“Alpha?” An older male Pico barely knew looked at him with waiting eyes, Pico still couldn’t believe he was now the damn alpha. His wolf inside him grew a bit stronger with every passing hour and his muscles seemed to grow a bit too. Over the next three days, his whole body would change, bulking up to better protect the pack.
“What was the question again?”
“What do you want to do to find Ian’s killer?” The older male was patiently waiting for Pico to figure out what the hell he wanted.
“Have Branden and Corey follow the scents and report when they reach the border. I want to know if it goes south or north. Once we know that, we can figure out how to proceed.” Pico sighed. The older male nodded and walked away.
“Is this really happening?” Celina’s voice broke him out of his thoughts. He turned to find Celina standing in the door way.
“We will find who is responsible and make it safe again for you and Alia. I promise you this, Celina.” Pico didn’t want his little girl to be in danger. Celina walked into his arms and took in a deep breath. His parents walked out to the back yard.
“The house is pretty clean over all, it shouldn’t be too hard to move you in.” Kimberly smiled. “Just give me a list of what you want to keep and what you don’t and we can start tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?” Celina asked.
“As the alpha, I have to live in the ‘alpha house’ so everyone knows where to go.” Pico didn’t want to fucking move but it was one of those unspoken rules few actually knew.
“We have to live here?” Celina nibbled on her lower lip and pulled at her hair.
“I’m sorry but yes.” Kimberly leaned into her mate, fear in her eyes, while she watched Celina.
“I need a moment.” Celina turned and walked away from the house. Pico watched her but didn’t follow. They still hadn’t discussed if she would stay here permanently or if she’s just come for a booty call. All this was a lot even for him but he had a feeling Celina wasn’t taking it too well.
“You should be going after her,” Kimberly hissed.
“Mother, she won’t run away. I’m the one who was forced to leave last time. I’m pretty sure she wants to be with me even with all of this shit.” Pico growled low. He knew his mother meant well but her pushy nature drove him crazy some days.
“You could be on the top of a hit list, son. She might not want your daughter on that list like she is now too.” Ricky added.
“I will let her sort this shit out for a bit on her own, then I will talk to her.” A howl sounded from the front and everyone stiffened. Pico turned to Celina who stopped walking. She turned to face Pico.
“Alpha, Bev is here.” A young girl whispered before running back into the house. The older male he’s talked to earlier walked into the back yard again.
“Do you have news about where it came from?” Pico asked. He needed to know if the male in front of his house was here to kill him or trying to side with him. If the trail led south then Reggie was behind the death of Ian.
“The trail splits. One headed south toward Lancaster while the other lead north.” The old man rubbed his hands over his face. “It appears that they are working together.”
Pico motioned for Celina to come back and she sighed before walking toward the house.
“What?”
“We have major problems.” Pico filled her in on what he knew about Reggie and Bev.
“Axel is here too, alpha.” The old man added.
“Is his mate here as well?” Celina asked. The man nodded.
“Well, looks like it’s now or never to get rid of Bev before we focus on taking on Reggie.” Pico pulled Celina in for a kiss and hugged his parents. He had no idea if he would survive the next hour, so he showed his affections when he had the chance. Just in case.
“Be careful,” Kimberly whispered in his ear before she let go of him.
“Keep close,” Pico said to his mate and she nodded once. They headed through the house and back out, where more than fifty pack mates of his stood on one side while Bev stood with about eighty of his pack mates. If Axel wasn’t on their side then they would be defeated.
Pico stood tall and met Bev’s gaze. He was the new alpha and an alpha didn’t bow to anyone. Even though he was new to the position, his blood and wolf knew what to do. His wolf crouched low, ready to spring forward at any moment.
“I hear there is a new alpha in town.” Bev made his voice boom over the crowd.
“You heard correctly. What do you want Bev?” His pack parted for him and Celina so the two alphas were only a few feet away from each other.
“Well, I came here to offer the old alpha a deal but I see I will have to offer it to you instead.” There was a hint of delight as he spoke.
“What offer?” Pico growled.
“I can bring peace to your pack, all you have to do is surrender the alpha position, and I will take over.”
“Why in the hell would I do that?” Pico glared, the delight in Bev’s face fading a bit.
“You should because you’re not strong enough to protect this pack,” Bev spoke as if this was obvious to anyone.
“We will respectfully decline.” Pico puffed out his chest a bit. “This alpha will protect this pack until my last fucking breath.”
“You’re not being very smart, just like Ian.”
“So, do you admit to coming into the late alpha’s house and slitting his throat, or were you the distraction so Reggie could do the deed?” Pico quickly glanced at Axel, who nodded quickly before his eyes moved back to Bev.
“Ian wouldn’t be dead if he only had agreed to my terms. I see you have more to lose than he did.” Bev’s gaze flashed over to Celina.
“I wouldn’t test my mate, Bev. She may not be a wolf but she has her own powers of persuasion.”
“Get her,” Bev growled to a male standing next to him. After a few steps, the younger male started screaming and dropped to his knees.
“I can kill you in a heartbeat. Leave before I get really angry. You have threatened my alpha and you have threatened me. You’re damn lucky my child isn’t here or you would be dead by now,” Celina said through her teeth while the male continued to scream. After a moment of silence broken only by the male crying out, she finally released him from the spell she had cast.
“You better take your pack before she follows through on her threat.” Pico waited for him to make his choice. In a flash, all hell broke loose.