I take a deep breath, searching for patience. “Look,” I say. “It’s too early for me to play twenty questions. Why don't you go ahead and explain the whole situation? Start at the beginning.”
Doc clears his throat. “I have a doctorate degree in wildlife biology and my specialization is, understandably, wolves. I'm often called in to consult on certain cases, and the local wildlife center called me yesterday morning about a wolf in their clinic who they believe was hit by a car. Since wolves aren’t exactly native to Tennessee or the South in general, I made arrangements to pick him up yesterday evening. When I arrived, I quickly realized the wolf was actually a shifter. I'm not sure who he is or where he's been, but his scent is so covered in antiseptic and fear, I could barely tell he’s a shifter, much less identify him. All I know for sure is he’s not one of ours—yours.”
I sigh. “Why is this my problem then?”
“Because I don’t know who he is, where he’s been, or if his presence here might represent a greater threat to the pack,” he replies. “And despite my best efforts over the last six hours, I have been unable to convince him to shift so I can get answersto any of those questions. Since only an Alpha can force a shift, I thought…”
I rub at my temples, a stress headache forming behind my eyes. “I... Isn't there anyone else?”
“I could ask Alpha Matisse to—”
“No,” I say. “It’s bad enough that I haven’t been able to make time to go up and visit the twins, I’m not pulling one of their fathers away for who knows how long to deal with this mess, especially since Madison is probably almost twice as far from your part of Tennessee than Sweet Water is.”
“Then there really isn’t anyone else,” says Doc. “The Sweet Water pack was the only one willing to work with either my father or Zachariah before, and I'm not the type to keep up with things like any other alliances, not that they’d matter now.” He huffs out a breath. “And the next closest pack I’m aware of besides the one in Madison is not one I care to deal with.”
Well, that certainly says a lot if someone related to Zachariah Stevens thinks another pack is bad news.
There’s really no other choice here, is there?
I sigh again, then swing my legs over the side of the bed and rest my forehead in my palm, elbows on my knees. “Say I’m willing to do this… why should I trust you? How do I know the rest of your pack isn't planning to cause trouble? For all I know, I'm walking into a challenge up there since you claim I'm your current Alpha. I obviously haven't asserted any authority, so your pack is going to think I'm weak.”
“I can't speak for everyone,” he replies, “but as Zachariah’s brother,Idon't plan to challenge you, not that it would matter since I’m a beta, and there aren’t any other alphas here. You already know Zachariah had no heir.”
“How many members are currently in your pack?”
He pauses. “Oh, well, there's me… and I think old Curtis and his wife are still nearby outside of La Vergne.”
“You're telling me everyone except for you and possibly two others left the pack?”
“Well… yes.”
I almost laugh. Some days I wish the majority of the Sweet Water pack would leave too. Most of them have gotten on board with my changes, but there are still a few old timers who aren’t quite as enthusiastic about things as I’d like.
“Fine. Text me the address,” I say. “I'll come up there, but I'm not coming alone, and if this is some kind of trap, you won't be happy with the consequences.”
“I understand. I'll see you soon,” he says. “Thank you, Alpha.”
“You’re welcome,” I mutter half-heartedly, but he’s already hung up.
This has the potential to be an absolute disaster, and as I stare down at my phone waiting for his text to come through, I can’t help but wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.
And how much I might regret agreeing to this trip.
Five
Luke
I drag my handover my face, hoping to clear some of the sleep from my head, then shoot my second, Macy, a text telling her I need her to come up to the house. By the time I shower, get dressed, toss some extra clothes in a duffel bag, and make my way downstairs, I find Macy already sitting in my kitchen and her mother, Linda, fussing with the coffee maker.
Macy meets my gaze and raises her brows in silent question. Glancing at Linda, I mouth, “Later.” As much as I want to trust Linda, she’s still mated to John—Randall’s former second—and I don’t want anything about this situation getting back to him.
At least not until after I’m back.
As a beta, John could never challenge me for the position of Alpha, but he’sheavilyimplied that he knows the truth aboutme not being Randall’s “real” son. I was kidnapped as a toddler and somehow ended up here with Randall calling me his son and heir. I didn’t know any different until everything went down with Keir up in Chicago and Madison.
Though John hasn’t used the information about my past against me—yet—he’s a persuasive asshole and enough of the older pack members listen to him that, if he wanted, he could create some real problems for me.
And I can’t help thinking he’s only waiting for the perfect moment. Like when I’m not around to defend myself.
