Ryker rolls his eyes. “Who else?”
“What is it?” I ask as I flick through the pages.
“Reports on how you’re doing and what you need to do to keep your position. I heard about your probation, which is quite frankly embarrassing.” He shakes his head. “So, I asked for an update, and he gave me these. I’d read over them and put it intoplace so you don’t lose respect as their Alpha. You’ll never live it down if you do.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I’m going now,” I grunt as I crumple the papers in my hand. “Goodbye, father.”
“I expect you to be on your best behaviour this weekend,” he calls out as I step into the hall.
My nose wrinkles. He still acts like I’m a child, and I’m fucking sick of it.
I slam his office door on the way out. It’s immature, but I’m too riled up to act rationally. And now I have to get my head in check to attend a party when I’d rather repeatedly run myself over instead.
18
EVAN
There is a knock at my bedroom door, stirring me away from the historical drama book I’m currently reading. “Yeah?”
Ava steps in seconds later and walks to my bed before perching on the edge. “Hey,” she says softly. “I was wondering how you’re feeling? How’s the nose?”
I nod solemnly. “Nose is fine, and I’m okay. Just grateful for the rest.”
“I know. It’s been a crazy few weeks.”
“What’s up?”
She slowly sucks in a breath, and I brace myself for what she’s about to say. “So, we’ve been requested to go to an event hosted by Caleb’s father. He’s invited all the packs in the district, and it’s mandatory that we go. Otherwise, it’ll look bad on Jaxon, and he doesnotwant to make an enemy out of Ryker.”
I silently wince at her words. “What’s it for?”
“I don’t know, maybe to suss everyone out.”
My forehead creases. “He’s not going to try to take over, is he?”
“Who knows, but Jaxon and the rest of the Alphas will not let it get to that point.” She shakes her head. “They’ll fight for whatis theirs. I guess we’re going to see if he has any kind of ulterior motive.”
“Does Jaxon really trust Caleb?”
Ava is silent for a second. “Regardless of everything that happened with taking over Cole’s pack, he does. Jax keeps telling me that Caleb has never warmed to his father and doesn’t agree with his lifestyle.”
I hum, unsure how to answer.
“Ryker is a manipulator, and if I could assume anything, I’d say Caleb is going along with it because of what his father might do if he fights him on it. Caleb might be a little cold, but in all honesty? I think it’s a mask so his father doesn’t see who he truly is on the inside.”
My heart stammers at her words.
I want to believe her, but I can’t fully trust it yet.
But then I remember watching them together the evening we went over to his pack house. The pain I felt inside my body when Ryker belittled Caleb, and the vulnerability behind his eyes.
“Do I have to be there?”
“Yeah…” Ava trails off. “Jaxon says we all have to go.”
“I don’t want to go,” I groan.
“You and I both, but it’ll be nice. Get you out of the house.”
