7. Seven

My fingers trembled as I watched my phone. I squeezed it tighter, not wanting Lincoln and Sawyer to see me shaking.

They tried to pretend like everything was fine, that I wasn’t going to be challenged by someone thinking they could do better than me. I wasn’t dumb, though. I knew it was coming, and I had to be prepared. Winning over this pack could be a step in the right direction.

I unlocked my phone and pulled up the keypad. “What’s their number?”

Lincoln held up his hands. “Do you know what you’re going to say?”

I stared at him for a long moment. No, I didn’t know what I would say, actually. I thought I’d just kind of wing it. Sometimes I did best when I thought on my feet and didn’t plan something out. I hated making plans and then having them not go the way I imagined they would.

I gave myself a mental shake. “Sawyer, what is the number? I’m just going to call, play it by ear, and have a friendly conversation. I don’t think I can rehearse it and make it sound genuine. If I’m going to win him over, I have to be real.”

Sawyer crossed his arms and stared at Lincoln before he spouted off the number.

Lincoln grunted and turned away, walking toward the window. “You should at least know what you want to say, Sloane.”

The floorboards creaked as Sawyer came closer and cupped my cheeks. “You got this. Just be open and honest with him, and tell him everything. I think the rest will do itself.”

I looked to Lincoln, opening my mouth to ask him if he had any advice, but he beat me to it.

“I’m sure he’s heard about my father by now,” he said. “You should use that.”

Telling him about Alpha Dane was a good idea. If he hadn’t heard about his tyranny, he lived under a rock.

I hit the call button, put it on speakerphone, and paced across the room, my feet clomping against the old floorboards as I wore a line down the center of the room. It rang several times before someone picked up.

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “Hello, is this Charles Denning?”

He paused before answering. “It is. Can I ask who’s calling and how you got this number?”

I tapped my fingers together as I continued to pace, moving a little faster now. “Alpha Charles Denning, I’m Alpha Sloane of Pack Whitmore.”

“Whitmore?” He said the last name a few more times like he was trying to place why it sounded familiar. “David Whitmore?”

Emotion weighted on me, making my eyes mist at hearing my father’s name. My heart thudded painfully, and I gulped down the lump. “My father. Sadly, he passed away the other night.”

My voice broke, and I squeezed my eyes shut, praying I didn’t start to cry.

I could hear my father’s voice in my head, urging me to be strong.

Alpha Charles cleared his throat. “I am very sorry to hear that. I’d heard good things about him.”

That wasn’t surprising. My dad was friends with everyone. He would never have turned anyone away.

I shoved a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard about Pack Wolf Blood. They have been giving us some problems and attacked us. They are the reason my father is dead.”

My eyes burned, and my heart hammered. It was so hard to talk about my father. I guess part of me had thought he would always live forever. The other night had reminded me of the cruel reality that tomorrow was never guaranteed. I had to do everything I could to keep the rest of the pack safe so they’d have plenty of tomorrows.

I swallowed hard. “Before his death, my father named me alpha. I’m reaching out to you as a friend, as I believe that Pack Wolf Blood may be turning their attention to you.”

The phone crackled in my ear. His breathing grew heavier. Good. I had his attention.

He let out a sigh. “You are not the first person I’ve spoken with about Pack Wolf Blood. The Hamptons mentioned something as well.”

I spun on my heel for another lap across the room. “You’re aware of how dangerous they are, then?”

He grunted. “Yes, I have heard nothing but horror stories about them.”

I pursed my lips. My mind raced with what to say next. I reached for my hair again, catching a loose strand and twirling it around my finger. I curled my toes in my shoes and tried to swallow down the panic bubbling up.

“I think that we can both agree there is safety in numbers, Alpha Charles. We have had several packs come to our house to help assist. Several of them were driven from their homes and left with no place to go.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. I glanced at Sawyer and Lincoln, wondering if I should say something else or leave him to his thoughts.

I didn’t have to wait long.

His voice sounded strained and grave when he spoke up again. “By your own admission, Pack Wolf Blood has dealt you a deafening blow, taking your alpha from you. How do you think that joining you would benefit my pack?”

My heart jumped into my throat. I had never been much of a salesperson or a public speaker. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I was completely out of my element right now. But I had to try.

“We’ve seen firsthand what Alpha Dane and Pack Wolf Blood are capable of. We know who his contacts are and who he is likely to reach out to for certain things. I’d be more than happy to give you even more specifics if we could meet in person.”

I glanced at Lincoln and Sawyer. Sawyer motioned with his hand, urging me to continue.

I let the hair unravel from my finger and dropped my hand to my side as I tracked another trail across the room. “I think we can both agree that there is safety in numbers. My pack has the land, and our numbers are growing. The more of us who come together now to make a stand, the better. We have already had several alphas join us.”

“And they’re following you? You sound young. How old are you, girl?” he asked.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I would have to convince him that even though I was just barely in my twenties, I was more than capable.

I flexed my fingers and patted them on my thigh as I twirled and started another lap. “I’ll be twenty-two in a few weeks. Alpha Charles, I know I may sound young, and I don’t have experience, but I have been to Alpha Dane’s pack. I know what he’s capable of, and I know how he thinks.”

I blew out a breath and moved faster to the other side of the room as my conviction grew. “His son Lincoln is my mate, and he’s here with me. He’s turned against his father. Not only that, but he is the founder of the DarkSide website.”

Charles breathed, the only sound I could hear on the other end. It sounded loud, almost like he was having a panic attack. Maybe he was. I would be if I knew Alpha Dane was coming for me. Well, maybe not because he was always coming for me. Or maybe that was why I felt exhausted and like I’d been beaten up a thousand times. Because of the worry churning in my stomach.

Alpha Charles sighed so hard into the speaker that it cut out and crackled. “My youngest son speaks very highly of the DarkSide website. It’s something that we’ve used. It’s how we found out about Alpha Dane and his tyranny to begin with, even before the Hamptons. I must say though, meeting with you does present some risks.”

I stretched up onto the tips of my toes as a burst of excitement washed through me. He was considering meeting with me, which meant I was on the right path.

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect you to invite us onto your pack land with such tentative circumstances involved. Perhaps we could meet in a neutral location, someplace public and safe for both of our packs.”

He made a humming noise. “Yes, I do think that would be acceptable. I get the sense time is of the essence. Is that correct?”

I bobbed my head up and down and then realized that he couldn’t see me. “Yes, sir, the sooner we can meet, the better.”

“Very well. Let me assemble a team, and I will text you the location we can meet tomorrow.”

I put my free hand in the air and did a fist bump. A smile slid across my face, and the weight lifted from my chest so I could breathe again. We were one step closer.

“Thank you, Alpha Charles. I look forward to hearing from you and meeting with you later.”

He hummed again. “Yes, I look forward to meeting you as well. Goodbye until then.”

My fingers shook so hard as I hung up that I feared I might drop the phone. I let out a squeal of excitement and clasped my cell between both hands. Then I let out a long breath and laughed out loud.

Sawyer pulled me in for a hug and kissed my temple. “You did great, just like I knew you would.”

Lincoln hugged my other side, pressing his lips softly against my cheek by the corner of my mouth. “You’re amazing. We have to think about who’s going to go to meet him.”

The smile slid from my face as I blinked. What did he mean? Surely he wasn’t insinuating that I wouldn’t be the one to go.

“I should be the one who goes to speak with him,” I insisted. “I’m the alpha.”

I stepped back, staring between the two of them. Sawyer had deep worry lines creasing his brow. Lincoln looked more frustrated than anything with a scowl on his face, and he kept shaking his head.

Lincoln scratched his jaw. “Sloane, your place is here with the pack. You leaving could be a big mistake. Your place isn’t cemented yet.”

I held up both hands and took a few steps back as heat crept across my cheeks. “I’m the alpha. I have to go.” I patted my heart with my right hand. “If it were me, I wouldn’t want someone else there besides the alpha. It would look weird and insincere.”

Sawyer blew out a breath as he massaged the back of his neck. “You both have excellent points.”

Lincoln swatted his brother on the arm. “I was hoping you would take my side.” He arched a brow as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not safe for her to go.”

I tossed my hands in the air. “It’s not safe anywhere.” I pointed to the floor and then the window. “Here or out there. Alpha Dane is coming back. Maybe not right now, but soon. We need to be prepared. I need to go, and I need to talk to Alpha Charles. He’s not going to come if I don’t. I have to show him a gesture of good faith.”

Lincoln exhaled loudly. I could tell by the vein throbbing in his temple that he was irritated. I didn’t care. I was the alpha. My word should be final.

I stood up straighter and jutted my chin out. “I understand where you’re coming from. But I’m the alpha, and it’s my choice. You’re not going to talk me out of it. We all know it’s the right thing to do.”

Lincoln dropped his hands down to his sides. He fisted them, balling them tight and then flexing them out. “Sloane, we’re just trying to protect you.”

I gritted my teeth as I blinked back angry tears. I understood where he was coming from, but I needed to do this. “I’m going, and that’s final. It’s my call to make.”

Lincoln reached out for me, but I backtracked, bumping into the end table and making the lamp on it wobble.

He held up his hands. “Sloane, listen to reason. Please.” He turned to his brother. “Sawyer?”

Sawyer looked down at the floor and opened and closed his mouth like he was having a conversation with himself, but I had no idea what he was saying.

He puffed his cheeks and then let the air out slowly. “I think Sloane’s right. She needs to go.”

Lincoln’s face fell, his brows knitting together. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I massaged my temples. This argument was starting to give me a headache. We got so little time together, and we were wasting it by arguing about this. I wanted to enjoy my mates. It could be days before Sawyer could visit again.

I looked at the floorboards and rubbed the toe of my shoe over a worn stain where something had spilled. “I’m still going.”

Silence filled the room except for the racing of my pulse.

The floorboards creaked as Lincoln backpedaled. He went to the door and fumbled with the knob, opening it. “I’ll assemble a team, then.”

He left the room without another word.

My heart sank into my belly. I’d upset my mate. What if he was right? What if I was making a horrible mistake?

My phone dinged with a new text. It was Alpha Charles.

I would find out if it was a mistake soon enough. I prayed to Luna that Lincoln was wrong, for everyone’s sake.