I shook my head and sat up. My dads were going to move out of the alpha house in about a year, but for the time being, they were staying to help us settle into our new life and the jobs we had taken on. A new home was being built for them with the kitchen of Dad’s dreams and a small flower garden for Father. I never had the slightest idea that he wanted to grow them.
Temple was already downstairs when I got out of the shower and dressed. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but I was a little nervous about the whole thing. I’d fought it for years because I wasn’t sure it was the right job for me and because I wasn’t going to take it on without my fated mate. Well, now, I had the fated and the job. But what if I wasn’t good at it?
What if my people depended on me and I made bad decisions? Or wrong ones? The alpha had the final word in everything, but what did I know?
A sharp rap on my door and my name spoken in that tone I’d heard before only across his desk, nearly sent me into a panic. “Gabriel, it’s time.”
“Coming, Father.” I threw my shoulders back and opened the door. “I’m ready. Let’s get to work.”
“Let’s go to breakfast. Your dad and your mate have prepared a feast I am sure, and we have to do it justice.”
We walked down the stairs side by side, another thing I didn’t remember doing with my powerful alpha father before. Even as a little boy I’d trailed him, trying to keep up, and this time, we were equals. How had that happened?
The kitchen smelled like donuts. “I thought you were making sourdough,” I said, kissing my omega.
“That takes a lot of time. Weeks. This is your first-day-on-the-job meal, and we made mochi donuts, thick-cut bacon, eggs…so many things. Sit down!” He pushed me into my seat at the table. “I’ll bring your plate.”
Father joined me and then our mates with their own food. I would have said I was too excited and nervous to eat, but mochi donuts were a new favorite of mine, and my mate had made sure I had them on this special day. That alone raised my spirits, and the food helped calm me down.
The four of us had a leisurely breakfast, totally unlike Father’s usual rushed coffee and toast before heading to his office. And by the time we finished, a lot of the nerves were gone. Not totally, but enough I thought I could handle the day.
“We’re going to do a tour of inspection today,” Father said. “If that’s all right with you, alpha.”
“I-I yes, that sounds fine.”
“That way, you can see what needs to be handled and set up your priorities. I have tried to keep up, but not only am I slowing down, but I see all of this every day and it’s easy to miss things that way.”
“You have a lot of faith in me.”
“Of course, Son. I always have. Why do you think I was so insistent that you take over after me? I want the best for our people, and you are the best.”
“Because I’m your son?”
“Because you are the best in your own right. I just get to be proud to be your father.”
We came to the stables first, and one of the handlers told us about a problem with a horse’s hoof. We did not have a veterinarian in the pack, so I told him we would have one visit and take care of the animal’s needs as soon as possible. Preferably today.
Then we stopped by the wood shop and admired some furniture that was being made. “I always enjoyed working here,” I said, running my hand over the satin finish on a nightstand.
“You were good.” The older male bobbed his head. “I told your father if you were not destined to be the alpha, I’d take you on here to learn to be a master craftsman.”
One by one, we visited the entire pack in the course of the day. It was lucky we ate a big breakfast because we didn’t stop for lunch. At each stop, we were greeted with encouragement and greeted by people I had worked with when my father made me spend time learning all those skills. I’d really thought I was a master of none, but apparently I had done well enough to earn the respect of those who truly were masters of their craft. By the time we headed back for the alpha house, not only did I feel like I might be able to handle the job, but my relationship with my father was on a whole new footing. He deferred to me when someone asked for advice or help, letting them know I had this. I had his confidence.
I could be alpha…could do the job, and when I entered the alpha house, I couldn’t wait to tell my mate that I had our lifeunder control. But the only person I found in the kitchen was Dad.
“Where is Temple?” He’d been helping Dad cook dinner every night.
“Oh, he’s lying down.” Dad approached me with a very serious expression. “I told him I’d handle dinner.”
“What’s wrong?” My omega never napped, and I’d never seen him sick. Instead of waiting for an answer, I bolted for the stairs and up to our room. No longer looking like a guest room, it now reflected our personalities with all the things you might find in someone’s bedroom. But right now, it also held a huddled hump in the middle of the king-sized bed. “Omega mine, what’s wrong?”
He poked his head out from under the covers. “I—”
“I’ll call the healer right away. Don’t try to get up. We’ll fix whatever is wrong with you and get rid of it right away, tonight.”
I was spinning on a heel when he said, “I sure hope not.”
Continuing my spin, I faced him again. “You don’t want to get rid of whatever is making you sick.”
