"Like what?”
“Like your pack will have other stuff to do. They won't fight as much, there won't be as much attention, they'll be preoccupied with jobs and college. They’ll go to concerts and on vacations."
"But that's human stuff."
"Maybe so," Sutton said. "But we are part human. Some shifters feel more human inside than others, and vice versa. But for the ones who feel more human, you can't make them deny that part of themselves."
"I don't want them to deny it, but we're shifters. We're not human, and they don't need to forget it."
"Man, listen. You know I love you, you're my brother in every way except for DNA, but if you really feel that way, it may be time to step aside as Alpha.
"This is what your pack wants, it’s what they need – they’ve made that clear. You know, there are packs out there that live traditionally. You would just have to find one."
"I'm not going to abandon my pack." Roman growled at his friend.
"Then you need to adapt."
Roman sat up and rubbed his face. "I can’t do that."
"So," Sutton said brightly. "Now that you’ve joined the twenty-first century, is there any particular area you’re considering? We’d love to have you over in Koyukuk."
"One of them wants to go to Anchorage."
"Ah, perfect. I know a great realtor there." Sutton lowered his voice. "I’ll give her your information but promise me you won't mention my name."
"Why not? I thought realtors loved referrals."
"Most of the time. But this realtor was from my pack, and she won't like it.”
"I’ll give her a call. I prefer a shifter over a human."
"Yes, and you can be honest about what you need," Sutton said.
Roman stored the realtor’s name in his phone, but still did not call her. The next night another pack member approached him.
"Alpha," he said in a tremulous voice. The male twisted his hands together.
"Yes?"
"Um. I don't want to cause problems. But, um."
"Spit it out. It will be fine. I'm not going to rip your throat out, I promise."
That did not seem to soothe the shifter at all; the words ‘rip’ and ‘throat’ only seemed to make him tremble more. His legs were even shaking. Roman put his hand on the male’s shoulder. "Hey, I'm not that scary. Just tell me."
"I am moving to Anchorage. I got a job offer there and I really want to try it."
Roman bit down on his lip even as his hands curled into fists. He wanted to tell the young male he could not go. He took a deep breath and relaxed his hands.
This was my sign from the universe. It's time for you to finally make that call.
Before he could change his mind, he hit the button. He wasn't going to buy a house from a human but he and some of the pack could build cabins.
He was finally going to have to move his pack.