Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 69

AIDAN

　　EARLIER THAT DAY

　　"How many more papers do I need to sign?" I asked with an exhausted grunt to my attorney over the phone.

　　Barely an hour after landing in Vermont pack, they were already calling me from Attica to sort out shit. Couldn't they understand that all I wanted was to get changed, and go see my family?

　　The thought of seeing the looks of surprise and then excitement on Tara and Nadia's face when they got their gifts made my chest lighten and put me in a considerably better mood to take the call.

　　I put the phone on speaker and tossed it where I could see it as I took off my flight clothes in the closet of my hotel suite.

　　The attorney responded cautiously. "We need two guardian's signatures for the school enrollment, Alpha. And one final signature for the…ehh…new place of business."

　　A growl rattled my chest. "One guardian is all we have, so make it do!"

　　I sighed in agitation. How hard could it be to register a child on a new school? I really needed this to work.

　　I ended the call with that just in time for the entrance door to the suite to open. I instantly knew who it was. Jace.

　　"You're alive," I said to him once I turned to face him. "And looking well for someone who almost cried when they learned they were staying here for longer than expected."

　　Jace chuckled, but I could see the resistance in his eyes. He heard something from my just-ended call. I just hoped he stayed in his lane and did not ask any questions that I didn't want to answer.

　　If Jace could see the warning in my eyes, he ignored it.

　　"School enrollment, Aidan? Guardian's signatures? It's none of my business, but what the heck are you doing, man?"

　　Turning away from Jace, I continued to dress up.

　　"You're right," I said. "It's none of your business, so don't take it up."

　　He scoffed at me.

　　I sometimes admired the balls of this guy.

　　"I would, Aidan. I would drop it if it didn't sound like you were digging your own grave deeper than you'd be able to climb out from." Jace put his two palms together in front of him in a praying stance. "Tell me it's not what it sounds like, please!"

　　I snapped at that, whirling around to face him and directing all the ice in my tone into my next words.

　　"If you mean that by making sure my daughter and her mother have a life without any threats, one where I am sure of their whereabouts at all times, and can guarantee their safety…if you mean that by that I'm digging a grave for myself, then yes, Jace, I'm freaking doing it."

　　I didn't stop there because Jace had successfully riled me up by saying less than a few words. I went on.

　　"This pack is dangerous, Jace. You and I know that these last attacks are a result of some of my actions, so leaving them here won't do any good. It's the same thing as giving them up as sacrificial lambs, and I'd die before I could live with that."

　　Jace shoved his hands in his pockets, staring me down like some stubborn kid. "What? So, Attica pack isn't just as safe? You forget that your father—who was seen asking around for her on the same night she revealed she was pregnant— is still living and breathing there? He isn't dangerous?"

　　My tone dropped many octaves lower, not hiding the threat behind it. "He won't be there for long. His ass will be rotting in jail by the time I'm done gathering evidence against him."

　　Jace rubbed his temple in exhaustion, thinking of his next words.

　　"Let me guess now. So you're registering Nadia in a new school, and buying a new building for Tara." He didn't wait for my response because we both knew he was right. "Aidan, are you out of your mind? She'd be furious if she found out! Christ, man."

　　Jace would not understand. No matter how much I tried to explain, he wouldn't get it. He wouldn't understand the epiphany I had when I realized that it only took one second of carelessness for life to be lost.

　　I still tried to explain. "When Nadia and Tara almost lost their lives that night, I died inside. I could have prevented it if I kept them more safe, and that's exactly what I'm doing now."

　　Jace shook his head. "Don't do it, man," he warned. "There are other ways. Have you thought about how you would make them move from here to Attica pack? The pack Tara ran away from?"

　　"I'll take care of that part when the time comes, Jace." I sighed. "I appreciate that you're looking out for them, but I know what I'm doing, so, respectfully, drop it."

　　I turned my back to Jace, letting him know that this conversation had ended, and thankfully he took that as his cue.

　　My way of keeping Tara and Nadia safe wasn't the most ethical, but after that night, I'd do almost anything to keep them safe.

　　Jace's final words before he left me to my thoughts were, "You think you're doing this for them, but think about it long and hard and be honest to yourself if this is for them or you."

　　Now alone in the confines of my room, I started to think of Jace's words. He wasn't entirely right, but he was also very wrong about a lot of things.

　　I wanted Nadia and Tara around me, but I also wanted their safety more than anything. I couldn't bring this proposal to Tara yet. She hadn't even completely forgiven me yet, so I had to move in secret for now.

　　For all I knew, Collin still had his sights on this pack, and a proud and vengeful head was far more dangerous than one weak old man who was trying to prove that he was better than his son.

　　"Everything would be fine," I said in reassurance to myself as I took my keys and headed out to find Nadia and Tara.

　　I would put my all into getting Tara and Nadia to see the good side of things, and it would only be a matter of time before they would agree to move with me and be free of Collin forever.

　　I just hoped I didn't have to hold on to this secret from Tara for too long.