He laughed as we reached a strip of green grass lined on either side with chest-high plants. Fragrant flowers bloomed in different colors. The path led to a garden conservatory with a black metal frame and panes of glass. Plants and bushes and flowers pressed in on the right and left of the structure, and as we got closer I spied a collection of couches and chairs within, positioned in a circle over a patterned beige rug.
“The refreshments will be brought out shortly.” Drex reached the door and slid it open before stepping to the side and glancing at Austin. Something passed between the two of them before Drex focused on me. “Ladies first.”
I inclined my head in thanks. If there were any surprises, it would be easy to blast my way out of this place or blast someone on the other side of the glass.
At the back of the structure were vibrant flowers and another grassy path, this one shorter and opening onto a lovely lawn set for croquet. Beyond that was a large pool featuring a rock wall and a slide winding down to the water.
“Oh, man.” I threaded through the couches to survey the amazing yard. “This is fantastic. Why can’t Edgar do something like this with the backyard?”
“I think Mimi is working on a plan to revamp Ivy House’s grounds,” Austin said. Fabric and springs softly groaned as he took a seat. “You should take a picture or two to show her what you like about this. I’m sure she’d take it into consideration.”
I reached for my phone and belatedly remembered I didn’t have it. “Rats,” I murmured.
“I host a lot of parties.” Drex stood by a chair, waiting for me. Austin had taken one of the loveseats. “In the summer, at least. The winter up here isn’t as nice.”
I sank down at Austin’s side, leaning in when he put his arm around me.
“So.” Drex took his seat and crossed an ankle over his knee. “If it’s acceptable, I’ll be expressive in this meeting so that Jessie can understand any body language I might use.”
Austin inclined his head.
“Before we start, I’d like to humbly apologize for yesterday. Mir—“ He caught himself. “Tilda was told that mages were coming. She hadn’t expressed any concern. I didn’t anticipate her reaction. I’m sorry.”
“The basajaunak showed up without invitation and charged you,” I said. “We have that to answer for, and the others showed up uninvited, too. Let’s just call it even.”
His smile was faint. “I’m grateful your people showed up, unasked. Indigo, especially. She put in a lot of effort. It is well appreciated. I didn’t expect to be so thoroughly dominated.”
“There’s a reason I’m considered feral,” Austin said. “I made my brother’s territory nervous. Always have, as a matter of fact. I’d thought that was partially my activities in my youth, but it’s just my nature.”
Drex shook his head. “Wild is one thing. I have that in spades. Power is another, and I have plenty. No, you are an experienced and adept fighter. You’re not the best because you were born with a lot of power, you’re the best because you’ve earned it through your trials and your motivation to improve.”
“You’re very free with your compliments,” Austin said guardedly, though I felt the pride worming through the bonds.
Drex laughed. “The compliments are not political, I assure you. I’m not trying to kiss ass. It’s simply credit where credit is due. I’ve heard the same rumors everyone else has, and once again, the most important facets of you weren’t mentioned. It’s easy to chalk up someone’s prowess to things they were born with. Even your wildness is a more comfortable explanation for your talent and skill to those who don’t possess either, like some of the higher standing generational alphas. But I’m not jealous of it, I’m inspired. I plan to tell others what I’ve seen, so I thought I’d start with you. Besides…” He shrugged with a devilish grin. “Ladies always like to hear their mates complimented for being big strong men.”
Austin huffed, smiling. “Thank you, then. Idohave a lot of experience. Some of it from my youth is not pleasant. Some of it is a badge of honor.”
“I understand completely, including about youth.” He pulled his ankle from his knee and dropped it back to the ground. “Speaking of, that’s part of my explanation. There is a reason we haven’t accepted strong alpha shifters in here, both before and after the mages. I was born to a single mom in a pack where the alpha didn’t believe in mates or monogamy, but hedidbelieve in procreating. I had twelve half-brothers and sisters, none of them with the same mother. Seven of those got his animal, me included, but nine were alpha material. Three were as powerful as him, or more so, also me included. Alpha Steele, I’m sure you know how that worked out.”
“Please, call me Austin. What number were you by age?”
A hollow chuckle escaped him. “Second to last. The alpha—who never acted as any sort of father to any of his kids, and certainly never trained us how to lead—held his position until I was ten. By then, he’d realized his mistake. He’d created a mob of alphas that wanted his title or at least to prove their dominance over him. The fighting was intense. The oldest of his children went after him first. He failed, but the next didn’t. She took over the pack, but by then, the rest were ready to test themselves. Soon, it was war. They killed the enforcers for backing the alpha, or the alpha killed them if they didn’t. No one policed the pack, and so random fights broke out everywhere. Prosperity dwindled, since everyone was worried about power and not the people. Safety eroded. I got challenged as a normal part of my day—people trying to test their mettle against one of the alpha’s brood. I found my beast in a hurry, and I let it take me away as often as I needed to. I could see my mom’s desperation. Even I knew time was running out. Then, at twelve, when I was heavily growing in power, the three remaining siblings noticed me.”
A wave of nervous shivers washed over me.
“I had more power than any of my siblings at that age,” Drex went on. “Not by much, I guess, but enough that the rest of the siblings knew I needed to be taken out before I properly came of age. My mother was saving money to take me away, but it became clear that she wouldn’t get the chance. My siblings didn’t plan to let me leave alive.”
Dan entered the conservatory with a tray of drinks and nibbles. Drex didn’t wait for him to set them down and leave before continuing. His focus was rooted to Austin.
“It was Alpha Barazza that saved me. Us,” he said, and another wave of shivers washed over me. “Kingsley Barazza. I was in a very bad place. I knew I would die and worried aboutwhat would happen to my mother. I had seen friends torn apart, been close to death more times than I could count… I willneverforget the day that tiger came crashing into the territory with his perfectly synchronized pack and went straight for the first alpha he saw. He didn’t stop to ask questions or even pause. He laid into that alpha with a ferocity that gave me hope. The other two alphas attacked with their band of supporters, but he never balked. He never backed down. He waged a bloody war that day, against powerful shifters, but it was his determination, leadership, and motivation that saw him through and saved us all.”
Dan left us, leaving the door open, as he’d found it. Drex was not worried about people overhearing his story. He wasn’t ashamed of his past, which was reassuring. Hopefully, it meant he had made peace with it.
“The first reason I allowed you in, Austin, is because I owe your brother my life. My mother’s life, probably. Her happiness, certainly. Alpha Barazza tried to help the pack reestablish, but the damage done prior to his arrival had been too great. We didn’t have enough people to cobble together something that would stave off rogue alphas looking for an easy setup. And so, Alpha Barazza gave money to anyone who needed it and offered his pack as a place to live should they want it. That stuck with me. His willingness to help others any way he could stuck with me, and I vowed that I would lead a pack in his image. That I would follow his lead and always provide a safe space for those who needed it.”
Austin had taken my hand. His thumb lightly traced over my skin. “I know something of the debt you feel. It’s funny, but I essentially did the same sort of setup as you, although I was much less noble about it.”
“I don’t know about that.” A smile ghosted Drex’s lips. “Your brother believes in you. You are trying to succeed where he hasfailed, and I want to help you do that. I want to help him. I just don’t know if I am able.” He reached for a glass of sparkling water.
