Pierce POV
“Alpha, news on the grape vine is that Odin is dead.” My beta enters my office, completely taking me by surprise at this piece of news.
“What? Have you verified it?”
“I can’t get hold of the Red Stone beta but it’s very rare that my source is wrong.”
“Cancel my meeting this afternoon, I’ll leave now. Do we know, are the alpha family at Red Stone or Silver Moons?” I was already grabbing my car keys, wallet and phone…just needing to confirm their location.
“Our intelligence has confirmed that Reuben has been at the Red Stone for a week now.”
“Evelyn?”
“She’s remained at the Silver Moon pack with the children. Most of the Red Stone warriors also remaining. From my understanding, Reuben has journeyed alone.”
As soon as my beta confirms their location, I don’t wait. This piece of news was huge.
Huge for the werewolf community, for Reuben and Evelyn, and for…Libby.
Pain radiates through my body from the sheer thought of her. Mates weren’t supposed to be so far away from one another, not if there hasn’t been a rejection.
They aren’t meant to be apart, it weakens them both.
I’ve been struggling in her absence, my wolf’s anger going off the charts. He blames me for not marking her, for being too soft on her.
Perhaps he was right, perhaps I should have done things differently.
I journey immediately to the Red Stone pack, but am told Reuben is on border patrol check.
Odd because this would be the safest he and the Bright-Carmore family have been in a long time. Why was he on the check? His guards would be more than capable of securing the grounds.
I find him at the southerner border, on his own looking out at the distance. His posture is still that of the alpha king, his back straight, his head held high. But there was something about his shoulders that lead me to believe not all was well.
He doesn’t turn on my gathering closeness.
Taking me completely by surprise as he takes a swing for me when I clap my hand on his upper back.
I duck out of the way, he hadn’t even noticed my approach. Which for an Alpha was concerning.
“You okay my brother?”
“What the fuck are you playing at? I could have broken those pretty teeth of yours.”
“I heard about Odin, I came to check on you and the kids.”
“They are back at Silver Moon, I came alone.” He answers looking back out to the woods in the distance.
“And?” Something was definitely up, he was on edge.
“And what?”
“Fuck man, are they okay?”
“Yes, yes they are fine.”
“What’s with the short answers…”
“I’m not being short…”
“Look, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know you didn’t get on with Odin but he was still…”
“He hadn’t been my father since I was taller than him. He wasn’t like your Dad Pierce, I feel nothing. Relief if anything.”
He enters a mind-link, his eyes glazing over as he cuts off our communication.
“I have to head back to the alpha home, I’ve got a meeting.”
“I’ll walk with you.” Something definitely wasn’t sitting well with me about his behaviour. Even my wolf picking up on a level of change.
As we reach the alpha home, I see a young lad leaning against Reuben’s red sports car.
Does he have a death wish?
He’s dressed in complete black….black jeans, black v neck T-shirt, black trainers and black sunglasses.
I’m waiting for Reuben to introduce this kid to me, but he seems unwilling to do so.
“Alpha Pierce…” I place my hand out to the kid to shake, which he does. A very firm handshake for a young man.
“A pleasure Alpha…” He seems to be just as cagey as Reuben. He also seems reluctant to share his name.