I turned at Archer’s question, focusing my attention on the vampire who had frozen, his steel-blue eyes fixed on me. I felt sick. Closing my eyes, body tensing as Laura appeared in the kitchen, uttering words that would bring my world crashing down around me.
“The Alpha is dead.”
Chapter Eight
Archer
I sat alone on the steps of the mansion watching the sunrise on a day that would bring an end to an era for the Evervale pack, and start a new one. For the moment my best friend could be with his sister and grieve for the loss of their father. Soon though, he would have to take on his first task as Alpha. He would have to address the pack and tell them that yet another of their family had been murdered.
I took a deep breath as I let my thoughts wander to the moment I had found out my father had been killed. I had wanted Chase to be killed, pay for what he had done. The Alpha had explained to the pack that he couldn’t sentence a wolf to death without proof, and they had no proof that Chase had been behind my father’s death. Well, none that would have stood as solid evidence. I knew that Riley was on my side, that he thought that Chase should have at least been sent far away from Evervale. Far up into the Canadian mountains.
I missed my father every day, and only hoped that he would be proud of the fact I was now treading in his shoes. I knew I had big shoes to fill, but right now my job was to help my best friend take control of the pack. To make him believe that he was worthy of such a role.
I knew that Riley was doubting himself. He had suffered from self-doubt most of his life and had learnt to keep a hold on it. I was aware this would just bring it all back to the surface. We all had our flaws and problems, and we all helped each other deal with them. It was the turn of me and Drax to pull Riley through the hardest time in his life and make him see that he was everything an Alpha should be and more.
“How long have you been out here?”
I looked up at the sound of the vampire’s voice. Drax was making his way across the grounds, he had clearly been out for a hunt.
“I don’t know. I lost track of time. Where have you been?” I asked.
Drax dropped down next to me, fixing his gaze ahead of him.
“I went to talk to the vampires. Always such a thrilling experience,” he replied dryly.
“Yeah, I don’t envy you there. Did they have anything useful to say?”
“No. Well, they say they don’t know. I’m not sure if they are telling the truth, but I wasn’t about to sit there and argue with them. That’s not my priority right now. How’s Riley?”
I shrugged lightly in response.
“He’s doubting himself. I can tell. He’s going to need us to help him believe in himself. Make him understand that he is probably the best Alpha that the Evervale pack has had for so long. The Alpha said to me he knew Riley would be a better leader than him. He has so much compassion, he really does care for every single being in Evervale. But I also know Riley has never wanted this,” I explained.
“Well he has it now, and he won’t back out. The whole pack will be behind him, they love him. Anyone can see that,” Drax said.
“That doesn’t make it any easier.”
Both of us turned to look up at the sound of a voice, finding Riley stood above us. I shifted slightly to let Riley sit between us, he took the offer gratefully. I could see all the emotions playing out over my friend’s face. I understood what he was going through. I had been through the same; the devastation, pain, anger, the want to hunt down the creature that had killed, to make them pay.
“Is Luna with Ollie and Laura?” Drax asked.
“Yeah. I just needed to get away. I couldn’t stay staring at my father’s body any longer. I also just wanted some time with you guys. I’m so glad you are both here. I think I would have fallen apart by now if you hadn’t been,” Riley replied.
I squeezed his shoulder tightly. Riley was so broken at the moment and I wished I could say something to make it easier for him. The reality was, this was only the beginning. I only had to deal with my father’s death, and I had been given the chance to take as long as I needed to heal. Riley didn’t have that luxury. In just a few hours he would be addressing the pack. He would have to tell them what happened, and the the funeral arrangements would begin.
“We wouldn’t be anywhere else, Sooty. Have you thought about what you are going to say to the pack?” I asked.
“No. I don’t have a clue. I’m wishing I had listened to my father. Taken in every piece of advice he has ever given. Instead, I just shrugged it off, resented it, resented him for teaching me. I wont ever have that again…”
Riley’s voice caught in his throat, his head dropped into his hands and I watched while his shoulders shook as he succumbed to his emotions. I shared a look with Drax, before the pair of us engulfed Riley in a group hug, letting him cry, knowing he would have kept his tears in for the sake of Luna.
“Just let it out, Riley. You know with us you are safe to let your emotions free. You can’t bury them. It won’t help. Trust me,” Drax soothed.
Eventually, Riley pulled away from us, wiping his tears and taking a deep breath to regain some control. I waited until my friend was more composed before I asked my next question.
“What are you going to do about your brother?”
A look crossed Riley’s eyes that I couldn’t place. I didn’t miss the way him and Drax exchanged a quick glance. They were keeping something from me, and I felt like I needed to know what it was. Now.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I demanded.
Riley’s shoulders dropped in defeat, Drax wouldn’t meet my eye. I could feel my anger growing.
“I didn’t want to talk to you about this today. I don’t have the energy to, but I guess I don’t have a choice,” Riley said.
“Talk to me about what?”
“The other morning when you saw me returning from a run. I had been to see my brother. He had asked me to meet him. He claims he had nothing to do with your father’s death. I don’t know if I believe him. I mean I didn’t, but after what Ollie said last night, I don’t know what to think any more. Father didn’t think he did it himself but that he had someone else do it for him. When the reaper turned up the other night-“
“You think Chase is working with her?” I interrupted.
“We did. But then I went to meet with him last night. I was coming back from that meeting when you found me to tell me about the attack. When I asked him about the reaper he was just as spooked as we were. If he is behind it all, he’s not working with a reaper,” Drax added.
I didn’t know what to say. I was angry. Angry that my friends had done all this behind my back, had spoken to the one wolf that was linked to my father’s murder. I felt betrayed.
“Archer, I wanted to tell you, but then everything happened and I couldn’t find the right time to do it,” Riley said.
I let out a snarl. Riley hadn’t tried hard enough to tell me or he had been too much of a coward. Either way, I wasn’t happy with their excuses.
“You could have been honest with me when I asked you. How hard would it have been? Yes, I would have been angry, but not as much as I am now. Why didn’t you tell me what you were doing? If you had just explained to me. Trusted me!” I snapped.
“Archer, please-“
I shook my head, standing as I did. I needed to get away from both of them. I could see the look of hurt in Riley’s eyes, and I knew that I was probably overreacting but at that moment I didn’t care. They hadn’t trusted me with something this big and that hurt. My friend needed me, I knew that, but I just needed a bit of time alone to process what I had just been told.
“Where are you going?” Riley asked.
I stopped as I got to the bottom of the steps we had been sitting on. I couldn’t even bring myself to turn and look at them both.
“I just need a bit of time. Don’t worry I’ll be there later. I’m your Beta, Riley. I won’t abandon you. But we need to be able
to trust each other if this is going to work, and right now I don’t feel like you trust me,” I replied.
“Archer, I trust you with my life.”
I spun round to face my friend. I could feel myself trembling from the anger and from the hurt.
“Then why did you keep this from me?” I fired.
“Because I didn’t want to hurt you. I know it’s still so raw for you, losing your father. I was trying to protect you. I wanted to see if I could find out the truth so that I could give you what you wanted and what you deserve. Justice for your father’s death. And we will get it.”
“We messed up, Archer. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you and I understand why you are angry and hurt. But don’t you think right now we should be pulling together. You said to me just a few moments ago that we needed to be there for Riley. Help him deal with what he is about to go through. Please, don’t go,” Drax begged.
I regarded my friends silently. The desperation in Riley’s gaze shattered through my anger. Drax was right, I was needed here. Yes, I was hurt and yes it would take a lot to make it up to me, but I did believe what Riley had said. In a way, I respected him for it.
“Promise me you won’t keep anything like this from me again? If we are going to find out what is going on in Evervale, why the pack is being targeted, then we need to be honest with each other. We need to stick together,” I said.
Riley nodded in agreement. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. I could tell that my friend was sorry, and I found myself forgiving him.
“We promise. I’m sorry, Archer,” Drax muttered.
I flashed him a slight smile. It was done, I didn’t want to fight with them anymore. Walking back up the steps, squeezing both their shoulders as I headed back into the house.
“Let’s just forget about it okay? We have to figure out what you are going to say to the pack, Riley. We need to start planning your father’s funeral. I think that’s more important than some stupid disagreement between us, don’t you?”
Chapter Nine
Riley
I paced up and down the study as Archer worked on the speech I was going to give to the pack. I had tried to help him out by making suggestions, but Archer just shook his head slightly, assuring me that he would write something perfect.
I could feel the frustration building within me, if I was to stand there and read what Archer had written then it wouldn’t have come from my heart. It wouldn’t be me speaking to the pack as their new Alpha, it would be the words of the Beta, and that wasn’t right.
“Archer, will you stop, please,” I snapped.
Archer instantly dropped the pen, fixing his eyes on me. I saw the flicker of hurt in them, making me regret snapping. I sighed deeply as I dropped down on the chair behind the desk. The chair my father used to sit on, where he should still be sat while he tried to teach me all he could about the role of Alpha. I missed him.
“You don’t want me to write for you?” Archer asked.
“It’s not right, it doesn’t feel right. I need to just speak from the heart with no prompt. My father never had a speech prepared. He used to just…speak. I need to do that. I need to be like him,” I told him.
“You aren’t like him, Riley. You need to do you and trust what you are doing is right. You just need to believe in yourself,” Archer said.
I heard my best friend’s words, and I wanted to believe them, but my mind refused to let me. Closing my eyes briefly, I took a deep breath to push down the self-doubt. I had to keep a level head if I was going to prove to my pack that I was ready to step into my father’s shoes.
Archer had assured me that they were all behind me and that I would be accepted, but there was always that risk that someone would challenge me for the position. I could fight, but I was no match against some of the stronger males in the pack.
“I don’t want you to write a speech for me, Archer. I will talk from my heart. I need to, I need them to see that they can trust me, follow me and believe in me. Even if I don’t believe in myself.”
“I understand. I’m going to go and make sure everyone is ready to receive you.”
I didn’t say anything as Archer dismissed himself, leaving me in the silence of my father’s study, my study now. A knock at the door stopped me from sinking too far into my own thoughts.
“Come in,” I called out.
The door opened and Luna appeared from the other side of it. I flashed her a small smile, watching as she took a seat in the chair opposite me. I wished I could say more, do more, to ease my sister’s pain. The thing was, I didn’t even know how to deal with my own feelings, how was I meant to help her?
“I wanted to see how you were doing. I know today is a big deal, and I want you to know I’m completely by your side. You’re all I have left, Riley,” Luna said.
I heard the shake to her voice, causing me to reach across the table and take her hands in mine, squeezing them tightly.
“I’m fine, Luna. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m okay. I know what I have to do. I thought getting Archer to write me a speech was the right thing, but now I know I have to speak to everyone from my heart. I have to be honest and real with the pack otherwise they won’t respect me. They won’t accept me.”
“They will always accept you, Riley. This was your destiny all along. Never Chase’s,” Luna told me.
I let out a small laugh as I let go of my sister’s hands so I could lean back in the chair. It was the first I had heard of destiny. I didn’t believe in that sort of stuff, but Luna did. If that faith was what was going to help her accept what was happening, then I would humour her.
“Speaking of Chase. Are you going to allow him to come to Father’s funeral?” Luna asked.
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration at her question. She was the fourth to ask it, and I was getting sick of answering. Chase was taking up far too much energy and far too much focus. He was the least of my worries right now, but it seemed everybody needed to know what was happening with my brother.
“I don’t know, Luna. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. My focus right now is today, and having to tell the pack what happened to our father. I have to tell them that yet another murder has happened and we don’t know who did it or why. Then I have to plan Father’s funeral,” I replied.
My tone was clipped, and I noticed the way my sister flinched slightly at it. I could hear my father in my words, I was already starting to sound like him. It wasn’t right, he hadn’t even been dead a day.
“I think you should let him come. Or at least tell him when it is so he can say goodbye from the shadows if you don’t want him near the pack. I hate him as much as you do, but he is still family, and he deserves to say goodbye,” Luna muttered.
“Even though most people think he is to blame for both of the deaths,” I pointed out.
“I spoke to Ollie this morning. He told me what he told you. He doesn’t think Chase killed father, and I believe him.”
“I’m not discussing this with you right now Luna-“
“When, Riley? We only have each other now, you can’t keep stuff like this from me. Things haven’t just changed for you, Riley. They’ve changed for me too,” Luna interrupted me.
I regarded my sister as if truly seeing her for the first time. She was right, something had changed in her. I realised just how lucky I was to have her at my side. Luna was smart, quick, and strong. She had Ace under her thumb exactly where I needed him. Luna could look after herself, even against the hunter that was amongst us.
“I will go and find Chase tonight. I will talk to him, and I will tell him when the funeral is. You’re right, Luna, he deserves to say goodbye, or at least to know what’s going on,” I agreed.
“That’s all I ask.”
“Luna, I need you to keep Ace from this for now. You know he’s not a detective, don’t you? That he’s a hunter. Father knew, but it didn’t seem to bother him that a hunter was lurking amongst us.”
“I do know he
is a hunter. But don’t worry about him. He adores me, Riley. You leave Ace to me.”
Luna stood up, coming around the desk to wrap her arms around me tightly. I responded to the comfort, fighting back tears as I realised, we only truly had each other at the heart of our family. Luna planted a kiss against my cheek.
“I love you, Riley. I think you are going to be a fantastic Alpha. Evervale is lucky that you are stepping into the place of Father,” she whispered.
I couldn’t find the words to reply. Luna knew because she gave me another kiss before breaking the hug and making her way to the door of the study. Stopping at it as she turned to face me.
“You’re going to nail it today, Riley. Always remember you aren’t on your own.”
With that she was gone, leaving me alone once more. I knew the rest of the pack were gathered waiting for me. I could sense them and so could my wolf.
Glancing down at the paper on the desk the words written on it in Archer’s neat writing were perfect. Archer really was a master of words, and for a moment I considered using them, but I knew in my heart it wasn’t right for me to. I had meant what I had said to both Luna and Archer. I needed to talk to the pack from the heart. Ripping up the paper, I tossed it in the bin as I stood. I made my way to the door, opening it to find Drax on the other side, his hand poised to open the door.
“I was just coming to get you. Everyone is waiting for you on the grounds. Not everyone knows that the Alpha is dead. Are you okay?” Drax asked me.
“I wish everyone would stop asking me that.”
“Sorry. Force of habit. I don’t have to be there you know. I’m not one of you-“
“Drax, you are family. It doesn’t matter that you aren’t a wolf. You’re one of my best friends and I need you there,” I stopped him.
The vampire nodded, stepping aside to let me leave the study. We both made our way to the grounds and as I stepped out onto the steps, I felt a rush of nerves hit me. I knew all the Evervale pack by name, but at that moment it didn’t make it any easier.
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