7. MATEO

7

MATEO

My attention drifts to the empty nest again after cleaning up and getting dressed. The nest is smothered in the mysterious Beta's scent. It's a bit thicker now as if it has somehow mixed in with ours. His clothes have been woven into her mass of pillows, blankets, and shirts. I even think one of Remi's socks made it into the little circle, one that he's been looking for.

A smile spreads across my lips as the bond thrums with energy, a rumbling purr settling in my chest as our Omega calms. I can see how much it annoys her to lean into certain aspects of her Omega, but Remi had the right idea about removing her from the situation. An overwhelmed Omega never does well in chaotic situations and even though we are her Alphas, causing her to panic would break me. Pleasure trickles through the bond as my jaw sets and I reach down to resituate myself in my pants.

Asani bounds into the room with the same heated look in his eyes, River faintly feeling the same effects as Maverick remains unbothered at the edge at the entrance to the living room. His expression is much darker than usual, desire lingering in his eyes as our Omega's cries ring out from the room.

"I'm surprised Remi bonded her before River," Asani muses before shooting a grin at the man in question. The Alpha chews on his lip ring, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Both River and Remi had been talking about it enough that I wasn't sure who would make it first. However, Remi is nearly always attached to Nepheline's side. He anticipates her every need, noticing things before the rest of us.

Although, Maverick has an uncanny ability to just know things and sometimes he is the one Nepheline turns to.

Ignoring Asani's comment, I return to our previous conversation. "The council is waiting for us to attend, to speak about pack matters and the direction we will be taking. Unfortunately, there are two vacant seats and those hearing my plans are Kylan, the elders, and my mother. There's also the fucking matter of 'firing them' from their positions as Nepheline so delicately put it." My brows furrow as I realize that I haven't seen my father in a week. He hasn't called or texted, not that he always did but his absence is concerning.

River scoots closer to me, laying a hand on my thigh to draw me out of my head. "What's wrong?"

"It's Gael. I haven't heard or seen him in a week. Even if the pack stayed away while we were given time with our Omega, Gael would have still visited. As the previous Luno, he would ensure that we had everything we needed. He's also never stayed away this long without so much as a text or call." Anxiety blooms in my chest as I reach for my phone and dial his number.

Last call – one week ago.

The call goes to voicemail and then I send him a text, cradling my phone in my hands.

Hey. Let me know that you're okay.

My wolf bristles beneath the surface as I swallow down my emotions. My new family believes that my wolf has been tamed in some part due to Nepheline's presence and the growing magic of our pack lands. The truth? I'm just getting better at hiding the pain. When my wolf rears its ugly head, I leave the room or I burst through the back door for a run to clear my head. My wolf isn't getting better. It's getting worse.

Several moments pass before my phone vibrates.

I'm doing alright. Don't worry.

I reread the words several times but something is off. Gael is a rambler. Every last call and text I have from him is a jumble of words and excitement as he asks when I'm coming to see him next. The few times Calista has graced me with her presence, it is because Gael has asked or it's an important pack matter.

My jaw tenses as I shove my phone into my pocket. "Something's wrong with my father but as per pack law, there is nothing I can do without disrespecting the previous pack Alpha. I'm changing every last goddamn archaic rule when I can. Fuck!" I rise to my feet, looking for something to overturn but the only thing in reach is Nepheline's nest. As excited as I am to see her lose her temper, it will never be with me.

I will not be the cause of her pain.

Maverick clears his throat, drawing our attention to where he is perched at the living room's opening. "I know none of us want to push Nepheline further into this than she needs to be but maybe she should reach out to Gael. It is customary for the new Luna or Luno of the pack to meet with a previous one, to learn the ways of submission and support."

Can it be that fucking simple?

The problem is that Nepheline would have to meet Gael where he is—in my mother's house. Other Alphas would not be able to step into the former pack Alpha's house, which means she would be alone with a woman none of us trust. However, if I find a Beta willing… The only one that comes to mind is the same Beta that helped us slaughter stragglers from the pack of the Forbidden. The text to him is short and sweet, Nolan responding immediately that anything I need, it's done.

"Have you found a position for Maverick yet?" River asks, nodding to the fifth Alpha of our small family. Maverick straightens up, hands clasped in front of him as if he's a guard rather than Nepheline's mate. I understand that he's suffered loss but I refuse to keep him on the edge of all this. "Because Calista is going to start picking at him, the same way she picked at Asani. Although, I don't think he has all that many skeletons in his closet."

Maverick shakes his head before sporting a tight smile. "I don't need a title or a position. I am Nepheline's Alpha and here to support you both as pack leaders. That doesn't need a title." He says the words with such conviction while masking it as a laidback answer to an important question. When we first met him, I was unsure of his intentions. Now, I see them for what they are—he uses his suave mask to cover up the anxiety and the fear that runs through all of us.

None of us knows how this ends. I can hope that we win and that I rid the pack of every bad seed. I can hope that Silas dies a death worthy of a demon and I can hope that we all come out unscathed but in no world does that happen.

There will be loss. Betrayal. Heartbreak.

I dwell on Maverick's words and then nod. "No, you don't need a title, Maverick. Where you fit with us isn't something to be rushed. You'll find your place." I firmly believe that we haven't figured everything out about the wolves and the magic we've lost. River has poured over the books and the things he has discovered tell of a time where magic was prevalent, where the smallest tasks were filled with joy, where Mother Nature was part of our everyday lives. Ilsa's diaries are filled with stories from his father and it's a time I want to return to.

A time we are already returning to if we stay true to ourselves, our pack, and Mother Nature herself. The first thing is ridding our pack of the bad seeds. The next is taking down the wolves pumped with a serum that goes against the magic.

Asani leans back, threading his hands behind his head. "The currently vacant seats on the council, do you have any ideas? Why not appoint Boone? He's been by your side for this long. It would automatically mean that Nolan is able to help with all council matters. Then you just have to find another individual for that last seat. Someone you trust enough until you rid of everyone else."

I raise an eyebrow in jest, Asani scowling at the idea of himself taking that last seat. It would cause an uproar and as much as I value his input, our pack isn't ready to hear the truth of Asani's past. "I'll figure it out. For now, we attend the council meeting and then retrieve the Beta. I'm not even sure we'll be able to stop Nepheline once she catches his scent."

"Is that wise?" Maverick prods. He steps closer, his arms folded across her chest. "We all want her to have everything she wants and needs but her claim is a powerful one. Your mother will not be able to push back against the pack Luna but laying our cards out so soon when we don't even know what they are might be detrimental."

I've thought of that as well, but leaving the Beta to my mother and the council could very well bar us from ever seeing him again. Asani mentioned that the wolf was healing but god knows what Calista has done in the meantime. I'm trying not to think about it. Knowing that the Beta was dropped off by Silas himself makes this more difficult. "I won't keep her from what she needs. We'll navigate that issue when it comes because Nepheline will find her Beta and she will demand to bring him home. What happens after that, we take in stride." I run my hands through my hair, no longer envious of my father as pack Alpha. The issues that weighed him down aren't child's play and my mother has only made them worse in her greed. "The council will be dealt with once we make a formal announcement."

River squeezes my knee. "Are you going to fight Kylan?"

"I have to. He undermined my position and has worked against the pack for years. Calista has done the same but dealing with her will be more complicated. When we visit the heart, I will issue a challenge to anyone who wants to fight me for the title of pack Alpha. It's the way of the wolves." It's a terrifying prospect but it's how we have always determined the outcome. To the victor, the spoils, to the loser, shame, and exile. The elders will be an entirely different beast to tackle as I'm not sure anyone has stripped them of their titles in the history of our pack.

"He's doped up on my fucking serum, Mateo."

I shrug. "And my wolf is feral. We'll be a great match."

The room stills and I realize the words that just came from my mouth. Maverick tilts his head to the side, narrowing his gaze at me. "Leaning into your beast may have consequences, Mateo. It might save your position but it could ruin your pack and everything you are working towards."

His uncanny ability to say things like that is unnerving but he's not wrong. Every time I give in to my beast, it's a little harder to stuff him back into the cage I keep him in. "Well, hopefully, it doesn't come to that." I clear my throat and head for the kitchen. We have a little while longer before the council is expecting us and I could use a few of Remi's pancakes. "Maverick, reach out to the Sapphire wolves. Make sure they know what's going on. We need all the help we can get. And Asani? Fix my fucking back door."

River snorts as he comes up beside me, planting a kiss on my cheek. "You seem feisty today."

"I'll show you feisty, River. Believe me." I turn to him, reaching between us to cup his cock in my hand. It thickens between my fingers as he stares at me, immediate submission flooding his expression. "I've missed that look and as much as I want to explore it, I'm not sure some of us are ready for that kind of show."

The Alpha grunts and then twists around to catch Maverick's steady gaze. Maverick's lips quirk up in a smile before he nods to Nepheline's nest. "Just because I'm not fucking your Omega yet doesn't mean I don't like to watch. Besides, I know for a fact that Nepheline does and she should be down shortly."

I don't know how he knows that and even though he won't participate, this is the first time he's been more than just Nepheline's Alpha. A deviant grin spreads across my lips as I guide River into the middle of all the pillows. If it's a show they want, I'm all for it. Maybe I'm deflecting and choosing not to deal with my emotions. It's probably not the healthiest thing but the alternative option is racing into Calista's house and spreading pieces of her across the lawn.

Her time will come.