Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 102: Betrayal

Chapter 102: Betrayal

Kade exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face before locking eyes with him.

"Alpha Lucas let me go."

Dennis’s mouth twitched. His brother let Kade go? That didn’t make sense. Lucas didn’t just let people go especially not ones who had been accused of betrayal.

"How’s Ava?" Kade asked casually.

Dennis crossed his arms. "He sent you here to keep an eye on her, didn’t he?"

Kade smirked. "Actually, he sent me here to keep an eye on you."

"The fuck does that mean?"

Kade scratched his jaw, suddenly looking like he regretted his honesty.

"I’m not supposed to tell you anything," he admitted, shifting on his feet. "And you definitely can’t tell Ava yet either."

"Tell me what?"

Kade sighed, then finally said, "The Alpha knows she was set up. He’s trying to find proof of her innocence."

Dennis’s breath left him in a whoosh.

It all made sense now.

The increase in smuggled supplies. The search. Lucas’s painful, gut-wrenching howl the night before that had shattered through the air.

"So let me get this straight," Dennis said. "He lets me take care of her like the good little brother, lets me hold on to his Luna. his mate while he plays detective. And then, when the time comes, he’s just gonna waltz in here and take her back?"

Kade shrugged. "Pretty much."

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," he muttered.

His chest felt tight.

No. No, he wasn’t going to let that happen. He wasn’t going to just be Lucas’s babysitter.

If Lucas wanted Ava back, he was going to have to fight for her.

Dennis didn’t care about blood or titles. He was going to do whatever it took to make her stay.

Kade groaned loudly, stretching his arms. "Look, can I at least take a shower before we start all the dramatics? I’ve been in hiding for weeks, man. I smell like a damn graveyard."

Dennis let out a breath and forced himself to calm down. "Yeah. Yeah, alright. I’m sorry."

But his mind was already spinning. Already planning.

Because no matter what Lucas wanted Dennis wasn’t giving Ava back.

Ava had been helping Missy clean up when she heard the familiar voice outside.

Her stomach flipped, and before she could think, she was running.

Her heart slammed in her chest as she burst into the open, her eyes locking onto the familiar figure walking toward the house.

"Oh my God," she gasped, her legs moving before her brain could catch up.

Kade barely had time to react before she crashed into him, arms wrapping around his neck in a tight hug.

Kade chuckled, patting her back. "Hey, take it easy. I’m not a ghost."

She pulled back just enough to look at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He grinned. "This is as good a place to hide out as any."

Ava rolled her eyes. "You suck at answering questions."

Kade winked. "I know."

"I didn’t get to say thank you."

Kade gave her a lopsided smile. "Anytime."

Kade’s gaze shifted to Dennis.

He could sense the tension.

He saw the way she deliberately avoided Dennis’s gaze and the way Dennis gazed at her like she was the sugar in his tea.

And then Kade groaned, loudly, dragging a hand down his face.

"Oh God, please no," he muttered. "Already?"

Ava frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Kade turned to Dennis. "Are you guys fucking?"

Ava choked. "NO!"

Dennis smirked. "Soon," he said, just to rile Kade up.

Kade’s face was priceless.

"You have got to be joking," Kade groaned.

Ava shot Dennis a glare. "Okay, guys! Not now."

She grabbed Kade’s arm, dragging him away before Dennis could say anything else to piss him off.

"Come on," she muttered. "I’ll tell you all about my training with Missy."

Dennis stood there, watching her walk away with Kade.

If he was going to keep her, If he was going to make her want to stay, he had to act.

His eyes flicked around the worn-down village they were calling a home, the peeling paint, the way the wind whistled through the cracks in the walls.

Maybe Ava was right.

Maybe he had to do something about it.

Maybe, just maybe, he had to build her a reason to stay.

*****

Dennis stood outside Ava’s door, his breath turning to mist in the chilly pre-dawn air. His pulse hammered in his ears. This was it.

The entire place was still swallowed in darkness. He wasn’t used to waking up this early.

He was going to the High Council.

His jaw tightened at the thought. He wasn’t exactly what you’d call diplomatic. In fact, if the Council had a blacklist, his name was probably somewhere near the top with big, bold letters.

But if there was even a chance he could fix things for his pack, if there was a chance he could fight for Ava then he was damn well going to take it.

He lifted his hand and knocked on the door.

The wooden frame creaked slightly, and for a few seconds, nothing happened. Then he heard the shuffle of footsteps and a soft yawn.

Ava opened the door, her hair a sleepy mess, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion.

For a moment, Dennis forgot why he was there.

Her skin had that warm, just-woken glow, her lips slightly parted as if caught between sleep and waking. She was wearing an oversized sweater that fell past her hands, making her look impossibly small.

"Lucas?" she gasped.

His entire body went rigid.

"Oh, for fuck’s sake," Dennis groaned. "It’s me, Dennis."

Ava blinked, her focus sharpening as she actually looked at him. Her gaze traveled up and down, taking in his black suit, the crisp white shirt underneath.

"Dennis?" she echoed, now fully awake. "You look... different."

Dennis smirked. "Yeah, well, I figured if I’m going to the High Council, I might as well dress the part."

Her brows lifted in surprise.

"You’re really going?" she asked, crossing her arms.

@Lindsey_tennyson: Looks like you hit the ground running. Thank you so much for your support.