KNIGHT
Chapter 19
Alexia stormed down the lodge hallway and burst through the door of the corner office, then slammed it closed. Rob Bryant looked up from his paperwork, while speaking on his desk phone.
“Let me call you back,” he said with dark disapproval, then thanked the person and hung up. “Something on your mind, Ms. Raine?”
“This is garbage, and you know it!” Alexia yelled, fists clenched at each side.
“The ruling of our Lower Courts, any of our courts for that matter, is never garbage,” he said. “I stand by their judgement.”
Alexia was about to explode into full scary wolf, but that would have done no good. Nor would it frighten any seasoned High Alpha of such a large Pack. Besides, his scary wolf would probably make hers look like a toy poodle.
She worked to tamp down her boiling temper, then decided on a new tact. Diplomacy.
“It’s not right, Rob,” she said. “Deena Hudson was deceived by very experienced Arcan Hunters. Just like you and the others.”
Bryant’s spine stiffened at the reference to his signing off on Scott Piper’s transfer into their community, as well as the enforcer plant that kidnapped Erik. It was hitting below the belt, but Alexia was desperate.
“Nevertheless, four of our gifted Pack members died because of her association with that human,” he said, now standing and walking around his desk to face her.
He towered over Alexia, folding his muscular arms tightly, probably to prove a point.
Point taken.
“More seriously,” he added, “she broke into Erik’s office several times and stole very compromising documents and sold them to an enemy Pack, then let them and the Arcan Hunters hack into our own computer systems here.”
“But the Talanovs are our allies now,” Alexia added, wincing.
She had no counter to Deena taking the wireless connection from the Arcan Hunter who claimed to be another Talanov in order to allow Steven Webber full access availability in and out of their secured community. No telling what other information they had extracted as well.
“She was convicted on several very serious counts of treason, Alexia. Thirteen, to be exact. She deserves execution.”
Alexia loosened her fists, frowned up at Rob’s dark stare. “Deena was blindly in love. She was deceived because of it. I’m not saying it was right, but to her credit she also helped us bring down a very destructive regional arm of Arcan Hunters—”
“A finger, at best,” Bryant amended.
She conceded that, adding, “Because of it a truce with the Talanovs was made as well. She deserves…something.”
“What are you proposing?” he asked, uncrossing his arms.
Alexia startled. Man, he looked just like Neil there for a second. The apple didn’t fall from the tree.
“Mercy.” At his darkening pupils, she added, “Okay, if not mercy, then grace. I thought the Bryant Pack always takes care of its own.”
“Why does it matter to you? You’re not one of our Pack.”
And there it was.
Alexia could see the glittering silver flecks in his intense gray eyes, and the slight smile quirking the corners of his mouth. He had expertly played her like a game of chess.
And she had been checkmated.
“Okay, fine,” she said. “I’ll stay here at the compound and become Erik’s doting little daughter to keep him from ever leaving. I’ll even be your extra political chess piece in replacing one of your lost gifted. But Deena Hudson gets a full pardon.”
Bryant raised his chin slightly. “No.”
“No?”
Alexia blinked hard, completely shocked, and didn’t have any other hand to play. She didn’t know what else to do to save this girl’s life.
“Ms. Hudson has already been judged and convicted,” he said. “I can’t change that ruling.”
He paused, and Alexia knew it was for full Alpha dog effect.
“But?” she prodded.
“But I might have some influence in her sentencing,” he added. “I might be able to convince the Council to have her tagged and exiled to one of the unclaimed territories. But if she returns, she will be executed on sight.”
Alexia contained her great relief. Because she wasn’t done negotiating yet. “She doesn’t have anything, Rob. Not a dime. Not even a car that works. You’re throwing her out into the real world with no money or resources for survival. It’d be like throwing her off a ship in the middle of the deepest part of the ocean.”
He rubbed his chin roughly in consideration. “I’ll grant her a minor allotment for one year, and I’ll make a couple of calls to have her set up with a job and housing.”
“And a car?”
He narrowed his eyes. Then gave a nod.
Alexia was so relieved she wanted to throw her arms around his neck and cry her thanks. And he didn’t even have to pour on the Alpha love-juice.
“Thank you. So much.”
“There’s still your end of the bargain, Alexia.” He leaned against the edge of his desk. “You must successfully go through all Pack basic training and testing to become a full member, and it isn’t easy. We only take the best of the best. Many don’t make it. And if you don’t, then the deal with Ms. Hudson is off.”
“Oh, is that all. Okay, sure. Bring it.”
He covered another smile, trying to look intimidating and authoritative. He looked so much like Neil then, it was frightening. And reassuring. “You must also become a full contributing member, not just some pampered gifted princess. It isn’t your style anyhow.”
She frowned. “Fine, so what do I need to do? Take up her housekeeping duties? You definitely don’t want to make me a cook in the cafeteria. I’ll turn everyone into a vegetarian, I swear.”
He chuckled, then straightened his expression again and picked up a few documents on his desk, handing them over to her. It was an admission application to Tacoma Mercy Hospital’s surgical intern program.
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Rachel has been telling me of your excellent work at the clinic. I would like you to finish your internship and residency, then join her new research team. She’s going to need people she can truly trust now. I can’t stress enough her importance to the Pack here.”
Alexia’s mouth went dry as she looked down at the application, then decided she needed to tell him the entire truth. He deserved to know. Even if it changed everything.
She handed the papers back. “That’s impossible now, Rob. I was kicked out of the program down in San Diego. The truth is, I was brought up on manslaughter charges that was reduced to theft and dealing in controlled substances. I’m even on probation, which by the way I’ve missed my last appointment and could very likely wind up in prison now. Either way, I’m done.”
He sent her an irritated look. “You don’t think I know exactly who comes into my community here? Piper and Tagley were the exceptions, of course.”
“You know about me then?”
“About the false charges against you and that asinine plea-deal?” He shook his head. “I wish you could’ve come to me then. You were no more responsible for Ryan McCormack’s death than you were of his sneaking hospital narcotics out by using you as an unknowing mule. The judge knew this too, but wanted to make an example of you.”
“You don’t understand. I know now that it was my mind manipulation that made Ryan stab his own throat,” she whispered. “I was responsible for his death.”
The image of his clasping bloody hands on her scrub pants leg was still so vivid she could smell it, hear the nearby scream of the nurse walking in on them, the running footfalls of the nearby orderlies.
“You defended yourself when he came at you with the scalpel after you confronted him with your discovery,” Rob countered. “Albeit in a rather unorthodox way. Alexia, you need to forgive yourself and move on. I’ve had your judgement set aside, and I’ve made the necessary calls for you to finish your program up here. If you choose to.”
Alexia blinked up at him, salty water welling in her eyes, her chest gripping like a vice. It all seemed too good to be true.
“Of course. Thank you. So much.”
“I recognize talent when I see it,” he said, laying a hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to make a fine doctor. Hopefully for us.”
She nodded, still too stunned by all the unbelievably wonderful events to speak.
“One more thing,” he said, then handed her a leather pouch. Alexia opened it to see a round trip ticket to San Diego, along with a new identification card. “You should say goodbye to your uncle in person, pack up your things. Let me know if you want to have Neil tag along, and I’ll give him some time off. He could use it after this last case. Again, your choice. Either way, I’ll expect you back here to begin basic training and testing for Pack membership. The new group starts in a month.”
She smiled up at him and nodded. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
“You’re dismissed now, recruit.”
Alexia gave him a salute, hugged his neck, then turned on her heel and jaunted out of the office.
Back inside her room, Alexia checked the departing flight on the boarding pass and saw that it was to leave first thing in the morning. That was great, because she wanted one more night here to sort through everything before she talked to her uncle. There was a lot that needed to be said. She loved him and needed to keep their connection, no matter where she was to live now.
A long while later while Alexia was stuffing her new duffle bag that had been conveniently left on her freshly made bed, there was a light knock on the door. Neil didn’t wait for a response before opening it and coming inside, closing it behind him.
His expression was not as happy as Alexia had expected, and she had the worst feeling that he was suddenly dealing with regret. About them.
Still, she was a big girl and would deal with whatever he had to say. Sometimes that’s the only thing a person in love can do.
He picked up and handed her a tee-shirt folded on the bed, and Alexia stuffed it into the duffle. “Rob told me you’re leaving for home in the morning.”
“Yes, I was going to tell you right after I finished packing.”
He nodded, not looking at her. “I’ve arranged a ride for you to SeaTac. I’m not good with…”
So he wasn’t coming with her then.
Alexia’s stomach clenched at the full meaning, but she forced herself not to react, to remain calm and mature. She could always wait until she was alone before falling to pieces.
“I understand,” she whispered.
His brows drew together. “Alexia, I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Neil. It’s everything I could have wanted.”
Except for you.
That dream she would be forced to live without now. Her one true natural mate decided to stay a lone wolf. So be it. She only wanted him to be happy too.
“This is going to be really great.”
He frowned. “This is hard for me to say, Alexia, but…I’ve put in to officially leave the Pack. Rob is advising against it, of course, but my mind is made up.”
Her breath caught, her stomach dropping even further. “Why? You love it here.”
His jaw muscles clenched as he cupped her cheek in his hand. “But I love you more. A wolf mates for life. He can’t live without her. It’s not in his makeup to be able to. So I’m leaving the Pack to move down into the unclaimed territory of San Diego. Or wherever else you want to go.”
Both relief and utter happiness washed over Alexia like a cool flood.
Silly, hunky, wonderful wolf. As if she could ever survive a single day without him.
Alexia bit down a slight grin as she dramatically sighed and shook her head. “Well, that’s extremely inconvenient. Now that I’ve decided to move up here and join the Pack. I was hoping you would at least stick around and tutor me in all the blasted testing everyone keeps warning me about. As if the MCATs hadn’t been bad enough.”
His eyes widened. “You’re joining the Pack?”
“I start were-boot camp next month. I could also use a good personal trainer, and I just don’t trust Jake not to spray his Alpha love-juice on me during every session. We’d never get anything accomplished.”
Neil bit down a smile as he slipped his arms around her waist. “I won’t go easy on you. I train my recruits for success. No opting out. In fact, I’m told by good authority that I can be a real hardnosed wolf jerk about it.”
Her arms circled around his neck as she pulled his forehead down to press hers. “Guess that makes us a perfect match. One bad trait of mine—I can be as stubborn as a hardnosed wolf jerk.”
“So what are the others?” he asked, kissing the bridge of her nose, her temple, working his way down her jaw.
“Guess you’ll just have to find that out the hard way,” Alexia said, leaning her head back so that he could have better access to whatever else he wanted to explore.
“Looking forward to it,” he said, his lips fully claiming hers.