It was weird to relax without any worries.

No longer was there that nagging doubt in the back of my head, worry that the past was going to come back and bite me in the ass.

Before my conversation with Max, there was always that lingering hesitance. The knowledge that this extremely one-sided rejection would be a dark mark that haunted me for all eternity.

However, since our conversation, it felt like a weight had been dropped from my shoulders. A certainty that I wouldn't be harassed by Max anymore.

He would be recovering from the Smothering with the aid of the pack. A pack that would keep an eye out on his behavior, just in case he acted up.

And now, I could relax.

My former pack had been disbanded, the former Alpha banned from ruling again. Perhaps the Luna could become an actual Alpha on her own merit but none would follow him anymore.

No, I wouldn't be surprised if the Luna was even having second thoughts of her mating bond. To be ignored by your own mate while technically, she was the True Alpha and he had only been mated into Alphahood...

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it was this Luna who reached out to the Rogues, to settle things once and for all. After all, she never made the impression that she was power-hungry or vile like her ancestors.

Bloodlines didn't define a person, didn't define who we were. Their own ideals and actions did.

And unless the rogue descendants became the monsters they'd sworn to eradicate, they would make amends.

A sigh escaped me as I overlooked the street from the window. So many things could've gone so differently if people could just talk.

Why does everyone want to lash out and act before they even think of communicating clearly with one another.

Fingers tapping a rhythm against the windowsill, I couldn't help but frown as I thought about the past. Hardly anyone had properly inquired or stated their intentions.

Not until I had met Alpha Travis, whom had clearly stated he simply wished to help. Whom had reached out and had introduced me to Drake.

My Choice Mate.

A man whom saved me from myself, took care of my injuries and supported me every step of the way. Allowing me to choose my own pace to move forwards and matched it, step by step.

An Alpha unlike I had ever seen before, whom didn't use his power to dictate what others should do. Instead of placing himself on a pedestal to be worshipped, he was the very foundation that supported his pack.

Our pack.

How weird to consider this pack as my own. Even more so, to be one of the Alphas that ruled it. I had honestly expected some protest when Drake and I had claimed one another, sealing the mating bond.

After all, many a pack would see their Alpha be paired with an equally strong wolf. Someone who could guide and lead the pack with strength and power.

Certainly not a permanently scarred formerly outcast Nomad.

Yet each and every individual of our pack was ecstatic that we had properly bonded. Glad that Drake had finally found someone to love again.

And they were also happy for me. I shook my head with a snort before moving down the hall, smiling as a few of the pack's pups were playing with little Ellie.

I smiled, watching her pounce and frolic with the other pups, not at all the formerly terrified pup that I had retrieved from Curtis' pack.

Whom had yet to return to his pack, as far as the other Alphas knew. Curtis hadn't left the Council after he charged in to demand an audience over his own infraction of Lord Jethro's territory.

I didn't have nearly enough experience, nor any dealings with the Council to understand what it meant, so I had asked Drake. He had simply sighed, shook his head before stating "It means that the pack is lacking an Alpha. Curtis is being kept for questioning and, depending on his answers, will be punished accordingly."

As soon as I heard that, I had urgently contacted the Council. Not in support of Curtis, no, that corrupt Alpha could rot in the bowels of the Council for all I cared.

However, I had addressed my concern that Curtis' lackeys could retaliate against the remainder of Ellie's family. As a now Alpha, I could no longer head over to the pack and bring her family over without basically declaring a war with Curtis' pack.

But the Council could roam wherever they wanted.

Asami had instantly heeded my warning and dispatched a crew to investigate Curtis' pack. A few days later, Molly, her mate and her mother had been brought to Drake's pack.

Unsurprisingly, they eagerly accepted becoming a part of our pack. Genuine gratitude had shimmered from their eyes, as Ellie stayed blissfully aware from the nicks and bruises that were hidden from view.

As we had suspected, a few of Curtis' Betas had already beaten the family into submission, locking them up as if they were dangerous fugitives.

Asami and her team had easily turned the tables on these poor excuses of Betas and she even personally delivered Ellie's family to our pack.

"You have my respect and gratitude, Kyle-sama." She had praised, giving me a new honorific I wasn't used to. "Thanks to your keen insight, we managed to uncover a deeply seeded corruption within Curtis' pack."

With a single gesture of her hand to indicate Molly and her family, we had watched as they were healed of their injuries within a blink of an eye.

Asami smiled kindly, giving me a low bow before she and her group had simply vanished within a heartbeat. Leaving us behind with a tearful reunion as Ellie was elated to see her aunt.

Molly caught my eyes across the clearing and smiled, inclining her head. I could sense her gratitude and happiness over the pack mind before she refocused her attention on Ellie.

This is how kids should be. Unafraid, basking in the love of their family while they played to their heart's content.

Even if I hadn't shared my life with these people, I found great joy in seeing them happy and fulfilled. Felt warmth whenever they inclined their heads in respect and recognition.

It was so different from the indifference or pure malice I was used to. When pack wolves had looked at me as if I was a bloodthirsty criminal, a murderer who should be left to rot underneath the prison.

The phone in my back pocket buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts as I pulled the device out and accepted the call.

"Kyle speaking."

There was a slight hesitation on the other end before a woman hesitantly asked "Ah, Hello. This is Luna Raina from the Ramirez pack in Texas? Am I speaking with one of the Alphas from the Davis pack?"

I mentally cursed myself before apologizing aloud. "Indeed. My apologies, I've only recently been mated with Drake. Still getting used to the title." I added with a chuckle, hearing a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone.

"Thank the moon, I was so afraid I dialed the wrong number." She confessed before sighing out a soft "I'm so bad at calling strangers."

Assuming she hadn't wanted me to hear that silent, presumably subconscious confession, I simply smiled as I started heading towards Drake's office.

"To what do I owe this phone call, Luna Raina? If you were intending to talk to my mate, I can get him for you." I inquired gently, feeling my own curiosity peek as Raina took in a deep breath.

Tapping my knuckles against the door of Drake's office, I walked in and jiggled my phone for a moment before stating "Drake is now present and on speaker, Luna Raina." I tapped the button and placed the phone down on the desk.

"Thank you, Alpha Kyle. And greetings to you Alpha Drake. I'm sorry for intruding but one of my pack is in dire need of your expertise."

Both of us shared a look, the mood growing more serious when we realized what this entailed.

"We're listening." Drake responded, reaching for my hand before pulling me into his lap with a soft sigh.

Luna Raina sighed softly before she continued, "One of my pack recently got rejected. Today actually. And from what I've heard, you and your pack are experts on Rejections."

"Indeed. Our pack can prepare for your pack member's arrival." Drake reassured before frowning when Luna Raina declined the offer.

"Regretfully, they cannot leave the pack without causing huge turmoil among the rest of the pack." Raina confessed with a sigh, making me look at Drake with a raised brow before realization washed over me.

Drake wasn't quite understanding yet, so I simply rubbed my hands over my face in frustration. Not at him, but merely the situation and whomever had done the rejection.

"With all due respect, Luna Raina, the pack will also experience turmoil if you were to go feral." I spoke up, making Drake's head snap towards me before he sighed deeply.

Rejections among Alphas was rare, but sadly enough there were still enough sexist, chauvinistic pigs in the world that would reject a Luna simply because of their gender.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if she was rejected because her Fated mate was born with a lower ranking than she was.

Never mind that anyone mated to an Alpha or Luna would instantly become an Alpha or Luna themselves. Some men and women were simply that insecure about themselves, that they couldn't see past birth rank and birthrights.

Instead, they saw someone higher ranking than them, a higher ranked mate, and they didn't like it.

"Is there a way for me to lead the pack the way I am?" Luna Raina murmured, no longer hiding the pain and loss in her voice. "My Fated already threw me aside... the pack deserves better."

Drake instantly rebutted that statement. "Luna Raina, with all due expect, I too was a rejected Alpha. It took me time and help from the people around me, but I made it through."

"I imagine there are members of your pack you can trust. Betas who can support you and partially take over or at least share in Alpha and Luna duties while you get back on your feet."

Drake's words seemed to break whatever composure she had left, as we both heard the barely stifled sobs over the phone. Alphas and Lunas were always harsher affected by the rejection, and Luna Raina was no different.

She would need all the support she could get from her pack. As Drake and I spoke of our own experiences, shared knowledge and guidance on what to do, we were glad to hear that Luna Raina instructed her Betas to come to her office as soon as possible.

The shock and anger in the Betas voices when she announced her Rejection was all the confirmation we needed. She would need all the support they would give her.

As we delegated tasks as much as we could and scheduled a visitation to help them in person, I couldn't help but sigh. We had our work cut out for us, helping out a Luna in need and a pack that was threatening to crumble if they lost their remaining leader.

"I'll inform Asami so the Council can deal with any repercussions." I murmured over the link, pressing a kiss against Drake's temple before getting up from his lap. He held on my hand for a moment longer, pressing a kiss against my knuckles before responding to the Betas questions without skipping a beat.

"Do that. Let them know we'll visit Luna Raina as soon as possible, but they might want to investigate the reason behind her rejection. Sometimes, people in power are rejected to weaken their respective packs."

Amusement bubbled up as I shook my head at the stupidity of such an action. Throwing away your one and only Fated mate while gaining the ire of the Council in a single swoop?

Whoever did that would have to be insanely stupid or suicidal. Yet as Alpha Curtis had proven, there were more than enough people roaming around who seemed to be a dangerous combination of both.