Steve had to admit that he’d thought about it, but asking Ryker and August to pick up their lives and move to Alaska was a big ask. They’d already left the pack they’d grown up with because they wanted to be independent and not answerable to anyone but themselves, and Steve’s dad was far more controlling with his pack than the Arizona alpha.
But maybe they’d consider it? For Dylan’s sake, at least.
Steve didn’t even let himself hope. It was far more likely that they’d ask him to jerk off and send Dylan his spunk in the mail. His jizz would probably end up flying down on the same planes carrying freshly caught Salmon and King Crab.
“They’d never go for that.”
“Are you sure?” William asked, frowning. “It would be the best option.”
Steve huffed. “Best for Dad, sure. Not for August and Ryker. They’ve built their whole lives here.”
“You should still ask them.”
“Do you think Dad will go for it? Ryker is pretty dominant. He’d give Marcus a run for his money.”
William wrinkled his nose, unwilling to believe that anyone could ever beat their oldest brother. Marcus was an absolute beast, on par with their dad, and if he was honest, Steve didn’t really think that Ryker would stand a chance against him.
It would be a tougher fight than Marcus was used to, but he’d still come out on top.
“Would you like me to talk to him?” William asked, carefully neutral.
Steve thought it over and then shook his head. “No, not before I ask them. I don’t want to risk him doing something crazy.”
“Like what?” William asked. He looked confused, and Steve wondered if he understood just how unhinged their dad could be, or if his dad just never showed him that part of himself.
“Like claim this area as his territory and order them to move in with me in Fairbanks.”
William laughed. “He wouldn’t do that. The council wouldn’t let him.”
“They wouldn’t give him their blessing, no, but if he just up and decided to claim this land for himself, they wouldn’t risk a war to stop him.” Steve shook his head. “Not over a neutral territory with less than ten werewolves living within its borders.”
William still didn’t look like he believed that their dad would go that far.
“So you’ll talk to them first, that’s the plan?” William said.
Steve dropped onto the couch next to him.
“Yes. Even if they won’t come to Alaska, we need to figure out the logistics of how we’re going to keep Dylan from going into withdrawals.” Steve bounced his leg, standing up just as abruptly as he’d sat down. “I’m going to get a beer. Do you want a beer?”
William nodded, looking unsettled by Steve’s mood.
“Sure.”
“Perfect.” Steve pulled out his phone, and before he could overthink it, texted Ryker that he wanted to meet up and talk. He then tossed his phone on the coffee table, walked to the kitchen and grabbed two beers, and came back to sit next to William.
“Thanks,” William mumbled.
“You’re welcome.”
34
AUGUST
“You’re going to work?”
August glanced at Ryker’s reflection in the mirror, fastening his belt around his waist before turning around.
“I told Cynthia she could reschedule some of my more urgent patients for this morning. I’ll be back soon.”
