“Alpha,” Raffa said, pressing a hand into my shoulder. “You know who we’re loyal to. You’ve waited for a long time to find your mate. Anything you need, we are there for you.”
All four of the other men nodded their heads.
The waitress brought over our meals before I could respond. They all waited for me to nod, giving them the signal to dig in. The sounds of chewing and compliments about how good the steaks were sounded around the table. As I ate, I decided I wouldn’t share much information about Reese with my betas.
Chance was the only one who knew or needed to know more about Reese.
“Is there something you can tell us?” Ben asked halfway through our meal.
“That I’m handling it. I’ll call on you all if I need anything.”
He nodded.
“We need to discuss the Parkins job,” Raffa spoke up.
“We should’ve finished that job weeks ago,” I said, looking over at him.
He nodded. “That’s the problem. We keep getting delayed and no answers as to why.”
That wasn’t good news.
“And the Williams job too,” Mike added. “Also, we’ve been hearing from the bean growers that some of the distributors are canceling orders.”
I turned to Chance. “Why didn’t you share this with me?” I demanded out loud.
He gave me a casual look. “I haven’t been back home since we went to Dr. Pine’s home. You told me to go up to help Raffa in Nevada. Remember?”
“Fuck,” I gritted out. Something was wrong with this situation. Our construction facilities were some of the most lucrative throughout the western part of the country. We mainly worked with shifters, but there were a few human clients here and there. They didn’t know our secret, but the fact that issues were popping up left and right meant trouble.
“We thought today’s meeting with the Alliance would have to do with whatever is going on with our jobs and the distributors.”
“I need to get back home.” I pushed out a breath, hating that this would mean getting back to New Mexico as soon as possible. I would have to leave Reese for longer than I intended. “I’ll figure it out,” I assured my betas.
“If you need us to do anything,” Devon offered.
I waved him off. “I got this.” It was my job to ensure my pack thrived.
We finished eating and knocked back a few beers before parting ways. I reminded Raffa, Mike, and Ben that I was on top of everything and I would get in touch with them as soon as I knew what the hell was going on with our jobs.
“I don’t like this,” Chance said to me as we watched the other three betas drive off.
“Me neither, brother.”
I stopped in front of Chance’s truck and pressed the back of my hand to his arm, preventing him from getting in.
“I need you to go back to Texas.”
“For her?”
“Yes.”A sigh made its way through my lips. This favor was the last thing I wanted to ask of my brother. I would much rather be there myself to watch over Reese. Hell, to explain to her what and who I was, but it seemed I had major pack business to handle. My pack relied on me to keep things settled and running.
I’d promised them, decades ago, to end our warring, feuding, and raiding ways and to bring peace to our communities. I owed it to them after my father’s reign and my father’s father. I wouldn’t put my pack in danger.
Pack over everything. The motto my father taught me. Too bad he didn’t take his own advice and placed his pack and my mother square in harm’s way.
“What is it you want me to do?”Chance asked.
“Make sure she doesn’t get into any danger,”I instructed. “I don’t trust that Pines. Whoever sent that footage to the Alliance is connected to him. I know it. And that could mean they’re watching her.”
