Page 104 of Rejected By the Alpha

This was what the Crimson Order did.

They killed easily. Nobody knew until it was too late.

“How?” I asked the group. “Do we have any information on anything?”

“No,” one of the wolves said. “They were out in different areas in the forest. And now, they’re dead.”

“And when did this happen? All last night?”

“Yes. They were found this morning.”

I ran a hand through my hair and shook my head. “How can this be? Are you sure they were all apart?”

“Yes. They were all watching over their sections of the forest—at opposite ends. There was no way they could have been all together. There were thousands upon thousands of miles between them.”

A low sigh left my mouth, and I found myself growling, becoming angrier and angrier. If Davix had had anything to do with this, I would fucking kill him. First Ember, and now this? I fucking hated that fucker.

“So, who’s looking over those areas now?” I asked.

If nobody was, then they were weakened, and then the Crimson Order could take them over easily. And we’d have more than just a war on our hands. Everyone would be fucking dead. Slaughtered. Those fuckers didn’t care.

“Nobody. They’re empty right now. We don’t have enough wolves, especially not those as strong as them.”

“They don’t have to be as strong as them, but we need somebody running that area. Watching it. And I want to be informed of every little thing that’s out of place. Get people there and connect me with them. I’ll figure out the rest.”

Because if I didn’t figure this out soon, the entire forest would become a bloodbath.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Ember

My paintbrush glided against the canvas with ease, the strokes making me happy. Cade had left several hours ago, and I had finally broken out the canvas and the easel in the center of the living room. Warmth exploded through my chest, and I found myself smiling for the first time in a long time.

Really, truly smiling.

I hadn’t felt this way in a very long time, ever since I had gotten that first commission from him.

Reaper. That was Cade.

I continued to paint the forest and wolves. There wasn’t just one anymore; there were many. I had seen so many these past few weeks, and part of me now … part of me now wanted to stay. As much as I hated Dr. Yoder, as much as I hated going to the medical center every single day, could this be worth it?

Could I finally want to live?

“Whatcha doing?” Pavel asked, walking into the room.

He had two coffees from Java and a brown paper bag filled with banana bread. I could smell it from a mile away.

“Oh, you know,” I said with a shrug, “just painting.”

“You’re in a good mood today,” he said.

“Just because you got me some banana bread.”

“Who said it was for you?”

My smile broke out into an even wider grin, and I looked over at him. There was something about him today that seemed lighter. He tossed me the bag of bread and then headed over to give me my coffee.

“You seem different today,” I commented. “Found a girl?”