Thatcher watched them go until each of them had disappeared and the heavy door had shut behind them with a solid thud.
“Are you seriously going to just let him have my daughter?” Norman demanded.
“You hit your daughter.”
“But–”
“No buts. There was physical evidence. Callum would have fought to the death for her.”
“You should have let him!” His second-in-command complained.
Thatcher glared at Norman. “Maybe I should have. Maybe I am due for a new second-in-command. You’re starting to slip, Norman.”
Norman pulled back as though he’d been slapped. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“He would have killed you, you cunt. What the hell were you thinking?”
He bowed his head. “I owe Hara money. Vivian was the way out of my debt.”
“She had so much value and you let it go to waste. Not to mention, do you even know anything about your daughter? She’s been hosting our pack events right under your nose and you had no clue.”
“I–”
Thatcher cut him off. “I want you to step up your game. We’ve been through a lot together, Norman. Things are about to get sticky again. I need to know you can handle anything I throw at you, or else I’ll have to replace you.”
The threat was clear.
Norman tried to keep his face neutral but Thatcher could see the struggle, the mix of fear, and the anger. Too bad.
At one point in time, Norman had been a decent beta, but it seemed those days were behind them.
Finally, it seemed he settled on gumption. “I know where the bodies are buried.”
“So you’ll feel right at home if I decide you need to join them.”
As expected, he paled. But before he could reply, the door opened.
“Ah, Max, you’re here.”
Norman straightened, turning toward the door. “Max?”
Thatcher hid his smile. Max had almost been his beta, once upon a time, but he’d entrusted Max with a special mission, one he hadn’t been able to trust to anyone else. So instead of taking Max as his beta, Norman had been the title’s recipient with Max having gone missing.
But now, the brutish, scarred beta could return home.
“What are you doing here?” Norman gaped, likely realizing Thatcher already had a reliable beta lined up if he was no longer capable of doing his job, or when Thatcher grew tired of him.
“You can leave now, Norm.” Thatcher left his throne and clapped his old friend on the back. “Welcome home.”
Max smiled. “It’s nice to be home.”
Thatcher looked at his beta before raising an eyebrow.
Norman’s shoulders drooped. “What do I do about the money?”
“That’s not my problem, but I suggest you leave the cards alone.”
The beta gave one last look between the two men before leaving the room. Though he held his head high, he slammed the door behind him, which made Thatcher smile.
He wrapped Max in a hug before pulling back to look him in the eyes. “How did it go?”
“No problems thanks to the pilot you sent.”
“No issues at the border?”
“Nope.”
“Fantastic. And she’s in place?”
Max grinned. “When the drugs wear off, the sun will just be setting, and the Curusm will be starting. She’s at the back of the cave. No one will know until it’s too late.”
“Excellent.” He didn’t realize how much he’d been waiting for, longing for this. Finally, she’d be home. “It’s time my daughter learned just who and what she is. Time for her to join the pack.”