His mother’s potted garden was in full bloom and a baby babbled happily. Morgan reveled in the peaceful memories of a time when he’d had a loving family and a hopeful future.
“Will he be okay?” whispered a voice that was out of place in his childhood.
The warmth and scent Morgan initially had attributed to a sunny garden intensified and he inhaled deeper. Ricky Marx. Apparently, Morgan was combining the dreams of his past with his fantasies for his future. It was the best kind of world and he sank deeper into it. The baby’s voice got softer, the gurgles coming slower, reminding Morgan of peaceful afternoons holding his sister as she fell asleep in his arms.
“The healer says it’s up to him,” said Ray Lopez.
It seemed the cast of this particular dream also included people from his present. He liked Lillian’s mate and welcomed him into his subconscious.
“What does that mean?” asked Ricky.
“We don’t know exactly.” Ray paused. “Now that you’re here, you can figure that out for us.”
“Me?” Ricky sounded panicked. “I don’t know anything about healing.”
Even more asleep than wake, Morgan’s drive to fix whatever bothered his mate roused his consciousness.
“Morgan told Lillian you’re his mate.”
“Yeah,” Ricky rasped and then cleared his throat. “And she said that would mean fate was punishing him.”
Ray sighed deeply. “I wish I could tell you she didn’t intend that the way it sounded, but the best I can say is that she wasn’t talking about you. Not really.” Another sigh. “I moved to Golden Valley after I met Lillian, so I didn’t grow up here. The people who did haven’t completely healed from the loss of their previous Alpha.”
“He died in a fire, right?” The barest of touches ghosted over Morgan’s torso and then, before hearing Ray’s response, Ricky said, “Alpha Iredell said Morgan almost died in the challenge.”
“There was a lot of blood,” Ray conceded. “I don’t know for sure whether he would have let Iredell kill him; either way, Lillian broke them up before it was too late. People have tried and failed to take him out for years, but Morgan’s stronger than anyone outside of this pack gives him credit for. He’s alive and healed now. Physically anyway.”
“I could sense his strength before I ever saw him.” Warm fingers curled over his forearm and the heat radiated to every inch of his skin. “I don’t know how Alpha Iredell could have been near Morgan and missed his power.”
Until that moment, being powerful had never been a source of pride for Morgan. He hadn’t grown up planning to lead the pack, so being especially strong wasn’t relevant, and even when he had been forced to step in as Golden Valley Alpha, he had wished someone more powerful existed to take the reins. But hearing the admiration in his mate’s voice made Morgan’s chest puff with pride. He was a powerful Alpha, strong enough to protect and care for his Omega mate.
“Iredell’s been challenging Morgan for years. He’s seen his wolf, which is huge, and he’s experienced his strength firsthand. Sometimes I think that’s why he keeps showing up and forcing a fight.”
“I’ve never had the privilege of seeing Morgan’s other form.” The hand on his arm moved up an inch and down an inch, petting him. Tender and caring, the touch warmed his heart more than any intimacy he had previously experienced. “When we were driving here, Alpha Iredell said he had to issue the challenge because of something to do with his mate and Morgan’s brother.”
“It’s true that Jerold Peters had a history with Iredell’s mate, but I personally don’t believe that’s why he keeps challenging Morgan. If you ask me, he’s madder at himself than he is at Jerold or anyone in Golden Valley. The guy’s spent years beating himself up on the inside and forcing Morgan to beat him up on the outside.”
“Alpha Iredell does come across like he’s, uh, dealing with some personal issues.”
Ray scoffed. “That’s a nice way to say it. Did he tell you about the fire?”
“No, but Alpha Berger told me bits and pieces.”
“Bits and pieces? Did he explain that Iredell’s mate set of the explosion that caused it?”
“No.” Ricky gasped. “Why did he do that?”
“I wasn’t here at the time and I didn’t know the guy. They say he was mad at Morgan’s brother for rejecting him and Morgan’s father for sending him away, but how could he have been upset about any of that if he met his mate in the Green Field pack? It doesn’t make any sense to me, and I think that’s why Iredell can’t get past it. He keeps challenging Morgan as some kind of twisted penance and this time it went too far.”
“The people downstairs said it’s my fault,” Ricky mumbled as he moved his warm hand to Morgan’s head.