Rejection to the Alpha King's Daughter [amazon edition]

Chapter 18 - Moving Back to Wolf Country

Chapter 18 – Moving Back to Wolf Country

“Are you sure everything is packed up?” Atticus asks, his burgundy eyes filled with concern as he looks over every detail of the house we are saying goodbye to. Today is the day we leave to where the new pack will be, Alice and Blake excited to return to the forest and be a part of a proper pack that will treat them with respect. These last two years in the city has been good for all of us, especially when we would leave for summers with Bloodmoon or Silver Crystal Crescent to train.
“Yes. Everything we will need is packed with us. Even the new furniture we plan to build once there. Ira even has a witch coming to help set up a secured pack line for us to prevent humans from wandering in if they aren’t mated to a supernatural.” I reassure the worrying vampire, wrapping my arms around him and giving him a long hug. I did not want to leave my uncle behind, I even offered to have him come live in the pack with us but his home and life is in Toronto.
“I just don’t want to see you go young wolf.” He whispers, burying his face in my hair and taking in my scent.
“I know Uncle Atti, but I need to. When you visit, there will be a cozy cabin with internet access waiting for you this Christmas.” He chuckles at my words, pulling away to look at me with pride. I smile up at him, trying my hardest to fight back tears. This man took me under his wing, worked with me as we thought of fair laws for the were-wolf nation when I reclaimed my throne, took me to meet powerful Alphas that agreed to be my allies. When we were relaxing, he traveled with me to see all of Canada, took me to Europe and Japan to meet the packs that were at the Alliance Ball the day I was rejected. He taught me to fight vampires while Heidi taught me to fight witches and how to scent out spells and chams by dark and light witches. They made me powerful, helped shaped me, Blake, Alice, Albot and Marcie into strong wolves capable of anything.
“Don’t forget, Heidi and I are getting married in spring. You have to come down to walk me down the aisle.” He reminds me, fighting back his own tears and making us both laugh.
“Don’t worry Uncle Atti, I will be there and so will the others.” With a final hug, he walks me to my hummer, Alice already inside it with Blake at the wheel.
“I promise to have your jeep sent to you kiddo.” Atticus promises Blake, the teen smiling as he leans over to fist bump the vampire.
“I know Uncle. I can’t wait to drive it.” I see the sadness in his eyes and sigh. Atticus and Blake became close over the years, the vampire taking Blake under his wing and teaching him about law. I know Blake will work hard to become a lawyer and when the time comes, will train under Atticus at his firm.
“You can always face time Uncle Atti and come down to visit him every summer to intern at his law firm.” I remind Blake, sliding into the passenger side and spotting Alice curled up already asleep in the back seat, her arms wrapped around a giant stuffed bunny we won for her at Canada’s Wonderland just after arriving to Toronto.
“Your mom is right kiddo. I’ll see you this Christmas with Heidi and then you can show me the best hunting spots.” With that, Atticus closes me door for me, giving me a finally kiss on the cheek before we drive off.

…

[How far away till we get there?] For the umpteenth time we hear Blake groan through the mind link, glad I had the 16 year old driving one of the moving trucks with Albot before I could smack the living shit out of him after leaving our motel. It’s been five days since we left Toronto, spending nights in motels that back into forest for us to run in wolf form. Of course, the five day drive meant tensions are high.
[Blake shut the hell up. We get there when we get there!] And here comes the fighting as Marcie snaps finally. I sigh, rolling my eyes as I wait to see where this fight will lead.
[Bite me Marcie! You’re not the Alpha so you can’t boss me around!] Blake retorts and I groan. He is in for a beating from the spitfire Latina when we reach our home.
[Who the hell do you think is her beta Blake?]
[Albot, duh!]
[Actually, I am pretty sure Matrix will be her Beat.] Albot cuts in.
[No, he called and says he wants to be in charge of the warriors.] Marcie retorts.
[So Blake is right, me then.] Albot sight out nonchalantly.
[Why you, why not me!]
[Because you would make a better Head Tracker.] I groan again as Albot, Marcie and Blake get into their argument, wanting nothing more than to hit all three of them. Deciding that the best plan of action is to ignore them, I shut down the link and tune in to my playlist on Spotify. I will deal with the three stooges later when we reach out new home.
I feel so tired from the long hours of driving, being surrounded by trees feels isolating, lonely, and I ever wonder how I managed to live eighteen years in a forest. I miss the hustle and bustle of the city. Walking past humans, rogues, vampires and witches on the street. The chatter and the life everyone lived and being able to enjoy so many sounds. Now, I will have to be deep in the forest. Create a strong pack and then head farther North to claim my throne. Will I get used to the isolation again. But I know deep inside I have to do this. To end the tyranny and destruction Alexander and Coro has brought to wolf kind. People need me and I need to be there for them. This move will also benefit the pups. They need a pack; I can already see Blake being agitated and aggressive without a pack life. Alice will be like that when she first shifts too. Edgy and needing the support of a pack.
Looking through the rear-view mirror, I smile at Alice cuddling her rabbit, her focus on the book in her hand as she reads. The little book worm I have will be excited to see the library I have at the palace when we move there. Sudden, the music is cut off with the sound of my ringtone and I frown, clicking the answer button on the steering wheel.
“Crystalline speaking.” I answer, wondering why a private caller is calling me when I take a quick look at the dashboard.
“So how long till I get to see you again.” My face is split into a grin when I hear Matrix’s voice, the last time we talked was two weeks ago when Ira and I decided it is time to move back into wolf country and start a pack.
“Maybe five hours. My pack has been bickering non-stop and I had to shut the link down to avoid a headache.” I answer, taking a look at the time and the GPS estimate arrival.
“Sounds like you are having fun.” He chuckles out and I groan.
“Nope. Quite sure Marcie and Blake want to kill each other right now.” My reply brings out another bout of laughter from my friend making me growl. I definitely need to give him a good beating later.
“Look Crysta, it’s a few more hours and then you get to see your new home. I even have a surprise waiting for you.”
“Matrix I hate surprises.” I remind my friend.
“Yeah I know, hence why I always like to make surprises for you. Any ways I have to go. Our friends are helping with getting the pack house cleaned out and we have a few cabins being finished off.”
“Okay, stay safe Trix. I miss you.”
“I miss you too Crystalline.” With a sigh I hang up the phone and focus on the driving. I haven’t received a call from Albot to open the link back up considering the way they were bickering earlier. If there is an emergency or we need to communicate, he will call my cell phone. For now, I just enjoy the views before me while continuing to my new pack.

…

Looking at the GPS I grin and turn to Alice who is sitting munching on a bag of ketchup chips.
“One more hour then we are home!” I exclaim, seeing a smile on her face.
“I can’t wait to run in the forest.” She giggles out, her eyes scanning the trees as we grow closer to our new home. Turning onto the barely visible dirt road, I check the side mirror to see if the others are following me, thankful when I notice the truck we bought with Blake and Albot inside.
Awwwwooooooooh
A howl sounds in the distance, Alice letting out a whimper of fear as she scoots away from the window to clutch her stuffed rabbit. With a frown, I open up the pack link again.
[Shut it Marcie!] I call out when I hear Marcie retort to something Blake said. Silence follows as I keep my eyes on the trees before me, wondering if I can sense the owner of the howl.
[Albot, friend or foe?] I aske. With Albot being owned by hunters for most of his life before Atticus and I rescued him, he is the one with the most knowledge on if a howl is friendly or if we have to fight our way out soon.
[Soulless. It sounds like it is tracking us and reporting to it’s companions.] My frown deepens, knowing that my brother is the one labelled Soulless King. It doesn’t surprise me that he would have his minions tracking me the moment I enter wolf country. But their pursuit will be for nothing as we will reach what will be our new pack in a few minutes. I can feel the power of the barrier created by the witch Ira and Geminie wants me to meet radiating the closer we get.
Something slamming into my car has me pressing the gas pedal harder, zooming away from what ever is trying to knock my car over.
[Albot?] I call out, looking in the mirror once more to see him doing the same.
[Hot on your tail Crystalline with Marcie behind me.] He reassures. Then I feel it. The barrier envelopes me, welcoming me in with a warm glow.
[In the clear. Should be smooth driving from here.] His answer soothes me as I pull over to the side of the road, turning the car off and reaching my hand out to Alice. I can see the terror in her eyes, knowing the suffering and fear that Soulless has brought to her life.
“We are safe now hun. The barrier will keep them out right now.” My words are soft whispers as I try my best to calm her down. She clings to my hand, breathing in my scent as we sit in silence for a moment.
[You two okay?] Marcie asks, the other vehicles parking beside us.
[Yeah, Alice is scared because of them. You can drive on ahead and we will be there soon.] I reassure everyone, feeling the unease Blake has with his sister being upset.
[Alice, do you want me to come join you?] He asks. I wait for Alice to answer, letting the little girl choose if she needs her brother.
[No, I have mama and Honey here. You make sure our new home is safe.] Her voice is quiet in the link and I sigh, relieved that this event hasn’t ruined the progress we worked so hard for these last two years. Alice clung to Blake for the first five months of living in Toronto, always having a hard time in school with fear of her old pack returning to take her away to be a breeder. It took months of therapy and taking her out to child friendly places for her to be able to walk around without Blake by her side. The others continue on their way once making sure we will be alright, and I pull Alice to sit in the front passenger seat, her stuffed bunny Honey in her arms as we take a moment to relax.
“You ready to go see our new home?” I ask after her breathing evens out and the fear radiating off of her settles.
“Yes.” With that, I turn the Hummer on and continue driving, this time going at a snails pace for Alice to take in the forest that will be ours to explore.
“It’s big!” she exclaims, her wide eyes staring out the window.
“There’s also a lake we can swim in and go fishing.” Her eyes dart to me and I chuckle, reaching out to ruffle her golden hair. This is the reaction I was hoping for. She no longer is the little pup scared of a shadow. Now, she is a pup excited to run free in the woods like any other werewolf.