21. Lucas

Chapter 21

Lucas

The eldest son of the pack's lead alpha had returned, so obviously that meant there needed to be a big party. At least, I guess that's what the rest of the pack thought. Things are so much different here than they were back home. There's no council of elders, no weirdly rigid social structure. Everyone I meet and talk to seems to think of Oliver as family.

I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the whole thing, but so far, it's been nice here. The food is amazing, the beds are comfy, and no one really seems to care that Oliver came home with four hunky alphas in tow. Other than his parents, no one really had any questions when he introduced us as his mates. I can't even imagine how that would've gone back home.

But as I watch Oliver chatting and laughing with some of his packmates, I realize that he probably never should've left here. This is and always has been his home. He left out of some sense of duty to help strengthen the pack. He was willing to give up a home where he was loved, cared for, and adored in order to give them what he believed would be a better future.

Meanwhile, Roman, Sebastian, Theo, and I left our pack without too much of a second look back. I mean, yeah, there's been some talk about it. Did we do the right thing or whatever? But as far as I'm concerned, I'm glad we came here. I feel, I don't know, free?

"Hey, Lucas."

I turn toward the voice calling my name. It's Oliver's brother, Filo. He's a young alpha, just barely old enough to take a mate of his own. He's fit, athletic, definitely strong enough to be a pack leader, but there's something about the way he talks sometimes that makes me think he'd rather be anything other than a leader.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask as he approaches me.

"I need to know something," he says as he furrows his brow and looks at me rather critically.

"Yes?"

"Do you think Oliver would be a better leader than me?"

"I…"

"I mean, just be honest, seriously," he continues. "It's important."

"I really don't know you very well," I remind him. "It's been like two days since we met. I can't really compare."

"Just go with your instinct then," he insists. "Do you think Oliver is better suited to lead the pack?"

"This sounds like something you should be talking to Oliver about, don't you think?" I have always considered myself pretty good at getting out of conversations I don't want to be having. It's times like these where I'm grateful for those skills. Unfortunately, they don't work on some people.

"That's why I'm asking you," Filo continues. "I'm going to talk to Oliver about this, but I need to gather evidence. Show him that pretty much everyone in the pack is in agreement about this. I don't want to lead. I never thought I'd have to until Oliver left. Now that he's back, I'd assumed that Dad was going to go ahead and put the inheritance stuff back the way it was before, but he hasn't. I think he's worried Oliver might leave again if he's put in that position. So I need to convince Oliver to take the title back willingly. You understand what I'm saying, right?"

I blink several times as I try to process what he's saying. "So you want to convince Oliver that he needs to ask your father to give him back the title that you're going to inherit?"

"That's what I said."

"Right, so…why don't you just tell him that?" I look across the room at Oliver who is currently talking to several of the older pack members. He's been slowly making his way around the room talking to everyone and greeting them. Making sure that they all get his personal attention for just a few minutes as he makes the rounds. He makes it look so effortless that I realize he's not just putting on a show of being concerned about their wellbeing or happy to see them. He's a natural leader in this setting because each of these wolves is like family to him.

"That's what I'm doing," Filo continues, snapping his fingers. "I'm trying to find proof so that when I talk to him about it, he can't just dismiss my request. He's the natural choice to lead the pack. Everyone knows it."

I roll my eyes and exhale. Filo is exhausting me. I don't have the energy to continue this conversation, and there's only one way I can think to wrap things up quickly.

"Oliver!" I call out and wave my hand high to catch his attention. Oliver looks up at me, smiles and nods, then quickly turns back to the people he'd been chatting with.

"What are you doing?" Filo hisses. "This is supposed to be a covert operation so I can convince him to take the title back. If he knows what I'm doing, then he'll have time to think up an argument against it. Or do something else reckless."

Before I can ask him what he's talking about, Oliver joins us with a grin.

"Sorry, I got so caught up in the conversation that I'm afraid I neglected you," he says as he kisses me warmly.

The warmth of his kiss fills me to the brim, and I immediately begin to smile. His mere presence at my side makes me feel like I could fly.

"Don't worry," I reply as I embrace him and bury my nose in his hair to inhale his scent. "I only called you over because your brother wanted to ask you something."

"What!?" Filo sounds completely appalled by the suggestion. "I wanted no such thing."

"Just tell him what you told me," I encourage him. "I promise, you've got nothing to worry about."

Filo frowns but switches his gaze to Oliver.

"You need to ask Dad for the title back," Filo says bluntly. "I can't lead this pack. I'm awful at it. I hunt, I build, I do chores, I don't lead. You lead. You've always led. You're good at it. You need to be the one at the head of the pack."

Oliver looks at his brother quietly for a moment and doesn't speak.

"But if you don't want to, please don't leave again," Filo continues, his expression softening to the point where it looks like he might cry. "You're my brother. My best friend. If I don't have you, then I've got no one. I definitely couldn't lead if you were gone."

"Oh, Fi." Oliver throws his arms around his brother and pulls him into a warm hug. "I'm so sorry. I left all this on you. Dumped all the responsibility and worry onto your shoulders. I never should've abandoned you like this."

"So you'll take it back?" Filo asks as Oliver holds him at arm's length and looks up at him warmly.

"I'll talk to Dad about it tomorrow. I promise. But you've got to understand why I let it go in the first place."

"I do," Filo insists. "We all do. We all understand why you felt like it was in the best interest of the pack to make the decision you did, but you're wrong. Every single wolf here would follow you through hell. They all trust you, and you've proven over the years that you're every bit as capable of a leader as Dad has been. Just because you're an omega doesn't mean shit. If the other packs want to think we're weak with you leading us, then they're the ones that are going to be in for a rude awakening."