Winter Rejected By One Alpha Love By Another One
Chapter 32

Winter is in her office, she's still wondering why King Kristoff wants to meet with her. Shane walks into her office. "I'm wondering the same damn thing. Damn, I had already told Bronson and Ace that I would train the pack today. But I'm close by if you need me. I know that you can take care of yourself. But right now, in your condition, we have to be careful." He kissed the top of her head. Gage and Ace will be here but Dimitri and Bronson are about to head out to Josey's place. I sure as hell hope they find something. I have to admit I have always thought there was something weird about Josey's death. But I let it go." "Something about that whole thing isn't sitting well with me. I might be wrong, but I want to make sure." Winter is rubbing her swollen belly. "Also Dr. Hackle wants to do an ultrasound tomorrow." Winter looks over at him.

"I agree. We have to be. "Shane kisses her forehead. "Don't worry about any of this. We'll get through this. I'm looking forward to seeing what we are having."

There was a knock on the door. "Come in". She gave Shane a peck on his lips. "Our day is just starting. I wonder what trick is that Tomfool is planning?" She looked at Harper, Patrice, and Yolanda walking into the room ahead of Gage. She looked behind Gage. "Where is Parker?" She looked at Harper.

Harper chuckles "My dear sister went with Bronson and Dimitri. She wants some action before we fight tonight. Mystic wanted to release some tension."

Winter laughs "yep, that sounds exactly like her and Mystic. Patrice and Yolanda, I want you to be close when King Kristoff arrives."

"Are you expecting any trouble?" Harper looked at her concern.

Winter shakes her head. "No. just a precaution. I have to admit that my gut is telling me not to trust him."

Shane looked around the room. "I have the same feeling. But we have to hear him out."

Veronica beeps in to inform Winter that the King and two men are with him. Winter tells her to show them in.

Patrice, Yolanda, and Gage are walking toward the door. Harper doesn't move. She's sitting in a chair that is beside Winter's desk.

Shane is standing beside Winter with his eyes glued to the door. He's looking at a handsome 6'0" blue-eyed blonde man and a dark-haired man that looks to be about 5'10"

Kristoff's eyes are on Winter. Shane cleared his throat, still looking at the blonde-haired man. Kristoff looks at Shane thinking, "I should have killed your a*s when you were a kid." Harper is looking at the two men having a stare down "Oh s**t. I might see some action". She's thinking

Winter stands up. "King Kristoff, this is my mate, King Shane Atkinson."

Neither man extends their hands or speaks.

"Well now, what is the reason for this visit today?" She sat down, looking at Kristoff.

"Rogues" Kristoff sits in the chair in front of her desk

Shane is still standing beside Winter thinking." Oh, hell no, I'm not leaving Star Eyes with this mutherfucker. I see the lust in his damn eyes. Why does he look familiar?"

"Can you be more specific?" Winter touches Shane's arm. She feels his anger and hears his thoughts. But she couldn't hear Kiristoff's thoughts. "Maybe because he's a King," she was thinking.

"Yes, I can't be in two places at once. It seems that the rogues know exactly when I'm in Atlantis. I have read all of my pack members' minds. None of them appear to betray me. That is why I came to you. I need your help", Kristoff is looking at her. "We can't have rogues attacking your pack or anyone else." She looked at Shane. "The King will be handling this situation. I'm not really out in the field right now since we're expecting pups." Winter looks up at Shane and winks at him.

Shane nods his head. He's glad that she said that. Because he doesn't want her around Kristoff. Shane frowns, looking at Kristoff, clenching both of his fists. wondering "are there really any rogue attacks or is this a way to get Winter close to him." Kristoff looks at Shane and breathes hard. "Sure"

"Do we have a problem?" Shane narrows his eyes, looking at Kristoff.

"No. No problem at all." Kristoff glanced at the black-haired man that came with him.

The man shakes his head, thinking "f**k. It seems that we will be killing a King.

Shane is still looking at Kristoff.

Winter looks at the man and smirks. "Yes, a King will die if you or anyone comes after my McDreamy. But it will not be my love." She was thinking.

Harper looked at the black-haired man, thinking, "I was hoping your stupid-looking a*s would make a move. Damn it, I want to kill you."

Kristoff is rubbing his chin, then he looks at Shane. "I'm planning to leave for Atlantis in five days. So my pack will be safe until then."

"Oh okay. We'll be there before you leave. Have you and I met before?" Shane pointed at him.

"Kristoff stands up, shaking his head. No, we haven't." Then he walks out of Winter's office furious.

Shane is looking at Kristoff as he walks out of the office. "I have seen his slimy a*s somewhere before."

"So have I. Baby, I can't read his thoughts. I don't like it one damn bit. At least I was able to read his little penguin thoughts. They're planning on killing you." Winter stands up and hugs him.

"Yea, I had that feeling. There aren't any f*****g rogues. That bastard wanted you to go there. I'm glad that you made it be known that I'll be the one going. His a*s wants to have me killed. If his a*s makes a move, we'll not only be the King and Queen of all werewolves. We'll have a damn sea to rule." Shane kisses the mark on Winter's neck.

Harper is looking with her arms folded. "Why didn't we just kill their asses?'

Winter laughs, "Girl, we can't kill anyone because of their thoughts. They have the right to think about anything that they like. Even if it is foolishness. We want everyone to be able to know that they can communicate with us regardless, nor do we want them to fear us."

"Star Eyes is right. We have to listen to everyone. But some will die for their doings. Damn it, where the hell has I seen his a*s." Shane kisses Winter's forehead. "I'm late for training. Take it easy, don't do too much. I have already commanded that all borders are triple secure. Just in case Manny decides to make a move."

Winter sits down "Okay. Don't be gone too long. I hate it when you're away from me."

Shane smiles and winks at her while he's walking out the door.

Winter took a deep breath, tapping her desk "Kristoff was aroused. I mean a lot. Rieka even felt it and was uncomfortable about it. Something about him is very familiar." She was looking at Harper. "What do you think it is?" Harper whispered.

"I don't know. But I hope to find out soon. What is it with you and Parker whispering?" She laughs

"Hell around here we never know when someone is listening to us. All those bitches are sending spies and s**t in here." Harper waves her arms in the air, looking around the office.

"We overheard a phone conversation." Yolanda opens the door, walking into Winter's office. Patrice is behind her.

Patrice walked over to Winter's desk. "We didn't hear all of the conversations. But that King man has some men somewhere close to the palace."

"He wants to mate with you" Yolanda pointed at Winter.

"It seems that we will be on a retreat while our mates are in Kristoff's pack. That is if they don't make their move before then." Winter smirks, looking around at the three women.

"A killing retreat?" Harper leans over the desk and whispers

"Yes, a killing retreat", Winter whispers, looking at Harper.

"Oh, hell yea" Patrice and Yolanda whispered, looking at Winter.

Winter falls back in her chair laughing

****

Kristoff is in the car cussing. He hasn't stopped since he and Lewis left the palace. "That arrogant son of a b***h. Your a*s will not be leaving my pack alive. Only a true King is worthy of Queen Winter.

Lewis looks over at him. "Are we really going to kill the King?"

"Don't ask me anything that damn stupid. What the hell do you think? Hell yes, you will kill him." Kristoff yells.

"Me? Why me?" Lewis is looking at him as if he has two heads.

"Because I'll be in Atlantis. I can't be there when you start the attack on Shane and his warriors." Kristoff rolls his eyes at the man.

Lewis can't believe that Kristoff is ordering him to kill the King. If he survives that attack and someone finds out what he has done. Then he would be killed. He knows that Kristoff is a spoiled and selfish brat. Why does he have to want someone else's Mate when he hasn't found his true Mate yet?"

"I'll ask you the same damn thing King f*****g Shane asked me. Do we have a problem?" Kristoff leans his head to one side, looking at Lewis.

"No" Lewis shakes his head, thinking "I lied the same way you lied to the King.

Kristoff talks his phone out of his phone. "Don't make me angry," But looks at Lewis one more time before he dials a number.

****

Dimitri, Parker, Bronson, and some warriors are driving up to Josey's farmhouse. Parker is looking at some horses. "Someone must stay here. Those horses are being taken care of pretty damn well."

Bronson takes her hand. "Yep, and they are beautiful."

Dimitri sniffs the air. "I don't smell anyone here." He's knocking on the door. After several knocks, he turns the doorknob but it's locked. So, he kicks the door in.

Bronson orders the warriors to look around the yard but to also be alert. He's looking toward the bar and walks over there

Parker walks into a nursery. "Oh yea someone lives here." She walks into another bedroom. It has a race car toddler's bed in it.

Dimitri walks out of the kitchen. "It's fresh food in the refrigerator. "He takes an envelope out of his pocket and lays it on the coffee table in the den.

Parker walks out on the porch. "Damn it."

Dimitri laughs "Your a*s loves to fight."

"Yep. But only when I believe that the person or people are dangerous. Especially when it concerns Winter. That damn Stonewall family is f*****g with her and Shane's life. Can't have that." Parker walked off to the porch to meet Bronson. He didn't find anyone or anything in the barn.

****

Taffy, Manny, and two men are in one car. Behind them is an SUV with eight men in it. Taffy is smiling until she notices the scenery. "Why are we on the way to the palace?" She turns to look at him.

"I have been invited to have dinner with the King and Queen. After all, I am the King of rogues." He smirks and looks out the window.

"King of rogues? There isn't a king of rogues. You tricked me. You know that Winter and that damn mate of hers will kill me. Hell, probably kill the both of us." She yells and tries to open the door to the SUV to jump out.

Winter, Shane, Autumn, and the others are standing in front of the palace looking at the two SUVs that had just driven into the gate.

Ophelia is standing between Harper and Parker. She keeps cutting her eyes at Winter.

Shane is looking at Manny stepping out of the SUV. His head is tilted a little to the right, thinking "something isn't right".

Winter is also looking at him also. She reads his mind. But it's only on freeing Ophelia. Then she looked at Ophelia.

Ophelia is sniffing the air, looking at the man strangely.

Winter shakes her head, as she mind-links Shane "that man isn't Manny."

He turned to look at her. "What? It sure as hell looks like his ugly a*s.

Taffy steps out of the SUV, looking around. She's looking around, trying to find a way out of there. As she turns to run toward the back of the SUV a strong hand grabs her. "You're not going anywhere." Ace pulls her toward the palace. Bronson walks over to Manny. "The King and Queen are waiting for you." He motions with his head toward Shane and Winter.

Winter looks Taffy up and down. "Well, Loose Legs we met again. Lock her a*s up for now." She looks at the man.

Ace pushes Taffy toward a warrior. She's screaming as the man pulls her toward the dungeon.

The man is staring at Shane. "I'm here and you have Taffy. Let my mate go." The man glanced over at Ophelia. She's still looking at him weirdly.

"So Manny sent you to die in his place." Shane yanks that mask off of the man's face.

Winter is looking at Ophelia. "It seems that your Mate doesn't value your life. Take her back to the dungeon. But treat her kindly. After all, she is pregnant."

The men that were in the SUV jumped out and started shifting. Gage, Bronson, Ace Harper, Parker, Patrice, Yolanda, and Autumn shift.

"Stupid idiots, we were going to let you go," Shane yells, looking at Gage and Dimitri's wolves. Sabre and Remus are ripping two of the wolves' heads off. Yolanda's wolf, Lexi, and Ptolemy's, Patrice's wolf have two wolves on the ground. They swing at their throats until they rip both wolves' jugulars out.

"I'm going to kill that girl". Winter is looking at her sister's wolf, Ashina. She's clawing at one of the wolves. She chuckles thinking "she acts more like me every day." Ashina swings her sharp claw at the wolf's throat. The wolf falls to the ground. She turns to look at Winter.

Winter nods her head and gives her the thumbs up. "I'm so proud of you" She mind-links her sister.

Ace's wolf, Kodiak, is leaning over a wolf swinging his claws nonstop. The wolf is howling and whining as he's being torn apart.

Rocky Bronson's wolf and a wolf are on two legs. The wolf is trying to bite Rocky's shoulder when the wolf leans close to Rocky's left shoulder. Rocker clamps down on the wolf's neck. He doesn't let go until the wolf is dead. Magik and Mystic have two wolves pinned against the Suv. The two wolves try to jump over the twins' wolves but are caught in mid-air by their legs. Mystic swings the wolf against the SUV's door. The wolf howls as she leans over him and bites his neck. But she doesn't stop until she has beheaded him. Magik has the other wolf by his leg. She rips it off before she bites down on the wolf's stomach, clamping down until the wolf stops moving, she rips a piece off and spits it on the ground. Magik looks around for her sister. She sees Harper walking from behind a tree after shifting.

Shane waves his arms in the air. "As you can see, Manny sent you all to your death." He doesn't give the man a chance to say anything. He punches the man in his trachea. The fake Manny grabs his throat, gasping for air until he dies.

Winter is furious that they didn't apprehend Manny. Shane wraps his arms around her. "Calm down. We knew that Manny would try something. At least you have Loose Legs Taffy in the dungeon."

"One out of two isn't bad" She gives him a peck on his lips.

****

Nicholas, Blake, and Hayden are sitting on the patio waiting for the rogues to attack. He and Shane believe that Manny will more than likely attack both packs at the same time.

Blake hasn't said much since Nicholas killed Rusty. He had been trying to figure out how the man that treated him as a son could betray the pack.

"Man, don't beat yourself up over Rusty. I know that you respect him. Just think about the good times he and you had. He might have been a traitor, which caused me to kill him. But he was good to you." Nicholas was looking in the direction that the rogues had been camping in.

Hayden pats Blake's shoulder. "Nick is right. Another way to look at this is that Rusty not only put the pack in danger. You, your mate, and his mate. Hell, he was a Stonewall to the end."

Blake hit the table. "Damn your right rights, his a*s didn't care who died."

Nicholas is looking at his watch. "Why haven't those fuckers attacked? I prefer for them to attack us than the damn palace. I know that Winter will try to fight. Shane and I have told her not to shift. "

"It seems that you and Shane are getting along better." " Blake hands Nick a bottle of water.

Nicholas chuckles thinking about Winter eating in the Suv. "Yes, we are. Hell, I just wish that I was more involved in her pregnancy". He was looking at his ringing phone. He smiles when he sees Winter's face on the screen. He doesn't waste any time answering his phone.

Blake and Hayden are looking at a large grin on Nicholas's face as he hangs the phone up.

"Manny chickened out and sent in a damn imposter. At least Taffy is in custody. Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for the palace. It seems that Winter, Shane, and I are having an ultrasound done. We'll find out what our pups are." Nicholas sits back in his chair still smiling.