Ch. 25：Annex The Red Claw Pack

•••
I saw the world become blurry, and I nearly lost my balanced as Hayden spun me around and trapped me in his arms.
My hands couldn't help but clenched his suit to stop myself from falling. I looked up and realized how close our faces were.
Although I was tall, Hayden still towered over me. Even with my high heel, the top of my head only reached his nose.
I looked up at the exact moment he looked down, and our breaths mingled together. His dark eyes gazed at me intensely, and they had darkened with desire.
My heart started pounding at our nearness, and I tried to push him away, only to have him tighten his arms around my waist, drawing me even closer to him as though he wanted to fuse our bodies together. My face flushed when I felt something long and hard poking my belly.
I became annoyed, not only because of his domineering attitude but also because of how my body was responding to him.
“Lottie!” Suddenly I heard a screech of a car’s tires and Leo’s voice calling me, and I tried pushing Hayden away again. Thank goodness, this time, he let me go.
Leo had mind linked me, asking me where I was and why didn't I take the car or wait for him when Hayden confronted me and gave me the cheque. I told him I needed to get some air, so I chose to walk, but Hayden caught up with me. Leo must be worried and rushed over to save me.
He had driven the car and parked it beside us before he got off and came toward us.
“Lottie, your dad, Alpha Alrick, told me he has something important to discuss with you. It’s best for us to return to the Moon Crest Pack as soon as possible,” Leo reported.
“Alright,” I nodded, and Leo opened the passenger door for me. I went into the car without glancing back at Hayden.
When I remembered what Hayden had done, I became irritated once again. Who did he think he was? First at the club and then just now.
How could he still have the audacity to hold me intimately and do all those sexual things with me when I was no longer his mate?! If Leo hadn't come in time, I was sure he would have kissed me.
Did Sofia not give him enough sex, so he came to me thinking I would welcome his advances? I sneered. You could dream on, Hayden.
Speaking of Sofia... I hadn't heard anything about her ever since I gave Noah the recording, but I heard it had created a huge scandal for the Red Claw Pack. The members’ opinions were now divided into two - some still defended Sofia, while others had started speaking up for me.
But what about Sofia herself? I didn't hear any news of Hayden punishing her. If he had, he should at least have asked Sofia to apologize to me. But did Sofia come to me? No.
She must have somehow twisted the fact and acted like a victim again, and Hayden, being the stupid and blind Alpha he was, would probably believe in Sofia’s words again. I even heard that Hayden especially asked his subordinates to track me down to capture me and let me deal with the scandal.
I sneered as I thought about his care for Sofia. It seemed Sofia could do nothing wrong in his eyes while I was the vicious bitch who framed and hurt his beloved. It was disgusting.
Thinking of the way my heart pounded when being in his arms, I began to wonder why my body reacted to him. Maybe I really need to get laid soon, I sighed.
Pushing all those things away from my mind, I turned to look at Leo. His side profile showing the outline of his strong jawline, was a stunning sight, especially with the lights from the road sometimes highlighting them. It was like I was being teased - getting a glance, then being clouded with darkness again, then getting another glimpse when the light shone upon us again.
I debated in my mind if I should just fuck Leo. But he was my Beta and childhood friend. I was afraid our relationship would change if we did it. Furthermore, if one day he found his mate, he would feel guilty, and I would feel the same way toward his mate too.
Why the hell was I thinking about fucking now? I became annoyed again. This was because of that stupid Hayden!
“Leo, thank you for coming for me at the right time,” I told him sincerely to keep my dirty thought away.
“You don't have to thank me, Lottie. I knew you most being a dilemma while facing Hayden, so it was my duty as your Beta to keep you safe.”
He glanced at me before adding, “I think it would be best if you don't talk to him anymore, Lottie.”
I wanted it to be the case too! But Hayden was now like an annoying fly who hovered around me. I knew we would still meet each other, given we were both Alphas, but why couldn't he just leave me alone? I let out a sigh again.
“What does Dad want to talk to me about?” I asked him with curiosity and tried to change the topic.
“You’ll know when we reach the pack,” Leo replied without giving me any explanation.
I kept quiet, and soon we reached the Moon Crest Pack. Leo and I went straight to my dad’s study.
“Lottie,” my dad said just as I settled on my seat. “You know that Daddy thinks the Red Claw Pack is nothing for us, don't you? Even though their pack is the third-strongest, their numbers are still far less than ours, and our warriors are better and stronger than theirs.”
I kept quiet as I listened to my Dad’s words. It wasn't actually strange for stronger packs to conquer those weaker than them.
“Actually, Daddy thinks that the Red Claw Pack is easy to conquer. We didn't attack them because you were their Luna at that time. But now that you’ve come back, Daddy and Leo think it’s time for us to conquer them. We’ll launch an attack and annex them in the near future,” Dad continued.
“No,” I disagreed with my Dad’s idea straight away.
I felt Leo raise an eyebrow at me and shoot me a deep look.
“I’ve told you before, Daddy. I don't want to have anything to do with the Red Claw Pack anymore. If we annexed them, some of their members who survived would become our members. And I’m sure you wouldn't kill Hayden. Most probably, you will imprison him or make him an Omega, which will cause me to have no choice but to have contact with him,” I gave them my reason why I didn't want them to launch an attack against the Red Claw Pack.
My dad and Leo stayed quiet for some time until finally, my Dad nodded in agreement to me against annexing the Red Claw Pack. “Alright, since you are now the Alpha of the Moon Crest Pack and in charge of the pack, Daddy will listen to you.”
I giggled, hearing my dad’s words. Even though I was the Alpha, he should still have the last words, but he doted on me so much he would give me anything I wanted.
I thought our discussion had ended, so I stood up and wanted to go back to my room, but apparently, my dad still wasn't finished.
“Lottie...”
I looked at him and saw his serious expression, making me sit back down.
“Do you still have feelings for Hayden? Is that the reason why you don't want to attack them?” he asked in a serious manner.
“Daddy...” I whined. Why would he think that way?
He didn't say anything and just scrutinized me with probing eyes.
I shook my head, knowing he expected an answer. “I’ve told you so many times that I don't have feelings for Hayden anymore. We are not mates anymore, and we had even prayed to the Moon Goddess to sever our matebond, and the Moon Goddess granted our prayers. And I have explained why I don't want to attack them.”
My Dad sighed. “Lottie, it’s good that you have become your true self now - confident, gorgeous, and strong. But...” he paused for a while. “Sometimes feelings can't be controlled no matter how much you want to deny it.”
“What do you mean, Dad?” I didn't understand what he was trying to say.
“Daddy can see the pain in your eyes. And as they said, eyes are the windows to the soul.” He stood up and patted my head. “It’s late now. Go back to your room and sleep.”
He left after saying those words to me, leaving me confused. Pain? My dad could see the pain in my eyes? The pain of leaving Hayden? Or was he talking about something else?