Grandpa

Alpha Zayne Steele

Leaving the military to their search, I made my way to the burning grounds where the pyres were being built, and a wave of pride flowed through me as I observed the crowd that came out to help despite this morning's distractions.

Glancing around, I see all busy at work, men cutting pieces of wood, some striping bamboo, some assembling, some securing the pieces together.

Even women were involved. They ensured the cold water pitcher was fully topped up and prepared meals.

It was amazing to see. By the looks of it, seventeen Pyres have already been built and decorated. Grinning from ear to ear, overwhelmed with the sheer togetherness, as I glanced around, I announced, "great job, guys. Now point me to the tools. Let me dive right in."

All within earshot stopped to look and acknowledge their Alpha.

I quickly nodded and said, "I am pleased to see things are definitely on stream and progressing nicely for tonight's send-off for our fallen."

I see even some of the rescues were here lending a hand. This is nice, I thought, and I said, "so lovely to see the rescues here helping us. Thank you."

All within earshot said, "no, thank you." I nodded, making myself comfortable, and I joined in.

A few hours had passed, and we were finished with the rest of the Pyres, with just about two or three still to be decorated but, by the looks of it, would soon be completed. Looking around, feeling so darn proud and contented. I must admit, things have changed since I took over from my father. The people were becoming wary of him and his dealings.

I racked up and made my way to the pack house office to meet with Mekhi.

"Alpha Zayne?" I heard Leandra's soft voice.

Looking around, I saw her coming from where the Pyres were being decorated. Interesting. Was she here all this time?

"Hey, Leandra, what's up?" I stopped facing her.

"Nothing, really. I just wanted to check in on you." She replies, fiddling with her hair.

I lift an eyebrow, and she continues, "I know these last few days have been chaotic for you and that you have been dealing with a lot, you know, and that can be stressful for any Alpha."

"Walk with me," I said as I picked back up on the trail heading to the pack house.

She eagerly steps in line with me as we casually stroll to the packhouse. I sighed and rubbed my face, "You speak the truth. These past few days have been a lot. At this point, I am simply trying to keep my head above water."

She glances up at me, "Yeah, I figured. I hope things do get better."

"You and me both, Leandra, you and me both."

"This may sound weird, but sometimes you need to simply relax, free your mind, let loose a bit and regroup."

"Like what you have in mind?" Zayne enquired, curiosity peeking.

"I don't know..ok before all this was dropped on your plate, what did you enjoy doing for fun?"

"Wow, that is a hard one." I chuckled and tried thinking back to a time when I did not have all these responsibilities.

Crickets.

"Wow, that long, huh?" Leandra giggled. "You know they say all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy...or something like that."

We both laughed.

"Ok, ok, yea, yea, I remember, back then I would hang out at my club, have a few drinks with the guys. I would take home a pretty lady to have some fun with, hmn, let me see...oh, I also enjoyed my swimming. A lot."

"Interesting...And..anything else?"

"And my go-to these days is a simple run through the woods in my wolf form to clear my mind."

"Boringgg." She said, and we laughed.

I laughed so hard, "well, look at you, miss thang. What do you do for fun?"

I found it is easier to talk to someone, or should I say a female, when they are not throwing themselves at me twenty-four-seven.

One would think this kind of relaxed conversation would occur between Sacha and me, but that has never happened. We only discuss strategies and tactical plans. That is it.

I only now realize we never chat about anything with substance. It has only been me trying to escape Sacha's unrelenting advances.

"Well," she says, suddenly sassy as ever. "Clubbing is always fun for me, so you had me going at 'clubbing,' then you took a turn down grandpa's lane when you mentioned swimming and running."

"What? Shut up..get out of here. How is swimming and running make me a grandpa?" We were bending over laughing now. This girl called me grandpa, me. A handsome young fellow like me? Old? No way.

Was I becoming an old man? Was life passing me by?

Anyways, we chit-chatted about tonight's events, and as she was down there helping decorate the Pyres, she also had some insights on who was there and the families, etc. She was basically filling me in, and I appreciated it.

Soon we were at the packhouse, and we went our separate ways. Leandra headed upstairs to check on her parents. They have been cooped up in their rooms since the night of the attack.

After letting them out of the basement, along with the elderly, women, and children, the Dartwoods went to their rooms and locked themselves in, only coming out for meals.

Goddess alone knows what Alpha Dartwood's next move was. It does not matter, though. Thankfully, Jovi and the team had reached the Dartwood's community safe and sound.

Jovi ran the trace and made a connection for him to monitor back home effectively. He had explained in baby terms for me to understand and should be back before nightfall.

Now in my office, according to Mekhi, the search went pretty swiftly and very well. They finished much faster than anticipated. Nonetheless, we were thankful.

Damn it! When will we catch a break?

The night before, after reviewing things with my beta and Delta, I headed over to the dungeon and ordered the release of all prisoners. It was something my father had said that led me to that decision. And I am glad it did.

Now, when we release a prisoner, we don't just let them walk right out the door.

There are specific measures and steps we take to ensure our safety. On the night of the attack, the doctor, nurse, and seven human guards who we took out with the tranquilizers.

They were driven as far away from our community as possible over the border, leaving them in a hotel room, sedated, with enough money to get to where they needed to get to or some type of help.

We were sure to be as far away back on our journey before they awake.

After explaining to Mekhi, I said, "that's why I was so confident that the army would not find anything to incriminate us. I have the witch do a little potion to wipe their memory of our location, our existence, and all that was discussed."

A hundred percent of the time, their boss sees them as unfit to work and just casts them out, considering them useless. This helps them, at least those doing this against their will. Be it they were blackmailed or their family threatened.

With no memory of anything, and no intel to give, the boss leaves them alone, and they are safe back to their everyday lives. Or what was left of it.

At least, that is what I would like to believe.

Now it was time for a brief meeting. Mekhi and I went to the situation room.

On arrival, I see my warriors, guards, and Delta all gathered. Everyone looked like they did not want to be here now, and I can relate.

The room quieted as I entered, the situation room was big, a vast long tale in the middle that could easily seat fifty men, and there were chairs to the sides and at the back.

Glancing around the table, making eye contact with a few, I remained standing as I spoke, "Thank you all for coming. This will be very brief."

Everyone looks on attentively, "typically, it's usually a few key men that participate in the planning of our missions, but today, that stops."

Looking around, I see curious gazes, some arched eyebrows wanting to know where I was going with this speech, "I would like to open the floor to anyone who may have ideas or any plans they would like to bring to the table against this fight we are facing."

A wave of murmurs sounded, even some approvals, and I said, "If you have any suggestions, you are free to share them. Now I know everyone is tired and need to rest up for tonight's send-off, so I would simply urge that you think about it, and we will reconvene here tomorrow after, after the festivities, and we have all rested, let's say four pm."

Everyone acknowledged, and with that, I also told Mekhi to rest up. Leaving, I made my way home. I was done for now.

And at this moment, I wanted to be alone.