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"With pleasure." I say, sliding out under his arms, and slamming the door behind me.
"She can have him." I snarl at Riley, pushing past him.
"You don't mean that,” Riley states, falling into stride beside me. "Lei. Wait." He grips my arm. "Where are you going?"
"Back to my room. And don't follow me."I take the stairs two at a time, not stopping until I reach the safety ofmy room and locking the door behind me.
Chapter Six
LEI
The pack is already waiting in the den by the time I arrive.
After my chat with Corbin this afternoon, I had gone straight to my room crying myself to sleep. After I woke, I showered, spending longer than usual as I thought about everything that had happened since I'd been gone.
It's no wonder Keisha had stopped replying to my messages of late. She'd always had a thing for Corbin growing up, and with me gone, she had finally gotten what she wanted.
Taking the only available seat, I can feel Corbin's eyes on me as I turn to face him head-on. If there was one thing I didn’t want to do tonight, it was to look weak in front of the alpha or the pack.
"Redwood," Corbin speaks as the pack goes silent. "Today, we have a guest. Lei Dawson has returned to our pack seeking shelter for a few days."
"Didn’t she abandon the pack?" A woman I don’t recognize asks from across the table as I stare at her.
“Yes, she did. She’s a traitor with quite the reputation if you know what I mean.” The man beside her sneers.
Now this man I recognize. He had never liked me or my family. He’d been a part of this pack for as long as I can remember and a close friend of Jacobs.
"Quiet!" Corbin once again commands the room. "All in favor of Lei staying for a few days?"
I see a hand go up out of the corner of my eye, but I don't turn around; keeping my eyes firmly on Corbin.
"And those against?"
This time, I can’t stop myself from turning around as I watch their hands go up, one by one, sealing my fate.
I can feel my heart pounding deep within my chest as the safety I’d felt only a few hours ago fades away.
I've tried to outrun Xan, but he's hunted me down in every city or town I could afford. I've moved numerous times and changed my number, but none of it ever made a blind bit of difference. He always finds me, and I was a fool to think that coming back here would be any different.
A chair slides out from across the table and I know it’s Riley. I don’t have to look. I can sense him. Hear the sound of his boots on the hardwood floor, getting closer, no doubt getting ready to escort me to the front gate on Corbin’s orders.
No thank you.I can walk myself out.
I stand quickly, my chair scraping loudly across the floor as I plan my hasty escape.
“Sit down!” Corbin’s voice rings out, and in the silence of the room, I can do nothing but grit my teeth and comply, but I don’t pull my seat back in. There’s no point.
“It looks like the decision is unanimous.” He replies, and I’m not surprised to see the look of sheer delight on Keisha’s face before she hides it, cuddling closer to Corbin’s side, stroking his arm.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Corbin asks. "You abandoned this pack once before. Maybe the pack would allow you to stay if you tell us why you originally left?”
I can feel Riley at my back as he moves closer, waiting for an explanation of why I deserted them. Why I deserted the pack? But I can’t do it. Not here. Not like this.
"Then you leave me no choice. Lei—"
"Go to hell," I finally spit out, getting out of my chair. "I'll see myself out." I turn to face a shocked Riley before stepping around him and heading towards the door at the back of the room. It's a bad move and one I know I will end up paying for. I'd just disrespected my alpha. No, not my alpha, their alpha. But I couldn't bear to hear the word banished fall from his lips.
Climbing the stairs to my room, I can hear a set of footsteps behind me, but I don't turn around. I won't go back in there. I won't give the pack the satisfaction of seeing me at my lowest. I knew it was a bad idea to come back here. I should have turned around at the gates when I had the chance, but it's too late now. All I can do is grab my things and leave with as much dignity as I can muster.
