Poor Ellie kept giving me sideways glances at each possible moment. She didn't know what had put me in my foul mood, nor did I want to subject the kid to it.

So I had put on my best smile but I guessed I looked more like a grumpy bear with a tooth ache. All thanks to Max.

The fucking bastard was going to ruin what little progress I had made with Ellie if I couldn't calm down. But each time I closed my eyes, I could see him burned on the inside of my eyelids.

Just standing there, smiling and in awe. As if he had rediscovered me after everything that had happened between us.

Fuck that bastard and everything he stands for.

My wolf snarled in agreement before I took a few deep breaths to try and relax. Getting all worked up wouldn't get me anywhere but further away from our goal.

A thought made my eyes snap open before I let out a chuckled huff. I could call Drake as soon as I went to the packhouse. Without a doubt, the alpha would be most curious as to why this pack was meddling in the affairs of another pack.

This pack could quite easily protest that we were doing the same thing, but they had asked us to come here. And I never asked them to get in contact with my ex-mate and let him know where I was.

I would've been happy if I had never laid eyes on the bastard ever again.

An annoyed huff escaped me before I felt tiny paws against my leg. Looking down, Ellie was pawing gently at my leg, silently begging for attention. Eyes wide and ears splayed out demurely, her pup was showing clear signs of submission.

"Aw, pup. I'm sorry, I'm not angry at you." I reassured guiltily, hurrying to crouch down and hug the little pup to my chest. She let out a happy whine before lapping at my cheek.

Slowly, my heartrate lowered to a regular pulse as I took deep calming breaths, gently petting Ellie. Her little wolf loved the attention, drooping in my arms and panting happily.

I smiled, shaking my head at the goofy pup that managed to partially distract me. "I'm sorry, Ellie." Her ears perked at her name, a low whine vibrating in her throat as she looked up at me.

"it wasn't my intent to take my anger with me from work. You see, I had bumped into my..."I swallowed painfully, struggling to continue, "former mate."

The pup's ears instantly flattened against her skull. Even though she was far too young to have a mate, her wolf knew what mates were. Mates were the forever kind of relationship.

Or at least, they should be. Like her parents, standing side by side as equals and facing the world head on without a trace of fear. Because you could rely on each other.

"Max and I...We don't have a good history." I started calmly, unconsciously cupping her soft ear and gently petting Ellie's fur as a distraction.

"Some things happened between us, a horrible misunderstanding on his part... but, it showed me who he truly was."

The little pup turned around in my lap, tiny paws resting on my chest as she lapped at my cheek. It was only when I sniveled, that I realized I had been silently crying.

Curse that bastard for coming back.

Instead of letting the anger overtake me, I slowly explained as much as possible as I could. The pup had a right to know why I was this upset and if I wanted her to trust me and open up towards me, it was only right that I returned the favor.

By the time that I quieted down, Ellie had shifted back and changed into some clothes, looking up with sad eyes. It was funny how oddly comforting a child could be if they clung to you as if you meant the world to them.

I guess, in a way, I am her world. The only one who reached out a helping hand instead of snarl and sneer at her.

A sigh escaped my chest, as I let myself deflate against the wall behind me with a groan. With that meddling bastard showing up, work was going to be twice as hard.

Because I'd be forced to encounter him daily, to smile and greet him warmly like I would any costumer. I shivered in disgust at the thought of being anywhere near him to begin with.

If Curtis thought that me having to deal with Max would make me buckle or supposedly swoon at his feet, he was moronic. I didn't even know what Max" motives were, nor was I inclined to hear him out.

Why should I? The last time I saw him, I had been begging him, casting my own pride aside to plead with my mate, to give me a chance to explain the situation.

And instead of doing so, he had stared me down with a sneer before turning his back on me. Letting the pack do with me whatever they wanted.

Yet, now all of a sudden he slunk back with his tail tucked between his legs. Acting like a kicked puppy, as if I was responsible for this mess.

I stuffed more wood in the stove with more force than necessary, listening to the growling and pacing of my wolf. But, as I went to light the kindle, I bit back a curse of annoyance.

Thanks to that annoying mutt, I forgot to go to the store and buy Ellie and I some food! I had been so taken aback with his sudden appearance, that I had simply rushed to get Ellie and move as much space between Max and I as possible.

"Come on Ellie, let's go to the packhouse so I can place a quick call and then we'll get us some food." Ellie smiled kindly as she replied softly, "I was confused when you picked me up without a bag. Usually you go to the store first..." I huffed sheepishly, scratching at my throat whilst leading her outside.

A glance at the broken but still functioning clock made me shift, encouraging Ellie to crawl on my back. She grabbed a hold of my clothes, clinging on tightly as I loped towards the pack.

I shifted and dressed before we left the edge of the forest, knowing that, since the store closed in less than twenty minutes, I'd have to stop there first or risk being unable to feed Ellie.

Still, even if the store was closed, I'd rather try to hunt her a small animal than let her starve.

The downside of walking out the store by closing time with a bag on my wrist, was that now the packhouse would be heavily populated.

But I wasn't going to wait with my call. I needed to alert Drake about the developing situation and Curtis' meddling in pack affairs.

"What are you doing here, rogue?" One of the adolescent males sneered, eying Ellie as she clutched my leg and tried to make herself as small as possible.

I simply stared the boy down, tilting an eyebrow as I replied calmly, "My business here is with the Alpha and his betas, not with middle ranks who stick their noses where they don't belong."

He flushed angrily, snarling and taking a step forwards as his friends snickered. "Besides, " I continued whilst making my way up the steps leading to the door. "Your Alpha invited me here. Attacking a pack's guest is a crime under the Council."

The pup halted at that, sneering and grumbling quietly before spitting near my feet. "Whatever, rogue. Do what you came here to do and get the fuck out."

I rolled my eyes whilst lifting Ellie in my arms, shouldering past the stuck-up brat before making my way towards the Alpha's study. AS much as I suspected, he still wasn't there but Molly and one of the Betas was.

Both looked at me with surprise but allowed me to use the room, Molly going as far as to usher both of them out as to not intrude on pack business.

They knew that the Council didn't play around with rulebreakers.

I tapped the desk with annoyance, listening to my knuckles rapping on the wooden surface while trying to get a hold of Drake.

"Alpha Drake speaking."

A sigh of relief left me as I leaned back in the office chair. "We might have a problem on our hands." I stated tiredly, rubbing over my face whilst listening to Drake chuckle deeply. "That's not normally how you greet someone on the phone, Kyle. What kind of trouble are you in?"

"Curtis contacted Max and he showed up here today."

Not a single sound came through the phone before a deep, low growl nearly vibrated through the speaker. "That pompous bastard." Drake spat, growls deepening with every breath he took.

I hummed in agreement, watching as Ellie timidly roamed around the room, taking in her surroundings and instinctively glancing back at me as if to reassure herself that I was still here.

"He's gone too far. Not only is he breaking the laws around packs not meddling with another pack's internal affairs, he's blatantly interfering with Fated mates and Rejected." Drake snarled, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.

Without prompting, I recounted everything that had happened, even the fact that I punched Max in the face after he had grabbed me.

I hesitated, tilting my head closer to the phone as I couldn't even hear as much as a breath coming through. "Drake?" I asked hesitantly, dreading that the connection broke and I had been talking to myself.

"I'm going to send word to the Council about this, and about the situation with Ellie. They'll most likely send a representative in less than a week."

"Oh, okay." I nodded, sending Ellie a reassuring smile "Do you need me to stay anything to the representative in your name?"

Drake chuckled, though it seemed to be with some effort. "No need Kyle. After this latest stunt, I don't trust Curtis and his pack as far as I can throw him, and I wouldn't want to touch the bastard to begin with."

I shivered in my seat as Drake's voice rumbled in my ear, "Take Ellie and get back to her house. Stay alert for any sounds of the pack."

A huff of annoyed confusion escaped me before I said, "What, you want me to hide until the representative arrives?" Surprised flooded through my body, fingers nearly dropping the phone as Drake chuckled, amusement clear.

"Nope. I'm coming over right this second, make sure to inform Ellie that I'll be staying there for a few days. See you in a bit Kyle."

The dial tone beeped insistently in my ear before I removed the phone, glancing at the screen in confusion before I closed the call and placed the phone down.

Oh boy...