11. Eleven

We were almost there.

My heart thundered so hard I was sure everyone else in the car could hear it.

Brandon flipped on the blinker, and the patter of it filled the cabin like it was a ticking time bomb.

Everything counted on this meeting going well. I could do this. I had to.

I held my breath as the park came into view. Lots of children played on the swing set and wooden playground. They ran around laughing and screaming as they chased each other.

Oh, to be young and carefree again. The weight of the world pressed against my shoulders, causing a permanent kink in the back of my neck.

Alpha Charles sat on one bench at the far end of the playground. Three enforcers surrounded him, guarding him, and it looked like he had several others a few feet away. They stood by a tree, their eyes intent on their alpha.

I pointed to a parking spot in a lot farther away from the park. “Let’s park over here.”

Brandon looked at me, his brow lifting in question. “The farther away, the longer the run if things go south.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Yeah, but look at this place. Nobody’s going to try anything right now. There’s a few dozen kids here with their parents. Alpha Charles would be a fool if he did anything.”

The police would be called, and then we’d both have some explaining to do. Keeping the law out of pack business was a priority for all of us. Except maybe Alpha Dane, but he was clearly delusional. It was already bad enough I’d spilled the beans to Sheriff Adam.

Brandon nodded. “Do you want me to stay here?”

He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel as he eased on the brakes. He could never sit still when he was nervous or on edge. It drove Mark crazy.

I put a hand on his elbow. “Did you want to stay in the car or come with us? I’m good either way.”

Brandon pulled into one of the parking spots and killed the ignition. “I can help. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

Lincoln leaned forward, both hands on our seat backs. “I think it would be helpful if you came. I count six enforcers with Alpha Charles. It would give us even numbers.”

Brandon pulled the keys from the steering column and opened his door. “Okay.”

I put my hand on the door handle but didn’t open it as Chance and a few of my other enforcers pulled into the spot beside us. Once their car was in park, I hopped out and moved to the front.

Lincoln reached out to me through our bond. Are you ready for this?

I stood up straighter, tilting my head from side to side, hoping I could work out the stiffness. Yes.

I sounded more confident than I thought I would. Maybe because I knew that everything depended on this working. I wouldn’t let my family or my pack down. I just had to tell Alpha Charles the truth. That would do it for me. I was sure of it.

Once the other enforcers were out of the car, I led the way toward the bench with them following me like my own personal posse. My knees wobbled and felt like they’d been shoved full of Jell-O. My stomach twisted, and I regretted eating breakfast this morning. It would be a bad first impression if I vomited all over Alpha Charles’s suede brown loafers.

Alpha Charles stood when he saw me coming. I held up a hand, and the rest of my pack fell behind me, stopping a few feet back as I closed the distance by myself. I needed to meet him alone.

I marched up to him with a conviction that I didn’t fully feel but knew I had to have and flexed my fingers as I reached out to him to keep them from shaking. “It’s good to meet you. I’m Alpha Sloane. Thank you for meeting with me so quickly.”

I didn’t think I would ever get used to referring to myself as alpha. It sounded odd but right at the same time. I forced what I hoped was a genuine smile.

He stared at my hand for a moment before slipping his rough, calloused hand into mine and giving it a firm shake. “It’s good to put a name with your face. I didn’t know your father very well, but I’ve heard many good things about him. I see that you have Ian Hampton with you.”

His gaze drifted over my shoulder to where Ian stood.

I fought the urge to glance over my shoulder at Ian even though I knew he was there. I didn’t want to appear weak for any reason. “Ian and Willa Hampton have taken refuge with my pack. Their parents and most of their pack were killed not that long ago in a brutal attack from Alpha Dane.”

Alpha Charles let go of my hand, his brow dipping into a scowl. “Yes, I had heard that. It is quite the tragedy, and it seems they are not the only pack to meet that fate.”

I motioned to the bench before walking toward it. I sat down and crossed one leg over the other before clasping both hands in my lap. Alpha Charles joined me at the opposite end, turning toward me.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, wishing I’d pulled it up today. The wind kept blowing it in my face.

“Alpha Dane has made it his mission to acquire every single pack that he can,” I said.

Alpha Charles inhaled a sharp breath and let it out. He tapped his thumb on his thigh. “Yes, I’ve heard something along those lines. He’s actually already reached out to me.”

My heart fell, and I slumped in my seat before forcing my spine to stiffen until I sat upright again.

“Oh?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice, so I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure what he offered you, but you should know that my pack originally had an agreement with his pack, and things did not go as planned.”

He gave me a tight-lipped smile. “As I’ve heard. It seems you are not the only one who has had an agreement where things did not go well.”

His gaze drifted to Ian, and he shook he sighed heavily.

He smoothed a hand over his balding head. “The Hamptons were good friends of mine. They told me what was happening. Poor Willa. They were so terrified for her.”

I shifted, angling myself toward him. “Alpha Dane did put Willa through quite the ordeal, but I think she’s come out stronger for it. She and Ian are both safe in my pack. We’ve taken in all survivors from Pack Hampton.”

He let his hand fall back into his lap, a pained expression on his face. “I’m glad to hear their kids are safe. Our children are the most precious things in the world.”

I couldn’t relate because I didn’t have any kids, and even thinking about having kids with everything happening right now would be insane. But maybe someday.

“That’s part of what I’m hoping to accomplish, Alpha Charles. A safe place where I can someday raise a family with my…mate.” I stumbled on the last word, forcing myself to say mate instead of mates.

He reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. “That’s very admirable of you. I wish for that too.”

He removed his hand and turned to look over his shoulder. He motioned to two of the guys standing off to the right. They were the spitting image of him, just about thirty or so years younger.

“I wish to have some grandchildren someday. Neither of my boys have found their mate yet. But hopefully soon. I’m not getting any younger.” He chuckled.

I pushed the sleeves of my sweater up. “I fear that if we let Alpha Dane continue on the path he is on, there won’t be a happy future for many of us. Your pack, mine, most of the packs in the United States, even.”

He arched a brow. “Do you really think his reach will go that far?”

I flexed my hands across my leg. “If he’s left with no one to stop him, eventually, yes. There will be no safe place left in the States. It’s why we have to make a stand now before he grows even stronger.”

He spread his arm out across the back of the bench, his fingers almost touching me. “You make excellent points. I believe your father would be proud of you.”

I let out a relieved breath. It was nice to hear that from someone unrelated to me. “Thank you.”

Alpha Charles looked out at his men. “You are not wrong about Alpha Dane. However, I don’t think my pack will be of any interest to him.”

The small relief I’d had a second ago slipped away. A weight pressed against my chest as dread filled me.

I sat up straighter and licked my lips. “I’m not sure you understand, sir.”

He drummed his fingers on the back of the bench. “I think it’s the opposite, dear child. You don’t understand. I have no women in my pack. My understanding is that he only cares about taking the women. He has no use for us men.”

I shook my head adamantly. He didn’t understand. I had to make him see reason.

“He thinks everyone is a threat. If you’re not with him, you’re against him. He needs men to join his ranks. He won’t just let you walk away or turn a blind eye or whatever it is you think he’s going to do.”

Alpha Charles stood and smoothed out his jacket. “I think I understand perfectly fine. He has reached out to us, but that is it. No threat, nothing. I told him we had no desire to join the fighting, and he was fine with it. It would be foolish of me to do something that would draw his ire. And I’m sorry to say, but joining your ranks would be doing just that.”

I shot to my feet and fisted my hands at my sides. “Why would you even bother meeting with me, then? Aren’t you worried he’ll somehow find out?”

An icy chill zipped down my spine, and I took a step back, bumping the back of my leg on the bench rail.

“Unless you sold us out?” I hissed, my lip curling up in disgust.

I glared at him.

Alpha Charles held up a hand. “It’s nothing like that. I assure you I would never sell someone else out, and I’m insulted that you would insinuate that.”

I crossed my arms. “And what am I supposed to think?”

Alpha Charles looked down at the ground before meeting my eyes again. “I just wanted to meet you, give you the benefit of the doubt. You seem smart and determined, but I don’t think that’ll be enough.”

I gritted my teeth. If looks could kill, he’d be dead right now. This jerk lured me out here for what? Just to meet me?

He jammed his hands into his jacket pockets. “Look, Alpha Dane isn’t going to bother my pack. You are a new alpha, and it’s good to know our neighboring packs. But after hearing what happened to the Hamptons and so many other packs around us, I just don’t want to involve my pack in that.”

I laughed bitterly. “If you really think Alpha Dane is going to leave you alone, you are a fool.”

His eyes flickered, darkening like he might turn into a wolf. “You insult me?”

I shook my head and planted my feet as I glowered at him. “You said you were friends with the Hamptons and horrified about what happened to them. Look at Ian.”

I pointed to him, meeting Ian’s eyes for a moment.

Alpha Charles looked at the ground, a bright red tinging his cheeks.

“You should ask him what they did to Willa. What they did to his parents.” I touched my stomach. “I’ve never seen something so disturbing in my life. It’s going to haunt poor Willa for the rest of hers.”

Me too, if I was being honest. An image of the Hamptons’ decapitated heads filled my mind, making my stomach roll. I gagged and put my other hand over my mouth as I swallowed hard.

“He will come for you, and if you want more proof, why don’t you ask Alpha Dane’s son? Lincoln is right over there.” I pointed to where Lincoln stood then clapped my hand against my side. “Alpha Dane’s own son was so disgusted with what he is doing, he turned against him. How often do you hear of family turning against each other?”

Alpha Charles rubbed the back of his neck. “It is uncommon.” He looked down at his hands. “You have to understand I can’t risk my men.”

I took a step back like he’d slapped me. Was he really that ignorant?

I swallowed, trying to control myself. “Human history is full of repercussions for those who turned their backs and pretended nothing was happening. Maybe Alpha Dane won’t come for your pack today or tomorrow. But he will eventually. And by that point, there will be no one left to help you.”

Alpha Charles pressed his lips into a thin line. “You sound like you’ve already lost.”

A growl bubbled up my throat. “I haven’t lost. And I don’t intend to,” I insisted, my voice low and full of venom.

I jabbed my finger at the ground. “I will fight for my pack until my last breath. But this is your chance now to do something to keep other packs from falling, other wolves from dying, and you’re turning your back on us.”

Alpha Charles shrugged. “I’m sorry. I just don’t see the benefit of involving my pack when he’s not interested in us. You’re a young woman in charge of a pack with no leadership skills whatsoever. I just feel that putting my men there is a suicide mission.”

Angry tears burned my eyes, and it felt like I’d been slapped across the face at the same time someone had stomped down on my chest.

I wanted to shake him, knock some sense into him. He was insane. If he thought Alpha Dane was just going to leave him alone, then he would be sadly mistaken. It sucked that the men who followed him would end up paying for his stupidity.

My jaw worked as I thought of what to say to him next. “I have good information that Alpha Dane plans to come for your pack. Lincoln is the operator behind the DarkSide website. Wolves talk, and intelligence says your pack is in trouble. By then, it will be too late. If you have no women, and you don’t bow to him, he will slaughter every single one of you.”

Alpha Charles shook his head. “I appreciate your concern. I’m afraid you don’t know how pack politics actually work. He’s only going to come after us if we have something he needs. I already told you we have no women.”

I laughed and took another look at his sons. They were in their late twenties or early thirties by my guess.

“Maybe not now,” I said. “But if you ever want your sons to have a mate and children, you’ll have to have women eventually.”

He frowned and looked over at his children. Worry lined their faces.

Lincoln and Brandon started to close in, and I wondered how much of the conversation they could hear.

Alpha Charles sighed. “I’m not willing to risk my pack. Not right now, not for a young girl who doesn’t know how to lead. I’m sorry. I wish the best for you and for Ian and Willa.”

He turned on his heel and marched away.

A lump formed in my throat, and a tear slid down my face. I swiped it away so fast that I scratched my cheek with my nail, making me curse under my breath.

He was a fool. Maybe I was too for thinking that I could convince someone to join us now. If I couldn’t lead these men, if I couldn’t bring new people in, then we were doomed.

I might lose my position as alpha.