Page 29 of Hidden Nature

“Because you might be an alpha in nature, but you’re a pushover when it comes to anyone who isn’t your blood. That’s why we have a pack made out of family and you refuse to allow anyone who isn’t a mate to join. We could be one of those great packs we hear about, a true power to do what’s needed in this world, but you hide us away up here in Nebraska like you’re afraid,” I snapped, lashing out with all my pent up frustration.

He just looked at me with pity and sorrow in his eyes as he shook his head. “Maybe your mother was right. Keeping you all up here away from reality isn’t helping. If you believe that a pack is only powerful when it’s large proves how naïve you are, son. I might not have a normal pack, but I’m respected in this community, and that is why we are left to our own devices. These new pups want to rule over the whole state taking smaller packs and forcing them to join theirs with promises they never plan to keep. Elias, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to get you to come peacefully, but once they have what they want, those promises will go out the window. Never trust an alpha you don’t know to keep his word when there are no actions behind it. If they truly wanted to have us join their pack, they would make an effort to show us what that looks like. Instead, they act like they are buying our land and we come along with it. No, son, I won’t let them take from me what we’ve worked for all this time.”

That memory faded and I could feel tears burning in my eyes as I realized that was the last time we would have together. What came next showed how right my dad was about everything, but I never once blamed him for giving us the sheltered life we had all those years. It gave me peace to know they all lived a good life until the very end.

It hadn’t even been two days since Dad had passed unexpectedly and the doctors still couldn’t tell us what killed him. They were going to do an autopsy because it was suspicious for a shifter to die the way he had. All of us were in shock about the situation, unsure of what to do now. None of us had expected to lose him so soon or in such a sudden way. There hadn’t been a plan put in place either. According to the human world, Dad left everything to us kids but put Maverick in charge of the business, being the eldest and had worked alongside Dad the most.

Needing something to do, I went into town and did all the grocery shopping we would need for the funeral. Dad was a respected man in the community and there were lots of people who would come when we announced it. The old truck Dad loved and spent hours working on just to keep it going rattled down the drive, leading out to the main road that would take me into town. I hadn’t been driving for more than ten minutes when a hummer pulled out in front of me, slamming on the breaks. Another came up behind me, blocking me in.

Guys climbed out of the Hummers and made a circle around my truck. That’s when I saw Tatum Volenty get out of the third Hummer that had pulled up alongside my truck.

His suit was worth what we made in a month, flashing all his wealth so no one would doubt his importance. He might have more money than God but was a weak alpha. He made up for it by employing some nasty betas to do the dirty work for him.

“Elias, I’m so sorry to hear about your father passing the other day. My condolences to you and your family in this time of sorrow and heartache,” Tatum said as he stood next to my window.

My wolf’s hackles were raised and on guard against anything that might happen, instinct telling me he wasn’t here to play nice. “Thank you, Mr. Volenty, it’s kind of you to say. I know you and Dad didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of matters.”

Tatum waved off my thanks like it was the most normal response for him to give, even after my dad refused to let him take one of my sisters as a mate. Kathryn had just graduated high school and was planning on going to college, but Tatum had always had his eye on her. Dad was afraid that if she left to go to school, we’d never see her again. So instead, she stayed local and mated her long-time boyfriend. Since then, Tatum had made it known he took personal offense to that refusal and did what he could to make our lives hell.

“Water under the bridge, my boy. Now which one of your brothers took over as alpha of the pack? Or is that still being decided?” Tatum asked, showing his true intent for stopping me.

While my dad had been an alpha, he wasn’t a strong one, but none of us felt the need to change roles in our family dynamic. All of us men stayed as betas, but I knew that out of all my brothers and our sister’s mates, that I was the strongest. If I had wanted to ask for a battle, I would have won without breaking a sweat, but I wasn’t sure I wanted the role of alpha. In my gut, I knew staying here on the ranch wasn’t my calling in life.

“We decided not to share that information until after the funeral out of respect for our father,” I answered, trying to avoid giving him the truth.

Maverick was a good man and would be the one we most likely agreed on taking the role, but he wasn’t one to stand up to a bully like Tatum.

“Hmm… see, your father and I were in the middle of a deal, so I need to know who to talk to about the matter,” Tatum countered.

We both knew there was no deal between the two men. It was just an excuse for him to use. If word got out about some fight or disagreement, then his men would start a rumor we reneged on a deal and deserved the retribution we got for it. Maverick couldn’t handle this, so I needed to do it and maybe put the thing to rest before it ever started.

“It’s me,” I stated. “I’m the one you need to talk to.” Not a total lie, but absolutely not the truth, but it would cover the scent, so he couldn’t tell.

Tatum grinned, showing his perfect white teeth, his wolf flashing in his eyes. “I had a feeling it would be you. The others are too soft for this world. You’ve always had the smarts to question and push back. Now I think you and I can come to an agreement where your father wasn’t so willing. Your sister, Kathryn, was promised to me and your father broke the deal. I want what is supposed to be mine.”

“Mr. Volenty, Kathryn is already mated and has been for five years,” I pointed out, knowing he already knew this.

“Yes, but she hasn’t had any pups by him, so clearly, he isn’t a fit male for her. The deal was I married your sister and became partners in the business, bringing your pack into mine. Surely you can see how this will benefit all of us in the long run,” Tatum explained, slipping his hands into his pockets like it was a done deal.

“The answer is no,” I growled out the words. “If you continue to press the issue, I will involve the Senate and see how they feel about the matter.”

Tatum’s eyes flashed with fury. He’d been in trouble with the Senate before, which is why he came to our humble town as penance for his last crime. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, boy. You might be the strongest of your family, but you are ignorant to the world I live in. I expect an answer tomorrow once you’ve had time to think matters over. I’m sure the grief of losing your father has clouded your judgment.”

With that said, he got back into his vehicle and drove off, leaving me with the rage that was building at his threat. Whipping out my cell phone, I called the main hotline to report issues to the Senate, knowing Tatum wouldn’t leave this matter alone.

I never did get to town that day. Instead, I turned around and went home to talk with my brothers about what had happened. We would need to prepare for the fallout that was about to happen and I wasn’t willing to let them be blindsided by the situation.

The memory started to take shape and I could see we were in my bedroom. Something had woken me from a deep sleep. Watching this moment over, I knew what was coming and dreaded every moment of it.

Shifting out of bed, I crept to the stairs and listened, straining my ears to locate what I’d heard.

The house creaked in the wind, the mooing of the cows kept close with the storm moving in, and the even breaths of my family sleeping soundly throughout the house echoed around me all at once.

Just when I thought the coast was clear, crunching gravel in the drive interrupted my concentration. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I knew nothing good happened at two in the morning. Rushing to Maverick’s room, I didn’t bother knocking. Instead, I burst in.

“Mav, you need to get up. There’s trouble,” I called out in a harsh whisper, not wanting to alert whoever was outside that we knew they were coming.

Maverick grumbled and rubbed at his eyes before sitting up in bed. “What the hell are you talking about? It’s probably just the storm rolling in.”