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

Chapter 20 - A hard Conversation

Chapter 20 – A Hard Conversation

Sun light filtering through my window and onto my eyes has me waking from the sweet dream I was having. I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment to feel the power humming through my veins. It’s been three months since creating Astraea. Three months since we started accepting wolves to join. One day I will have to leave this pack to become Queen, so for now I will take this time in Astraea to practice being a fair and just leader. A groan beside me and a strong arm full of tattoos wrap around me, drawing me closer to a warm body. I smile, turning to face Albot who is fast asleep, his face peaceful as he tries to pull me closer.
“Albot, we need to get up.” I whisper out, poking his cheek. He growls gently, pulling me even closer to him as he buries his face into my hair, inhaling my scent. I smile, relishing in his warmth and waiting for the day we can claim each other as mates. It’s something we talked about months after getting to know each other, learning that he too had been rejected by his mate, the daughter of the Alpha to his old pack. After that, he was sold to the hunters and became a spectacle in the illegal dog fighting ring. He understands the pain I am going through; the feeling of my body being torn apart every time Narin sleeps with another wolf. We bonded over our pain and that bond grew into something more.
Poking his cheek some more, I giggle as he tries to hide from me, pushing his face deeper into the pillow and under my hair, letting out a small growl of warning.
“Crystalline, I am tired.” He groans out, his voice husky with sleep. His arms tighten around me, holding me close to him and I sigh, trying to figure out how to wake this sleepy wolf. With a smirk, I move my hands to his sides and slowly start to tickle him, gaining a girlish squeal in response as he flings himself backwards landing on the floor with a loud thud.
“Woops.” I mumble out, sitting on my knees to look over at the startled Albot who glares at me with a glint in his eyes I know all to well.
“One.” He growls out in warning. That’s all I need to bound off the bed and bolt down the halls of the pack house. Loud footsteps following behind me alerts me to Albot already untangled from the sheets and is in pursuit.
“Some one save me!” I laugh out, turning a corner just in time to see Marcie and Blake slam open their doors and peak their heads out, ready to fight. Zooming past them, I hear Albot crash into a wall and wince. That must have hurt.
“What did you do!” Marcie calls out laughing.
“She tickled me awake.” Albot responds instead as I manage to make it to the stair way. Once I reach outside, I can shift and run into the forest.
"Shit I need to catch this on film!" Blake laughs out, already knowing the payback I am going to receive from Albot. Careful not to fall down the stairs as I run, I look behind me to see Albot skidding to a stop just before the decent to smirk at me. Something doesn’t feel right. Next thing I know, He has shifted into his black wolf, using his larger form to bound down the steps and easily catch up to me. With a squeal, I quickly hop over the railing, preparing myself to fall two more floors down and shifting just in time to avoid being injured. Luckily for me, the large double doors are opened wide as pack mates exit and enter the pack house, giving me a chance to bolt outside just as I hear Albot tumbling down the stairs. I grin, my tongue lolling out as I make a beeline for the trees, my small form becoming nothing but a blur of white in the snow, and I am grateful for the camouflage my white fur brings in winter. I count down each foot step until I can make it to safety away from Albot, already planning to take the tree top highway. Suddenly, I feel my body being tackled, a wolf pinning me down with their own body. Albot’s scent wraps around me as he allows his full weight to crush me while I shiver from the slight cold seeping into my fur as the wet snow cushions my body.
[Get off you big oaf!] I groan out through our link. I am met with a tongue swiping across my fur before feeling him snuggle closer.
[No, you’re comfy.] He chuckles out, placing his neck across mine. I sigh, squirming underneath him and trying to get free, only to feel his teeth gently take the scruff of my neck to keep me in place.
[You tickles me awake, so now I keep  you trapped.] He states, closing his eyes. I growl, nipping at his paw, trying to annoy him into letting me go. He growls, letting go of my scruff to nip at my ear, and I turn my head, managing to get my teeth onto hit neck, gently gnawing at the skin and pawing at his face.
[You’re annoying!] He groans out.
[Only with you.] I retort. He sighs, slowly getting to his feet. As he is about to move away from me, a brown wolf tackles him causing the two to roll away in a ball of fur, snarls and growls. Bolting to my feet, I quickly race to Albot’s aid just in time to realize the brown wolf is Matrix. Both wolves are in fight mode, Albot taking the advantage with his years of training in the fighting ring. With a snarl of my own, I release an Alpha command, causing the two to shiver and back away from one another with Matrix slipping and falling into a snow pile.
[Matrix, explain!] I growl out, stalking towards my friend. I watch as he exposes his neck to me, the remorse in his eyes clear as day.
[I thought he was hurting you!] He defends himself, quietly.
[You do realize we are on pack lands right! No wolf can injure me.] Angry at my friend, I make my way to Albot and check his wounds sighing when I realize they are superficial. Nuzzling the man before me, I walk towards Matrix and check his wounds. He may have been the aggressor but Albot definitely wounded Matrix heavily.
[Go to Marcie and get your wounds treated. We start training in three hours.] I order out, seeing my friend walk away with a limp, his head hanging low. I will have to talk to him one on one soon to settle things.
[You okay?] Albot asks, nuzzling me gently and placing his tail over my body.
[No. Matric has always been my protector up until two years ago. I think he still believes in protecting me.] I sigh out, leaning into the warm body beside me.
[I know how he feels. You look like a pup standing next to me and all I want to do is protect you.]
[What stops you?] I ask, looking up only to find Albot already staring at me.
[The fact that you can easily kick my ass in a fight.] He chuckles out, swiping his tongue affectionately across my cheek. With wolfish grin, I stretch up to nuzzle his face before trotting towards the house.
[Come on, we have work to do.] I sigh out.

…

“So what do we need to do to grow this pack?” Marcie asks as we all settle into the board room. I frown, looking down at my laptop with a list I had made with Geminie and Amberle the first day I created Astraea.
“For one, we need to train our wolves. We only have a small pack of sixty but that doesn’t mean we should be skimping on training.” I begin, connecting the laptop to the screen behind me so everyone can see.
“We should also be accepting rogues into our pack. Most rogues are just looking for a home and running away from their old one.” Albot adds and I agree, pulling up a list of names Atticus sent me.
“Lately, Ira and Atticus have been working together to bring down the Hunter’s dog fighting rings. This is a list of wolves looking for a pack they can call their own and with Albot being a victim of one he can help settle them in.” I suggest, looking around the room to see approval in everyone’s expression.
“Some of these wolves look like they will make great Hunters.” Matrix chimes in, his eyes filled with excitement at training new wolves.
“Don’t forget we also need teachers and doctors in the pack.” I remind him, getting a dismissive wave.
“We have a hospital and a school just outside the border.” He retorts with and I frown.
“It’s a human hospital. Atticus and I have been in contact with a few packs in the area to create a small tourist town by the large lake in unclaimed territory and make it a neutral place for all.” I begin, bringing up a large piece of land situated by a lake. With the birds-eye-view on display, I begin talking about the plan to open local businesses for packs to work in, of a bed and breakfast by the lake for travelers both human and supernatural to enjoy with a school to be built and a hospital on the other side of the plans.
“This could work.” Marcie smiles excited, asking for control of the mouse as she maps out a town square and parks for children to play in.
“We would have a place safe for pups to learn that will be included in the Ontario Government data base while also bringing in revenue to the town.” I turn to see Matrix looking at the plans with interest, his nonchalance gone as he observes the town layout.
“We would need a police force there.” He mumbles out and I chuckle.
“Yes, we will. There will be a meeting with the three Alphas close by next month to discuss everything and I intend to bring all of you.” With everyone on board, I move to the next topic, creating a training schedule.
“We can do what Bloodmoon and Silver Crystal Crescent does, train the Hunters and Trackers together and have set days and times depending on age.” Matrix suggests, pride swelling inside me at my best friend.
“That means you and I will have to come up with a training regiment.” Marcie sighs out.
“You two can have a week to figure it out and bring the proposal to me next Monday.” With a chuckle, I give the two time to talk, deciding that having Marcie as my Head Tracker and Matrix as my Head Hunter was a great idea six months ago.
“Now we should probably talk about Crystalline taking back her throne.” Cassandra chimes in. The witch has become a resident here, having a small cottage close to the lake where she can pray to Morai and guide Alice and me. The last three months with this witch by my side, telling me stories of my parents and sister as well as how Coro was trained before being banished has been great help in my training. She helped me to learn how to combat dark spells and how to protect my pack from hexes using moon flowers blessed under the full moon.
“Attics has a few ideas he will be sharing when him and Heidi come for Christmas next week.” I explain, turning to look out the window. A light snow fall has begun and I smile, thinking about my first Christmas in Toronto. It was a mild snow fall back then, the city becoming quiet and cozy while Blake, Alice, Albot and I walked the streets to see the lights at the Christmas market. Maybe we should decorate the pack house this year being the first official Christmas in Astraea.
“Well then, I guess for now we work on growing the pack and training. I can see if Alexander will want to meet the new pack and Alpha. We can say Albot is the new Alpha looking to make an alliance.” Cassandra states, bringing my attention to her. Mulling over her words, I write this suggestion on my to do list before adjourning the meeting.
“Trix, can you stay back for a moment?” I ask as everyone begins to file out. Confused, my friend walks forward, taking the seat beside me that was vacated by Albot as we wait for the room to clear.
“What’s up Crysta.” He asks.
“Its about earlier when you attacked Albot.” I see the shame in his eyes instantly as his head droops. His fingers begin to fidget and I sigh, reaching out and clasping his hands.
“Trix, we aren’t the same wolves we were two years ago. We have been training and gaining experience outside the Royal Pack and became stronger.” With soft words, I try to show Matrix I am not mad but that this talk is necessary for the both of us.
“I know Crysta but every time I look at you, I see the wolf I trained and protected my whole life. I see the girl I grew up with, my best friend. But more importantly, I see the woman I fell for and wanted.” His eyes stares into my own, his confession shocking me as our fingers intertwine. To think we both fell for each other as we grew up. It was always us against the world, Matrix and I always having each other’s back while we trained and studied, even if he is two years older than me.
“Trix-“
“Crystalline, I watched you turn eighteen and be rejected, watched as you crumbled in pain. If it weren’t for the fact you needed me, I would have killed Narin that day. It took everything in me to watch you leave for Toronto and not follow you. And now you come back with Albot. I can see the way you two look at each other and I hate it. Hate knowing he was by your side for two years protecting you-”
“Albot doesn’t protect me.” I cut him off. Sighing, I release our hands and lean back into my chair, running fingers through my hair as I look out the window.
“He treats me as an equal, as a strong she wolf despite my size. I am one of few wolves that can best him and because of that he respects me.” I continue, a small smile growing on my face as I think about the tattooed silent wolf that always stood beside me, never behind nor in front.
“You always stood in front of me, never giving me a chance to grow. I need you to now stand behind me, to let me grow and become a strong Queen.” Turning back, I try to ignore the hurt in Matrix’s eyes. I know my wors hurt, but we can’t continue the way we have. I can’t hide behind my pack, my family, for protection.
“You love him, don’t you.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“I do, Trix. You will always be my best friend. The wolf that protected me when I needed it. What we have is gone now because we are not the same as we were.” I confirm, wanting to reassure my friend.
“But.” This one word is whispered and my heart breaks, seeing the pain in his eyes.
“But with Albot, he treats me as his equal. He respects me as a powerful wolf and accepts me for who I am.” I can see him mulling over my words before he closes his eyes and stands, walking towards the door. He pauses halfway reaching for the handle before turning to look at me with sad eyes.
“Thank you for talking to me Crysta. If you don’t mind I need some time alone.”
“Take your time Trix. I’ll always be your friend.” With that, I watch him walk out the door before I allow the tears to fall. This conversation hurt more than I thought it would and a distance between me and Matrix grew. I just hope I don’t lose my best friend.
Strong arms lift me from my chair and I instinctively wrap mine around the owner, taking in Albot’s scent.
“It’s just us Crystalline. You can cry.” He whispers soothingly, and cry I do.