“She liked your kiss,” I stated baldly, figuring that would seal the deal and when a familiar cocky grin formed I knew I’d said enough. “Now, you didn’t hear that from me,” I said, shaking my finger as I glared at him. “If even a whisper gets back to her we had this conversation I’ll get Dom to string you up by your ball sack.”
Trent flinched reflexively, cupping his hands over his groin protectively. “You’re a hard woman, Jess Carter.” He gave a sudden brilliant smile. “A true Alpha’s mate.”
I squinted at him for a second, wondering if I’d heard him correctly. That was the second time in as many hours I’d heard that and I was starting to wonder.
“Jess, are you sure these steaks are done?’ Dad shouted. “They look bloody to me.” I threw my hands up as I hurried from the room, shouting, “Yes, don’t touch them.”
Chapter Four
Dom
The forest floor blurred under my paws as I ran, the soft thuds a soothing cadence that helped ease the turmoil inside of me. My stride faltered when the flashing image of Dylan running straight at Jess came to me once again. I forced it away, knowing I needed a clear head for the council meeting.
She’s fine, I reminded myself for the umpteenth time, but the gnawing anxiety didn’t go away. I knew it wouldn’t disappear until she was in my arms again, the constant worry a part of the mating bond that I could do without. I brushed against the mental link I kept open to her and felt her contentment. If there was one thing I was grateful for it was that she didn’t have the same nagging fear which haunted me. The never-ending fear of losing the one that held the other half of your soul.
I slowed as I came to the circular building in the middle of the clearing. It was our meeting house and where almost every important Pack decision had been made for the last three hundred years. I sniffed and then padded around to the back, shifting as I went.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said as he offered me a change of clothes. I bent over to slip on the pants as he asked, “Everything alright?”
I straightened, buttoning the slacks he’d brought. “Jess is fine,” I replied, almost automatically since that was the single thought that been repeating on a loop for the past hour in my head. He smiled knowingly.
“That’s good, but is there a reason you needed me to bring you clothes right before an important council meeting?”
“Oh,” I murmured, shaking my head slightly to clear it. “Dylan took off and I went after him. Took longer than I thought and I didn’t want to show up underdressed.”
Dad’s eyebrows quirked but he let what I said slide. “Thanks, by the way,” I added, gesturing to the shirt I was buttoning up.
“No problem, I was having dinner with your sister so it was easy enough to grab them,” he told me and it was my turn to glance at him in surprise. He shrugged. “Payne invited me on her behalf.” I nodded, that made more sense. Sam was living in my house with her son, Nicky, since it was safer than the motel. The Hanleys would think twice before coming in to our territory to try and snatch them.
I rubbed my hand over my chest as I reminded myself once again that Jess was safe. Trent was at the motel with her and Liam, and even Dylan, though I tried to push that thought away, not ready to deal with the implications of what Dylan’s shift meant in terms of me. As soon as the meeting was over, I’d return to the motel and keep her safe myself.
“Dinner was good?” I asked, catching back up to the conversation.
“Yeah, she talked to me,” Dad answered, “Well, fussed at me is more like it, but she’s her mother made over so I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I smiled at that. Sam would hate to think she reminded us of Mom, but it was the truth. She’d taken over the mothering role after Mom died and she’d done it well. At least until she’d left to be with a Hanley. The thought wiped the smile from my face. I still struggled with her reasons for leaving and part of me blamed myself. I hadn’t seen the toll it had taken on her to be mother, sister, and daughter to our family, or the fact that she’d hated the expectations the Pack placed on her. The expectations the Alpha had placed on her, I corrected myself. Caleb’s father hadn’t supported her relationship with his oldest son, Payne, since Payne couldn’t shift. When Payne had broken up with her, she’d decided to leave, making the decision to be with a Hanley and forsake our Pack.
“Wipe that look off your face, son.” Dad exhaled heavily. “The past needs to be laid to rest if we want to move forward.” He rubbed his hand over his mouth, shaking his head as he glanced away. “I made mistakes and I know it, but I won’t let that ruin the time I have now with you. I told your sister the same thing. I apologized to her and I’ll apologize to you.”
I stared at him in surprise. “Apologize to me for what?”
“For the expectations I placed on you,” he stated, grasping my shoulder. “For giving you the impression that you needed to follow in my footsteps instead of forging your own path. I’m proud of you, Dom. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do, I want you to know that I support you that you will always be my son and I couldn’t be prouder of that fact.”
My jaw worked as I swallowed hard. “I never minded your expectations,” I told him. “Or the thought of following in your footsteps.”
“I’m glad to hear that, son, but I want you to know that no matter what happens, what you choose to do, I will have your back.” His words held the impression of an unspoken promise, an acknowledgement of something I hadn’t fully formulated myself yet.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my arm settling over his as I reached over to squeeze his shoulder, our equivalent of a hug.
“I think Payne intends to marry your sister,” Dad said, changing the subject and I chuckled.
“I think you might be right,” I agreed. “About time,” I added and Dad nodded slowly.
“I wish I’d known before,” he murmured, “Things might have turned out differently.” I knew he meant Payne breaking up with Sam because of the Alpha’s decree, but I wasn’t sure even Dad could have changed the Alpha’s mind.
“How’s it look inside?” I asked, jerking my head toward the Pack house, my turn to change the subject as I considered what we were about to walk into.
“Tense,” Dad muttered, his long stride matching mine as we moved toward the front. “There are some that don’t like the fact that you went on Hanley lands to get the boys back, especially since neither of the boys are of the Navarre Pack.”
I let out a low snarl, “Both of those boys belong to me, one by blood and the other by mating. There is no way in hell I wouldn’t have gone after them.”
“I agree,” Dad said mildly. “It’s just another excuse for the ones that take exception to young Caleb being Alpha.”
“It’s been decided,” I reminded him unnecessarily. He’d been there, hell, he’d voted just as I had. It still bothered me that they would question Caleb as Alpha.
“It was voted on,” Dad corrected and I glanced at him. “Nothing has really been decided.” He shot me a look that spoke volumes as he lowered his voice. “Caleb is still struggling and we can’t afford a divided Pack with the Hanleys breathing down our backs,” he warned, the words barely audible and I knew it was so no one would overhear him questioning our Alpha. Dad supported Caleb, but it didn’t mean he didn’t see the pressure Caleb was under or how he struggled with it. “Help him decide,” Dad added as he opened the heavy door and I paused, not sure I’d heard him correctly. Dad disappeared inside without saying anything more and after a second, I followed with an even heavier weight on my shoulders.
It was a small gathering inside with only the elders and shifters invited. I nodded to Gregory, hoping to catch him after the meeting. He’d raised questions for Jess, which meant I needed to know exactly where he stood when it came to our Alpha. Do you have time to speak after the meeting? I asked him over the bond. He smiled knowingly, giving me a slow nod, the deep folds of his face barely creasing at the motion. Anna hovered near Caleb, who stood near the back, tensi
on radiating from him. I tilted my chin as I caught his eye and he visibly relaxed.
Thought you might leave me to face the lion’s den alone, he muttered, any chance of his words being a joke falling flat at his expression.
Anna’s here, I teased him lightly, nodding to Pack members as I cut through the room toward him.
I felt his mental unease at my mention of her and barely suppressed a sigh. I knew Anna was conflicted based on what Jess had said, but I also didn’t think it was right for Caleb to lead her on. You need to talk to her, I said sternly and felt him squirm. She deserves better, both as a female and a Pack mate.
I know, he said defensively. I just….. He trailed off as Anna’s father called the meeting to order and a stab of frustration cut through me. It was past time I sat down and talked to Caleb, but it wasn’t my imagination that he’d been dodging me, an easy feat since I’d been staying at the motel for the past few days. I had to make time, I acknowledged as Dad’s gaze met mine. Caleb needed to decide if he was the Alpha or just a placeholder.
“First order of business, Zeke Daniels.” A low murmur went through the group at the mention of the young teenager. It was no secret he would soon be going through his first shift, but he hadn’t been initiated into the Pack. Without the Pack bond in place, he’d go through the shift alone, an event none of us wanted to see happen. I rubbed my neck, thinking about Jess’ request for me to initiate Monster. My immediate reaction was to say yes, I wanted to bond her to me in every way, including having her brother as a Pack mate. The reality was more complicated. Initiation was a choice each of us had to make and I didn’t want to take that from him. It didn’t help that I was basically Alpha of an unacknowledged Pack.
“Has he decided?” The question broke through my thoughts in time to feel the simmering tension in the air.
“No,” Anna’s father answered shortly, and a few glances were cast toward Caleb. He shifted uncomfortably, but didn’t speak. The Daniels were one of the families that didn’t support Caleb as Alpha and the reason Zeke hadn’t already been initiated.
“Why aren’t they here?” I called out, having noticed the Daniel’s absence. Zeke and his father should have been at the meeting.
“They had a prior engagement,” Anna’s mom spoke up, as the only woman on the Council her diplomacy had become a valued skill.
“Why don’t you just say the truth? They’re not here because of me. Same reason Zeke hasn’t initiated. They don’t want me as their Alpha,” the bitter voice broke through the low murmurs of the crowd, silencing them. My gaze shot to Caleb as he stepped forward, the crowd parting before him as he stood in the center of the room, in clear view of everyone. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don’t want to be your Alpha?” A few shocked inhales were heard, but no one spoke. “That I don’t want to risk my life for you. That I don’t want to decide your fates?” His gaze scanned the room and more than a few dropped their eyes as he came to them. I tucked my hands in my pockets, listening as he spoke.
“I hear the whispers, I know how you feel. It’s impossible to hide your emotions from me. You question if I can do it, if I’ll be like my father, if Dom or Hank wouldn’t be a better choice. I hear you and I ask myself the same thing.” The room was frozen as they listened and across the room I could see Anna’s eyes glistening. “And if you really want the truth, I don’t know.” He paused, lifting his hands. “I don’t know.” He took a deep breath and I could almost feel the room exhale with him. “I do know that when challenged, I killed a man to protect this Pack. That I would do it again in a heartbeat.” There were a few nods of respect around the room. “You wonder if I’m too young, if it was too much losing my father and taking the mantle of Alpha.” He shrugged. “Maybe.”
His raw honesty made my eyes burn because I could feel the intensity through our Pack bond, the intensity hitting every shifter in the room. “I know I’m not my father. That things will change. They need to change.” Caleb’s gaze met mine across the room, and gone was the lighthearted teenager, in his place stood a man who had to assume responsibility far too early. “I will be your Alpha if you want me. I will protect you with my life. I will be fair and honorable. I will listen to you and heed your words.” He paused for a long moment. “What I won’t do is force you to follow me. I’ve made my decision. I am Alpha of the Navarre Pack. What you do is up to you.” He dropped his gaze from the room and walked out.
I met my Dad’s eyes and watched him nod. I slipped from the room, figuring the meeting was officially over after that little speech. I followed my instincts and went around the back in time to see Anna kiss Caleb. I reared back, keeping out of sight and downwind. I pressed against the wooden wall when I heard them part, their heavy breathing making me wish I hadn’t chased after Caleb.
“I care about you, Caleb. I have for years,” Anna admitted. “You were there for me when I first shifted.” I winced at the reminder of Anna’s first shift. She hadn’t been initiated, no one had suspected she could shift, we’d all believed she was a breeding female and nothing more. She’d been alone when it first happened and disoriented. Caleb had been the one to find her and convince her to shift back even though he hadn’t had his first shift yet. After that, Anna’s mom had insisted on a seat with the Council, believing it was only fair to have a female representative for her daughter.
“I care about you too, Anna,” Caleb replied, his voice thick. “I want to apologize. I haven’t been a good friend to you.”
“Is that all you want? Friendship?” Anna asked pointblank and my eyebrows shot up.
Shock zipped through the Pack bond from Caleb at her forwardness and I knew she felt it too when she sighed. “The damn bond,” she muttered before laughing bitterly. “You can’t hide a damn thing.”
“I want it to be different,” Caleb said hollowly. “But things aren’t the same. Not anymore.”
“No, they’re not,” she whispered, and I heard the scuff of a foot on the ground. “I wish –” She cut herself off before she finished and a trickle of sympathy went through me. We’d all known about her crush on Caleb and the fact that he’d returned it, at least until his Dad died. The rollercoaster of emotions he’d went through then and was still going through made it impossible for him to be there for her.
“You will always be my friend, Caleb.” She swallowed hard, and I knew it was because she was choked up when her voice thickened. “And you’ll the kind of Alpha we need. Zeke should be proud to call you his Alpha.” I heard her hurry away and a sharp pang went through me at her honesty.
“I’m going to go talk to Zeke and his dad. See if I can convince them to initiate him into the Pack,” Caleb said as I stood there motionlessly. “You were right,” he chuckled mirthlessly. “You’re always right.”
“Not always,” I replied, guilt over my own secrets consuming me as he walked away.
“Quite a speech from our young Alpha,” Gregory said as he strolled toward me. “Inspiring one might say.”
“Where do you stand, Gregory?” I asked, suddenly tired.
“With the Pack. Always with the Pack,” he answered promptly, honesty ringing in his voice.
“So with Caleb,” I detailed, needing to know Caleb had the support of our oldest member.
“I have a great deal of faith in young Caleb. He’s becoming exactly what he needs to be. Same as you,” Gregory added, smiling when my gaze jumped to him. “Sometimes in life, we don’t realize what we want until we’re presented with it. Leads us to some unexpected places.”
“You speak in riddles, old man,” I retorted, scrubbing my hand over my head. “It must be exhausting.”
“You don’t reach my age without learning a few tricks.” He smiled. “And there’s nothing more fun than watching a bunch of pups chasing their tails.”
I laughed at the truth in his statement. Gregory had lived long enough to see it all and when I told him as much, he smiled ruefully.
“The bond you share with your mate surpri
sed even me. She is exceptional. As is her brother.” I nodded, rubbing my chest as I felt Jess brush against our mental bond. She did it often and I wondered if it was her version of reassurance. “I hope I live long enough to see your pups.” I choked at his words, grateful neither Jess or her father could hear them. They hadn’t been raised Pack and it was a little harder for them to accept some of our ways.
“Jess’ mom showed up,” I told Gregory. “She’s Pack.” His eyebrows raised but otherwise he didn’t show any reaction. “We don’t know from where but she’s a breeding female and she was raised in a Pack.”
“I guess that would explain Jess and her younger brother’s genetics,” Gregory mused. “Jess is an excellent match for you. And young Monster, well, you’ll need to guide him carefully, Dominic.” I stilled at Gregory’s words, it was almost as if he knew….but that was impossible. “He’ll be a powerful shifter one day and the kind of Alpha he’ll make depends on the examples he’s given.”
I nodded tightly, not denying his words. I’d already seen it and thought the same. It relieved me to hear it from Gregory though.
“Your instincts are good, Dom. You need to trust them.” He patted my arm, his head level with my shoulder only because age had shrunk him down. I remembered a time when he towered over everyone else, his frame as formidable as my own. “Tell your sister I said hello.” I nodded absently, not bothering to wonder how he knew I was going to see her.
“I will,” I said, my words echoing in the dark, Gregory already gone. I made my way to Sam’s house, surprised when I realized I already considered it hers. My place was with Jess, wherever that may be, even though I profoundly hoped it wouldn’t always be a motel off the highway.
“About time you showed yourself,” she snipped from the porch as I came to the steps. “It’s almost like you’ve been avoiding me.”
I scooped her up, ignoring the hands that beat on my chest as I hugged her. “I missed you, Sis.” She relaxed at my words, hugging me back.
The Alpha (The Pack Book 3) Page 6
