There was no logic in it, but I wasn’t surprised when Emeric nodded in the back seat. “Yeah, I’m not strong enough to fight him, though, and I don’t know what happened. How can I prove something I don’t understand?”
“Because that’s not how that challenge works.” Otto was either a moron or evil. Probably both. “It’s supposed to be the Alpha showing they’re in the right because the magic wouldn’t support an Alpha who’s using his power in…in bad ways.”
There was something fucked up in that pack.
“That’s why your dad ended up in some kind of fake accident. He couldn’t use his magic to defend the pack. If you’d have attacked him first, then it would’ve responded to the threat and he could’ve accessed it.” I was just shaking my head as Emeric listened closely. “I’ve never heard of it being used on a child. Ever. I’m honestly not a hundred percent it would even work against you since you couldn’t be a threat until you’re older.”
No matter how well he’d already trained, the size difference would make it impossible for him to win again a fully grown Alpha wolf.
Fuck…a full-grown wolf of any sort.
“I’m going to be a threat when I’m older. Don’t worry about that.” Emeric’s future plans had Dorian’s groan fill the car. “Don’t worry, Uncle Dorian. Alpha Braun will help me become badass. See? I can use that right too but not at school.”
Dorian’s long sigh said I was going to hear it later. “I’m glad you understood that right off the bat. I’m going to have questions on how he’s going to help you become badass, though.”
Oh, I bet he would.
The Alpha Mate was protective and I wasn’t going to be immune to it.
“We’ll ask together.” Emeric’s cheerful tone wouldn’t help Dorian feel any better, but the pup wouldn’t understand that. “I’ve never been trained in anything but I learned stuff online.”
What the fuck was going on down there?
“That can’t continue. You need to learn how to use all your muscles and instincts, not just the human-facing ones.” If I was reading his tone right, Dorian was offended on Emeric’s behalf. “Don’t worry. We’ll fix this situation.”
I’d teach them both at the same time if it came down to it.
“Great.” Emeric was back to nearly bouncing around the back seat, but part of that was probably because we’d finally gotten back to pack lands. The ties he was growing with the pack would’ve made him feel safer and happier, so there was a lotof reasons he was feeling better. “But first we’ve got to fill the pantry and find the bottom of the attic.”
Dorian had clearly tattled on me.
“We’ve got a list.” Dorian’s sigh had me trying not to smile. “Don’t forget we need to get you signed up for school and I need some explanations about who at my school knows about nonhumans. It’s just not safe for me to have a large population of students who probably have unique individual needs.”
I had a feeling explaining that kind of stuff was going to fill in a lot of blanks for him.
“We need to write down our list.” Emeric’s excitement as he said that sentence made him sound like a young Dorian. “I’ll help.”
“After organization and lunch. We need to make sure we feed the Alpha because he can’t do it himself.”
“This time it’s because I’ve got phone calls to make and a shift at the park after lunch.” I had to make up for taking so much time away from work. “But I promise to be very grateful for your help and to pitch in where possible.”
“There’s only so much you should be responsible for.” Something about Dorian’s tone or the words had Emeric nearly giggling again. “Emeric and I will take care of the house.”
“No one can do everything alone.” Emeric was clearly repeating something he’d heard but he didn’t make us guess. “My grandma liked reminding my grandpa of that.”
Dorian’s slightly strangled laugh said he was going to like reminding me about that too. “She was very smart.”
Thankfully, we pulled up to the house before they could start on giving me that lecture. “Alright, let’s get the groceries inside, and then while I make some calls, you and Dorian will make a list of the stuff you need that we can get delivered.”
Because in-person shopping wasn’t going to happen again until I figured out what the fuck was going on.
“The to-do list just keeps getting longer.” Dorian pulled up beside me, frowning like I knew he would be. “It’s easy to see why getting groceries hasn’t been on the top of your to-do list.”
“We’re going to be good helpers.” My good helper hopped out of the car as soon as I turned it off. “Let’s go.”
Just watching him was going to make me tired.
“Hey, who’s the Alpha here?” My grumbling got snickers from Emeric and had Dorian shaking his head as I ended the call and he climbed out of his car. “Me. The answer is me.”
