Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59
“Well, this is awkward,” James says bemusedly.
Aaron leans across the console to be seen. “You know he speaks the truth. Alpha Leah Roberts Rathborn is here. The transition of power is complete. Open the f**king gate.”
The guy stands stock still for a few seconds, frozen with indecision.
Then he ducks back into the guardhouse, grabs the phone and makes a call.
A few seconds later, the gates roll open and he flags us through.
“What was that about?” James asks.
What indeed?
Aaron leans around the seat to eye me. It’s not an “I told you so❞
but it’s in the vicinity.
“Radio our men in cars two and three. Tell them to be ready for anything.”
James messages them with one hand, while maneuvering the SUV ahead slowly. It’s another three miles to the main house and the communal halls. The houses we pass now are spaced out with wh ite picket fences and flowers blooming in the front yards.
There are kids playing and dogs barking.
It looks like something out of some old sitcom tv.
James reaches beneath his seat for a gun and hands it to Aaron. Then he opens the console, pulls out a 9mm and extends his arm back to me.
“Take it,” he says.
“I don’t need that.” This is my family. “You’re overreacting.”
And our packs have been enemies for generations, it’s not a surprise that they wouldn’t want to welcome James or Aaron. These are turbulent times and they’re acclimating, still reeling from the loss of my father.
I’m still grieving and I barely had contact with the man.
I can only imagine how hard this must be on the rest of my pack.
“Take the fri ggin’ gun, Leah.”
It’s an order and it makes me bristle. I want to toss it back at
Aaron on spite.
James clears his throat.
Aaron mutters a curse. “I mean to say, please. Please take the weapon, Leah, so you can defend yourself. It’s better to be prepared and not need it, than to need it and be unprepared.”
It’s kind of hard to argue with that logic. Same principle as
carrying condoms or breath mints. Only, you know, a little more life-threatening.
I grab the gun and my hand sinks to my lap. It’s heavier than I expected.
I’m familiar with firearms and had basic training with handguns, rifles and even bows. Aaron insisted on it. In his pack, every member-male, female, child-has to train. He said it was because preparedness kept everyone safe.
But safety doesn’t come from fighting.
War begets more war.
2
I contemplate that as I roll up into my pack with their enemy in the front seat and his contingency of guards escorting us. And what was all that back at the guardhouse about Alpha’s orders’ – I’m the Alpha. What did they mean?
I’m here to assume control.
They all ha te Aaron, I know.
*
t
And now I have to wonder… how do they feel about me!?