William nodded and then went back into the bathroom.
“Let’s talk about something else,” August said. The awkwardness between Steve and William had gone from being funny to being uncomfortable. “Tell Ryker about the district alphas. Who are they and what should we expect when we fight them?”
Ryker sat up straight, nodding at Steve to talk.
“Well, there’s five districts, and each one has an alpha that runs things for my dad. The Vancouver alpha, Odin, is probably the one who’s going to give you the most trouble. He’s almost as dominant as Marcus.”
“How does he fight?” Ryker asked. He leaned in, his aura radiating a thirst for violence that August had seldom seen from his mate.
It was hot as fuck.
“Marcus says he uses his teeth more than anyone else he’s ever fought, but his left side is weak from when he went up against my dad and got his spleen torn out.”
August grimaced, but Ryker just leaned in more.
“Weak how?”
August leaned back and watched Ryker interrogate Steve. After a few moments, William exited the bathroom and joined his brother in answering questions.
It was interesting to get an inside perspective on what was going to be his new pack. August hadn’t realized how independent the district alphas were, or how many werewolves lived in the districts.
Realizing that four of the five district alphas were more dominant than his old pack alpha in Phoenix was not exactly shocking, but it went to show why no one messed with the Northwestern pack, even when they acted in ways that would get other packs censured.
Marcus would have to be an absolute beast to hold it all together once he took over from his father.
August didn’t envy him.
40
RYKER
Ryker kept himself calm as he exited the van, brushing past the eager attendant wanting to show him to the check in desk and heading right for the trail of his omega’s scent. It was like a golden thread tugging at the core of his chest, leading him up the stairs and into a hallway on the third floor.
August was right behind him, following the same thread but letting Ryker take the lead.
When they exited the staircase, Ryker’s calm evaporated. Dylan was peeking out from behind the door at the end of the hallway, his tuft of hair and wide eyes reminding Ryker of the first time they’d met. Except this time, rather than be nervous, Dylan flung the door open and rushed at his alphas with a great cry of relief.
Ryker caught him, lifting him up in the air and crushing him against his chest. He swung around so that August could join in on the hug, the two of them squeezing Dylan between them and holding him tight as they murmured soothing nothings into his ear.
“Are you okay?” Ryker asked when they finally let him down, putting his hands on Dylan’s shoulders and looking down into his eyes. August stayed where he was, clutching Dylan’s upper arms and pulling him back so that he could lean against his body.
Dylan didn’t look like he’d been harmed, but Ryker knew that there were ways to hurt a human that didn’t leave obvious marks.
“I’m fine,” Dylan said, tearing up. “But Steve’s dad is such an asshole.”
Ryker nodded, wiping Dylan’s tears away with his thumbs and cupping his face.
“He is,” he agreed. “Are you okay with our plan to join his pack? Because if you’re not, we can make a run for it and figure something else out.”
Dylan pulled himself together and stopped crying. He lifted his hand to his face and wiped his eyes.
“But then what about Steve?” he asked.
“He’d probably have to stay behind,” Ryker admitted.
Dylan swallowed and shook his head. “I don’t want that. I’m okay with joiningSteve’spack, and it’s not like John will be the alpha forever. Marcus is pretty nice.”
“He seems decent,” August said. He bent down and pushed his nose into Dylan’s hair, taking a deep breath and adding, “Steve says that he’s a good guy.”
