“You will always be my friend, Caleb.” She swallowed hard, and I knew it was because she was choked up when her voice thickened. “And you’ll the kind of Alpha we need. Zeke should be proud to call you his Alpha.” I heard her hurry away and a sharp pang went through me at her honesty.
“I’m going to go talk to Zeke and his dad. See if I can convince them to initiate him into the Pack,” Caleb said as I stood there motionlessly. “You were right,” he chuckled mirthlessly. “You’re always right.”
“Not always,” I replied, guilt over my own secrets consuming me as he walked away.
“Quite a speech from our young Alpha,” Gregory said as he strolled toward me. “Inspiring one might say.”
“Where do you stand, Gregory?” I asked, suddenly tired.
“With the Pack. Always with the Pack,” he answered promptly, honesty ringing in his voice.
“So with Caleb,” I detailed, needing to know Caleb had the support of our oldest member.
“I have a great deal of faith in young Caleb. He’s becoming exactly what he needs to be. Same as you,” Gregory added, smiling when my gaze jumped to him. “Sometimes in life, we don’t realize what we want until we’re presented with it. Leads us to some unexpected places.”
“You speak in riddles, old man,” I retorted, scrubbing my hand over my head. “It must be exhausting.”
“You don’t reach my age without learning a few tricks.” He smiled. “And there’s nothing more fun than watching a bunch of pups chasing their tails.”
I laughed at the truth in his statement. Gregory had lived long enough to see it all and when I told him as much, he smiled ruefully.
“The bond you share with your mate surprised even me. She is exceptional. As is her brother.” I nodded, rubbing my chest as I felt Jess brush against our mental bond. She did it often and I wondered if it was her version of reassurance. “I hope I live long enough to see your pups.” I choked at his words, grateful neither Jess or her father could hear them. They hadn’t been raised Pack and it was a little harder for them to accept some of our ways.
“Jess’ mom showed up,” I told Gregory. “She’s Pack.” His eyebrows raised but otherwise he didn’t show any reaction. “We don’t know from where but she’s a breeding female and she was raised in a Pack.”
“I guess that would explain Jess and her younger brother’s genetics,” Gregory mused. “Jess is an excellent match for you. And young Monster, well, you’ll need to guide him carefully, Dominic.” I stilled at Gregory’s words, it was almost as if he knew….but that was impossible. “He’ll be a powerful shifter one day and the kind of Alpha he’ll make depends on the examples he’s given.”
I nodded tightly, not denying his words. I’d already seen it and thought the same. It relieved me to hear it from Gregory though.
“Your instincts are good, Dom. You need to trust them.” He patted my arm, his head level with my shoulder only because age had shrunk him down. I remembered a time when he towered over everyone else, his frame as formidable as my own. “Tell your sister I said hello.” I nodded absently, not bothering to wonder how he knew I was going to see her.
“I will,” I said, my words echoing in the dark, Gregory already gone. I made my way to Sam’s house, surprised when I realized I already considered it hers. My place was with Jess, wherever that may be, even though I profoundly hoped it wouldn’t always be a motel off the highway.
“About time you showed yourself,” she snipped from the porch as I came to the steps. “It’s almost like you’ve been avoiding me.”
I scooped her up, ignoring the hands that beat on my chest as I hugged her. “I missed you, Sis.” She relaxed at my words, hugging me back.
“You need to bring Jess by for dinner,” she said instead, ignoring my words. “Dad was here,” she added bluntly.
“Yeah, he told me Payne invited him,” I said, a teasing note entering my voice. “How’s that going?”
“It’s been three days,” she snapped, batting at my chest. “Damn Navarre men trying to marry me off the second I step back on Navarre land.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at her wordlessly, at least until she started to laugh. “You should see your face, Dom.”
“I was joking, Sam!”
“I know,” she replied contritely, sitting on the swing and patting the seat next to her. “It came out a little harsher than I meant it to.”
“I’ll say,” I exhaled, glancing at her sideways. “It also sounded honest.”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted, tucking her feet up so I could push the swing. “But I didn’t mean it that way, not really.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you off on Payne,” I told her, my foot rocking us back and forth as she stared up at the porch ceiling. “I just want you to be happy.”