Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 103: Pretending

Chapter 103: Pretending

He gave a half-shrug, pretending like this wasn’t a huge deal. "You told me to dress like Lucas."

Ava’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in her gaze.

"I’m glad you are going," she said sincerely.

Dennis shifted on his feet, exhaling through his nose.

"But you know what this means, right?" he said.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Dennis clenched his jaw. "It means that if this all goes to shit, if Lucas doesn’t back down," He exhaled, his throat tight. "It means we might end up fighting each other."

"Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that."

"So," he muttered. "I’m leaving."

Ava nodded. "Okay."

Dennis stared at her.

She stared back.

But he was still standing there.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Dennis?"

He scowled. "Not going to wish me good luck?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "Good luck."

Dennis gave an exaggerated sigh. "Come on, Ava. Is a peck on the cheek too much to ask?"

Ava chuckled. She stepped forward, standing on her toes, and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

He resisted the urge to grab her, to kiss her properly, to make her understand...

But he didn’t.

"If something happens, if you’re in trouble, how do we know?" she asked.

Dennis smirked. "Let’s hope I don’t get in trouble then."

Ava gave him a look.

And then, without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

He forced himself to pull away, to take a step back before he did something stupid.

He turned to leave.

"Dennis?"

He stopped, turning slightly.

Ava’s voice was quiet.

"Please come back to me."

Dennis swallowed hard.

He didn’t say anything.

He just nodded before walking away, disappearing into the darkness.

Because if he turned around... if he looked at her one more time...

He wasn’t sure he’d be able to leave at all.

*****

The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon, casting a dull golden glow over the encampment. Missy was busy in the kitchen, cursing over breakfast. This new setting was strange for him but the people seemed happy despite the hard living situations. It was different, he was used to people who had more than enough and were supposed to be content scheming and plotting.

Everyone wanted to rise in ranks, everyone wanted to be noticed. Here, there were no ranks. Just people.

Kade had slept like a corpse after weeks in the woods.

He finally found Ava under a huge tree outside the main pack house, in a meditation pose, probably an assignment given by Missy. Her dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, and her eyes softened slightly when she noticed him approaching.

"Where’s Dennis?" Kade asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can’t find him anywhere."

"He went to the High Council."

"The what?"

Ava raised an eyebrow, as if he had just asked her if the sky was blue. "The High Council."

Kade’s brows furrowed so hard they might as well have been stapled together. "For what?"

"Well, the people here can’t keep living like this. He needs to break away from Lucas."

Kade blinked. Then blinked again.

"What the actual fuck?" he finally managed.

Ava crossed her arms. "Kade..."

"No, no," he cut her off, waving his hands. "You think Lucas is just gonna stand for that?"

Ava’s eyes darkened. "It was my idea."

Kade let out a painful groan, dragging his hands down his face. "Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ava. Why?"

"Because it’s time," she argued, getting up and stepping forward. "They have been stuck here for a decade, Kade. Trapped like prisoners. They cannot trade, they cannot live, they cannot have fun..."

"Oh no, no fun?" Kade mocked, throwing his arms in the air. "How will they survive?"

Ava smacked his arm. "You know what I mean! They’re barely scraping by, hiding like outlaws while Lucas tightens the noose. They need freedom."

Kade exhaled sharply. She wasn’t wrong. But...

"You do realize the High Council hates rogue packs, right?" he said. "They don’t want a pack that takes in outcasts. The only way this ends in Dennis’s favor is if he fights Lucas for the Alpha title and even then he has to win."

Ava paled slightly.

"That’s not what I want," she said quietly.

Kade shook his head. "Then you shouldn’t have sent him on a suicide mission."

"Every rogue has the right to be part of a pack. The only reason they haven’t turned feral is because Dennis claimed them as his. You know what happens to rogues who are alone for too long. Being dead is better than being a rogue, Kade."

Kade flinched.

She was right. Shit.

He exhaled harshly, hands on his hips, frustration curling through him. "I still think this is a terrible idea."

Ava crossed her arms stubbornly. "At least let’s wait for the Council’s response before you start panicking."

Kade muttered a string of curses under his breath. "How in the hell is Dennis even supposed to get there and back in one piece? Gammas are stationed everywhere to make sure no one from here steps foot into Lucas’s territory."

And that was when Ava grinned.

"Because," she said slowly, "he dressed up as Lucas."

Kade stared at her.

"Motherfucker," he muttered.

How had he forgotten that trick?

The brothers had used it all the time as teenagers. Lucas was older but both boys had the same build, height and face. The only difference was in the way each chose to have their hair styled. Whether it was sneaking out of punishment, pranking their packmates, or trading places for fun, they had perfected the art of swapping identities.

Kade groaned. "This is not going to end well."

Ava shrugged. "It’s already happening."

He wasn’t having this.

Kade turned on his heel and stalked back toward his quarters. The room Dennis had given him was small and barely furnished just like every other room in the pack house.

He reached under his mattress and pulled out a hidden cell phone.

Flipping it open, he quickly checked the screen...

No signal.

"Shit," he muttered.

Of course there was no signal. This place was practically a dead zone, surrounded by nothing but trees and cliffs.

Gritting his teeth, he shoved the phone into his pocket and stormed out.

There was one place he might get a connection.

He walked past the camp, ignoring the werewolves going about their day.

Dennis was stubborn as hell, and brave to a fault. But he wasn’t invincible.

Kade reached the riverbank, following its curve until he found a small hill. He climbed up, and pulled out the phone again.

One bar. Barely there. It would have to do.

He typed out a quick message to Nolan, his fingers moving fast over the buttons.

"Dennis is on his way to the High Council, disguised as Lucas. He’s trying to ask for independence. Thought you should know."

He hit send.

Almost at once, he felt guilt.

Dennis was his friend.

But Lucas was his Alpha.

Shit. Kade ran a hand down his face. He had a very bad feeling about this.

*****

Lucas barely looked up as Nolan strode in.

Nolan stopped just short of the desk, taking a measured breath before he spoke.

"I have news," he said.

Lucas finally glanced up, raising a brow. "Good news or bad news?"

@MD_Loves_ Books:

@Lindsey_Tennyson: You are still here. Thank you

(My readers are torn between Lucas and Dennis. The story is winding up, I would like to pick your favourite and work with it. Between now and 7th April, the male lead with the most popularity will end up with Ava. So, go vote guys! I love you.)

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