His Apprehensive Mate - Brea Alepou Page 0,61
that was never going to be the case. I called my Uncle Pawel, and he said he’d come get me, that he’d talk to my da—” Ava ground her teeth, and Kenny let her collect herself. She blew out a breath before she continued. “The alpha and convince him to leave Uncle Morgan and the pride alone.”
Kenny growled, upset that someone had taken advantage of Ava and tricked her into the mess. If Pawel was still alive, he wasn’t going to be for much longer.
“I left to go meet him. I tried to walk far enough from the pride house so they wouldn’t know where it was.”
Kenny patted her head. “Smart thinking.”
She gave him a weak smile. “Not smart enough—they shoved me into the car and demanded to know where Uncle Morgan was and who was helping him. I didn’t say anything.” Her voice trembled, and Kenny pulled her closer to his side.
“But they already knew. I don’t know how. Uncle Pawel had mentioned that cats were nothing for their pack to take care of. I didn’t confirm what they said, even when they threatened me.”
Her eyes were full of sincerity. She desperately wanted Kenny to see that she was telling the truth. He believed her. He gave her a smile.
Ava let out a breath. “I couldn’t betray all of you after what you did for me.”
She was braver than most at fourteen years old.
“We were going to head back to the pack lands. I didn’t know he’d come out looking for me. I thought… I don’t know, but why did Uncle Morgan come out?”
“Because he loves you. Because you are like a daughter to him—to both of us. We didn’t know this would happen, but Ava, you’re loved.”
More tears streamed down her face. “They saw Uncle Morgan and then—” Her voice broke off, and Kenny knew it was hard for her. “They beat him up and shoved him in the trunk of the car.”
Kenny swallowed back the growl. His snow leopard’s thirst for blood was still strong.
“And who hit you?” Kenny asked.
Ava’s shoulders sagged. “My father.”
Kenny couldn’t keep it contained. He growled in anger, wanting nothing more than to revive the alpha so he could rip his throat out all over again.
“He will never hurt you ever again.”
Ava said nothing to that. They sat there for a long period of time, and Kenny couldn’t help but look the way they’d come. No one had come get them yet. He closed his eyes and felt for his mate through the bond. Morgan would live. He was the strongest man Kenny knew.
“Can I—” Ava sat up and looked Kenny in the eyes. “Can I come back home? Can I still be your daughter?”
Kenny loved that idea. “Of course.” He kissed the top of her head. “We might be a family of choice, but you’re stuck with us now.”
Ava let out a laugh. The crunching of leaves had Kenny all too aware. He stood up, ready to shift till he caught Rhy’s smell.
He looked worse for wear, and Kenny was pretty sure he looked the same. He felt weak, but there was no time for him to wallow in his own weakness.
“How is he?” Kenny asked.
Rhy scrubbed his tired, red-rimmed eyes. “He’s strong. Logan said we need to get him home, but he’s going to be fine.”
Ava gasped, and Rhy smiled at her.
“Let’s get home before we all pass out,” Rhy suggested.
Kenny didn’t let the fatigue take over him, not till he saw Morgan for himself.
“Come on, Ava.” He helped her up, and they made their way to the cars. Kenny looked over everyone that was with them and found that a few hadn’t made it back from the Blaze Pack. Three wolves from the pack were lost in the battle.
He found Dezi carrying Morgan, and Kenny jogged to catch up to them, Ava hot on his heels. Dezi smiled at him and handed Morgan over. Morgan looked a little better, makeshift bandages and a splint on his ankle. But his lips were back to a rosy pink and his face a little flush with color.
Gev stepped forward with some of his fellow pack wolves. “We will be staying behind. Yovan is on her way. There are a few wolves left of the Vast Pack, mainly the ones who didn’t want to fight. If it’s okay with you, Yovan will take care of them,” Gev said.
Dezi and Hodge stepped forward as they were the two alphas, and since Kenny, Rhy, Morgan, and