Being Alpha_Olde Town Pack

by Katie Salidas

  And he had saved her. The pair were bonded by more than just mutual attraction. Brady was her savior, and she was a woman worthy of being saved. The love in Brady’s eyes was undeniable. He’d never looked at Emma that way; he’d shown her only lust. But with Rachel, it was as if his eyes could not get enough time to appreciate her features. He lingered on her face as if nothing else mattered. His lips quirked playfully as she coquettishly batted her eyelashes, brazenly flirting with each other in front of the whole council. Their hands reached across the empty void between their seats and came together with a squeeze as their fingers laced together.

  Their love was clear as day, and it scratched open the scabs of Emma’s heart even as she tried to be happy for the new couple.

  She steeled herself against the rising tide of depression threatening to reduce her to a blubbering mess. The time for crying into her pillow would come; but not now. Not here. At the risk of losing her position in the pack, none of these people could see the effect Brady and Rachel had on her.

  Focus, dammit. Focus.

  Aiden had been speaking, but she’d missed most of the conversation. “... leaving Stephen in charge of the compound for the time we’re away.”

  Jackson was seething silently as Aiden finished announcing the order of administration, and Emma realized she’d missed more than she’d thought.

  “How long until we travel?” Emma asked, hoping that the Alpha had not already covered that question.

  “You have a week to prepare your staff.” Aiden responded to the group rather than her.

  Emma scribbled down the notes quickly in her journal, making sure to put a star next to the seven-day deadline.

  “And before we dismiss, Emma, I need you to draw up a medication list to have Leif sedated for the journey. We don’t need him causing any trouble,” Aiden requested.

  “More than happy to.” The last thing she wanted was another one of his creepy big, bad wolf impressions. “You want him sleepy or comatose?”

  “It’s going to be a very long drive.” Aiden cracked the first real smile she’d seen in a while. “I’ll leave that decision up to you, doctor. Just make sure he’s still breathing when we arrive, or all our patience and planning will have been for nothing.”

  4

  Aeson Silverman

  Time sprinted forward, fueled by the frenzy of preparations needing to be made in the Silverman mansion. Welcoming and accommodating envoys from all the territories in North America was an enormous task even without the truncated deadline. Every available member of the pack had been called in to service for this week-long summit.

  Ensuring everything was perfect brought Ace near his breaking point. As host, the spotlight would be directed his way. If that weren’t pressure enough, presiding over his first official Regional council meeting as a newly minted Alpha meant everything he did or said would be scrutinized.

  Hunched over his desk, he’d hardly had time to sleep in the last week as he memorized names and ranks of the various representatives from each pack. Lesser wolves would have found a way to get out of this, but every time the whispering voice of doubt attempted to persuade him to that end, he turned his gaze to the wall of his forefathers.

  David Silverman, his father, had not been meant to be Alpha. But when duty called, he did not shy from responsibility. He soldiered on. Ace drew on that for strength, promising to rise to this new challenge and continue the legacy of leadership the Silverman name had become synonymous with.

  A knock at the door came as a welcome distraction from the mountainous stack of unsigned documents.

  “Come in,” he called out, lifting weary eyes toward the door.

  His hand cramped from repetitively signing his name to documents he no longer had the time to read. Ace wondered if this was to be the direction of his administration, feeling as if he’d entered into an alternate universe where issues of territory mattered far less than what was to be served for dinner. Being Alpha was supposed to be about power and intelligence, with the occasional show of strength, but all he’d done in recent weeks was approve table seating charts and room requests.

  “The Olde Town pack are arriving.” Jay strolled in swinging a set of keys around his finger. “And we just finished the renovations on the detainment cells for our special guest.”

  “I’m not ready for this.” Ace yawned and stretched. His muscles protested the movement at first, but the immediate release tension made him sigh with relief as he brought his arms back down to the desk.

  “You know, I hear sleep helps,” Jay laughed.

  “Funny.” His mind having abandoned him two seating charts ago, Ace couldn’t even manage a witty retort. He envied his brother. Being Alpha gave you power, but the Second Son had a life. A whole other level of power, free from the administrative drudgery of the job.

  “Game time, bro. Wake up and get ready to meet your guests.” Jay pulled a small bottle from his pocket and set it on the desk. “I’ve brought you a present.”

  Ace recognized it for what it was, though there was no label attached: an energy shot. He greedily snatched it up. “You’re a life saver.” Caffeine, sugar, herbs, magic; the ingredients really didn’t matter at that point – as long as it snapped him out of the fog, he’d drink anything his brother handed him.

  “We can’t have you out there making us all look bad, now, can we?” He laughed, but the joke wasn’t on him. Well-rested and head held high, it was Jay who looked the part of the Alpha.

  Too bad they weren’t identical twins, or Ace might have considered swapping for the day. “Your confidence in me is truly endearing.” He slugged the small bottle’s worth of citrusy red liquid, cringing as the blend of bitter and sour washed over his tongue. “Let’s do this,” he groaned, trying to swallow the last few drops and keep them from coming back up. If the shocking flavor weren’t enough to rouse the senses, the heavy dose of caffeine and other mystery ingredients was guaranteed to do the trick. As if it had been conjured up by magic, the elixir’s effect was immediate. Warmth spread from the depth of his stomach. His heavy-lidded eyes snapped open, bringing the room into sharp focus. Tingles gently ran along his arm out toward his fingertips, and his heart kicked into overdrive. All at once his face warmed, flushing as if embarrassment bloomed across his cheeks; but as soon as the sensation struck, it faded. “Whoa.” A final shudder rolled through his limbs, buzzing as nerves awakened.

  “Good stuff, eh?” Jay chuckled.

  Ace had had caffeine bombs before, but this felt like twenty hours of uninterrupted sleep with a chaser of coffee. He could rule the world with a steady stream of this stuff. “What the hell was that?”

  “Essence of childhood,” Jay said ominously.

  “Damn good name. The local witch coven could make a killing selling this stuff, you know.” Of course it had to be magical.

  “Specially brewed just for you. I spoke with them about the summit, and they understand how important it is for you to present yourself, and our territory, in a good light.” Jay reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a bag with four more unlabeled plastic bottles. “To be used when you need them most.” He set them on the desk and slowly pushed them toward Ace.

  “How long do they last?”

  Jay shrugged. “They didn’t say. Just told me to be careful and use them sparingly.”

  Ace swiped the bag from his desktop and stuffed it into the top drawer. “I definitely owe you one.”

  “Just get out there and make us proud.” Jay turned and headed back out the way he came. “I’ll make sure our special guest is tucked safely away while you go do your schmoozing.”

  Ace took a deep breath and composed himself. His heart was pounding with renewed magical energy fueling it, but anxiety still remained, and that was something no spell was going to take care of.

  Of all the packs arriving, the Olde Town was the friendliest and required the least amount of showmanship. A good trial run, though, for the next few groups to arrive.

/>   Ace strolled out of the office, keeping his head held high as he entered the solarium. This was the most beautiful room in the house, with walls of glass revealing a dramatic view of the back gardens all the way down to the tree line and private forested area that belonged to his estate. Being so close to the city, his home was the perfect environment for his family and the gathering place for his local pack, a sanctuary where either form was acceptable and the risk of being spotted by humans was nonexistent.

  During the warmer months, the glass walls would be opened, creating a seamless transition between shelter and the open landscape, but as winter chilled the air and threatened to dump fresh snow at any moment, the glass barrier protected them from the biting cold.

  A roaring fire crackled from a majestic marble encased hearth. It was there, next to the warmth of the flames, that Ace chose to seat himself to greet his guests. All part of the show of power. Even with friends and allies, the game had to be played. It was expected. Local Alphas always granted audience to their guests in grand fashion.

  Ace set himself on a tan button-tufted wing-backed leather chair next to the fire, listening to the sounds of footsteps echoing on the marble floor just outside in the hall. In the last few moments of quiet, Ace calmed his breathing and called up his wolf to give him the strength he needed.

  “The Olde Town pack,” announced his butler, Peter, as he parted the ornate French doors.

  Ace nodded to his man, who immediately stepped aside to allow the envoy to file in one-by-one.

  Keeping his face neutral, Ace lifted his eyes to meet the friendly gaze of his ally, Aiden. An Alpha who had come into power at a young age, just as he had, they shared a lot in common. Both the Whelan and the Silverman packs had undergone extreme upheavals in leadership in the last few years. And more recently the Olde Town Alpha had vouched for Ace, helping to secure the position he now held.

  Once they had all filed in and stood before him, Ace rose from his seat and extended his arms in greeting. “Welcome to my home. I’m honored more than I can say to have you staying here with us this week.” He broke eye contact with Aiden to acknowledge the others in his group. “Please, enjoy yourselves as my guests.”

  There were more wolves than he’d originally anticipated seeing. He immediately recognized Brady, the other Whelan brother. Alongside the two brothers were three women. Fallon was the easiest to recognize – Aiden’s mate with the peculiar two-tone red and blonde hair. She had served on the previous council in favor of Giselle becoming Regional Alpha, but supported Ace just the same when his cousin rejected the position.

  He’d been told they were bringing other members of their council and witnesses but hadn’t confirmed whom. Ace reached back into his memory to pull up the names and duties of those highest ranking in the Olde Town’s council. The taller of the two blondes had to be Brady’s new mate, Rachel. His information on her had been limited, but the connection was apparent in the way she loosely twined her arm with Brady’s. She did not speak, but smiled politely as Ace’s eyes passed over her.

  That meant the last woman, dressed in a curve-hugging skirt and dangerously high heels, had to be Emma MacBride. Medical, if he remembered correctly, and a member of the council since Aiden came to power. He’d studied the briefings he’d been given and had expected someone older. But Emma had the timeless beauty of a magazine cover model. A knockout like her had Ace gawking like an idiot rather than playing his part as the gracious host. As his brain futilely tried to work out the problem, the silence in the room grew awkwardly stale.

  Aiden rescued them all from muted anticipation, speaking with a voice that demanded attention. “Thank you for your hospitality. We’ll do our best to avoid being a burden to you and your staff while we’re here.”

  The glass panel door opened behind them, and Jay entered the solarium with a boisterous “Hello,” as he came up alongside Ace.

  After that completely improper protocol for a formal introduction, Ace should have been annoyed with his brother, but found himself utterly thankful for the distraction he’d provided. The round of handshakes and hugs gave him time to kick his brain into gear.

  “You’re the first of our guests to arrive.” Ace attempted to mimic the same commanding tone Aiden had used moments before. “So you’ll have the benefit of additional time to prepare for the evening’s entertainment.” His eyes still lingered on Emma’s face, past the point of polite scrutiny. She had the kind of natural beauty that made you want to stop and appreciate all the subtleties that added to her perfection. Even as her lips pursed with annoyance, there was something in the way they darkened and contrasted her pale skin.

  “Is there something wrong?” Emma spoke, and though she sounded annoyed, her voice only served to put Ace further under her spell.

  “My brother is exhausted from late nights in preparation for your visit. You’ll have to excuse him.” Jay nudged Ace in the ribs with his elbow and whispered, “Quit drooling, bro.”

  “That obvious?” Ace answered back, struggling to keep himself in the moment when all he wanted to do was talk to Emma. Had he known what to expect, he’d have been better prepared.

  “Yeah,” Jay snickered under his breath, and then cleared his throat to address the guests. “Your special guest has been seen to his private room, and I assure you he’ll be well secured while here on our estate.”

  Thank the gods for his brother’s quick change of subject. Ace had never been more glad for the distraction. Between lack of sleep and the unexpected hotness of his first guest, he had been reduced to a drooling idiot – hardly the impression he had intended to give as the newly minted Alpha of this territory.

  Ace forced himself to turn away from Emma before all the blood drained away from his brain, robbing him of his ability to form complete sentences. “Dinner is at eight tonight. I’m sure you’re all as exhausted from your trip as I am at this moment. Please accept my sincere apologies. I promise to be well rested the next time we meet.”

  Brady snickered, his eyes bouncing back and forth between Emma and Ace. He winked and gave a quick nod. “Yeah. You get some... rest.”

  Ace signaled to Peter, his silent sentry, with a wave of his hand. “Olde Town are in the east wing. Please see to their every need.”

  The butler bowed respectfully before turning his attention to the group. “If you’ll allow me to show you the way.”

  The moment the doors closed, leaving the brothers alone, Ace slumped down onto the leather chair.

  “Dude! What is wrong with you?” Jay snarled at him.

  Normally his brother would have joked with him about his epic failure to impress a girl. He’d have given him shit for drooling like the village idiot. But there was no humor in his brother’s tone. And he was right. Hot girl or not, there was no excuse to screw up as badly as he had with this first meeting. Ace’s only saving grace was the fact the Olde Town were already his allies. If he pulled that kind of crap with the Lobos or any of the Midwest representatives, he’d be an easy mark. They’d never respect him or the territory he represented.

  “I don’t know.” Ace let his whole body sink lower into the chair’s cushions. “I couldn’t stop myself. Emma, that’s her name, right?” Just saying her name sent his mind wandering again.

  “Don’t even go there, bro. You have a job to do right now. Not the time. Not the place.” Beyond brotherly ribbing, Jay’s tone bordered on a command that made Ace’s inner Alpha rise to the challenge.

  “Weren’t you just telling me–”

  “To go after girls in our pack.” Jay finished the sentence for him. “Not ones who belong to the councils of other packs.”

  “You don’t think I have a chance, do you?” Ace asked, wondering why his brother had suddenly shifted gears. Jay had always been his wingman.

  “I was trying to let you down easy, but if you want the truth – no. You have no chance with Emma, and don’t screw up relations between our packs by trying.”

  “Damn. That’s hars
h. Especially coming from you. I have just as much chance as any guy out there.”

  “Normally I’d say yes. Especially with your title and all, but... no. She’s way out of your league.”

  If anything was a low blow, it was that last statement. How in the hell could Jay think anyone was out of his league? He was the Regional-freaking-Alpha, after all. The grandest of the grand high poohbahs. “She is our age, right?” Ace asked, confused. Emma looked to be in her early twenties, just as he was. “When have I ever struck out with a girl our age?”

  “She might look it, but she’s not. She’s been around for a while,” Jay said. “Didn’t you read the brief? She’s a doctor. Finished med school a while ago. She’s in her thirties, dude.”

  “And we’re in our twenties.” Ace shrugged off the number. “Age means nothing when you’re practically immortal. Besides, she looks–”

  “Out of your league, man.”

  “I’m an Alpha!” Ace puffed his chest proudly.

  Jay laughed so hard he had to catch himself against the mantle before he toppled over. “You think that’s going to impresses her?”

  “Shouldn’t it?” He’d never had a problem with women in the past, and since becoming Alpha they were practically throwing themselves in his line of sight.

  “Maybe for someone looking to improve their station on title alone, sure.” Jay caught his breath and wiped his eyes. Laughter remained in his voice as he continued. “She’s a ranking council member of one of the most respected packs in North America. She doesn’t need your title to make her.”

  “Way to make me feel better,” Ace grumbled. If Jay thought it couldn’t be done, then he would just have to prove how well he could do it. Confident in his track record with women, he’d have no problem impressing Emma.

  “You want me to blow smoke up your ass?”

  “Maybe I do.”

  “You know that ain’t happening. Look, everyone else might want to curry favor with the new Alpha, but to me, you’re still just my brother. I’m going to be straight with you like I always have.”