2

My heart races as I check my email repeatedly, waiting for Maddox’s reply to magically pop up. There is a sinking feeling in my heart as I see the same error message I’ve received a hundred times over the past week. The one that keeps telling me the email address no longer exists. I frown and check the time, and my eyes fly open wide. Kohen and Maddox should arrive back any minute now. 

I fly from my desk, grabbing a sweater from the back of my chair as I whip out the door and throw my arms in it. A squeal of excitement whisks past my lips as I come closer to the front gate, my father, Maddox’s father and Kohen’s parents all waiting for the guys to come back.

My father catches me, slowing me down with a chuckle as I grin up at him, my heart bursting to see my boys. I haven’t spoken to Kohen since the night in my room and Maddox never got my email about what happened that night and my apology for letting it go so far. 

There is a very real possibility they are both livid with me, but I couldn't care less. All I want is to see them. It’s been months since seeing Maddox and I need to apologize to Kohen for how temperamental I was with him. Granted, he has his own apologies to issue for coming on as strong as he did. 

The cars pull up and I fidget with my hands, Alpha Michael chuckling and placing a hand on my shoulder to calm me.

“Breath, Lana.” he smirks. 

“I’ve missed them so much,” I admit, and he gives me a genuine smile. Alpha Michael, much like Maddox, is a man of few words, but his face always gives away his true gentle nature. He is fallibly kind. Which, rumor has it, is why his pack fell, though I would never ask such a question. 

“We all have. Though possibly not as much as you.” he gives me a wink as an old man in a tailored suit and gray slicked back hair steps out. I slide a glance to my father, who has gone rigid as the man walks over and reaches out to take his hand. 

“Alpha Landon.” He says “I am Cedric.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you officially.”

“I need to have a discussion with you and the family of Maddox DeVouix.”

My father’s eyes narrow slightly as he looks over to Alpha Michael, who steps forward.

“I am his father.”

“Is there somewhere we can go?” He asks. “To speak privately.”

“Stay here and wait for Maddox and Kohen,” my father says to me as he leads the way for Cedric and Michael to follow him. 

My heart sinks as a feeling of discomfort settles in my stomach. Something is wrong, terribly wrong, but I can’t tell what it is. In the next second the doors to the second SUV open and Kohen steps out, a blue button-up shirt that fits across his broad shoulders perfectly and tapers at his waist where it’s tucked into his gray slacks. He styled his hair perfectly, his deep green eyes shining when they lock with mine and I can’t help the blush the blots my cheeks. 

I rush forward and throw myself into his arms, hugging him, that tightness in my chest still there as I secretly look inside the SUV to see if Maddox is there. Kohen chuckles as he hugs he closely to his chest before pulling back and smoothing my hair, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

“I wasn’t sure how you would respond to seeing me again.” He says with a small frown. “Lan… I am sorry for how I acted the other night.” He whispers, his eyes focused on mine.

“It’s okay.” I smile at him and he frowns. 

“No, it’s not. We both know it’s not. I can’t believe I acted like that and I promise I will never act that way again…” he smiles at me, pressing his forehead to mine. I blink up at him, a little shocked by his more than usual display of affection. “Unless you want me to. I promise.”

“Kohen,” I say, stepping back from him. “It’s okay. Really. I got caught up in the moment, too.”

I look around and my brows furrow as no one else steps out of the vehicles. 

“He isn’t here.” Kohen says glumly, a look of pain on his face. 

“Who isn’t here?” I swallow the lump growing in my throat. 

“Maddox. He isn’t coming back.”

Tears instantly hit my eyes and I think back to the last email he sent me. The one that ended with him asking me to give him consideration for a chance as my mate. The one I responded to by telling him that things transpired between Kohen and me…

“Wh-what do you mean he isn’t coming back? Why?” I ask. My chest aches horribly as I clutch at it, as if I can keep my heart from falling out. “It’s my fault, isn’t it?” 

Kohen gives me a confused look. “Why would it be your fault?” he asks and I sigh. 

“I emailed him, I told him about what happened between you and me… But the email said undeliverable so I didn’t know if he had seen it…”

Kohen sighs heavily and then scrubs a hand down his face. “That is not why.”

“Are you sure?” I ask him, looking around at where my dad and Michael led Cedric off to. 

“I can’t say for sure. I haven’t seen him in a few days.” He says with a small frown. “Maybe you should ask your dad?”

“Kohen.” His father calls him and Kohen grins, “I have to go see my parents, I’ll see you at dinner tonight?” he asks with a hopeful smile and I nod in agreement, all the while my heart seems to crack. 

“Yeah, of course. I’ll be there.” 

“Great,” He says, kissing my head and running off to greet his parents. 

I walk over to the place my father is having his meeting and I sit outside on a bench waiting for them to finish. The one thing I hate about the room they chose is that it’s one of our few sound proof rooms. It’s almost like my dad assumed I would try to listen in. I can hear thumping and then the door flies open and Alpha Michael storms out the door. 

I chase after him.

“Michael!” I call out and he continues to storm off. 

“Magdelana” My father calls out my full name and I halt, looking back at him. “Come. Now.” He grits out and I frown, looking at Michael as he rushes off and back at my upset father. I hesitant as I move toward him and stop looking up. 

“Where is Maddox?” I ask. Dad’s facade slips and I see confusion and pain in his eyes. “Dad?” I ask again, and he releases a heavy breath. 

“Maddox has been exiled.” He says lowly. His words ring in my ears as I stare up into my loving father’s face as he watches me fall apart. 

“W-w-what the hell do you mean? You mean he went rogue, right? Like he left and chose to be a rogue…”

He shakes his head solemnly. His brows furrow as he pulls me into a hug. 

“No, sweetheart. He has been tried, marked and exiled. He no longer exists to us.”

My knees buckle as my father’s powerful arms wrap around me, holding me upright as my world caves in around me. Exiled.

“What did he do?” I ask, but my father doesn’t answer as he hugs me and strokes my hair as I cry. “Dad, what did he do?” I ask, and he shakes his head no. 

“I am not at liberty to say,” he says. “I have made an oath to not speak a word of it. Lana, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you.”

I step away from him angrily, pushing at his chest. 

“I need a minute…” I breathe out, bending at my waist, my hands coming to my knees as I dry heave. “Exiled. He is gone.” I mutter. The words are torture to my heart as I whimper.

Exile is the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf, especially one of alpha blood. It is rare to trialed and exiled but when it happens they strip you of pack rights and brand you with a hot silver iron dipped in wolfsbane. The symbol of a giant X so that the rogues who hunt the exiled for fun know they have free rein to do whatever they wish to the criminal. 

No pack will have him, leaving him banished to a life of solitude where his wolf will go crazy, not having the hope of a mate to help sooth it’s damaged soul. And that is if he were to live that long. There are rogue groups that make a sport of hunting the exiles and killing them in whatever creative way they can come up with. The thought makes me feel sick again as this time I heave hard enough to eject my stomach's contents onto the dusty earth. My fathers rubs circles on my back. 

“I am so sorry, sweetheart,” he murmurs. “Can you walk?” he asks as I stand up straight, stumbling forward. I give him a faint nod as I walk past him, feeling empty and broken as I somehow find my way to my room and lay down on my bed, crying myself to sleep. 

I wake up to a shifting on my bed, and my eyes fly open. A hand comes to my cheek and I swear for a second I smell Maddox. 

“Mads?” I ask in a sleepy stupor. 

“It’s me, Kohen. You missed dinner, so I thought I would check on you.” He says, scooting over closer to me.

“Maddox is gone,” I choke out and Kohen sighs.

“I know he is babe.” he murmurs holding me close. “I know.”