Chapter 60
Xena’s POV
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in!” Ryder called.
The door swung open, revealing Ama’s smiling face. “I’m here to make a confession, X.”
I turned to look at Ryder, who was about to speak.
“Girl’s talk,” I said with a frown. Ryder could only shrug helplessly as he stood to leave.
Ama quickly stopped him. “No need. Ryder is my Alpha now. He can stay.”
“Fine. Sit here, sis,” I patted the spot next to me.
Ama happily walked over and leaned against my shoulder. “I think William is being too protective of me,” she said softly, glancing at Ryder. “My father and mother are both warriors. I’ve been trained by them since I was little. I don’t think I’m any worse than William.” Her voice was low, uncertain.
I noticed her tone and stroked her hair gently. “I’m glad you think that way, Ama.”
“Really?” She looked at me with wide eyes.
“I’m serious,” I said, I told her a story about an eastern werewolf tribe–the Blackclaw Pack -where the Beta female sacrificed herself for the pack. My dad had told me the story at least five times.
“That’s so dramatic,” Ama sighed.
“This isn’t some drama, Ama,” I said seriously. “If that information had fallen into the wrong hands, they could have organized attacks against the pack, leading to casualties. As a Beta female, your duty is to protect the pack at all costs. This is what it means to be a ranking wolf.”
‘Did you always know you’d have to sacrifice your life for pack members?” Ama asked, surprise in her eyes.
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Chapter 60
“Your father did too. He’s a top warrior. Yes, we’ve all been trained, but we’ve never really experienced battle. Now that you’re a high–ranking wolf, you have to take it all seriously.” I looked into Ama’s eyes firmly.
“Wow, now I understand why you want to travel!” she exclaimed.
“Ama, that’s not why I want to travel,” I shook my head, feeling a sharp pain inside. Those dark memories flooded back in an instant. “I just want to escape Martha, escape that life of constant vigilance, that walking–on–eggshells feeling. But I absolutely love being a high–ranking wolf. I can help people. Logan and I opened that club to provide jobs for
pack members. When someone comes to thank you for helping them, that’s the most fulfilling thing.”
I looked at Ama, hoping she’d understand the satisfaction behind this responsibility.
“You’ll find something you like here, a direction you want to help in. Once you find where your passion lies, it will all be worth it.”
“Thank you. I feel much better now.” Tears glistened in Ama’s eyes. I could feel her anxiety slowly dissipating.
“I know you’ll be an excellent Beta female. You have a heart of gold, and when you find what you want to focus on, it will all be worth it.”
“You’re right. I just need to keep moving forward.” Ama gathered her things. “I’ll talk to William again. It’s training time.”
“Bye,” I slapped Ama’s butt playfully.
She left with a laugh, and I started packing up my things, my thoughts drifting elsewhere. This feeling of guiding others was strange–I had a pile of my own problems, yet I was naturally comforting Ama. I shook my head, forcing myself not to overthink.
“You have a gift,” Ryder commented from the side.
“It’s one of my many talents,” I shrugged.
I picked up my phone and checked the messages from the motorcycle shop. I only had one appointment today, a modification that would take three hours to complete. But the customer had canceled because his grandmother died.
Chapter 60
“What’s wrong?” Ryder noticed my change in mood.
“A pack member canceled his appointment because his grandmother died. I wish I could send him something. Maybe I can get Logan to do it.”
“I can take you, and then you can finish the modifications on my Harley,” Ryder
suggested.
He loaded his motorcycle onto his pickup truck. Forty minutes later, we were back at my
pack house.
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