26. Alastor

Chapter 26

Alastor

K ellen has been very quiet from the moment we arrived at camp, and has the big lug finally learned to follow after all?

Well, I’m proud.

It seems he really is growing up, and I appreciate his trying.

Brody and Ella are right. We’re a fucking mess, and it’s time we set things right.

That is why I give Kellen this one request. Not an order.

He blinks at me stupefied. “You want me to start the fire?”

I shrug, looking at Theo briefly. He watches us curiously. It's like apples and oranges with me and Kellen (Kellen being the angry orange, of course), and I try to smile as genuinely as I can.

It feels weird.

“Who else? They say gingers are kissed by fire after all.”

His eyes light up and then he chuckles, jumping to his feet. “Damn right, they are. I’ll show you how a real Alpha builds a fire.”

I wince. “Maybe tone it done on the real Alpha shit, Kellen. It’s good to be proud, but we’re not supposed to be making this a competition.”

Honestly, I’m shocked we haven’t already killed each other.

But Theo is pensive these days, and Kellen concedes more than usual, while I’m… well, I’m still as sly as ever, but for my brother’s sake, I will keep the smugness to a minimum.

The last thing I want is for them to think I’m plotting something. It's time to be upfront with them from now.

No more working in the shadows.

Kellen proceeds to collect firewood and now he shows me and Theo how it is done. He did it the way I would have, but we still humor him.

I think Kellen forgets that we were all taught at the same Academy.

Excursions like this were frequent.

Soon we gather around Kellen’s fire, and he drinks his beer all self-satisfied as he gazes upon the flames.

They bring out the red of his hair.

Kellen never bothered bringing a comb. He can be quite happy to slum it for the sake of camping.

He says it’s all a part of the experience.

Yet no matter how many twigs and leaves he gets stuck in his hair, he always manages to keep it immaculate.

Maybe I should tell him how pretty his hair is. We are supposed to be having a heart-to-heart out here.

My eyes find Theo and I shudder.

And I thought I was an emo kid.

The Alpha scowls into the flames, shadows settling into the contours of his face, and I’d be lying if I didn’t think that he made brooding look cool.

There was a reason why I hated guys like him in high school. Because they were everything I secretly wanted to be.

Between Theo’s brooding and Kellen’s princess hair, I’m jealous.

How can I ever hope to compete?

Picking up some gravel, I flick it at the brooding Alpha, and he peers my way with raised brows.

An action like that would have earned me a growl in the olden days, but the Alpha barely has any fight left in him.

I suppose I am pack lead now, but that doesn’t mean that I wish to abuse this power over them.

Okay, I may taunt them and get carried away at times, but I honestly see them as equals.

I always have.

“Well, talk. That’s what we’re meant to be doing out here.”

Theo blinks, and the flames reflect off his onyx eyes. “What am I supposed to talk about?”

I glance at Kellen. He shrugs, taking another swig of his beer.

Of course, he brought beer.

Not that I’m complaining.

“Pass a beer, Kellen.”

He looks at me, then throws one my way. Then he tosses one at Theo, but the Alpha doesn’t catch it in his hand.

It merely lands with a thud on the ground.

“I’m not thirsty,” he intones.

“Tough shit. You’re drinking with us, Theodore…”

The Alpha regards me irritated, then grabs the beer, using a rock to get the bottle cap off.

Again, so freaking cool, and he just makes it look so effortless.

“You first. What’s on your mind, Theo.”

He sighs, looking at me. “After you…”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. I wish I could look as cool as you do when you brood, and I wish I had hair as shiny as Kellen’s. There. Now you go.”

Kellen snickers. “I knew it.”

I scowl at him. “Don’t push it.”

He smirks, showing me his middle finger, but it’s all in good jest.

Theo peers at Kellen. “You go, Kellen.”

The redhead stops, bottle halfway to his lips. “Huh?”

I cock my brow. “Well? Got anything to share?”

Kellen places his bottle down and now he’s quiet for some time. Then he closes his eyes. “I do.”

Theo and I sit up.

We’re all bonded, yet there’s still so much we don’t know about each other, so we’re curious.

Kellen seems uncomfortable expressing himself, to show that he isn’t a strong Alpha, so I speak via bond.

“It’s fine. This is a judgment-free zone, Kellen. So, share.”

Theo can hear it too, of course, since we’re all connected.

Kellen shakes his head. “No. I will say it out loud. That way, the Gods can bear witness.”

“Are these your Irish Gods?”

“You bet your ass!”

Fair enough.

“I was a little upset when you took up position as pack lead. You just made the decision all by yourself regardless of what anyone else thinks. It’s why…”

I try to ignore the pinch of guilt inside as I encourage him to continue. “It’s fine, Kellen.”

He meets my eye. “I just… I don’t know…”

I scoop up a bit of gravel in my hand. “Are you saying that you wanted to be pack lead, Kellen?”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“I did offer you to challenge me for it, but I get it. She was watching.”

That’s why Kellen concedes more these days. He wants to show Ella and Brody that he can be a good Alpha and that he knows how to behave.

I get an idea then.

Theo was more than willing to hand the position over to me without a fight.

So, maybe I can too.

“I have a proposition.”

They both peer up.

“How about we all take turns? Every few weeks, we pass the position to one another through peaceful means.”

Fighting for the role has never really been necessary. It’s just one of those outdated Alpha customs that have no place in a civilized world.

Alphas can be diplomatic. They just prefer to complicate things.

We’re just so dominant. Some more than others, and it seems that all three of us are as equally dominant.

If we can sue for peace, agreeing to share the power of pack lead amongst ourselves, then maybe we can do this.

Show our Omegas that we can work as a team.

I worry about our bond. It's hanging on by its last thread.

Kellen gasps. “You would really give up your power, Alastor?”

I wince, hoping I don’t regret this.

Kellen can be a bit of a child, so I really don’t want to give him such power, but… I need to put my trust in him.

“Yes. And it’s yours. If you want it.”

The Alpha’s eyes widen. “Like, now?”

I glance at Theo. His onyx eyes are pinned on me.

“Yes. Just as Theo handed it to me. You ready for it?”

The Alpha stills for a moment. Then he clambers to his feet, getting into position. “Let’s have it.”

So freaking eager.

Should I be terrified?

Theo swigs back his beer. “I should warn you, Kellen. With great power comes great responsibility…”

I roll my eyes at him as I get to my feet. “Original.”

But Theo is right. Hence why he gave up control of pack lead to me.

He knew he wasn’t fit for it anymore.

However, he’s learning. One day, he may just be fit enough to have the position again.

I match Kellen’s stance and now I start the transfer.

Fuck, it hurts, and the sweat drips down my face as I close my eyes, sensing his thread on the bond.

Once it’s done, Kellen staggers, blinking a few times.

His eyes glow and what have I done?

He bares his teeth. “This is fucking awesome. I’m the king of the world!” he roars.

I sit back down. “Only the king of our pack, Kellen. For now. Tone it down.”

Kellen points at me. “You can’t tell me what to do anymore because I’m in charge now!”

I swig my beer. “Don’t make me regret my choice.”

The redhead stops grinning, and now his shoulders slump as he returns to his former sitting position. “I won’t.”

All is quiet again.

All that is left now is for Theo to spill.

Kellen and I look at him expectantly.

He looks at both of us before palming his face. “Fine.”

Oh, fuck, this is happening.

Kellen and I lean forward.

Theo is about to pour his heart out for us.