Rebuilding the Wolf

by Erin R Flynn

  He was quiet several minutes. “Sometimes I forget how much you see. It’s not you being oblivious so much as tuning out when you can because you see so much.”

  I shrugged, sipping my wine. “Maybe. I don’t know.” I sighed. “Eugene actually reminds me of Luca, and not the size of his dick but how he saw me from a distance and thinks he instantly fell in love. He doesn’t know me. Luca didn’t. I think people like the idea of me, this whatever image people are putting out there or putting together. The real me has a lot of fucking warts and issues and no one stays.”

  “I like your warts,” he murmured, moving closer and kissing my neck. “Paranormals tend to get overwhelmed with our heightened emotions, and lots of our cultures aren’t all that exclusive or serious until it’s very serious, and even then we get free passes for full moons. I don’t think all of it is them leaving but realizing you weren’t as into them and worrying they’d get their heart broken in the end.”

  “Fuck if I know. I’m the very last person anyone should ask for relationship advice. Like ever. Seriously.”

  “I’m really not any better,” he admitted, hugging me to him. We dropped it, both of us lost in our thoughts as we stared out at the skyline and finished our wine. Then I went to bed alone.

  Because everyone always left me in the end, even at the end of the night.

  21

  The next morning, everyone was on edge as we waited to see how things would go down. We decided to stick to the ploy of Eugene being a mating candidate and were able to update Zeno on that when they landed… But not the twins, so that was worrisome. However, I was having a hard time playing my part after I made the connection between him and Luca. He asked me several times if I was okay, and I told him I was, but he was anxious.

  We all were.

  Mr. and Mrs. Nevrakis walked in with Zeno and more security than I would have expected, and I felt everyone’s agitation rise. One look with Zeno and I knew they weren’t his. So why did Linus’s parents need ten security for this?

  Not good.

  “Dad, thanks for coming,” I greeted, much to the dismay of Mrs. Nevrakis who apparently thought she should go first. Bitch. He was Beta of their pack and mate to the Alpha. Of course he went first.

  We hugged and kissed cheeks, and then I turned to her, waiting. Again she looked appalled.

  “If you’re expecting my neck, you will be waiting a very long time,” I chuckled, giving her a glance of warning. “I’m Alpha here, and you were invited to my lands.” She gave me the greeting she thought us equals, and I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, sure, like I care.” I leaned in and quickly kissed Mr. Nevrakis’s neck, and he bared his throat to me and focused back on Zeno who seemed floored at how she was acting. “I told you.”

  I should have been a shit and greeted Christos’s grandmother first, but I wasn’t trying to pick the fight, and she seemed as bored with the drama as I was, so I quickly kissed her neck.

  “I know, I know, everyone behaves like darlings around your mother,” he grumbled, taking my arm. “How are you? Any problems yesterday?”

  “Yes, but not with taking over the pack. It was something else. I’ll tell you in private later. First, I want to introduce you to someone.” I brought him over to Eugene. “The council floated an idea of maybe forming an alliance to show their support with what I’m doing.”

  “And have one of theirs in your ear,” he chuckled, playing the role and figuring out the politics.

  “Of course. However, they sent someone worth considering, so I wanted to make sure you met, had a chance to speak before I tell them I’m even open to the idea or not.” I swallowed loudly as I felt Linus’s shock… And the twins’ pain. God, they were in so much pain at hearing this. Zeno squeezed my arm tighter, feeling it too. Then he let me go to greet Eugene.

  They let out their power, and Zeno was stronger, though not by much, which impressed him. He kissed Eugene’s neck and gave me a quick glance. “They sent a dire wolf? They are serious about making sure you’re protected.”

  “You’ll have to fill me in later, as we don’t have much on file with the FBI besides they tend to be bigger and very rare.”

  “Of course. Let’s handle the larger issue first, and then we can catch up. I want to see this building you bought too.”

  I led us over to the tables that had been pulled out to the open area so we weren’t sitting in a booth that wasn’t easy to defend against attack. I went to the head, and Mrs. Nevrakis went to sit at the foot, which she obviously deemed the head of the table.

  I gave her a funny look, like she was a kid trying to sit at the grown up table. “That’s Linus’s seat, as I’m negotiating with him. You were invited to advise, as we’re fucking adults, but I’m being respectful to how the bloodlines get involved in your culture.”

  “You mean wolf culture, and as head of the bloodline, you speak to me, child.”

  “Oh? Would you like to speak to Eva then?” I purred, smirking when she went a bit pale. “Yeah, I thought so. Stop fucking around and sit your ass where you should. You’re wearing on my nonexistent patience, and I have other things to attend to.” I nodded for Linus to take the chair, and he did, muttering an apology to his mother and sitting only after I did.

  Zeno sat to my right, Eugene my left, and Christos across from his grandmother in the middle, while Linus’s parents sat on either side of him. Awesome. Coffee and the first course of fresh fruit, honey, and yogurt was served before we started. Yeah, I needed the coffee.

  “After seeing how you came into the pack and immediately started working with our youngest and newest to help them control their shifts, I think you have the potential to be a good leader,” I started, noting he flinched at being busted on that like it made him weak. It didn’t. “However, you are a bit dismissive of those you shouldn’t be, as we saw at the fights last month, and you’re a bit too power hungry for me to completely feel comfortable.”

  “A good wolf always seeks more power,” his mother interrupted.

  “Uh-huh,” I muttered, biting back an eye roll. “And I now have confirmed where you got your drive from. However, that doesn’t work for me. First, I have to sign off personally on your citizen application, which means anything you do is on me, and I cannot risk a problem.”

  “I have worked hard to become updated on your laws.”

  “The human laws here mean nothing,” Mrs. Nevrakis interjected, giving him a disgusted look.

  “The laws all citizens have to follow here are not nothing,” I seethed. “We are all people. We also don’t have the paranormal to human population you do. Here, acting like pack is everything and all that matters can get you killed. Just ask the last Alpha of this pack when you summon his spirit. And I work for the fucking federal government to uphold those laws, so he cannot be dismissive of them.”

  “And the council has made it abundantly clear to all the leaders and shifter groups that they are to follow the laws of their land, short of the ones that call for their death,” Eugene interjected. “You might have your own council and ways in Greece, but you at least acknowledge the shifter council, yes?”

  She gave him a look that clearly said she wouldn’t go on the record as saying either way.

  “So do you even acknowledge Alena? Or is the only authority you adhere to your own?” I sighed when her heart fluttered. “I thought so.”

  “I didn’t hear it,” Zeon admitted.

  “It was very slight.”

  “You’re hearing things,” she accused. “It happens when one is so young and infected. Honestly, I find this whole thing to be appalling and in bad taste. You think you will be in charge of an Alpha?” She snorted, glancing at Zeno. “In what world would your mate ever consider that?”

  “This is not Greece,” I cut in, annoyed I felt like she was snitching on me to my dad. “And Linus has no chance to have a pack here without my help. It is his decision.” I gave Zeno an apologetic look. “Seriously, next time I’m just doing things how we do h
ere, and if there’s fallout, you’re stuck with it. First Mr. Barlos, then Leda, and now her. Christos and his family have been amazing and helpful. I can’t believe people so old can be this petty.”

  Someone snorted in the room, and I didn’t have to guess it was on my side.

  “Hestia and I have been discussing at length how things are going in Milwaukee with her taking over under my umbrella,” I told Linus. “She is doing well there, thriving. However, she’s immortal, and that is a very long fucking time to commit to a pack she doesn’t even know, in one area, and be stuck there. There is no need for it to be that way. Forever is a long time. What if you hate it there, find America isn’t even a good fit, and want to go home?”

  “I under—”

  “That is a ridiculous assumption and perspective from a woman who has no idea of the loyalty and responsibility an Alpha feels,” she sneered.

  “Bitch, I am the mother fucking Alpha here, and you’re not,” I seethed, forcing myself not to throw my fork through her eye. “You’ve never been an Alpha, so do not lecture me about what it’s like. I stepped up to save the pack of my city that I love. I always want to live here, and so I did what was right. I will now be Alpha for the rest of my immortal fucking life, and you cannot understand what that burden is like unless you carry it.

  “So I’m not going to have people under my umbrella stuck in that sort of situation when they’re not even from the places. He’s never even been there. He loves Greece, talks about it all the fucking time and how great it is. He’s young even if he’s older than me. In ten years maybe he doesn’t want to mate and raise a family here. You’re talking about power, and I’m talking about being smarter and progressing, not leaving Alphas to feel trapped.”

  “You think that’s why some of the Alphas go off the rails,” Linus surmised, his eyes filled with curiosity.

  “Maybe,” I admitted, bobbing my head. “There’s also no vacations for them. I’ve been at a job for a while that I’ve witnessed burnout time and again. Some of the Alphas I met are exactly like undercover agents that are burnt out. People need breaks. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and being Alpha requires all of that, and I’m not even a full time Alpha.”

  “You neglect your pack?” she gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest in a prepared… Whatever. It was fake as hell though. She stood, glancing around the room and smiling. “Based on that and your perversion of our ways, our laws, I find you unfit as Alpha.”

  “Right, because I care what your opinion is,” I drawled, knowing she was making her move and giving time for my people to catch up.

  She ignored me. “And as such, it is my duty as the next strongest in the area to step in and take over the roll.” She nodded to her people, and I didn’t even flinch, risking a lot and trusting my people to do what they should.

  “I can’t allow that, as she is my wife,” Dain warned, suddenly next to Mrs. Nevrakis, his sword at her throat. My ancients came out of nowhere and basically tossed her security at my waiting wolves or backup.

  “You were saying I didn’t have my shit together or something?” I purred, smiling at her. “That was the world’s lamest fucking takeover attempt like ever.”

  “I’m just getting started,” she hissed, letting out her power and cranking it up. “They will all be mine now, you idiot. You let a more powerful siren into your territory while spewing drivel about being smarter.”

  “I am.”

  I threw my power out as well, drowning hers and cranking it up on extra high from what the visiting sirens had fed me. I stood under her attack, noting her power had forced Dain to back off, his eyes glazed over as she tried to enthrall him, enthrall all of them. I darted around the table and wrapped my hand around her throat, slamming her into the table to break her concentration, shattering the damn thing in the process.

  I didn’t let her go though, continuing to the floor and wincing when I felt it break below her, knowing that would be another repair from something I’d broken. Using her shock to buy me time, I kissed the horrid bitch and sucked down her energy in huge gulps until I couldn’t take anymore and not fizz out, which would defeat the whole point. Then I punched her as hard as I could, glad when I saw her face partially cave in as she was knocked out.

  Dain was closest, so I kissed him, thrusting power into him to share and wipe away her influence. He nodded he was back and guarded her as I shared with the key people we needed to hold the situation together. It was incredibly weird to kiss my own adopted dad, but really it was more just hovering, and he didn’t need much, as he was pretty powerful and probably used to it.

  Eugene however was not, so I gave him a good dose, hurrying to move on much to his dismay. When I went to the twins, I felt their hurt and pain when they snapped out of it.

  “Trust me,” I breathed, knowing they both heard me. Slowly they nodded that they got something was going on and would give me a chance to explain.

  By the time I freed the others and shared the power, I was completely wiped and bemoaning my food and coffee that were now in a mess all over the ruined table. I glanced at Zeno with a sigh as I plopped onto my chair. “So what now?”

  “She dies,” he growled.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I whispered, my eyes going wide.

  He gave me a shocked look as well. “Seraphine, she tried to take over your pack. She dies. That cannot be allowed.”

  “Oh crap,” I breathed, glancing from her to Linus who was staring at his lap. “You knew this might happen.”

  “Yes, I thought you understood that,” he muttered, rubbing his hands over his face.

  “No, you said she’d pull some shit and be a bitch like Theon’s dad. He didn’t try—he insinuated it was stupid to keep me in charge, but that was…”

  “She brought guards to make it happen,” Zeno reminded me.

  “Wait, you went through all of the trouble and hoops and preparations and didn’t think about how this would turn out?” Eugene asked, his eyes wide.

  “Please don’t rub this in,” I whispered, rubbing my temples as a massive migraine formed. “I thought if she misbehaved, we’d smack her back to Greece like we have others.” I jumped to my feet and let out a wordless bellow as I kicked my chair clear across the room before storming to the back door to get some air and chill out in the cold.

  I was shocked when Linus actually came out to join me, neither of us saying anything for a few moments as we watched snow start to fall.

  “This isn’t on you,” he comforted, flooring me even more. “She knew the risks, Alpha. Hell, she lost it if she thought Alena would just let it slide should she have succeeded. I have no fucking clue what she was thinking.”

  “I’m sorry. Eugene’s right and I never considered what came next,” I rasped, wiping under my eyes. “I was so focused on making sure there wasn’t fallout to the pack and someone slipped in to hurt me, which meant more would, that I did not for one second think about what was next. We set her up to—”

  “No, you didn’t,” he defended, shaking his head. “Even if you did one of your FBI busts, you did nothing to push her into the crime she just committed. You’re not talking about punishing the guards she brought who didn’t even have a chance to react or not. My mother actually attacked by using her power.”

  “He’s right,” Zeno said gently as he joined us. “Alena said she will handle it. One of our wolves attacked me, her mate, and she will make it very clear that’s not acceptable nor is trying to take over our daughter’s territory.” He held up a hand to hold me off. “One of your older sisters has a pack she took over as well, Seraphine. Would you risk her because you wanted to show leniency that people would see as weakness?”

  “No,” I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my head. “Fuck!”

  “I second that,” Linus chuckled darkly. “Especially since my father will probably die when my mother is punished, as they are mates and have been mated for a long, long time.”

  Fuck. That made it even worse. I
glanced at Zeno. “What about backlash from his siblings? Everyone seems all about getting revenge no matter how justified the ruling or deal was.”

  Zeno shrugged. “We will handle it. Linus will testify as a witness, and I was here, and as Alena’s mate and Beta, my word carries much weight.”

  “Wait, so you have to take him back?” I checked, frowning.

  Both men mirrored the expression, but it was Zeno who spoke. “You wish him to stay?”

  I nodded. “I told him he’s his own man. If he doesn’t hate me and want to gut me in my sleep, I haven’t changed my mind he’s the guy for Grand Rapids.”

  Linus shocked us both by hugging me. I realized he now needed this because the only thing worse than losing his bitch mom—and probably his dad too—was to go back to Greece with it all hanging over his head. He had thought everything was blown up and over with.

  No, I couldn’t be that mean. We were more than our families. That had to be true or I was so, so screwed. I couldn’t even imagine being like my family whether they’d raised me or not. I had to believe there was more to us as people than just who our parents were, what family we came from.

  If not, we were all just carbon copies of our parents, and I refused to believe that.

  We went back inside, and I thanked everyone for their help before calling the pack contractor to come fix what I’d broken. Luckily he could handle it before we opened.

  And then I went to work, much to the shock of everyone. I had a job to do, and the last thing I wanted was to sit around and discuss what had just happened.

  I didn’t like what had happened, what would happen, but I knew it had to. It was out of my hands even, as she’d acted against Alena, and I had enough messes to clean up without adding shit.

  So I went to work. I would always, always get back to work no matter what happened, as there was always more work to be done.