“Games?” Casey cried. She launched herself out of her seat, shifted to wolf form, and got a head start on Ken as she rocketed up the stairs. He scrambled up on all fours to catch up withher.
“She’s a spitfire, that one,” Jericho said,grinning.
“So, the alpha army,” David said, shooting us a sharplook.
“Right,” I said, swallowing under the pressure. “Gunner wants to create an army of alphas to expand his territory. As everyone knows, the most likely chance at creating an alpha pup is through the mating of an alpha and omega. The stronger the alpha father, the more likely the pup will become powerful aswell.”
Everyone around the table was nodding, as if none of this was new information to them. I sighed andcontinued.
“The first thing Gunner did when he took over as top alpha was to learn the heat schedules of every viable omega in the pack. He created a breeding clinic, and each omega must go there during hisheat.”
Now the confused expressions and murmurings spread among the gatheredalphas.
“That’s ridiculous,” a black-haired onemuttered.
“That’s bullshit, is what it is,” Jericho said, leaning on the table. “Who does he think he is that he can just take away y’alls freedom likethat?”
“I don’t know,” I said with a sigh. “It’s never been great in Scarlet Ridge, but Gunner is a whole new level ofawful.”
“That’s horrible,” Flint growled. “It’s none of his business who an omega wants to matewith.”
“So… he chose your mate for you?” the black-haired alpha asked me. “ForCasey?”
“Tyson,” Flintgrowled.
“Sorry,” Tyson said apologetically. “I’m just asking the question I knew most of us arethinking.”
“It’s okay,” I told Flint, holding up a soothing hand. “But yeah, Tyson, he did choose Casey’s father forher.”
“You don’t know who he is?” Jerichoasked.
“I have no idea,” Iadmitted.
A sombre silence descended onto thealphas.
“I know the situation in Scarlet Ridge is bad,” I said, looking down. “But what can any of us do about it? I’m just one omega. I have nopower...”
“You can’t be expected to deal with that kind of thing yourself,” Flint told me reassuringly as he put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up overit.”
“Flint’s right,” Jericho said. “Hell, even a single alpha couldn’t do much about that. Don’t worry too much aboutit.”
A few of the other alphas were smiling at me in support as well. I sighed. “Thanks,everyone.”
I noticed with a slight blush that Flint’s hand was still resting on myshoulder.
“Anyway, that’s enough of the hard issues for the day,” Flint grumbled. “Jericho, go grab us around.”
The dirty-blond haired alpha was already getting up. “Don’t have to tell metwice.”
The tension in the air dissolved as Jericho and a few other alphas rounded up drinks for everybody, including a non-alcoholic orange juice for Casey. Ken had rejoined us at the table, looking absolutely haggard and exhausted after the gaming session with Casey. Meanwhile, Casey wore a huge grin on her face and still seemed full ofenergy.
After a few hour of drinks and Casey tiring out every alpha at the table, we decided to head back to the cabin. The late afternoon sun hung low in the winter sky. I shivered and my breath came out in cold puffs ofair.
“Cold?” Flintasked.
“A bit,” Iadmitted.
“Hmm… We should go out tomorrow and get you and Casey a new pair of clothes,” Flint said. “You can’t keep wearing my clothes forever. I mean, not that I mind,but…”
