Free Web NovelChapter 17: Soon
James
James didn’t wait for the kitchen door to fully click shut before he was moving, his long legs eating up the distance to the Gamma. He found Steve laughing with his mate, their young daughter tucked against his side. A pang of guilt struck James, but it was quickly swallowed by the possessive fire still burning in his gut.
"Steve," James said, his voice low and tight. "A word."
Steve’s smile faltered as he caught the look in his Alpha’s eyes. With a murmured apology to his mate, he followed James behind the ancient oak at the edge of the yard, its branches heavy with fairy lights.
"Who the hell is that?" James growled the moment they were out of earshot. The words were torn from him, a raw sound of frustration.
Steve’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you talking about, Alpha?"
James gestured sharply with his head toward the pack house, where Trishelle had disappeared. "That punk. The one standing there smiling at Trishelle like he has a right."
Steve turned, his gaze following the gesture. He saw the two of them just as they walked off. "Oh, that’s Sammy. Samuel Parker. He’s the omega I took a few years ago to train in the business. Good worker. The last time he came back was two years ago."
"Isn’t he an orphan as well?" James frowned. The explanation should have soothed his wolf, but it didn’t. He still didn’t like the easy intimacy between them, the shared history that excluded him.
Steve nodded. "Yeah, just like her. Rosie took them both under her wing. It’s why they’re so close, I’d imagine."
"Alright, Steve. Thanks for the info." James forced the words out. "Sorry for pulling you from your family."
"Of course, Alpha." Steve gave a slight bow of his head before returning to his family.
Even with the Gamma’s reassurance, the sight of another male near Trishelle was a thorn in James’s side. He spent the next hour in a haze. He nodded along to his pack members’ chatter, ruffled the hair of pups who bombarded him with stories, and all the while, his eyes were locked on Trishelle and Sammy. Every shared smile, every light touch on her arm, made his claws itch.
Yet, as he watched, a strange thing happened. He saw the tension in Trishelle’s shoulders ease. He saw a genuine, unguarded laugh escape her lips. The anger in James’s chest began to cool, replaced by something warmer, more complex. How could he stay mad when she looked so... free? So happy?
His fascination grew into an obsession. He was captivated by the way she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the slight furrow of her brow as she listened to Sammy speak, the way her entire face lit up when she smiled. He’d never seen her so animated, so alive. The she-wolves preening around him, sending him sultry glances, might as well have been invisible. His world had narrowed to one woman.
"Alpha James. Earth to Alpha James."
A hand waved in front of his face, breaking his trance. James blinked, focusing on the concerned face of his Beta, Richard.
"What?" James huffed, annoyed at the interruption. Couldn’t Richard see he was busy?
"It’s just that you haven’t told me how the fish tasted?" Richard asked, a strange glint in his eyes.
James’s mind scrambled. He’d been eating something, hadn’t he? "Oh... it was delicious. Well-seasoned. It was obviously well cleaned as I didn’t find any bones."
Richard’s lips twitched. "Yes, it went well with the rice dish, wouldn’t you agree, Alpha?"
"Right. A good choice." James confirmed, trying to sound authoritative.
Richard lost it then, letting out a booming laugh that turned heads. "Is what your Alpha said so hilarious?" James grumbled, his cheeks heating.
"No... It’s not what you said," Richard gasped, wiping a tear from his eye. "It’s the fact that you didn’t even know what you ate. Who the hell serves fish at a birthday bash? I ordered chicken and steak. There was no rice." frёeωebɳovel.com
A hot blush crept up James’s neck. He’d been so consumed by Trishelle, he’d have eaten poison without a second thought. Richard’s laughter died as he took in his Alpha’s expression.
"Alpha, this is bad," Richard said, his tone serious now. "If someone wanted to harm you, tonight would have been a perfect opportunity. What were you thinking?"
Groaning, James rubbed a hand over his face, the stubble rough against his palm. "That’s the thing, I wasn’t thinking," he admitted, his voice low. "All I can see, all I can think about is her. It’s driving me insane." He looked at his friend, his Beta. "Didn’t you say that you had a plan?"
Richard’s smile returned, slow and predatory. "Oh, yes, my impatient Alpha. I have a plan. And as soon as the pups go to bed, it’s game on for Ms. Trishelle."
Kael
Miles away, the night air was colder, crisper. Kael pulled his car to a stop in front of the newly constructed Omegas’ quarters of the Goldmoon Pack territory. The scent of fresh-cut lumber and damp earth filled the air, a smell of new beginnings. He’d left the work in the capable hands of his people, but a meeting nearby had given him the perfect excuse to see the progress for himself.
Stepping out, he noted the bite in the wind. "How’s the heating system coming along?" he asked the lead builder who met him at the door. "It’s a slight oversight. Their old territory was warm year-round. We didn’t account for how much our omegas would need it without their inner wolves."
The builder gave a confident update. Everything was on schedule, with only the plumbing left to complete. As Kael took a quick walk through the main living area, he saw moving trucks backed up to the entrance, bulky equipment being carefully installed. The Elders had approved it all. In a few weeks, this would be home. A wave of pride washed over him. His father would have been so proud to see their pack thriving, settling into a territory of their own.
It was just after nine when he joined Sarah, his Beta’s mate, to go over the final living arrangements. It was a task for a Luna, but Kael hadn’t found his mate yet. Sarah, with her meticulous mind and kind heart, had happily stepped into the role.
"We were thinking of expanding the medical wing," she said, pointing to a blueprint on the table. "With a new territory and the promise of stability, the Elders believe there will be a higher probability of mate matches. That means more pups on the way."
Kael nodded, his mind already calculating the logistics, when a sudden, loud cheer erupted from the direction of the Bloodmoon border. It was so unexpected, so full of life, that it cut through the quiet evening. His warriors, already on patrol, instantly linked him.
Alpha?
Report, Kael ordered, his senses on high alert. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Nothing to report, Alpha. The perimeter is secure.
Alpha, Warrior Jackson reporting. It appears our neighboring pack, Bloodmoon, is having a party. A birthday, from the sounds of it. Their Alpha gave permission for a gathering that started at six. The first two hours were family-oriented, but it sounds like the pups have been dismissed. The adults are... letting loose.
Kael let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Okay, thank you, Jackson. That saves me from making enemies before we’ve even moved in." He opened the link to all his warriors. Stay vigilant. We do not know the nature of our new neighbors. Be alert, not aggressive.
He turned back to Sarah, an apologetic smile on his face. "Apologies. Where were we?"
An hour later, satisfied with the arrangements, Kael slid into the back seat of his car. As it pulled away, he took out his phone and opened his email, finding the file his Gamma had sent on the neighboring packs. His people were efficient; each pack had its own detailed attachment.
He scrolled until he found the one for Bloodmoon. He opened it, and a picture of a man with dark, intense eyes filled the screen. "Alpha James Black," Kael murmured to himself, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I suppose we’ll be meeting soon enough."
