18. Jace

After Donna and Ivy relayed Flynn's contact information and ended the call, I stared down at the phone number I'd written down, a hundred confused thoughts rattling around in my mind. Eren wasn't the true alpha of his pack, and the actual alpha was in hiding. It was completely insane, yet still believable. Surely, the world and fate weren't twisted enough to allow someone like Eren to lead people.

Hope flickered in my chest. Eren had strong-armed most of his pack into following him, and they'd done so, too afraid to say anything against the person they believed to be their rightful leader. If I did fight him and succeed, many would be relieved, but many more would be irate that I'd taken down their alpha. Even if Crestwood did absorb their pack, many would never accept my leadership. I'd have to worry about schisms and blowback. If there was another option, someone they'd accept as their leader, things would be much easier.

I slid the paper with the phone number across the table toward Abigail. "Call this guy. Set up a meeting for tomorrow if he's available."

Abi held the paper up in front of her. "What if he says no?"

"Make sure he doesn't."

Abi rolled her eyes. "Oh, okay." Dialing the number, she stood and went outside.

"What are you thinking?" Langston asked after she'd left.

"I'm thinking this could be what we've waited for. A way to get rid of Eren once and for all with minimal bloodshed—maybe. It all depends on Flynn. Would he even want this? This could all be a moot point if he tells us to fuck off or thinks we're lying."

"Would he really think that?" Kirsten asked as she took a seat beside me. "Don't most shifters dream of being an alpha?"

"It's not like that," I said, shaking my head. "It's a huge burden, plus you have to be born to it. A beta or sigma wolf could try to lead a pack as the alpha, but—"

"It would never work," Waylan countered. "An alpha has more power and influence. It's like the aura Jace projects; he demands respect and obedience. This Flynn guy, if he's the son of an alpha, he has a good chance of being an alpha himself, but it's not a guarantee. Problem is, an illegitimate birth can play havoc with a pack hierarchy."

"Why?" Kirsten asked.

"Human kings and politicians bang everything that moves and have illegitimate kids all the time," Harley said. "It causes a bit of a scandal, but for the most part, everyone just ignores it."

I pointed at her. "That's the key—human. Shifters have fated mates for a reason. It's fate and magic intertwined to bind you to the person who is your soulmate." I put my hand on Kirsten's thigh, and she smiled at me. "Most shifters find their fated mates, but even those who don't and take a regular mate are still bound by our society's ideals. If an alpha betrayed their mate's trust and cheated? It's a huge deal. It could cause a pack to break apart or embolden another alpha-born shifter in the pack to issue a challenge."

"That pack alpha could give his illegitimate child the title of heir, but he'd need to officially acknowledge the offspring," Langston added. "Which Eren's father obviously didn't do. He didn't want the trouble, so he shipped his side piece and her baby away. Washed his hands of it and acknowledged Eren as his only true heir."

Abigail came back in, interrupting the conversation. The bemused look on her face worried me.

"Did he agree to come tomorrow?" I asked.

"Um, no," Abigail said. "Not exactly."

I sighed. "What does that mean?"

Abi shook her head in bewilderment. "He's, uh, he's on his way now."

"Wait. You mean tonight?" I asked, incredulous. "Are you serious?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I explained who I was. Told him what was happening, though I kept it pretty vague. Just said that there were some issues with the pack his mother had been born in. Before I could even finish, he said he'd be here in an hour."

"Interesting," Waylan said.

Perhaps this Flynn guy knew more than his aunt thought he did. Why else agree so quickly?

"Let's get some food in us," I suggested. "Then we'll wait for him outside."

"I hope you like spaghetti," Harley said.

"Is it arrabbiata sauce or Bolognese?" I asked, genuinely curious as to what she'd made.

Harley's face scrunched up. "It came from a jar, so…"

"I suppose that will do," I said with a chuckle.

"Glad Mr. Fancy Pants approves," Harley said, rolling her eyes.

An hour later, we were all waiting on the porch. Anxiety stirred in my stomach. What would this guy be like? Part of me was worried he'd be a carbon copy of Eren. God, what if he was just as much of a dick? If I told him what was up, maybe he'd ally himself with his half-brother. That would make everything that much more difficult, a nightmare scenario.

But I trusted Ivy. If she'd heard the whole story from Carter's mother and thought it was a good idea, I had to go with it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we saw headlights turning into the driveway. The sun was just beginning to slip behind the mountains, and we could make out the outline of a pickup truck trundling up the gravel toward us.

Kirsten and I walked to the edge of the porch, the others hanging back near the door. A moment later, Kirsten stiffened.

"Do you feel that?" she whispered.

I did. A blanket of power washed over me, and goosebumps sprang up on my arms.

"Damn," Waylan said from behind me. "Is that the guy's aura?"

"Yeah," I said, eyeing the car warily as it drew nearer. The accompanying aura was even stronger than mine. The person in that truck was an incredibly powerful alpha.

My nerves calmed a bit when I sensed no malice or aggression in the aura. If anything, it had a peaceful, calming quality.

"It's like the sun," Kirsten said, voice awed. "Is this normal?"

"Nope," Langston said. "Dude's got major mojo."

The truck stopped about twenty feet from the porch, then the door opened.

All of us gasped or inhaled sharply because Donna hadn't been lying. The resemblance was uncanny. Flynn looked exactly like Eren and his father. The only difference was in the eyes and body. Flynn had bright blue eyes as opposed to Eren's brown ones, plus he was huge, with rippling muscle and massive, broad shoulders. I was big, but he was the size of Langston or Tank.

"Hey there," he said in a deep and sonorous baritone, much different from Eren's nasally whine.

"Holy fuck," Kirsten whispered.

I snapped my head around to look at her, raising an eyebrow. She blushed and fought back a laugh, shrugging at me feebly. I wasn't a jealous guy by nature, but Flynn was impressive.

"I wish we were meeting under better circumstances," Flynn said, stopping to take in our group. "I'm Flynn Edgerton."

"Yeah, you are," Harley said appreciatively under her breath. From the corner of my eye, I saw Waylan shifting around and adjusting his shirt uncomfortably. He'd obviously heard her.

I stepped off the porch, extending my hand. "Jace Stone, alpha of Crestwood."

Flynn's grip was rock-hard, like steel bands around my fingers. "Good to meet you."

"Come on in. We've got a lot to discuss," I said.

Inside, Flynn took a seat on the couch, and Kirsten and I sat on the loveseat across from him as I filled him in. He looked beyond surprised at the news that there were two witches in the house. His eyes snapped to Kirsten and Tinsley as they introduced themselves. When we told him about Eren turning the children into feral wolves, a growl left him that nearly made the house rumble.

Nearing the end of my story, I leaned forward, elbows on knees, and said, "The reason we asked you to come here is because we're fairly certain that—"

"I'm Eren's brother," Flynn said nonchalantly.

"Wait," I said. "You knew? Your aunt Donna told us you were unaware."

Flynn nodded, looking down at his hands. "Yeah. My mother told me when I was a teenager." He looked up at me, a sad look in his eyes. "When I came of age, I thought about challenging Eren for control of the pack. I'd heard enough rumors about him back then to know he would make a terrible alpha. I even went so far as to send my dad a letter telling him I wanted to challenge him for it."

"I'm guessing that didn't go down well?" I asked.

Flynn chuckled ruefully. "You could say that. Dad came and found us. We were living about three hours away at the time. He told my mother and me that what happened between them was a mistake, that he didn't love us. That he never had, and never would. He said Scottsdale was Eren's and no one else's. He even took me aside, away from my mother, and told me that if I tried to interfere, he'd make sure something bad happened to her. A bastard couldn't be a proper alpha, he said, and he'd make damn sure Eren was his heir."

"What a piece of shit," Abigail spat.

"Looks like Eren takes after his dear old dad," Waylan added.

"That was the end of it." Flynn shook his head in disgust. "I've heard rumors about how things are going in Scottsdale, though. Nothing as bad as what you've told me, but all of it together makes me wish I'd refused to be bullied into staying away."

"Where have you guys been living all this time?" Kirsten asked. "Were you taken in by another pack, or do you have your own? You're an alpha, after all. You could have your own pack, couldn't you? Sorry," she added, her cheeks slightly pink. "I'm still learning about shifter life."

Flynn smiled. "It's okay. A pack a few hours away took us in. My mother's still there. I went into the military out of anger at my father. I needed to get as far away as possible. I was put into a shifter unit, then went on to the shifter branch of special forces."

"You're in the Shifter Legion? A Green Beret?" Langston said, a tinge of awe in his voice. I knew my enforcer had been in the military for a decade or so when he was younger. He knew more about that life than I did. The look on his face told me that whatever Flynn had been part of, it was a big deal.

Flynn nodded. "Was. Not anymore, though. I was there for about twenty years. Got out about three years ago.

"I never claimed my own pack," he continued. "It just never felt right, you know what I mean? Knowing my rightful home was sitting there, waiting for me, suffering under Eren. Hearing all of this pisses me off. I think the time is right." He took a deep breath to steady himself. "I don't like the thought of my half-brother dying, but if what everyone's saying is true? After what he did to Carter? He needs to pay."

"Let's think," I said. "We have some time. You said you were in the military? So was Langston. He's my enforcer, and he'll be in charge of training the wolves being sent here from other packs. We figure Eren will try something before the official challenge. Would you be willing to help out?"

"Absolutely," Flynn said without hesitation.

"Langston, how about a sparring session?" I looked at Flynn again. "Just to get a sense of the type of fighter you are. This isn't some weird test or something. Don't get the wrong idea."

Grinning, Flynn stood. "I got you. I'm down if he is," he said, nodding respectfully to Langston.

Fifteen minutes later, we all stood on the porch in awed silence. Flynn had Langston pinned to the ground. The fight had been intense. While Langston didn't have the natural power of an alpha, as a sigma, he was more capable than a beta wolf. His experience had helped him, but in the end, Flynn had been more than impressive.

Langston stood and grinned at me like a lunatic. "Jace, this guy is good." He hooted and laughed, slapping Flynn on his back.

The women were huddled together, whispering and giggling like schoolgirls as they watched Flynn. I huffed in amusement. Harley, in particular, looked rather smitten with the new arrival. I could practically see cartoon hearts in her eyes as she looked him up and down like a juicy steak.

Waylan didn't miss it, either. He stood off to the side, glaring at the porch rail.

Harley waved to Flynn. "Hey there, big guy. I'm Harley, by the way."

Flynn waved back, looking confused, but smiled nonetheless.

"Clock has stopped ticking, bro," I said to Waylan, soft enough so no one else would hear me. "It's now or never. Shit or get off the pot."

"Fuck," he hissed and rubbed his hand over his face, then stalked toward Harley.

"Hey, can I have a quick word with you?" he asked.

Harley blinked, shaking herself free of whatever thoughts she was having about Flynn. "Uh, okay, sure."

Waylan took her inside and closed the door. I caught Kirsten's eye, and she smiled.

Flynn's brow furrowed, and he turned to Langston. "What was that all about?"

Before anyone could answer him, a shrill shout came from inside. "I'm your what?"

"Oh," Flynn said. "I thought I sensed something between those two."

"Even the new guy saw it?" Langston laughed.

Flynn pointed to me and Kirsten. "I could sense your fated connection, too. I've always been sensitive to that stuff."

"Really?" I asked. "You can feel that? From other people?" If that was true, his alpha instincts were even better than mine.

He nodded and gestured toward Tinsley. "She's got something going on, too. Nothing concrete, but it's forming. Nobody seems to be claimed yet, from what I can tell."

I slid my gaze over to Kirsten's, giving her a look loaded with meaning. Her being unclaimed was going to change very soon. She must have understood because I heard her heart rate spike and her breath hitch. My wolf growled with approval.

Inside, Harley's shouting had died down. Kirsten tilted her head to the house. "Wanna check on them?" she asked.

"I suppose we should," I said grudgingly.

I led the group back inside, Langston and Flynn bringing up the rear. We only found a dazed Waylan sitting on the couch.

"How's it going?" I asked.

"She's a ball of fire, that one," Waylan said. "I thought she was gonna slug me. That did not go as expected."

"Come on," Kirsten said to Tinsley. "Let's go check on her."

The two women hurried up the steps. The next thing I heard was Harley's shrill and somewhat panicked voice screaming again. "How long did you know?"

The bedroom door slammed and cut off their voices, turning them into dull, unintelligible rumbles.

Waylan scrubbed his face with his palms. "This is a disaster. She's gonna give me hell for this for the rest of my life."

"At least you have a positive outlook," I said, patting his shoulder. "You finally worked up the balls and did what you needed to do. She'll come around."

"Are you sure?"

"Kirsten will talk her down, get her to see what a good guy you are." I smirked. "She might even keep a straight face while she says it."

Waylan punched me in the thigh. "Asshole," he said with a grin.

"All right, back to business," I said, turning to the others. "Langston, what do you think about Flynn leading the training when the other packs get here?"

"I'm all for it," he said, slapping his hand down on Flynn's shoulder. "He knows more than I do. It'll be great."

The fact that Langston had taken a liking to Flynn so quickly spoke volumes. The man was notoriously hard to get to know. The only person he'd ever come close to accepting so fast was Kirsten.

"All right, good," I said. "I'll let you two plan out the details over a beer or something. Dustin said they'd probably be coming—"

A knock at the door cut me off.

"Yeah?" I said.

Tank opened the door and stuck his head in. "Hey, boss. Stephanie's here. She wants to talk about—"

Flynn inhaled deeply, his pupils dilating. "Mine," he growled, his voice deeper than it already was.

Stephanie pushed past Tank. "Jace, I found something. You're never going to believe it. Eren would be terrified if he…" She trailed off when she saw Flynn.

Flynn's alpha aura pulsed out of his body in a remarkably powerful wave. Tank, Langston, and the others actually bowed their heads, nearly falling to their knees. Even I winced at the magnitude of his power.

Stephanie's eyes widened as Flynn stood and took two heavy steps toward her. The tension between them was so thick, it was suffocating.

Steph tore her eyes from Flynn to me. "Looks like you may already know, though."