Page 20

20

Lucas

Following Kurt and Uncle David outside the pack house—albeit against my will—I try my best to hold back the excitement inside me. Kaylee had called me her mate, which means she’s starting to trust me more and more each day, and the pain of the rejection is slowly fading. I’m winning her heart once again. Being trained as a beta is just a bonus to me—being with Kaylee has been my only goal since I decided to leave Oak Fur.

“So what are we doing first?” I ask as David leads Kurt and me away from the packhouse and down a familiar path.

“We’re going to check in with our soon-to-be packmates. Some have found their mates within the pack, and we’d like to see if they want to move in with one another while we also plan where to put some of the single wolves,” David answers, looking back at me over his shoulder.

My footsteps falter for a moment, and I nearly trip over my own feet. Sorting out accommodation for packmates is something the Luna would normally do. For a moment, I went to protest but then stopped. David is the Luan—the male Luna. It makes sense that he would take on this role. This meant that I, as his soon-to-be beta, would help him with matters that the female beta would usually do.

David and Kurt look at me with narrowed gazes as they stop just ahead of me. I can tell they’re worried I’ll protest or make a scene. In the past, I would have. But this is Ivory Fangs. Things are different here—whether male or female, everyone has a chance to grow stronger and show their potential.

“I guess I’ll have to get used to doing the female role if I’m to be your beta, Uncle,” I state.

Kurt and David look at each other with relief and then turn to look back at me.

“You really have changed, kid,” David states with a smile. “Had this been an option for you six months ago, you would have fought with Kaylee to be the true beta of the pack and not lower yourself to helping the Luna, or Luan in our case,” he adds.

I move to stand beside him and Kurt. I can feel their pride and love for me as I grow closer. I’m happy that I gave up Oak Fur—it’s really made me a better man, a better mate, and, maybe one day, a better alpha.

“Let’s talk to the wolves Amos brought and see how we can help them adjust to being in the pack before they join,” I suggest, allowing Uncle David to take the lead.

The three of us go to the guest house—a large two-story building resembling a miniature copy of the packhouse. Wolves are scattered about the front, either sitting on the steps of the front porch or on the benches in the shade the porch’s canopy provides. I recognize many of them as the Harvest Willow wolves, some coming up to Kurt and excitedly telling him about their new homes.

Many of these wolves are still too young to be alone, so Maya and Marco asked to have a few homes built around Marco’s house for them. They decided to put two in each house, with a young pup and teen sharing. That way, the pups can learn how to become independent but strong members of the pack while still having Maya and Marco around to help teach them how to be self-sufficient. They’ll move into the homes a few days after the initiation ceremony.

“Have you seen the wolves the Council brought to the pack a few days ago?” Kurt asks the wolves, and they nod.

“We did. They’re inside,” a boy who seems to have newly shifted answers.

“Thanks, Mitch.” Ruffling his hair, Kurt tells the wolves that he has business to deal with and will come to check on them later while David and I walk past the small group and inside the house.

The cool air from the air conditioner surrounds me as I enter the front door. This is the first time I’ve stepped into the guest house since arriving at Ivory Fangs, and the impression I get from this building is homey and welcoming.

The walls are a soft cream color, and the decor and furniture, from the benches to the shelves lining either side of the room, are made from honey-colored wood. Various scents from the wolves living here fill my nose, but one catches my attention. It’s a very faint but familiar scent, and I wonder who it belongs to.

“Luan David, what are you doing here?” a she-wolf with auburn hair calls out as she walks into the entrance room.

“Hi, Carolyn. We’re here to talk to everyone,” Uncle David states, smiling at the woman. I watch her with curiosity, the familiar scent lingering on her. She isn’t the one who owns the scent, but she must know the wolf who does.

“Oh! Well, I can tell Devon and have him help me gather the others in the dining room,” Carolyn happily suggests. At this point, Kurt joined us, and Carolyn took off after nodding to him.

“You have a look on your face. Is something wrong?” Kurt asks, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m not sure. There’s a scent I recognize, but I can’t place from where,” I answer, catching my uncle’s attention.

“It could be a wolf from an allied pack of Oak Fur,” he suggests.

“Maybe. When I figure out who it belongs to, I’ll let you two know so we can assign a wolf to watch them.”

Kurt and David look at each other for a moment before both men nod.

“I trust your instincts, Lucas,” my uncle states, his voice low. “Let’s head to the dining room and wait for everyone to join us. After we talk to these new wolves about their lodgings, we can meet with Kaylee, Marco, and Amelia and see what we should do about this wolf you’re concerned about.”

Happy to know that my uncle supports my concerns, I follow him through the guest house, taking in all the rooms and memorizing the layout to the best of my ability. Part of me hopes that my concern is just that—a concern. But if it turns out this familiar scent is a spy, I won’t hesitate to end that wolf’s life to protect my pack and family.