Chapter 54: Next Steps
Roman
Settling the pack was easier than I expected. Whether it’s because Sa is a white wolf or because most, if not all, of the pack heard Gillian talking about Althea and Sawyer’s betrayal, there was no blow back from us killing their Alpha and Luna
Mostly, everyone was concerned about what would happen to them and if they would have to leave their home. I told them we were still making a decision about that, and then, I planned a private lunch with myself, Samara, my father, Beta Adam,
and Gamma Kyle.
“There are some
things that no
that need to be addressed,” I say, once we’re in Sawyer’s old office and I’m sitting beside Samara, making sure that she’s eating. She ate this morning, but I noticed that she struggled to force her food down nearly as much
as Sloane did.
“First, we need to decide who is going to lead this pack. Samara and I are currently in agreement that we do not want Slade to inherit this pack. His parents betrayed and murdered the Alpha family and while I don’t want him to pay for those sins, it also doesn’t sit right with either of us that he should be allowed to take over this pack. But besides that, even if he was going to take it over, he couldn’t do that for years,” I say, glancing at Samara’s plate and beginning to rub her back when I see her pushing her food around but not really eating it.
*While I appreciate your support in the deaths of your Alpha and Luna, I don’t trust either of you yet,” I say to Beta Adam and Gamma Kyle. “I don’t mean that in a bad a way. You’ve done nothing to betray my trust, but with everything that has gone on, everything that occurred, I need to feel confident in both of your abilities and loyalties,” I say, turning to look at my father.
He sighs, putting down his fork. “I loved being an Alpha. I did, up until I lost my best friend. I’m not sure I want to do this for the next fifteen to twenty years, but I’m willing to take over this pack for now, I’ll run everything by you, of course. Technically, this is your pack and I would be managing it for you. If there comes a time, and hopefully there will, when you feel confident with Beta Adam and Gamma Kyle running this pack with your limited involvement, then we can transfer the
leadership to you.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I say, kissing the side of Samara’s head. “What do you think, Samara?”
I know that’s part of it, but I also f
feel
I’d be worried that everything that happened to her was too emotionally draining, and I1 the nausea inside her. As soon as we’re done here, we’re going to the pack hospital.
She looks up and smiles at my father. “I trust you, Alpha Sterling. I know that you’ll run my parents‘ pack, Teddy’s pack, the
way they would have wanted it to be run,” she says.
I watch my father swell with pride at her words. That, more than anything, will have my father ready to lead this pack for
however long we need him to.
“I would never want to let your father, your brother, or you down, Luna Samara,” he says, his voice tight
She reaches across to cover his hand with hers. “I know that you won’t. I’ll bet my father is smiling down on us from the Moon Goddess‘ realm right now.”
Thope so,” my father says, his eyes filled with tears.
I pull her
́ ́into my lap, making
When she pulls her hand back, she begins pushing her food around her plate again. This time, I pull her yelp in surprise.
“Eat,” I say softly in her ear, pulling her plate over as Pierce begins purring softly.
“We also have to deal with Dylan,” I say, once Samara begins eating.
“Alpha Dylan? What about him?” Beta Adam asks
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I let my father explain what happened at Dylan’s pack while I watch Samara, laying my hand flat against her stomach to try
and help ease her nausea
“So he was part of the betrayal as well?” Gamma Kyle asks.
I don’t see how he couldn’t have been. Everyone knew that Theo was about to become the Alpha to the strongest pack in the country. It makes sense that Dylan would have wanted his brother to take over that pack. Even in it’s weakened state, if you put the two packs together against anyone, they would have been stronger. Well, at least until I started gaining strength. increased my number of pack members, and improved my finances,” I say.
“Yeah, I remember Alpha Sawyer talking about your businesses and how he never expected them to make so much money.” Beta Adam says
“What businesses?” Samara asks, looking at me over her shoulder.
“Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t know,” I say, kissing her nose. “I nearly bankrupted my pack building businesses in your family’s names. I started with Theo’s which is a hunting and fishing store,” I begin.
w that W
When we went to Hartwell’s for lunch that day. We passed a Theo’s I remember thinking that he would have loved that,” she says.
Td like to think so.” I say, and it’s my turn to feel my throat tighten with emotion. “There’s also Royal’s Whiskey. I have my own distillery that makes it. It does very well. There’s Jessica’s Jewels,” I say watching Samara smile.
“Because my mother loved her jewelry,”
“Yes. And then there’s Samara’s Medical Center for Children, because a little tomboy of a girl who didn’t have her wolf was
always injuring herself and needing medical attention when she chased after her brother and his best friend,” I say, leaving Sawyer out of it.
“You named a medical center after me? For children?” she asks.
“I did ”
I feel a wave of love, like a tidal wave that sucks me under, into an abyss of love, as Samara leans in to press her lips to mine
“I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me and my family,” she says.
“Alpha William might disagree,” I say, basking in the love I feel emanating from her. “But I can’t take credit for it I was weighed down by my grief. I was willing to bankrupt my pack to try and make amends for not being there in time to save
Theo, your parents, or you,” I tell her honestly.
She turns in my lap, taking my face in her hands. “Well, look where I am right now. Safe and happy in your arms. I think Teddy would have laughed at you getting stuck with me, but I also think he would have loved it.”
I really hope so,” I say.
“Til bet he’s standing beside Royal and Jessica, smiling down on us right now,” my father says. I can still hear the emotion in his voice, but I’m focused on my mate and the love that is pulsing through the bond from her. Fuck, how did I get so lucky to have her for a mate
“You want to know the funny thing?” I ask her.
definitely do,” she says
“Those businesses, like Beta Adam said, weren’t just profitable. They’ve made our pack extremely wealthy. What started as me trying to make amends, ended up making me the most powerful Alpha in the country”
She smiles at me. “I bet Teddy had a hand in that too.”
“Maybe,” I say, pressing my lips to hers again. “Now eat.”
We make plans for me and Beta Adam to go to Dylan’s pack to interview him
“Td like my father, the previous Bets to come too. He might have more insights than we did back then. I was still a pup and you were overwrought with grief. He might have some knowledge or ideas that could help us interview Alpha Dylan,” Adam
Bays.
“A great idea. Contact him, let him know what we want to do, and then we can all go together,” I say.
I look at my father. “Did you make contact with your person about the bones?”
“What bones?” Gamma Kyle asks,
“The bones hidden in the Alpha’s previous escape corridor. That’s why it’s been sealed off,” I say.
“What the fuck?” Beta Adam says, “Whose bones are they?”
That’s what I need to find out,” I say, looking back at my father
Thave a friend whose son works in the forensics department at a human police department. Having enhanced senses
apparently makes you more valuable in a police department.”
“No surprise there,” Gamma Kyle murmurs.
“His son is off tomorrow and said he would make the trip over to see what we’ve got,” my father says.
“Thanks, Dad I really want to know who is in there and why, I don’t know if we’ll get those answers, but I hope so.”
“Whoever it is, I’m sure they deserve a proper burial,” my father says.
“Agreed
We finish eating and discussing what needs to happen over the next couple of days. I make sure that both Beta Adam and Gamma Kyle know that I want to hear about any discontent within the pack. Once everyone leaves, I stand, pulling Samara
on her feet and taking her hand
“Let’s go, baby,” I say to her.
“Where are we going? she asks
1 stop and look at her. I can feel your nausea. We’re going to see if you’re pregnant.”
Her eyes get wide, so I lean forward and kiss her. “Better to know, because if you are, I can guarantee you that I will become the most overbearing man you’ve ever met in your life. No one and nothing is going to hurt my mate and pup.”
Once again, I feel the pulse of her love for me, like a heartbeat beating, flooding my body with her happiness. Because I can, because I need to, I pull her to me and take her mouth in a passionate, dominant, possessive kiss
When I pull away, my mate’s eyes are glassy and she’s swaying a little, making me smile.
“Now, let’s go see if you’re carrying my pup
Cooper
There’s still a lot to do, but pup info first.
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