Chapter 13

POV Eric

The next morning everything almost seemed normal. I could hear mom singing to herself in the kitchen and in the office, dad was pacing, making phone calls and running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

I sat down across the table from mom and started dishing up a plate. When my father came in and sat next to me, I was surprised but chose to blow it off. He usually sat at the head of the table.

“I just don’t understand.” He said after a few minutes of silence.

“What’s going on?” I asked him. Not expecting a response.

“We found the cave she was hiding in, along with 3 shifted and disfigured bodies. I have this feeling that the male is at least a Beta. I’ve rang every pack for hundreds of miles, an Alpha or Beta doesn’t just leave without someone noticing. They are all adamite that everyone in their pack is accounted for.”

“You think they ran away from their pack?” I asked.

“There was a betrothal pendant where the child was hiding. I gave it and all the emblem archives to Miss Evens to look over but if we had a daughter and she received one I could see running. We lost almost half our pack fighting for your mother's freedom.” He said.

Braxton growing curious about what I was feeling and asked, “Why do you seem so surprised that he’s telling you all this?”

Trying to focus on him, “He hasn’t involved me in pack business before. This all seems over my head.”

We sat eating in silence, as we started gathering plates the phone in the office began to ring. Dad took off down the hall to answer it. A few moments passed before he yelled down the hall for me.

When I reached the office, he had his back to me looking at the books on the bookshelf. “Dr. Stevenson has identified the bodies; he didn’t want to discuss details over the phone. Put on something presentable we leave in 10 minutes.”

I was glad he wasn’t looking at me, I could not hide my confusion. “You want me to go with you?”

“I did not stutter.” His voice started to rise.

“Yes sir.” I said spinning in my heals and rushing upstairs.

“What’s going on with him?” Braxton asked.

“I don’t know but it’s best if we just do as he asks, he’s still pretty pissed we took off.”

Rummaging through my closet I put on some black slacks, dress shoes and a blue button up shirt. Walking in front of the mirror Braxton burst out laughing. “Are we going to prom or a business meeting.”

“You think it’s too much?” I rubbed my hand down my face and looked over my fingertips at my reflection. “Dam alright.!”

I ran back into the closet searching. “Then what do you think we should wear and can you stop laughing at me.”

Braxton could barely catch his breath. “Isn’t there a three-piece suit in here somewhere. I heard the morgue is only formal attire now.” He howled at his own comment.

“If you’re not going to help, can you at least shut up.” I snapped at him. Dad never took me on Alpha business, and I had no clue what to do.

Braxton pulled himself together. “What about jeans with that polo shirt tucked in and a belt. It looks clean but not overdressed.”

“Well thanks.” I replied grabbing them and putting them on. Walking in front of the mirror again I let out a sigh of relief. Braxton was right, I felt neither over nor under dressed.

Alpha was waiting impatiently at the door when I came down the stairs. I didn’t think I had taken long but I could have been wrong.

Getting into the car he abruptly turned the radio off. Driving almost halfway in silence, nerves getting the best of me, my stomach twisting in knots. I opened my mouth several times to speak but nothing came out. I wasn’t sure what to ask or say.

Finally breaking the silence, “Do you remember the story your mother used to tell you when you were little about her pendant?” He asked.

“Sure, you and our pack went against the pack claiming mom. Everyone knows the story. Why?” I asked.

Pulling the car off to the side of the road and to a stop. He leaned over getting his face less than a foot from mine. “I found a betrothal pendant in the cave. We can’t know for sure that it belongs to the girl you found but if it does are you and Braxton ready to start a war over this child?” His eyes burned into mine. “Your mother was one thing. She was my mate, and your grandfather knew that and sold her off anyway. Joann was the rightful heir to this pack. This girl, we have no blood ties to, no obligation to her. Are you willing to risk our pack for her?”

Braxton pushed forward, his reaction precise and deliberate. My face and skull bones cracking as he pushed through. His huge wolf face almost nose to nose with my father. Gaze unwavering. “If we do nothing to protect that girl from such a fate, we do not deserve a pack.”

My father sat back in his seat. His shoulders dropped and he let out a sigh. Looking back at me his features softened and a big smile came across his face.

Braxton reseeded, leaving me with a questioning look on my face.

“Good!” My father said. “If something happens to me, I need to know that you are ready to take my place.”