Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 28

AIDAN

　　The next day, Jace and I were having an early morning briefing about pack matters before I was to go about my day. We were barely an hour in, but I was already exhausted. Thankfully, we were now rounding up.

　　"The pack isn't expecting you back till later this week, but he has been calling me nonstop since yesterday." It was Jace speaking.

　　I lifted my head from the desk that served as my workspace for the time being.

　　"Who has?" I asked.

　　"Your dad. He said he had called you multiple times already, and that was why he reached out to me instead. He said you should call him back."

　　"Did he now?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

　　Jace laughed. "It was more like a command," he said, shrugging.

　　I shook my head, wondering how on earth that man was my father.

　　Having confirmed that Tara was very much alive and well, I knew that it was one of two options.

　　It was either my father knew that Tara was alive but wanted me to think she wasn't, or he was misinformed by his trusted sources. And knowing the type of man that he was, I knew that the former was the case.

　　I wasn't sure to what extent Kayla's hand was involved in this, but what my father's reasons for lying were, I couldn't say.

　　It all bode down to one thing though. The man didn't give two cents about me, especially not when it came to my happiness.

　　I had seen his calls, but I decided that I wasn't interested in speaking to him.

　　Attica pack was in good hands, and I had more important business here. And until that was settled, I wasn't going to invest my time in other matters.

　　I changed the subject.

　　"Is that all you have for me? How about the numbers on the new businesses?" I asked Jace who looked like he would rather be elsewhere than having these discussions.

　　That made the two of us.

　　"They are good," he nodded. "The new teams are living up to their hype and it's only a matter of months before the profits start to top the market."

　　"That's good to hear." Finally, I asked. "You look ready to make a run for it, Jace. Do you have somewhere to be?"

　　He shook his head once, but I knew he was lying.

　　I didn't think much of it though. Jace knew how to handle his business, and if he wanted me to know about something, then I would know about it.

　　"If you say so."

　　After I dismissed Jace, I took a quick shower and picked out my outfit for the day. I settled on some dark blue slacks, white sleeves, loafers, and minimal jewelry.

　　Heading to my car, it took a quick drive to get to Alpha Collin's pack house. I found a cool parking space under a row of trees, and when I was satisfied with it, I exited the car.

　　From what I had gathered, Vermont's general pack house was connected to Collin's house, office, and meeting area, and to see him, I had to see a lot of their pack members.

　　Ignoring the hostile stares from some of them, I hoped that my discussion with Collin today would yield some positive results.

　　The young-looking male who led me to the area where Collin was to meet up with me spoke when we got there.

　　"Please make yourself comfortable, Alpha. Alpha Collin will be with you shortly. Can I get you anything to drink? Wine, coffee? A water?"

　　I shook my head as I took my seat in the massive room. "None of that would be necessary, thank you."

　　With a curt nod, he left me in the room.

　　The room had minimal lighting, a long sitting area, and an excessively large throne which was no doubt reserved for Collin.

　　Refusing to judge, I tried to control the way I tapped my foot on the floor by glancing at my watch.

　　It had been over ten minutes since I'd been here, and Collin still hadn't shown up.

　　I began to wonder if he really knew that I was there, or if he was purposely keeping me waiting.

　　My patience grew thin, and I decided to just leave. Immediately I stood up to turn around, I noticed him coming into the room with a smug look on his face.

　　"In such a hurry to leave without saying hi?" He asked with a pout.

　　I responded curtly. "You gave me the impression that you weren't interested, seeing as I've been here for minutes."

　　"Oh, personal matters," he said, waving me away.

　　As he took his seat, I got right to the matter since we weren't so cordial anyway.

　　"I came to discuss something important with you. I'm hoping you can understand where I'm coming from and we can come to an agreement."

　　"I'm listening," he said.

　　"Some things have come up here that I cannot leave without seeing through to some extent," I began. "I cannot disclose exactly what they are, but I give you my word that it is nothing of ill intent to you or your pack."

　　Observing his expression and getting nothing from it, I continued.

　　"I understand that we do not currently have a common ground, but I am extending an olive branch to let you know that I am not hell bent on our rivalry."

　　It would be plain stupid to be hung up on a war that had no beginning or foreseeable end now that my daughter and her mother were in the picture.

　　"What are you saying then?" Collin asked.

　　"I need a little more time here before returning to Attica pack," I stated plainly.

　　Collin abruptly stood up from his chair, causing it to scrape back with a grating sound.

　　"The answer is no, and this conversation is over."

　　"Collin," I called, not in any way surprised by his outburst. "Some day, this beef is going to have to end. Why shouldn't it be now?"

　　He snapped. "I said End. Of. Discussion!"

　　My anger was starting to rise too. "I only came here to show my respect for the authority that is your title, Collin, and that's it. I don't exactly need your permission, and surely you must know that."

　　"Oh, we'll see just how much you can stay in my pack without my permission."

　　"Is that supposed to be a threat?" I asked with raised eyebrows, my wolf, fighting for dominance.

　　"I guess we'll have to find out." Collin was toe to toe with me now. "If you know what's good for you, pal, I'll suggest you pack your bags and leave."

　　I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Collin, but I can't do that."

　　Without another word, but a faux smile filled with promises, Collin walked out of the room.

　　This was supposed to be a peaceful adult conversation, and it all turned to shit.

　　Shaking my head, I wondered why I expected so much of Collin in the first place. I shouldn't have even come here. Such a waste of time.

　　Making my way back to my car, I thought of what I would do next.

　　As soon as I was seated inside and my seatbelt was in place, my instincts kicked in, telling me that something was seriously off.

　　A familiar foul smell trickled up my nostrils, and I froze.

　　"What the heck is that?" I muttered to myself.

　　My heightened hearing picked up a steady beep…beep…beep… from somewhere around me, and on listening closely I knew what it was.

　　My car had been bugged.

　　And every single move I made in the next few seconds would determine if I lived… or died.

　　Shit!