Page 25 of The Alpha's Envy
Sitting outside in the fading light, we look down at the massive grass lawn at the rear of the packhouse where the full moon party continues on without us.
Young pups chase each other, tumbling and yapping as they leapfrog, dance and nip playfully, while their parents sit back on log benches and catch up with friends, safe in the knowledge that their children are happy and protected within the pack.
Our own pups, not really pups anymore, but they'll always be to us, chat away close to the bonfire. Nathan, as per usual, has his arm slung around a beautiful she-wolf.
“What are we gonna do with him?” I say to Marie, tipping my head toward our far-too-charming youngest son.
Marie raises one shoulder in an amused shrug.
“He didn't get it from me. He's his father's son. You need to teach him how to use his powers for good and not for evil.”
I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“He definitely didn't learn those moves from me. I lucked out. The fates took pity on me when it was becoming clear I was going to be an old bachelor if somebody didn't step in and help me.”
Marie laughs and slaps my chest gently before twisting around so she can look out over the pack with her back resting against my chest.
I take a deep inhale and sigh as her delicious scent wraps itself around me.
That kick I get just from being near her will never get old.
I can't see her eyes, but I feel her body tense as she sends out a mind-link. It doesn't take a genius to work out that it's Nathan who's on the receiving end of her orders.
He looks up, an unimpressed scowl on his face, and removes his arm, stuffing his hands in his pockets instead, much to his dismay.
He wanders over to the other side of the party where he stands beside his older, much less sociable brother.
Rex gives him a quizzical look, then when Nathan's eyes turn toward our balcony, a wry smile appears on Rex's usually stoic features. He loves nothing more than to see Nathan's fun being ruined.
On the far side of the bonfire, Leila sits, part of the party, but also, not quite. She's got her head in a book, studying as always, determined to prove that she's not just a pampered pack princess. Whatever job she gets, or escape route, as she calls it, she wants to get under her own steam. And I've no doubt that she will be able to do whatever she wants to do.
She's got her mother's brains, and she works so hard. That part, I hope she gets from me.
I'm just wondering how our other son is getting on at his first full moon away from home when my phone starts to ring. Digging it out of my pocket, I hold up the screen and show it to Marie. It's Cooper.
“Speak of the devil,” I say, happy to hear from him, but Marie shakes her head, her features looking pinched.
She drags her wide eyes away from the screen and back to me. “This isn't good, Jonathan, whatever it is, it isn't good.”
My mate is not a worrier, and she's not one for dramatics, but she does have an uncanny sixth sense. Her concern immediately has me off-balance as I answer the call. With my attention fully focused on Cooper’s call, I help Marie to her feet, holding the phone between us and putting it on speaker so she can hear what's going on.
“Son?” I say, getting straight to the point.
Cooper's voice is hushed, but he’s breathing heavily down the line, like he's been jogging. There’s no background noise. He’s in a quiet room. He wants privacy for whatever this is.
“Dad, it's Reynolds. He's lost it.”
Marie grips my arm, and I close my eyes for a second, steadying myself against the power of her emotions. Fear for her son, concern for his safety, regret we’re not with him, and anxiousness about how far away he is from us.
“Which Reynolds, Cooper? Dean or Graham?”
Marie's eyes dart to mine. She assumed that because Dean is in college with Cooper that's who he must be talking about, but I doubt it. Unbeknownst to anyone, I've had numerous conversations with the head of the school who’s been keeping me posted on how both Cooper and Dean are getting on. He's assured me that while Dean, much like our own introverted eldest child, isn’t exactly a chatterbox, he's nothing like his father.
Dean's there for one reason and one reason only: to ensure that when he gets his hands on the pack, he's able to turn things around.
“Graham,” Cooper says, as if the answer should be obvious. “Dean got a call from his brother and ran out of here like his ass was on fire. We don't know the details, we're only hearing rumours, but it’s Maya.”
Marie closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Is she dead?”
