14. Ryan

My brothers and I sat under the dappled shade of a large oak tree, the town green stretching out before us. On it, Shya and some of the other Bridgetown Pack members were training in the open. Some had brought weights out and were doing sets. Michael had a group off to the side and was drilling them hard. I wasn't sure if this was usual or a reaction to Tristan's attempted takeover.

Tucker was trying his best to keep up with Michael's group, but only seemed to be getting in their way. I'd already seen Ivan trip over the boy and curse him out. Tucker had taken it, eyes downcast, looking remorseful, then jumped up and continued doing exactly what he was doing before Ivan had told him off.

The Alpha House, the symbolic heart of the Pack, loomed as a reassuring presence in the background. A cool breeze was trying to whisk away the late-summer heat, but it couldn't soothe the unease bubbling within me.

Arabella hadn't said a word on the way back here, just stared out of the window. Michael had taken her straight to their medical wing. He'd assured us the staff there had all experienced humans detoxing before, so they knew what to expect. I wasn't convinced a Shifter detox would follow the same pattern as a human's would, but I didn't have any experience of either. Arabella wouldn't be able to get out or take another hit of ripple; that was the main thing. We had no idea how long it would take for her to detox, but I was pretty sure that she and her carers were in for a rough time.

Michael was not happy about this new development of ripple in his territory. After he got back from the medical wing, he'd ordered Danni to find out who was supplying it and put them out of business. It wasn't going to be easy. There was too much of it down south and in the conclave cities. The dealers were established in those places and searching for ways to expand north. It looked like they'd found some. We needed to get back to Three Rivers; we needed to see if this drug had already spread there. But first, we had to take care of Brock and Hayley.

"As Alpha, I …" I began, my voice trailing off. It was a title I was still getting used to. My brothers knew me too well.

"You'll get used to it, bro," Sam teased.

I wasn't so sure. "Look, we can't make plans blindly. We need information on what's happening in our Pack."

Derek, his brow furrowed, nodded in agreement. "I've already activated my network, and I've been in touch with some of our enforcers who managed to evade Brock's men. They're in hiding, but they're going to put out feelers. We should know soon who we can rely on and just how many of our people Brock and Hayley have locked up."

Mason and Sam exchanged a glance.

"Our PI agency could be of some use here, too," Mason said. "We've had to relocate everyone out of the territory—they were too much of a target for Brock and Hayley. But they're getting set up, and then we can pull some strings, dig deeper into Brock and Hayley's connections and alliances. See what the wider implications might be."

I nodded, smelling Mai before she came into view. Mai, her dark hair catching the rays of the setting sun, making her glow like a beacon, walked toward us, a fierceness in her stride. I felt a pang of pride. My mate, so strong and resilient, ready to face whatever the world threw at her.

As Mai sat down next to me, I noticed Mason's eyes were on Shya, tracking her every movement. I was going to have to talk to him, and soon. If she was his fated mate, I didn't know how Shya felt about it, how Michael and Camille would react, or how this might complicate our stay here. A part of me liked the thought, though. That even amidst our current situation, Mason could find his mate. He deserved it. He'd spent too many years having all of our backs. It was time something good happened for him.

Mai took a seat next to me, her eyes glancing between Shya and Mason, and I knew she'd picked up on it, too. Her gaze shifted to me, and I smiled. She was so fucking beautiful, and I was going to make sure she knew that when I fucked her later.

"Mai," I began, brushing my leg against hers. My wolf needed to touch her. "We've been talking about getting more information. Do you think you could contact Sofia? See what she can find out?"

At my words, Mai stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derek do the same.

"You want me to involve Sofia and Jase?"

"Yes," I said simply.

Mai folded her arms across her chest. "I don't want Sofia and Jase involved. They've been through enough."

I understood her fear, her need to protect her friends. But I also knew that we needed all the help we could get. We couldn't do this alone. I'd learned that the hard way when I was young. I'd raised my brothers and had to make some tough decisions to make sure they were safe. I couldn't have done it without Jem's help. He had taught me that we are all bigger than a single person. Alone, we were weak. We had to rely on others and let others rely on us. It was how a Pack was supposed to work, and this renegade Pack was more than just Mai and me.

"We need them. They're part of this Pack, part of this fight. It's not like they're the kind to sit on the sidelines."

She glared at me, saying nothing.

"And you don't know them as well as you think if you believe they'll just let us fight this alone," I continued. "You know they'll do their own thing, probably get it wrong, and end up getting hurt."

I could see the gears turning in her head, wrestling with the idea of putting her friends in danger and how to keep them safe.

"Alright," she conceded after a long pause, sighing heavily. "I'll contact Sofia. I don't like it, but you're right. She and Jase will just go off and do something stupid, like get themselves killed."

I reached out, squeezing her hand in reassurance. I didn't like this any more than she did, and knew Derek was biting back his objections as well, but it was necessary.

"I can check on Sofia," Derek said, his tone casual. "I can sneak in. Make sure she's okay."

I knew what Sofia meant to him. But it was a risk too great. One that I, his brother and Alpha, could not afford to take.

"No," I stated firmly. "It's too dangerous. We can't afford to lose you or give them any idea of our plans."

His face twisted with frustration. He looked as if he wanted to argue more. With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, nodding reluctantly.

"Alright, Ryan," he muttered. "But if anything happens to Sofia …"

"I know, Derek," I assured him, clapping a firm hand on his shoulder. We all had someone we would go to hell and back for. For Derek, it was Sofia. And for me, it was the fiery woman next to me.

A loud crash echoed through the air, drawing my attention. I turned to see some of the Bridgetown Pack clanging their weights back on the racks with aggressive grunts and determined looks on their faces as they glared across at us.

Okay, then.

One of them, a hulking brute of a werewolf with a closely shaved head, locked eyes with me across the lawn. His piercing gaze was full of defiance. I felt a growl rumble in my chest, my wolf bristling at the challenge.

Just then, Tucker ran up to the werewolf, jumped up, and grabbed onto his arm. "Can I do weights now, Ethan? Can I?" Tucker yelled, swinging from the man's biceps like it was a tree branch.

The man reluctantly tore his gaze away from mine. He looked down at Tucker, then grinned.

"Sure, kid. Come on."

I couldn't help it; I laughed. Tucker had everyone wrapped around his little finger.