“Dad is wondering why we haven’t checked in with him yet. He’s waiting for us upstairs.”
Marcus sighed and Steve’s stomach roiled with anxiety. He’d never been scared of their dad before, but seeing Marcus’s face, he was rattled.
“We should go talk to him,” Marcus said, not looking at all worried. He turned to Steve. “Say you’re sorry, and then leave it at that. He’s not happy that you’re moving back to Fort Plainslac, but he’s accepted it. Don’t rock the boat.”
Steve nodded. “I won’t.”
“Good. Then let’s go say hi to Dad.”
* * *
Meeting his father was both better and worse than Steve had feared. His dad seemed like his same old self – grinning wide as he approached Steve and grabbed him into a smothering hug – and when he pulled apart and Steve said he was sorry, his dad waved the apology away and said it was fine.
“I can’t be angry when there’s wolf magic at work,” his dad said, shaking his head like he’d been silly to try. “You were meant to end up with the Sterling boy and his mate, otherwise the wolf magic never would have bound the three of you with an omega.” His father frowned, turning to Marcus. “Where is he, by the way?”
Marcus shrugged. “I have him tucked away until we need him. Sterling and Schaffer will arrive in about an hour to formally request entry into the pack, and then I thought we could leave them alone with Steve and the boy and let them figure things out between them.”
“A solid plan,” Steve’s dad said, turning to Steve. If he noticed that Marcus had been vague about where he’d stashed Dylan, he didn’t comment on it. “Marcus tells me you rejected Sterling’s offer to join his pack?”
His dad’s tone was deceptively casual.
“Of course I did. I could never join another pack,” Steve said, perfectly honest. “You’re my alpha.”
His dad grinned, his shoulders releasing a tension Steve hadn’t noticed he’d been carrying. He pulled Steve into another hug, rubbing his back and making Steve feel like he was all of seven years old again.
“You’ll be happy in Fort Plainslac?” his dad asked, his voice low and sincere.
Steve nodded into his shoulder.
“Then I’ll go along with Marcus’s plan.” His dad released him, turning to Marcus with a grin. He frowned when he seemed to notice Marcus’s face for the first time since they’d walked into the room. “That still hasn’t healed?”
“It’s getting there.” Marcus shrugged.
Their dad scowled, reaching out and tracing the edge of the wound. In the time since Steve had first seen it less than half an hour ago, the wetness in the deepest part of the wound had disappeared and the edges were less puffy, but it still looked bad.
“You should have blocked me,” their dad said, disapproving.
Marcus snorted. “I tried, but you were faster than I expected. I’ll be faster next time.”
Their dad nodded and then grinned like it was all good fun. “You’re gettingverygood. I can still feel your wolf holding back, but I think you’ll be even younger than I was when you take over. I’m very proud of you.”
Steve kept his face expressionless, disturbed by his dad’s casual attitude towards maiming Marcus.
Marcus grinned, not looking discomfited, but Steve remembered with crystal clarity how he’d yelled at him over the phone that he hadn’t wanted to be challenging their dad like this yet.
Marcus had done it for him, and Steve hadn’t even realized he’d needed him to. He hoped he wouldn’t be a burden like that to Ryker.
Steve resolved to be more mindful of how his actions affected the people around him.
“Do you think you’ll be ready to take on Sterling and Schaffer right after I claim them?” their dad asked. “I want it settled that you’re over them in the hierarchy right from the start.”
Steve wanted to protest, but Marcus’s instruction not to rock the boat stopped him.
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Marcus said, rolling his shoulder and wincing a little as the unseen wound underneath his shirt resisted the movement. He stretched his neck, testing his range of movement and seeming to find it to his satisfaction. “I still have an hour or so to rest up.”
“Go do that,” their dad commanded. “William, I want you to coordinate the living arrangements for our district alphas. They’re all arriving today or tomorrow morning, right?”
“They are,” William confirmed. “They’ll all be here by tonight. I have apartments ready for each of them in the guesthouse.”
