Prolgoue - Alarick
Forget dying by embarrassment, I needed to direct this energy into the first murder by embarrassment, I decided, as I listened to my father make yet another less than thinly veiled reference to my feelings for Pixie. The old man had moved from dropping subtle hints to driving atomic bombs into our conversations in regard to my potentially claiming her as my mate, and my tolerance was quickly coming to an end.
“If we could focus?” I growled, glaring at the legal pad in front of me that was scrawled with notes and plans concerning pack business. The words were merging together as I fought to hold my temper at my father’s ribbing. “You will be leaving shortly, and we need to have everything in order first.”
“Now, now,” he replied cheerfully, leaning back in his chair, the thick leather creaking under his weight. “I’m going to be away for a few weeks, dealing with some of these issues.” He indicated the notes in front of him with a negligent wave, before adjusting the golden wolf cufflink shaped as our pack’s symbol. “If I don’t tease you now, how will you remember I care?” The teasing light faded from his eyes as he sat up, reaching out to clasp my hand. “If it wasn’t necessary for me to leave now, I wouldn’t, Ari.” The childhood nickname brought nearly as much heat to the back of my neck as his prior teasing had. “There is too much discontent among the packs right now, too many rumors drifting. I need to be sure our presence is felt outside of these walls.” I knew he was right. Starlight Woods was still making noise, drawing disgruntled wolves to increase their numbers as they wove their lies into any listening ear. My father needed to ensure that our allegiances were solid, that packs were reminded of the favors they owed us, and of the good we did for our kind before Gwyar tried anything.
“I know, Alpha.”
“You will need to rely on the others,” he warned, squeezing my hand before releasing me. “Do not try to take on the role entirely by yourself. We are pack. Each of you must contribute, your strengths and weaknesses balance each other. You are still young, still learning. Fillian has experience you lack.” My wolf growled low, though even he was forced to acknowledge the truth of the statement. Fillian Cole was strong and intelligent, a worthy advisor.
“As for Ms. Miller, I know you will make her training a priority. I have already given Fillian permission to take the lead there, as her schoolwork is secondary to her life. It is clear that training will be necessary sooner rather than later. Especially after what Selene foretold...” His eyes darkened for a moment as he lost himself in the memory of Pixie’s battle with Ashley, and the way Selene had taken over Luna and spoken through her lips. How she had charged Pixie with mending the rifts among the wolves, removing prejudices that were haunting our people, and looking after her moon blessed. “Follow Fillian’s direction if the need to deal with Luna or her uncle arises before I return.” His words had turned icy, his eyes hard. My father was an alpha to the core and would brook no threat to his pack. “I may be unavailable for immediate contact at times, and if something happens, Selene forbid, I do not want you waiting. We can deal with any political fallout, but we cannot handle losing the moon blessed.”
Pride raced through me, and I angled my head in a nod. “I understand. We will take care of her,” I assured him, tapping my pen softly on my legal pad.
My father’s mood shifted like lightning, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Speaking of taking care of her... I informed Ms. Miller upon her arrival that should she enter into any kind of sexual—”
The groan that fell from my lips was distinct—the sound every teenager makes at some point when dealing with a parent as I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Must we go here?” While wolves were open regarding sexual activity, it didn’t mean I wanted to discuss my interests in Pixie with my father.
His tone turned from teasing to serious once more. “We must.” I sighed, nodding my head. “I informed Ms. Miller of where she may procure contraceptives when she first arrived, but it should not fall solely on her to be responsible.”
“I’m well aware,” I replied stiffly, refusing to rub my suddenly damp palms on my slacks.
“I am also not blind to the fact that you are not the only one of your friends who have caught Ms. Miller’s attention. Many humans struggle to enter casually into physical or even emotional relationships with one person, let alone with many. Have any of you spoken with Ms. Miller about this? It will not due to put a strain on the pack when we need you to act as a unit.” While the words were carefully phrased, the intent behind them was clear—a relationship was fine, as long as it didn’t break apart the pack. Any jealousy or infighting would not be tolerated, and he would be forced to act as alpha and discipline us.
“We spoke to Pixie,” I admitted. “We are all dating her.” I winced at the words, shrugging a shoulder as I tried to explain. “She was hesitant, but willing to see what happens. She isn’t opposed to a relationship with all of us, nor is she planning to jump into one immediately because she values our friendship. She asked to see how things go with Fillian, Zev, Chann, Shannon, and me.”
My father’s smile turned sharp as a blade. “All of you. I wondered about Shannon and Fillian—I sensed interest on their end, but I wasn’t sure Ms. Miller would be receptive.”
I didn’t answer him that time, merely arched a brow. He chuckled before waving a hand at me. “I’m sure you’re anxious to get to your friends. Go on now. I think we’re where we need to be in the way of duties. I will leave tonight for Washington with Boris.”
I leaned over to rub my cheek against his. “Be safe, Father.”
“I love you, Ari.” He ruffled my hair. “Take care of the pack.”
“Always,” I assured him, heading for the door. Fillian and Shannon were waiting outside when I slipped from my father’s office, matching pace with me as we headed toward the study near Pixie’s room.
“How’d it go?” Shannon asked, adjusting her glasses.
“He wanted to ensure that both Luna and Pixie were protected, as we expected,” I told them succinctly. Luna had been assigned guards as soon as she had returned to the school after the Strawberry Moon ceremony, guards who Fillian himself had handpicked. Pixie, however, would be focusing on training, and she would be surrounded by us to act as her own guard. “I assured him Pixie’s training would be rigorous, and that we would be ready for anything that would happen.” I turned my head to look down the hall, hoping it would hide my blush as I thought of the sex talk he had given me. That was one thing I didn’t want to bring up.
“I don’t know…” Shannon murmured, and I turned to see her chewing her lip.
“Don’t know what?” I inquired, my voice sharper than I intended after I straightened my tie.
Shannon hesitated for a moment before she squared her shoulders and shot both Fillian and me a glance. “You are already working her to an intense level. She’s barely sleeping. I think you need to give her more time to focus on building our bond as a pack rather than just training her. You’re burning her out.”
“She can rest soon,” Fillian countered. “Training won’t be forever. She has too much to learn though. From the way Selene put it, whatever is approaching is coming soon. Not to mention whatever that slime she calls an uncle has planned. I’m not going to let anything hurt her.” His words were an icy vow, and my wolf howled his agreement, sealing that promise.