Chapter 158

“And you?” I turned to another girl, one that had to walk back to the campus naked.

“Micca.” The red-tinted head turned to me and smiled. “Nina used her status as an alpha to command that I follow her. I’m a beta from a neighboring pack, and my father asked me to stay on friendly terms with her.”

“Why?” I rubbed my forehead. This was all insane. Why does this she-wolf have so much sway over people?

“Probably because I’m a female beta, which means I’ll more than likely transfer out of my pack when I meet my mate. It’s really rare that a male beta transfers in. And he doesn’t want me to get on the bad side of any luna I could have to serve. He told me to be friendly with all ranked females, for,” she made air quotes, “an easier transfer.”

I snorted and turned to the last girl. This one was stunning: dark skin, dark eyes, and braids down her back. She nodded once and pushed a braid out of her face. “Toya.” I watched her eyes darken a bit before she shook herself. “I have nothing to do with Nina.” She squared her shoulders. “Your father saved my pack. Your pack protected our borders as they collected the women and children, and he accepted my pack onto his lands, requiring nothing in exchange.” The rest of the group grew silent, but I nodded.

“My father is a good alpha. And if we have the ability to help, we will.”

She nodded. “That is exactly what my father said about him.”

“Was the attack bad?” Micca asked.

Toya shook her head. “Alpha Gavin sent his warriors to our small pack when they were spotted a good distance away. They were able to get everyone out.” She turned back to me. “Your father has made sure everyone was safe, and he has ensured that anything that needed to go to the pack went through my father, their alpha.”

“Of course. My father is the alpha of his own pack and wouldn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. No one knows your pack better than their alpha, and my father understands that. I am almost certain that if there is more than one alpha there, then they have a mini-tribunal to discuss any issues, and then each alpha takes the solution back to their pack so they don’t lose any face or status.”

Toya smiled. “That is exactly what they do. There are five alphas on your pack lands now, and every day, they get together and have a meeting.”

I looked and clapped my hands. “Sounds about right.” I focused back on Toya. “So, you came here…?”

“Because I want to know the girl of the man that saved my family and see exactly what kind of person she is, if she is a person who I would be happy to know and follow instead of other she-wolves who make me want to stab myself in the eye with a metal spike.”

I threw my head back and laughed, and the others followed suit. “I think that is something we can all agree with. Some people, especially ones higher in rank, can be mind-numbingly annoying.”

Toya relaxed and nodded. “Exactly.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I wanted to roll my eyes.

I shook my head. “We pressed our luck.”

Nina stomped her foot. “What are you even talking about? And I asked you a question. What the hell are you all doing here?”

I hung my head before I turned around to face Nina and the few lackeys she gathered this time. “We were talking about high-ranking wolves that are so mind-numbingly annoying you would rather stick a spike of metal in your eye than have to be their friends, and like we summoned you, here you are.” I gestured to her with my hand.

“Shut up!” she shrieked. “I wasn’t talking to you.” She turned back to the others. “Why are you three here?”

Wendy smiled. “I’m here because Amy is my friend.”

Hanna nodded, but Nina rolled her eyes. “No one gives a fuck about you two. You are unranked nobodies.” She pointed to Toya, Micca, and Thora. “Why are you here?”

Toya was the one who turned. “Who are you to question me?” Nina’s face grew red. “We are the same rank, so you can fuck right off with your attitude.” Toya settled back into the chair. “If you must know, Amy’s father saved my pack, and I wanted to meet the daughter of the man that put his own pack at risk for my small pack.”

Nina scoffed. “Only a fool would risk his pack for a smaller, weaker pack.” She crossed her arms.

“And that right there shows me you will never understand or change.” Toya shook her head in disgust.