Chapter Forty-Six

Dom

From my room in the pack house, I grumbled as Salt Fur's doctor checked me over once more. I had already been here for days, granted for most of it I was in no shape to leave yet. But now that I could, I was eager to get back to Moonpeak, and to June.

"Relax, Dom," Nathan said. He stood against the door frame, arms crossed and watching the doctor at work.

"I don't think relax is the word for it." Nathan's dad, Alpha Thomas, sat in a chair in the corner and observed my checkup as well. He looked every bit an old fisherman in his flannel and boots. "He is, understandably, irritated at his situation."

"Tonight is the full moon, I have to get back. I have to challenge Evander," I said.

Nathan growled, and Thomas's expression darkened. "We know, Dom. And the Salt Fur wolves will back your claim and ensure the challenge goes unhindered."

"He was trying to manipulate Naomi." Nathan's eyes darkened with a dangerous emotion. "I want to be the one to put that bastard in the ground myself."

We'd already pieced together her information and ours, recognizing that it was those damn candles that had kept her in a fog. Evander was the lowest, most disgusting form of life, and I was eager to put an end to him.

I watched as the doctor got close to my chest, inspecting where the silver dagger would leave a scar. Not something most wolves had to deal with, but silver was a different story.

"Dom has every right to his claim," Thomas said calmly. "Remember John. Remember Liam and Lily."

"Sorry, Dom," Nathan said. "But I'll be there with you. If you don't finish the job, I will."

"Get in line. I think Amelia would be next, then Aaron, then Jack or Carson."

"Those last three have no business challenging an alpha," Thomas said.

"Mm. But it wouldn't stop them," I answered.

"Okay," the doctor said, standing up straight. "The silver came dangerously close to your heart, but I can't see any lasting damage. I don't recommend you going back to Moonpeak to immediately get into another fight—"

I growled, and she held up a hand to stop me.

"But," she continued, "I've been treating alpha wolves for a long time. I know you're going to do it anyway. Please watch out for daggers this time, okay?"

"No promises," I said.

She turned to Alpha Thomas. "I've done what I can for him. I see no reason he can't go now."

"Thank you, Doctor. You may go," Thomas said.

She left the room. I wasted no time throwing the sheets aside and standing up.

"I'm back." A light voice called from the hallway as Naomi rounded the corner and came in, carrying a pile of clothes in her arms. "Done already?"

"Yeah, I'm clear to go. Thanks, Naomi," I said, taking the clothes she was carrying and putting them on. It was like night and day; the way we'd seen her back at Moonpeak was a haunting of who she was. In a matter of days, she was already flourishing here by the sea with Nathan. I'd be forever grateful that she was able to smile again at all.

Nathan gently pulled Naomi into his arms, kissing her softly on the lips. "We'll be leaving soon with my picked warriors."

"I'm still coming," Naomi insisted. "You're not talking me out of it."

Nathan sighed, turning to his dad with a pleading look.

Thomas chuckled. "I can't help you with this one, son. She's your luna, get used to letting her have her way."

Naomi gave Alpha Thomas a warm smile. "Thank you, Alpha."

"I'm sorry we can't send you more backup," Thomas said, turning to me. "But on the full moon, we have our own pack to take care of. I've got a handful that might have a first shift to watch over too."

I shook my head. "No, thank you for any help at all. If those rogues try to stop me from getting back and I can't challenge Evander, our whole plan goes south. So thank you."

"I'm sure Amelia won't let him go completely unchallenged," Thomas reminded me.

"I know, but it sounded like Evander had a plan for her too. I wish I could contact the others, but Salt Fur is way too far from the village."

"I wonder how June is holding up," Nathan said. "She seems like a smart girl, but . . ."

The muscles in my jaw tensed as I pulled up the shorts Naomi had brought me. "She is, but she also has no idea what happened to me. I'm worried about her, she's the type to get herself involved however she can. I'm sure she's either looking for me, or who the hell knows what else."

"Yes, b'y. She does seem determined, I'll give her that." Nathan sighed. "If you're ready, we can head down to lunch and gather the fighters. No need to run to Moonpeak as wolves when we have plenty of time to walk and conserve energy. The moon is still many hours away."

"You don't know how hard it is to not just run straight there," I said.

"Nathan, why don't you go down to the kitchens for a scoff first," Thomas suggested. "Take Naomi with you."

Nathan raised an eyebrow, looking over to his dad and receiving no answers to his silent question. In the end, he shrugged it off and took Naomi by the hand and led her out of the room and down the hall.

Thomas watched them go. I studied the old alpha. A little older than my dad would be if he was still alive, Alpha Thomas looked a lot like his son. Or rather, it was the other way around, I guess. Similar build, tan from the time spent under the sun by the sea where the Salt Fur wolves ran, blond hair, but Alpha Thomas kept a beard. The genes ran strong in this family, that was for sure. And as soon as Nathan was truly out of hearing range, Thomas turned those blue eyes to me.

"Dominic," he said.

Now I was alert. He had only called me Dominic once before, and that was when my dad died.

"You've made some questionable choices in the last few years," he started. My heart sank. I knew, and I was ashamed to agree with him. "But despite the unfortunate circumstances that brought you down this path, you've landed on your feet." Alpha Thomas stood up, looking at me eye to eye and reminding me how big he actually was. We stood shoulder to shoulder, but he still somehow took up a bit more room than I did.

"We did what we had to," I said.

"Hm. You were a big part of what carried Amelia through a time of madness," Thomas said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I've always regretted not taking you back to Salt Fur with me after John died. But it seems you were where you needed to be after all."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I said nothing. I had no idea he had even considered bringing me under his roof. Not that I gave him much time to ask me; we left pretty damn quick.

"Your father would be proud of you. Liam would be proud of you," Thomas said, taking his hand off my shoulder and sighing. "I'm proud of you, and I know you'll make Moonpeak a fine alpha."

My throat tightened. I had no idea he felt this way, thought this way, about me.

"Promise me one thing," Thomas said seriously.

"What?" I asked.

"When this is all sorted out, you bring that luna of yours here so we can meet properly over dinner." Thomas gave me a warm smile, and in that instant I realized the faith he had in me. How sure he was of my success, to send his son with me to support my cause. To send me back without more help.

Evander had to die, and Thomas had faith that I could be the one to kill him.

"Thank you, Alpha," I said softly.

Thomas chuckled and slapped a hand on my back, guiding me out of the room and toward the dining hall. "Here's your first tip, an alpha doesn't call another wolf alpha . Thomas will do just fine."

"That's going to be strange, since I've known you as Alpha Thomas my whole life."

"You'll have all the time you need to get used to it, after you go claim your title."

"I will, Thomas," I answered.

"Good, now, get down there and eat something. Your wolf must be starving, and you need all the energy you can muster to get through tonight. Remember the rules of challenge, and I'm sure Smokey won't let anyone go against the old code."

"No, I'm sure he won't."

Thomas patted my back. "I'll see you after it's all done. Good luck, Dom."

"Thank you."

Alpha Thomas left, heading back in the direction of his office as I went the other way, toward the smell of food.

In the big room there were plenty of wolves seated and eating what appeared to be venison burgers for lunch. It was big enough to sit maybe fifty wolves at four long tables, with a pass-through window to the kitchen, where you could grab the prepared food. Nathan and Naomi were easy to spot, and Anna saw me come in as she was sitting down with her own plate next to a big male I didn't recognize. They waved me over, and I joined them.

"Here, I got you a plate," Naomi said, scooting three burgers my way. "I bet you're hungry."

I took it gladly. "Thanks."

"This is Zach," Anna said, leaning up to kiss the male to her left. Light-brown hair, lots of freckles, and even more muscle.

"Your mate, I take it." I reached across the table to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you. My condolences about being stuck with Anna."

The table laughed at that, and Zach gave a playful warning growl as he shook my hand.

"So, what did my old man want?" Nathan asked.

I shrugged. "A pep talk of sorts."

Nathan nodded, his expression turning into a grin. "I thought as much. He must really see potential in you, he's only ever a hard-ass to me."

Anna laughed. "No more than you deserve."

Nathan elbowed her playfully. "Watch it, Beta."

"So, who is coming with us?" I asked. "Anna?"

"Hell, yeah, I'm in," Anna said. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. Zach, too, right baby?"

Zach nodded.

"We're also bringing a few new faces, but they're trained up and ready to go," Nathan said.

"I welcome their help," I told Nathan. "If you can get me to the village field before the run starts, I'll do the rest."

"We'll do more than that, Dom," Nathan said, putting an arm around Naomi. "We'll back your claim, and kill any rogues that involve themselves in the fight. He's got some connection to them, and whatever it is, it needs to stop."

"A good set of teeth to the throat ought to do it," Anna added, taking a big bite of her burger.

"If we leave after lunch, we should be able to mostly walk it with some light jogging and get there in time," Nathan said. "Try to reach out and talk to June or Amelia if you can while we walk. I'm sure they'd love to know you're okay."

"Of course. I'm hoping Aaron has made his way into Smokey's morning running group. That is, if Evander is even letting Smokey out of the village at this point. He really locked everything down tight," I said.

"Oof. I can only imagine trying to keep that old man inside the village for so long. I hope he's at least wearing pants," Nathan said.

Naomi smiled warmly up at him and placed her hand over his.

"We'll set everything right," she said. "Dom will win. My sister is firmly behind him and will fight to the death before she lets Dom die or Evander keep his title."

Even after all these years apart, she knew Amelia well.

"All right, then," Nathan announced. "Clean your plates, guys. We've got a walk ahead of us."

And as we finished our plates, my excitement built.

Finally, everything we had been working for. It was finally time.

Time to kill Evander.