The Pack's Doctor by Cooper

Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Kennedy

After lunch, Connor and my father go off to talk, probably about the ceremony tonight. My mother, Quirin, and |

head up to my room to pack the rest of my things.

“I looked around last night and I don’t think | need to take much. Quirin has plenty of furniture, so | just want to

take one of my smaller dressers,” | tell my mother.

As | pack up my things, Quirin takes them to the truck we brought. When I'm done, | look around the space that

was my bedroom for eighteen years and realize that it no longer feels like home. His where Quirin is, and he

was never here.

After we're done, | shower and start getting ready for my brother's ceremony. I'm not sure where Quirin went,

but he comes in just as | finish getting ready.

“You look stunning, Kennedy,” he says, coming over stroking his fingers over my cheek. “Absolutely stunning.”

| wrap my arms around his waist. “Can you believe it was one week ago that you calledmate?” | ask him.

“So much has changed in one week, Little Pup,” he says.

“My entire life has changed,” | whisper.

“Both of our lives did,” he says, leaning in to kiss me. | hold him, trying to tell him without words that | want him,

that | miss our intimacy. When he pulls away, I'm not sure that he understood.

“You know, we could recreate our mating night here tonight,” I tell him. I watch his eyes go wide with something

close to fear in them, but that makes no sense.

“Little Pup, your father and | have a very tenuous truce going right now. Let's not push it by mating a couple of

rooms away from him,” he says, kissing my nose before walking into the bathroom.

| feel the tears prick my eyes at his words. My father knows that I'm mated. He wouldn't care if Quirin and | were

together. This feels like an excuse. An excuse that just reinforces what | thought before. Quirin’s hadonce,

and that’s all it will ever be for him.

| go downstairs to greet the guests for my brother's ceremony. Most of the Alphas from our birthday are back,

but this twhen they see my mark, they keep their distance.

However, when Alpha Henry arrives, he doesn’t bother keeping his distance. He comes right up and hugs me.

“How's Quirin treating you? Are you doing okay over there?”

“Things are great,” | say, forcing a smile. Henry's eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything more.

Soon after that, Betas Franklin and Savannah arrive, along with their children.

“Madison, Happy Birthday. You look beautiful,” | say to her. She’s Franklin and Savannah's oldest child and she

just turned eighteen.

“Thank you! | didn’t find my mate in my pack, so I'm hoping to find him here tonight,” she says excitedly.

“Good luck. There are a lot of Alphas here,” | say to her.

My brother stayed upstairs, waiting to make a grand entrance into his party. When my mother announces that

it’s time,

1/3

15:13 Sun, 2 Feb R

Chapter 128

everyone begins making their way outside. Since the ceremony will only be for my brother to take his place as

Alpha, there are no chairs. The ceremony will be short and then there will be a party afterward.

We've all just gotten outside when | hear a possessive snarl behind me. I'd know the sound of my brother's wolf,

Bosche, anywhere. | feel Quirin’s arm go around my waist, ready to pullout of the way if something is wrong.

Everyone turns, seeing my brother standing at the doorway, his chest heaving and his nostrils flared. Almost as

one, everyone steps back, leaving a clear line of sight between my brother and Madison.

“Mate,” she says smiling as her eyes fill with tears.

“Mate,” he growls and stalks over to her, pulling her to him and taking her mouth in a passionate, possessive

kiss.

My heart twinges and | look away. | already know the kind of relationship that Connor and Madison will have. My

brother is just like my father. He will openly adore Madison for anyone and everyone to see. He will claim her

publicly, kissing her and expressing his love for her as often as she’ll let him. And there is no doubt in my mind

that they'll have a pup within the year. Unlike my mate, my brother won't be able to get enough of his mate.

| watch as Connor asks Madison to join him on stage. She can’t take her place as the pack’s Luna yet, she’s not

marked. But | know without a doubt that she will be tonight. My brother and | have always liked Madison and I'm

happy for both of them. She looks as thrilled as he does to be mated to him and she stands by his side, proudly

watching him as he takes his oath as Alpha of the pack.

She's the first one to swear her loyalty to him, and then, one by one, the pack goes up to pledge their allegiance

to my brother.

Afterward, he brings her over to our parents and then to me, introducing her as his mate and future Luna.

“We'll have to figure out timeframes, Maddie. Kennedy's Luna ceremony is next weekend. | really want to

attend,” he tells her.

“You don’t have to make any decisions tonight, Alpha Connor,” | say, smiling at my brother. “You've had a very

busy night and it’s no where near over yet,” | say, making Madison blush. “I'm so happy for both of you.”

| stand with Quirin, talking to my previous pack members, watching as my brother steals kisses from Madison

every chance he gets. She laughs and blushes, but she kisses him back. Each time, pain shoots through my

heart. Finally, | can’t take any

more.

“Let's go home, Quirin,” | say to him.

“What? Why? What's going on, Little Pup?” he asks me.

| shake my head. “I just want to go home.” | know | won't be able to stand by and watch my brother dote on

Madison tomorrow. They have what | want, and | want to be happy for them, but | can’t. Not right now when |

feel so raw inside.

| quickly go over to say goodnight to my parents, letting them know that we're leaving.

“I have sthings that | have to do at the hospital tomorrow and now that Connor is mated, well, he won't be

coming down before | had to leave anyway. I'll see you both next weekend,” | say, cutting them off before they

can askany questions.

“Are you sure, Ken?” my father asks.

“Yeah, Dad. It was great seeing you, all of you. I'll see you soon,” | say, turning and nearly running into Quirin.

“Alpha, Luna, it was nice seeing you. | guess we're leaving,” he says, still watchingclosely.

F305

29%

Chapter 128

The drive back to our pack is quiet. | can tell that Quirin wants to askwhat's wrong, but | refuse to look at

him. I stare out the window, fighting my tears.

When we get home, Quirin turns off the car. “Kennedy...” he begins, but | get out and walk to the packhouse.

“Ken...” he begins, but stops as we step inside. The tension in the packhouse is so thick that you could cut it with

a knife. | look over and see Beta Kier and several warriors standing up against Arlo, Slater, and several other

warriors.

Quirin growls menacingly, stalking toward them. “Is there a problem?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Arlo, is there a problem?” Kier growls.