“The hardest part for packs that want rural like this, I think, is the jobs and the schools,” Myra said.
“Definitely,” Alex agreed. “We’re big enough that we can sort of take over the school district, if we need to. I think in my parents’ day they practically ran the school board, because they weren’t happy with how things had been going. Even now we have a couple of pack members in district management, one who’s a principle at the elementary school most of the pack goes to.”
“Size helps, for sure,” Zach added. “Although smaller packs can blend more, don’t need as many jobs, they still need nearly as much land to run on.”
“I suppose that’s why you don’t get too many groups trying to break off and make their own packs?” Adam asked.
“Right. It’s theoretically possible. They would petition the council, and it would depend on the current pack that holds the territory they’re looking at, but it doesn’t happen often and those are some of the reasons why.”
“Any word on what’s to happen in Arizona?” Alex asked just as Travis called out that it was time to head to the table.
They grabbed their drinks, settled in at the table and quickly filled their plates before Myra answered him.
“Actually, there has been a development about Arizona,” she said, letting the others in on the conversation they’d been having. “I’ve decided to leave St. Louis and take it on. I’d certainly be interested in any opinions you all have about those who’ve expressed interest in joining the new pack.”
“Wow, really?” Hillary asked.
Adam was surprised by the doubt in her voice but Myra only smiled.
“You’re wondering how I could leave my pack?” she asked her friend.
“Yeah, I mean, I know I haven’t been doing this long, but the idea of walking away from my people is kind of shocking. I don’t mean—” She broke off, frowned.
“I understand completely. It never occurred to me I would be ready to step away before it was time to retire, but these things have their own cycles. I’ve been the alpha there since I was twenty-eight. We’ve grown and changed together, and Kendra and Deacon, my firsts, have really grown since they mated a couple of years ago. Normally they would start looking at other packs who were going to need a new alpha, who didn’t have a strong enough first to take over, but this time, it feels right to do it this way. I’ll miss them, of course. Miss my family and friends. But part of being the alpha is knowing, bone deep, what is right for your pack, and this is it.”
“Wow,” Hillary repeated. “I get what you’re saying, it just feels weird. But I’m excited for the new pack. Will you bring back any of the Mesa members?”
“There are definitely a few that I’ll check in with. I’ll talk to the alphas I’ve placed them with, see how they’ve been doing. Especially those that had jobs they loved out there, and had to abandon, extended families, that sort of thing.”
Stephen frowned. “So they get a pass on letting what happened, happen?”
Hillary reached out and rubbed his arm with a smile. “Breaking the pack up wasn’t about punishment. Their new alphas were responsible for appropriate punishments. With Myra’s oversight.”
“Exactly. Breaking the pack up was about making sure everyone was under a capable and appropriate alpha, and because there was no one who could just step in and deal with the entire pack as it was. I would never have asked anyone to do that, and even now, saying I’ll take on a pack in Arizona, or New Mexico, while I will be willing to take in some of the old pack, there will be wolves from all across the country who are interested in a change and will ask to join. Each will be evaluated on their own.”
Adam understood what Myra was saying in theory, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about her having any of those who’d essentially condoned what had happened to him as part of her pack. But, he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she knew what she was doing.
The conversation turned to those that the hierarchy had heard about who might want to join a new pack, including Alex’s friend from Los Angeles. Myra excused herself to grab a notebook and pen, and noted down the info and advice she was given about each wolf mentioned.
Adam ate while he listened to Alex tell Myra about his friend Jen, as well as a conversation between Tracy and Peter about one of their teenage wolves who was having some school trouble, and how they could help him. He had to admit, it was a side to pack life he’d never imagined or considered. It put what Myra was wanting to do in a whole new light. Hell, it put what she was already doing in that same light. He hadn’t much thought about what it meant for her, or Hillary, to be pack alphas. His only thoughts on the matter before had been that alphas were the people in charge, calling the shots, and should be blamed if anything bad happened in the pack.
When he’d sent her the text encouraging her to come visit, he hadn’t really thought about her actual day-to-day life. Hadn’t really thought about much beyond seeing her again, to be honest. He’d just needed to see her again.
As if she understood the directions of his thoughts, she flashed him a smile that somehow managed to convey sweetness, amusement and heat. Or maybe he was projecting. Hell if it mattered, he just knew he wanted to get her alone again. And not while driving.
Molly, sitting next to him, gave him a little shoulder bump. “We haven’t managed to overwhelm you. I’m impressed.”
“Was that your intent?” he asked, deadpan.
She looked nervous for a whole second, then decided he was messing with her. Obviously she was used to having brothers. “I was worried, though, for real. We knew you weren’t in the habit of living with a pack, but Hillary said you’d be fine.” She blushed. “Not that we were talking a lot about you.”
He gave her a return shoulder bump. “I know. I like that you guys worry about other people’s feelings and needs. It’s what you do. It’s admirable.”
She gave him a relieved smile. “You’re pretty good at it yourself.”
“Let’s get dessert,” Hillary said, springing up and grabbing her empty plate as well as Zach’s and Peter’s. Half the table followed suit, the other half deciding—like him, he assumed—that too many people in the kitchen would just be annoying.
He looked at his watch. Determined they wouldn’t be staying long once dessert was brought out, even if he was enjoying himself. He caught the smirk on Zach’s face, which actually reminded him that he needed to thank Peter for the use of his cabin. When the other man came out with several portions of the pie, Adam made eye contact.
