"At least some good news is mixed with the bad. I have cash from odd jobs I've done over the years and an inheritance from both my mother and my grandparents. Even without taking a salary, Elisha and I would've been fine. But with these accounts, we’re looking at a few million, not counting whatever is in the safe-deposit box. Once what’s stolen gets repaid, the pack will be able to handle all the upcoming expenses and pay mine and any other overdue salaries. I'm glad we found the stash because, while I was still going to figure out a way to make it all happen, getting the town fixed up without any funding issues to consider will be much easier."
Two things happened at once, interrupting our conversation: Jared's phone rang, and someone knocked on my office door. Shrugging with a wry grin, Jared backed toward the door. "We were lucky we got this much time before being bothered." He frowned when his phone wouldn't stop ringing and answered it while opening the door. When he saw my friends, Jared stepped aside for them to enter and excused himself to take the call.
I rocked back in the chair, clasping my arms behind my head. "Come on in, gentlemen. Check out my sweet office. Try not to be jealous of its late twentieth-century flair. Uncle Horace didn't like being shut away where he couldn't keep an eye on the peasants, so it's exactly like my father left it. Except for the MacBook. Jared had it waiting when I came in here after breakfast this morning."
Whistling, Lucian made a show of grimacing at the ugly olive plaid before dusting the heavy-duty wool fabric of a guest chair which was probably older than me. He pulled it over to my desk and gingerly took a seat. "If the ‘70s can be considered late twentieth-century, sure. Tell me your old man left his stash of dirty magazines in one of the desk drawers, and I'll forgive his tacky decor."
Devon pulled his own chair up, aiming a narrow-eyed frown at Lucian. "Shut up, Luci. Give the man a break. You know this is his first real day sitting behind the desk. He's probably all emotional and shit, remembering the times dear old Dad called him in here for Alpha heir lessons or punishments."
"Not having had the privilege of knowing my own father, I wouldn't understand parental shit." Luci winked to take any sting out of his blunt honesty. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to get a decorator on speed dial."
Tucker didn't bother with a chair; he sat on the corner of my desk and propped his feet on the one Jared had vacated. "Are we done dissing the man's office yet? I'm sure Matt's busier today than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. He got the first round of the new pack brought in yesterday, and the rest’s showing up tonight. Come on, guys. We rehearsed this, remember?"
Dropping my arms, I sat forward to show my interest. "There was a rehearsal? I'm all ears. I can't wait to hear what this is about." When they glanced uncomfortably at each other, it felt strange. "Shit. Don't get weird because I have a new job. It's hard enough to deal with all the life changes I've got happening—I need you guys to keep me normal."
Devon's gaze softened with understanding. "Sorry, Matty. It's a hard topic to broach, but here goes. We know other alphas living in a pack is unheard of, but you said you were doing things different here, right? We don't want to get a place in between here and Nick's pack. And Luci is already bitching about moving any closer to Death Valley. If you'll have us, we'd like to stay and help get your town running properly again."
The vulnerability in Lucian's eyes gutted me when he was the first to hold his wrist up. "I've never worn an alpha's mark, but I'd be proud to wear yours."
I didn't even need to consider it. "Luci, while claiming you as part of my pack would be my honor because I can't think of anyone more honorable than you or these two mofos sitting beside you—I don't want to tie any of you to me and keep you from the option of having your own pack one day. Your word is your bond, and that's good enough for me. None of you would ever rise up against me or challenge me for the pack."
Pausing to laugh at the horrified looks on their faces, finishing my thought took me a second. "I appreciate the idea, but I'm not biting any of your wrists. I welcome you to stay here and live in Lucerne Valley as long as you want. If you find a mate here and decide to remain forever, then and only then will I accept your allegiance. Until such time, you'd be considered friends of the pack, and I'll hook you up with housing since you plan to help us out anyway. What do you say—will that work for you?"
They shared a quick glance before nodding. Luci thumped a fist over his heart. "Now you went and gave me a case of feels, Matty. What a bullshit move to do to a friend." As he chuckled, his hand dropped to his lap. "Seriously, though, I'm touched. We’re good with your compromise, as long as it means we get to stay together with Nick an hour's drive away."
"More like an hour and a half, if you follow the speed limit," Devon couldn't help but correct. He might have been our peacekeeper, but he also had to have the right details. Luci gave his normal response to Devon's corrections—with his middle finger raised high and proud. Tucker and I burst out laughing.
I was still catching my breath when Jared came back in. When he hesitated, I motioned for Jared to close the office door. "Come on in. You can talk freely in front of these guys. I'll end up telling them anyway." So Jared could get settled, I swatted Tucker on the ass. "I don't care if you park your mangy butt on my desk, but move your damn feet so Jared can have his chair." When Tucker responded by flipping me off, even while he dropped his feet as suggested, Jared's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Shaking my head, I grinned to put Jared at ease. "Ignore us. We've been friends for too long to pretend we have manners around each other. What's got you looking so freaked out now? Please don't tell me I have to kill someone else."
Snorting, Jared held a palm out in front of him, wavering it from side to side. "No promises on the whole killing thing. TC Woodlawn’s assistant called to give us the heads-up. Rumblings are being heard throughout Southern California. Some of the alphas stuck in overcrowded areas like the LA basin have been waiting for a chance to take Lucerne Valley for their own packs. Rumor has it more than one are actively planning to come fight you so they can steal our territory. They think because you’re young and new to being a pack Alpha that you’ll be easy to attack, and not only will they be able to move here and have more room, but they would have a larger pack after absorbing ours."
God, I was tired. Was a peaceful life with my own pack too much to ask? Flopping my head back against the chair, I groaned up at the ceiling. "Fuck 'em. If they want to bring war to our door, I'll be ready. Arrange a meeting this afternoon with the Gamma Council. We’re going to have to discuss delta patrols and pack security. This is shitty timing with everything in flux, but it is what it is." Lowering my head, I looked Jared in the eye. "What neighboring alphas might be willing to become allies? If we let the LA packs get a toehold here, theirs will be equally at risk pretty soon. If the packs in the area stand together, we'll all be stronger. Fuck the urban trash. They can stay in the cities where they belong or petition with Ash for open properties in the Central Valley. I know damn well a lot of open land up there is waiting to be had."