Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Ayla We made our way back up to the house. The guys were still on the porch. It looked like everything was set up and ready to go.

As soon as we joined them, Briggs grabbed Mina, kissing her lovingly. Alpha and Luna shared similar affections. My chest tightened, and I went to the kitchen to put our drink glasses in the sink, ignoring the feeling of Theo’s eyes following me.

I set the glasses in the sink. Gripping the counter, I took a few deep breaths. It was getting harder to imagine, but I had to remind myself I would have that someday. Once I was marked. Then there would be a new bond and I would have that.

I rejoined the group as they were taking their seats. I was saved from sitting next to Theo. Although, I’m not sure if it was better or worse as he sat across from me at the table. We all made our plates and dug in. Both the food and the conversation were fantastic. However, I wasn’t very talkative that night.

Grace had just surprised everyone with lemon meringue pie for dessert when my phone rang in my pocket. I pulled it out and clicked the button to silence it. I saw it was Kingston, but I didn’t want to be rude to my hosts. I’d call him back in a few minutes when we were done. Grace handed me a serving of pie and my phone rang again.

I sighed, checking the screen again. “I’m sorry. I have to take this. I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Alpha Torin said with a smile.

I excused myself and made my way to the porch stairs, answering the call as I dipped around the side of the house.

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16.01 Chapter 73 Ayla 288 Vouchers “Hey, Kingston,” I said.

“Hey, babe,” he said. “What are you up to?”

“We were just eating dinner,” I said. “Mina came up for the evening to visit.”

“That sounds nice. I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “What’s up?”

“Babe,” he said tentatively, his tone putting making me nervous, “I need you to come home.”

“Why? What’s going on? Has something happened?” I rushed.

“I just got some news today that was a little unsettling. But everything will be okay,” Kingston said, “once you’re home.”

“What news?” I questioned. “Kingston, you’re worrying me.”

“I’ll tell you more when you get back, okay? Right now, I just want to get you home.”

“No,” I insisted. “I’m not going anywhere until I know what’s going on. Tell me what happened. Now.”

“Ayla, I don’t want to scare you over nothing...”.

“If it’s nothing, then I wouldn’t need to rush home now, would I?” I insisted. “And you’re already scaring me.”

“Okay, okay. Calm down, babe,” Kingston urged. He paused for a moment and sighed heavily. “I had a visit from Alpha Harden today. Conner Elkins is missing.”

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16:21 Chapter 73: Ayla 283 Vouchers My stomach twisted. “Conner as in Alpha Conner?”

“Yeah,” Kingston confirmed. “He’s been gone over a week.”

“Over a week? He’s not supposed to leave his territory. Do they have any idea where he would have gone?” My anxiety had spi*ed. There were a few people I would imagine were on the top of Conner’s hit list. Kingston being at the top.

“No, but we think he may be coming for you?”

“Me?” I practically shouted. “I’d think you would be a bigger target than me. Have you started searching for him?”

“Yes, I’ve got everyone on the lookout for him. I’ve got myself covered,” he insisted. “But that’s also why I need you to come back. I need to put a detection detail on you. I can’t do that when you’re in Greytooth land.”

I ran a hand through my hair as I paced the grass. Conner did have some kind of infatuation with me. So he could be trying to get to me as well.

“Is this what you’ve been keeping from me, Kingston?” I demanded.

“No, of course not,” he insisted. “I swear, I just found out today. Please, just come home. Pierce or I will meet...”

“No, Kingston,” I responded.

“Ayla, you can’t...”

“Yes, I can,” I insisted. “I’m safer here. You’re safer if I’m here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ayla,” Kingston snapped, anger filling his voice. “You belong here. Where I can protect you.”

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16:21 Chapter 73. Ayla 288 Vouchers “If he’s coming after either of us, then it doesn’t sound too safe for us to be around each other, Kingston,” I pointed out. “We’ll be putting the other one right in his path. There’s no way he could possibly know I’m here. So you just keep yourself safe. I’ll watch my back here.”

“Ayla,” he roared through the phone. I had never heard him like that before. “Please, just listen to me.”

“No, Kingston,” I said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you’re not thinking straight. I’m staying here and you should get some rest. It’ Il make sense to you in the morning.”

I hung up before he could say anything else and tried to calm my nerves.

“What’s wrong?”

Startled, I spun around to see Theo standing a few feet away.

I cleared my throat, clearing my expression to hide my nerves. “Nothing,” I lied. “Kingston was just giving me some news from the pack.”

“Ayla...” He took a step toward me. “Please, don’t lie to me. Who’s coming after you?”

“Nobody,” I insisted. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Ayla, please,” Theo pled. “I heard what you said. That wasn’t nothing.”

I huffed. I really didn’t want to deal with this. I already had Kingston breathing down my neck. I didn’t need Theo trying to control me too. But I needed more information about Conner and what the situation was. Kingston wasn’t about to be any more forthcoming than he already was. So I needed something from Theo.

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16:21 Chapter 73: Ayla 288 Wouchers “It really may just be nothing. Kingston didn’t give me a lot of information,” I said calmly. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Theo said, taking a few more steps toward me.

“Do you have Alpha Harden’s number?” I asked. “He may be able to tell me what this is all about.”

“Yeah, of course.” He pulled his phone out and searched for the contact.

He held it out for me once he found it.

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