even more. “Something isn’t right,” Garin muttered hearing his wolf’s agreement while Alec shifted him a frown.

  “What isn’t?” He questioned, an
d Garin merely shook his head not going to voice mere speculation especially about an Alpha unless he had something to back it up.

  “So, who do you think will volunteer to stay besides you?” Garin’s tone was mocking which didn’t go unnoticed by Alec.

  “Garin.”

  Garin turned his eyes to Alec seeing the darkness of his eyes and knew that he was being warned, but he threw caution to the wind this time.

  “I think you are making a mistake,” Garin suggested quietly eyes shifting around the yard seeing the others coming to join them. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I believe you should go back and enjoy what you have right now even if you’re not sure about the future.

  Garin slanted Alec one last look when the others reached them. “But that is my opinion.”

  With that said, Garin turned and greeted the others who looked questioningly at Alec knowing it had to be important if he pulled them from their patrol.

  “Alpha Leonardo has decided that if nothing happens within the next week,” Alec explained, “then most of us can go home except for two.”

  “Which two?” Jaime asked in a dejected voice.

  Garin chuckled while even Alec laughed. “Whoever would like to volunteer, of course…”

  “Which means Alec has already volunteered, and we need one more,” Sebastian added ignoring the glare that Alec sent him although he shared a look with Garin.

  “Who else would like to volunteer?” Alec growled glaring at the two of them before turning to the rest of the group.

  Chapter 12

  “Uncle Jordan, don’t you have to get back to the pack?” Daya asked a few days later after the nurse left, and she glanced over at him.

  “I’m keeping in touch with Bryan,” Jordan stated leaning forward in the chair he was sitting. “We need to talk, sweetie.”

  Daya frowned staring at him intently noting that he looked tired, and her eyes widened seeing pain on his face.

  “You are in pain, but…” Daya whispered eyes shifting over his face.

  “We were attacked a few months ago, and although they were easily defeated, I was nicked by a knife,” Jordan explained, and Daya tilted her head in confusion. He sighed gently. “The knife was laced with wolf’s bane which is lethal to our kind.”