The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 40

The mood around the pack is low the next day. Preparations for Jude's burial are organized by his family and some of the elders, and Maddox and I prepare for how we want to brief the pack afterwords. Now that an innocent pack member was killed, we can't hide the threat of the hunter. They need to know so they can keep themselves safe.

I need to be able to keep them safe. I should be able to keep them safe, and I've failed.

Firm hands land on my shoulders and start massaging the tense muscles. I bring myself out of my head and see Maddox standing behind me through the mirror. He looks delicious in his all black suit. The top button of his button up is undone, and I ache to undo the rest of them.

"Baby, please stop thinking like that," Maddox mumbles into my ear, his eyes pleading.

My heart breaking, I reply, "I can't." And I don't know if I want to. What's happening is heavy and gut wrenching and makes me not want to open my eyes in the morning, but it's also the motivation that's pushing me forward. I've failed this pack once now, and I won't fail them again.

Maddox buries his face in my hair, inhaling my scent like it's his final breath of air before he goes under. His grip on my shoulders loosens, and his fingers trail down my bare arms and back up again. It creates a trail of tingles that can only be created by him. I close my eyes and take a deep breathe, relaxing into this moment with him.

"I think we should go talk to your dad again," I murmur. I turn around in Maddox's arms, and his hands move to either side of my face. "He's the only one who knows anything about the hunters, he might know something about the Wild Fangs, too."

Maddox nods. "We can go tomorrow morning." He leans forward and presses his lips to mine for a kiss.

"I think I might also start training with Lea. It'll give me something to do and hopefully take my mind of things."

"I think that would be good for you. You and Lea will get along well."

"I know," I smile, pressing another sweet kiss to his lips. "I love you."

"I love you too. So much, baby."

I smile and wrap my arms around his midsection, pressing my face into his chest. Maddox circles his arms around me and holds me tight.

~~~~

Thay, Kaitlyn, Vinnie, and Molly leave the next morning (easier than the first goodbye but in no means easy), and Maddox and I run to his dad's cabin. Alan is waiting for us with homemade blueberry pancakes on the table. Maddox and I sit and join him. The food smells amazing, and my stomach makes it apparent to all three of us that I think so.

Alan doesn't waste any time with a formal greeting. All three of us are clearly anxious about the looming conversation; Alan because he has no idea what it's about, and Maddox and I because if we don't get something from his dad, we're back to square one with nothing. My mind has been racing to scrounge up anything that could be of any use to us at all, and there's one little piece of hope I have.

"I take it the two of you aren't here for a friendly breakfast," Alan starts, and Maddox and I both shake our heads. "Ask away."

I dig into my pancakes as Maddox kicks off the conversation. The pancakes taste even better than they smell, and I'm quick to force another large bite into my mouth.

"We're wondering if you know anything about the Wild Fangs, and possibly how to contact them," Maddox says.

Alan frowns, and he takes a sip of his coffee. Even after he's swallowed, he takes a long moment before responding. "The Wild Fangs hardly ever make an appearance," he says. "They're known best for hiding their scents. I'm assuming this is what you're interested in finding out, no?"

Maddox nods, taking the first bite of his pancakes. I don't miss the slight relief in his eyes at the first burst of flavor. I wonder if he grew up eating these exact pancakes. It makes them that much better.

"If our trackers can hide their scents, it will even the playing field with the hunter," Maddox responds. "It won't suddenly make them a piece of cake to catch, but it'll give our trackers some element of surprise."

Alan nods at Maddox's words. "I agree that it would even the playing field. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to contact the Wild Fangs. No pack does."

"What about the mate ball?" I ask in a rush, the thoughts in my mind finally spilling out. I haven't even told Maddox yet because I'm so worried about being disappointed. "It's mandatory for all mateless wolves in all packs above the age of eighteen to attend. Are the Wild Fangs exempt from this?"

"No," Alan says slowly, like he's never thought of it before. Maddox turns to me with a look of awe.

"Harper, you fucking genius," he gasps, and I can't help but smile at the wide grin he's giving me.

"Who organizes the mate ball?" I ask both men, because I have no clue. Before meeting Maddox, I was never in a leadership position in a pack. All I had to do for the mate ball was show up when I turned eighteen.

"The High Council," Alan responds, and I watch his and Maddox's eyes light up when they put together where I'm going with this.

I grin, feeling giddy and excited that we finally, finally have something. "If we reach out to the High Council and explain what's going on and what our plan is, do you think they would help us get in contact with the Wild Fangs?"

"It's. . .definitely worth a shot," Alan says.

The relief that floods through ever nook and cranny of my body feels better than the relief I feel when a really bad hour of period cramps is finally over. And trust me, there's a lot of relief for that. I realize Maddox's relief is seeping in through the mate bond, and we're not only feeling our own relief but feeding off of each other's. Our eyes meet, and if we weren't currently sitting in front of his dad, there are countless things I would do to him. His eyes are smoldering, and I know he's having the same dirty thoughts. The familiar twinge between my legs begins.

"I'll reach out to them this afternoon," Maddox says, tearing his gaze away from me before his dad realizes we were very obviously eye-fucking each other. I stuff a big bite of the pancakes in my mouth for something to do, but I'm also not planning to make the rest of this breakfast easy for Maddox. I want him in bed, and I want him in bed now.

We still haven't utilized your office at home, I mind link him, and I don't fall short of sending him images of exactly how we can utilize the office. I bite my lip to stop a laugh when he chokes on his pancakes.

He starts coughing and rushes for a sip of coffee to wash the food down. Alan's sitting across the table with a knowing smirk. "I'm okay," Maddox says, coughing one more time. "Wrong tube." He takes another sip of coffee.

Alan hums in amusement.

I will get you back for that, Maddox growls in my mind.

Looking forward to it, I respond, taking another innocent bite of my pancakes.

You are such a fucking tease.

Alan bursts out laughing. "You two get out of here," he says, shooing us with his hands. "You're almost as bad as your mother and I were."

"Ew, dad," Maddox cringes, and I lose it.

The big bad alpha saying "ew"? It falls right below Maddox calling my mother "ma'am" for funniest Big Bad Alpha Moments.

And yes I have started a list.