37. Marcus

On my flight to Reno, I reviewed Deacon"s list of critical people: who would be good to work with, who to avoid, places to go for a great burger, and the best area to run my wolf. He did his best to ensure I had everything I needed to get off on the right foot.

From the information he had given, I would be staying in the pack house for the duration of my time there, and I needed to have some of my things sent up from Vegas since I was no longer heading to the Providence Pack for my training.

After landing, I grab my bag and head toward passenger pickup. Before I left, Deacon warned me that I would likely not have anyone there to pick me up, so I planned on catching a taxi to the address. To my surprise, Luca is waiting near the exit, complete with a paper sign that reads ‘Stone.'

He waves as I approach him.

"Hey! I"m sorry I didn't have time to get a suit with one of those little hats," he says, his face jovial.

"And here I thought I was getting the VIP treatment. No suit? No little hat? Basically traveling like one of those peasants," I say, throwing on an accent to make myself sound put out.

"Our humblest apologies, my lord," he continues, dropping into a w. The crowd around us begins to take notice of the exchange, and we play our parts.

"I guess it will have to suffice. Next time, I expect a better processional," I finish, sticking my nose in the air, arrogance wafting from me before proceeding to the exit.

As soon as I'm outside, I can't help but laugh. Luca joins in as we head to his truck. Getting along with Luca is easy, and it makes me think I might be able to make it through my time here without issue.

I launch my bag into the bed and hop in the passenger seat, buckling in as I wait for him to start the engine.

"I'm sure my brother told you what he could about our pack. It's not all as bad as I'm sure he made it out to be. My father just has a particular vision for leading the pack that Deacon has never shared. Those two are oil and water. Things will be different when I step in," he says with an apology in his voice.

"He just mentioned things were tense between them, not really specifics. He told me to stick close to you and Frank. That you two would teach me what I would need to ascend in my pack." I respond, not trying to give too much away, but seeing that he was opening up, I didn't want to seem closed off to the friendship he was offering.

"Planning to take the Vegas Pack over?" he asks, an eyebrow raised.

"Maybe. My Alpha gave me an excellent opportunity to learn through this retreat. I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I would be surprised if he could hold off other packs for much longer."

"Here, I believed his son would take the reins from him. Though Jonathan never really seemed fit for the job—a bit too selfish if you ask me," Luca responds, turning the car key in the ignition and getting us on our way.

He didn't push for any more information, which I was grateful for, and he drove us the rest of the way, the music from the radio playing in the background of my thoughts—Elton John singing ‘I'm Still Standing' as I wondered if I had what it takes to be the one still standing.

Approaching the pack house is a surreal experience. My parents have always lived outside of the pack. My sister and I went to public school and integrated entirely into an everyday human existence. We attend events thrown by the pack when invited and do our best to go on runs with them when we can, but with my parents" careers, it"s less often than I would like. I've always felt a bit disconnected from it all. I spend my time looking at pack life from behind a glass wall. I'm a part of that world but can't fully be counted, either.

That's why the phone call my dad received a week before the retreat was such a surprise. I didn't think our Alpha knew anything about me. The few times I tried to make friends with other wolves in the pack, I was either pushed away because my parents had decided not to live among them or because my wolf was stronger than theirs.

Finding acceptance from the pack wasn't something I saw happening.

After being summoned to meet with the Alpha, my mom and dad reminded me of the etiquette shown in front of him. I hadn't spoken to him since we were brought into the pack at the swearing ceremony. At the time, he seemed pleasant enough, but nothing that would make him need to speak with me directly stood out.

I remember thinking the whole way to his office, ‘What the fuck am I doing here?' It was my senior year, and I had plans to finish school and take a trip with some of my high school buddies from the basketball team. Mexico for a few weeks, maybe. None of my plans had me sitting in his office, being told I would attend an Alpha retreat because of the wolf The Fates chose for me.

"You leave in one week. You will represent our pack in a competition for Alpha wolves that will push you to become the best you can be. Can you handle that, son?"

His words even now felt wrong.

I wasn't his son. In fact, why wasn't he sending his son?

"But my basketball championship game is in two weeks. My team is counting on me,"

I remember saying to him, only to make him laugh. Joshua Barton was probably fifty years older than me, and unlike some wolves who age at a slower rate, his years were apparent, chiseled in the wrinkles on his face.

"Foolish human endeavors will never satisfy what your wolf wants. An Alpha will always want to lead. I am giving you the chance to learn how to do that. You will not disappoint me by refusing. Your loyalty is to the pack. To me."

When he finished his statement, his anger leaked out, and I had no choice but to accept his proposition.

If there was one thing my parents engrained in us growing up, loyalty and honor were the most essential traits to carry.

I wouldn't let my pack down, even if they hadn't welcomed me in the past. Maybe this was what I needed to feel like I was a part of their world.

The more I thought about it, the more my wolf felt satisfied with my decision, even if my human friends weren't exactly stoked that their captain and best point guard would miss State.

In her first letter, my sister informed me that the team had lost the championship in a blowout game 78 - 46, our worst season performance. I tried calling my friends once the retreat ended, but none answered.

Sometimes, opening one door closes another.

This retreat took me away from the life I'd built, revealing a new world to which I had never been given the keys.

Shaking myself out of the memory, I unbuckle and jump out of the truck, following Luca to the front doors after grabbing my bag.

The home was just as big as my pack house back home, and still, its enormity hit me. To be able to lead a pack of this size made my pulse accelerate.

Luca takes a minute to point out the basketball court, pool house, and garage with the pack vehicles before we enter the mansion. Most of the information flies right over my head, and I know I will have to walk around some to get oriented to my new surroundings.

We enter the main living area; voices carry in from the open space. People are playing pool, watching a movie on the big screen, and making drinks in a built-in bar off one of the walls. Most of the wolves look older than me, some by a few years, others by decades, but they all continue chatting, mostly ignoring our presence as we pass through, heading to the main stairs.

Adjusting the strap on my bag, I scan the setup, taking in the three stories as we ascend. When we hit the second floor, Luca turns us left, and I follow down a long corridor.

"This is the east wing of the house. We keep the single wolves here. Breakfast is served in the main dining area just off the front room from 6 am to 9 am, lunch from 11 am - 2 pm, and dinner from 5 pm - 8 pm. If you miss meal times, sweet-talk Bernadette in the kitchen, and she will make you the best grilled cheese sandwich you've ever tasted. Tell the others, and I'll kill you myself," he says, winking as he continues.

"Thomas is in charge of looking after this wing. Let him know if anything in your room is broken or needs repairing. Once you get settled in, we will get you on the enforcer schedule for next week. I'll make sure you're invited to the leadership meetings you are allowed to attend outside of your work schedule," he finishes, pushing a key into the lock of a door on the left side that reads 217 in gold numbers.

He swings the door open, and I step into the room I will spend the next six months in. The double bed is flush with the wall, a good-sized dresser sits across from it, and a small writing desk is positioned under the window, which looks out on an expanse of trees all lightly dusted with snow.

"Any questions?" Luca asks, glancing down at his watch before meeting my eyes.

"Is there a phone I can use? I have some things I'd like to get sent up here since I'll be here for a while," I stop my sentence, not wanting to burden him with questions I can figure out myself.

"Of course. We have two lines in the house. One is in the Alpha's office for business calls, and the other is in the main living area. Early mornings are the only times you have any sort of privacy there, though, so if you got a girl back home, you might want to let her know," he says, a smile forming on his face.

"Thanks. There"s no girl, though. I"ve got my little sister and my parents to check in on. Speaking of girls, though, Deacon gave me a letter for Grace. Is she staying in the pack house? Can you point me to her room?" I ask, looking back toward the main stairs.

He had written a quick note to her before his flight, knowing he would need to find a routine that worked with Grace's schedule. With the time difference, both of them working, and the cost of out-of-state calls, he would be lucky to talk to her a handful of times over the next few months.

I promised I'd look after her.

"Grace stays off-property with her parents closer to town. She's probably working at Mel's diner off Garson Road right now. I don't think I'll be able to take you down there today, but if you can wait until tomorrow, we can head out after lunch?" he offers.

"Sounds good, Thanks," I answer. "I appreciate you picking me up and giving me the tour."

"You need anything, I'm in 304," he says before turning and heading back down the hall.

After shutting the door, I look at my new space and mentally prepare myself for the political ping-pong I need to play.

Day one. Check.