Ice Princess (Little Alpha Book 2)

Chapter 74

Zoey smiled at Toni and Ryan as they approached us on the way to the packhouse.  "Good morning!"

They both smiled at her and nodded before Toni gave me a solemn look.  "We'd like to talk to you."

I felt uneasy.  "Uh... sure?"

Zoey tilted her head.  "Why?"

Ryan pat it softly.  "Grown up business."

She sighed.  "Always with the adult stuff, no fun."

He chuckled.  "Go torture his Beta while we chat."  She smirked.  "Nothing with sharp objects."

Her face fell.  "Fine..."

She pulled him away as I processed.  "Sharp objects?"

He turned to me all softness eradicated from his features.  "None of your concern.  Let's take a walk."

I looked between the men and nodded, discomfort growing as we neared the border.  I said nothing, if they wanted to harm me, they would have done so by now, but...

Toni turned to me after we were well out of the territory.  "Violet..."

Ryan frowned, I never took the time to note his features before or Toni's for that matter, she always had my attention.  Now, I didn't miss the thin scars that adorned Toni's neck or the one that ran over Ryan's face.  They were warriors, survivors from what little I knew.  "She is precious... to all of us."

I nodded, meeting each of their eyes.  "I know."

Toni grunted.  "I was there when we stayed in your territory, I know your pack and the disdain they hold for her."

The scar contorted a fraction as Ryan's face darkened.  "From what I'm told, they caused her a lot of trouble and pain."

I lowered my gaze, it always came back to this, my pack, the harm they caused her and my failure to end it.  "I'm not proud of it, but I can't deny it either."

"Never lower your gaze, you should know that as an Alpha."

I clenched my jaw as I met their eyes, what did they want?  I couldn't change the past, only build towards a better future.  "Okay then... why did you bring me out here?  To fight me?  Kill me?"

They smirked as Toni shrugged.  "Unnecessary and that would be difficult to explain to our Alpha."

"What then?"

Ryan raised his eyebrows.  "She cares for you deeply, it pains her to be away from you, but I'm beginning to see why it is necessary."

I frowned.  "What's that supposed to mean?"

He looked towards the packhouse.  "She needs you focused... your pack needs you focused, just like before you found each other again."

That caught me off guard as my wolf, a lot of help he was, only agreed.  "I am focused."

Toni eyed me curiously.  "Would you be if you knew where we were before now?  If memory serves..."

I sighed.  "Probably not, but I know better now so..."

He shook his head.  "Not if that girl is still popping up, not if your pack still disrespects and disobeys you."

I refused to look away.  "What does this have to with Violet, my mate?"

Ryan chuckled.  "You think we care about your mating bond?"  I wasn't prepared for that.  "Just know with or without it, she chose you, she could have stayed away and kept living peacefully, but this is her choice."