Page 22 of Brutal Reign (Shadowed Heirs #5)
22
I breeze through the open door to the command center for the hunter division, pausing in the threshold when I see Avery and Cam are the only ones inside. That in itself wouldn’t give me pause, but the way they’re currently entangled with their tongues down each other’s throats sure as shit does. Avery’s straddling Cam’s lap in his desk chair, the two of them engaged in such an intense make-out session that they don’t even register my presence until I clear my throat loudly to get their attention.
They both startle, breaking apart and snapping their heads in my direction.
“Uh, you wanted to see me?” I ask awkwardly, conscious of the fact that I’ve only got ten minutes to get down to the practice field if I don’t want to be subjected to running punishment laps.
Avery pushes up off her mate’s lap, lips puffy and cheeks flushed. “Yeah,” she breathes, straightening her top nonchalantly as she starts in my direction. Girl has no shame. “Squad leadership met yesterday, and we’ve decided to move the wolf tournament up to this week.”
My heart stutters in my chest, eyes popping wide.
“Don’t worry, Alphas don’t participate,” she quickly adds.
Well shit, it would’ve been nice if someone mentioned that earlier. I’ve been dreading the wolf tournament since I arrived at training camp. It’s an exercise where the recruits go head-to-head fighting each other in their wolf forms, battling it out in single elimination matchups until a sole victor remains. I’ve been quietly panicking at the thought of it, trying to think of any excuse to get out of participating, but it turns out I didn’t even need one.
Avery grins as she approaches me, setting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “And since you’re dealing with a lot right now, it’s the perfect excuse to get away from this place for a few days, dontcha think?”
I eye her suspiciously, rolling my lower lip between my teeth. “Did you…”
A devious grin spreads across her face. “You’re welcome,” she quips, flipping her long blonde hair over a shoulder.
I snort a laugh. While everyone else is playing checkers, my cousin plays chess. She has a way of twisting every situation to her benefit, which is definitely an asset when she’s in your corner. I’m thankful she’s always in mine.
“The tournament will last for three days, so just make sure you’re back by Friday morning,” she states, winking. “And give my aunt and uncle a hug from me.”
“You’re the best,” I gush, throwing my arms around Avery’s neck and yanking her in for a hug.
This couldn’t have come at a better time. I know I shouldn’t run from my problems, but after being harassed by Seb and Ace all day yesterday and watching Jake waltzing around with a chip on his shoulder, my head’s a mess. I’m so overwhelmed that I feel like a zombie, just going through the motions. A few days away to clear my head and get a handle on how to move forward is exactly what I need.
“Yeah, yeah,” Aves laughs as I peel away from her. “Now get outta here before this place is crawling with wolves and your own gets restless,” she teases, pointing me toward the door and swatting me on the butt to send me on my way.
I give her a mock salute as I exit the command center, rushing through the hallways of the squad complex to return to the recruit barracks. Once there, I pack a few things up in a backpack, grab the keys to my bike, and manage to sneak by the other recruits before practice even begins. Well, almost. Seb and Ace spot me slinking through the gate and chase after me, cornering me in the parking lot and demanding to know where I’m going. As if they deserve an explanation . I’m definitely not up for another fight, though, so I fill them in on the change of plans, bicker with Seb about needing space to think, then hit the road.
It isn’t long before I’m pulling into the driveway of the Summervale packhouse, a ball of anxiety knotting in my gut the moment I lay eyes on my childhood home. The last time I was here, Jake declared his challenge, kicking off a series of events that I’m still reeling over. I need to formulate some sort of plan if I’m going to weather this storm, though, and I suppose there’s no better place to start doing that than at the scene of the crime.
The door of the attached garage is wide open and my dad’s inside tinkering with his motorcycle. He glances over as I pull up, throwing me a wave before going right back to working on his bike. So obviously, he knew I was coming.
I’d assumed this whole thing was Avery’s doing; it never occurred to me that my old man might’ve also had a hand in the sudden schedule change at training camp. It makes sense that he would, though. Dad will do just about anything to flex some semblance of control over my life.
The purr of the Chief’s engine dies out as I turn the key to shut it off, knocking the kickstand down with the toe of my boot and pulling off my helmet as I dismount. Dropping it on the seat, I turn to start in my father’s direction, finger-combing my windblown hair in a futile effort to tame it.
“Hey, kiddo,” he drawls as I approach, finally looking up from his hunched position and flashing me a welcoming grin. He looks to be in the midst of an oil change, positioned on a stool beside his bike with an oil pan at his feet.
“Avery told you I was coming?” I ask, though it’s not really a question. From his lack of surprise at seeing me here on a random Tuesday, it’s clear someone tipped him off– likely the mastermind herself.
He gives me a single nod of confirmation, swiping an arm across his sweaty forehead and leaving a faint black streak of motor oil behind. “Wanna grab your toolbox, help me with this?” he asks.
I can’t help but crack a smile, rolling my eyes as I turn to head for the workbench across the garage. He doesn’t actually need any help– my dad has done so many oil changes in his life that he could practically perform them in his sleep– but this garage is the only place where the two of us connect, bonding over a shared love of our motorcycles. I’m sure him choosing to change his oil this morning was very purposeful; so we could have a chat under the guise of me ‘helping’ him.
Grabbing my toolbox and stool from the opposite side of the garage, I carry them back over, taking up my usual spot at my dad’s side while he continues to work. And because I’ve been in this position so many times before, I preemptively pop open my toolbox and rummage through it for the torque wrench.
“Hey, can I borrow your…?” he starts to ask, trailing off when he turns to see me holding up the very tool he’s about to ask for. He grins as he reaches out to take it from me. His own torque wrench is constantly drifting out of calibration, but he’s too stubborn to admit he needs a new one, always using mine instead. “Glad you’re home,” he chuckles, turning back to his bike.
“I don’t have to be here for you to use my tools,” I point out.
“Yeah, well it’s nice to have the company,” he says, cranking on the wrench to tighten the drain plug.
I chew on the inside of my cheek as I watch him, playing a game of chicken with myself. There’s something that’s been eating at me since Jake issued his challenge. Since before that, actually, and if I don’t just rip off the band-aid and ask, it’ll only continue gnawing at the back of my mind until it consumes me.
“Did you always know you were going to pass the Alpha rank to me?” I blurt, holding my breath nervously as my father turns to look at me.
His eyes meet mine– the same hazel as my own– and he dips his head in a nod. “I did. You’re my heir.”
“Then why didn’t you do it when I turned eighteen?” I press, lips drawing in a frown. “Isn’t that how it usually works? Why wait if you already knew what you were going to do?”
He blows out a slow breath as he leans over to drop my wrench back in the toolbox on my lap. “Because once it’s announced, a challenge can be issued,” he murmurs.
I make a scoffing sound in my throat. “So what, you were trying to protect me?”
“Isn’t that my job?”
“Why didn’t you wait longer, then?”
Dad heaves another sigh, leaning back and dragging a hand through his hair. “I wanted to, kiddo. But shit with the hunters was going bad. If something happened to me, the pack needed to know who would step in to take my place.”
I roll my lower lip between my teeth as I study his face, searching for any sign of deception. Not that my dad has a history of being dishonest with me, but something just isn’t adding up. “Then why’d you train Jake?” I grit out, holding his stare.
He tilts his head slightly, brows drawing together until a crease forms between them. “What? When?”
“Jake said you taught him how to spar.”
Dad rolls his eyes, giving a little shake of his head as he wipes his oily palms on the legs of his jeans. “I wouldn’t go that far,” he grumbles. “I taught him a few basic things, but it was only a single session, and only because Cory asked me to do it.”
“He made it seem like more than that,” I mutter, averting my gaze to my lap and snapping the lid of my toolbox closed. I shift it off my knees, bending over to set it on the ground with a metallic rattle.
“What are you trying to say, Riv?” Dad growls, the low vibration of his voice betraying his irritation. “You really think I was planning on passing you over to give the Alpha rank to Jake fucking Decker? That kid’s not Alpha material, he cowers every time I’m in the room.”
“Well, he didn’t the other night,” I point out, folding my arms over my chest tightly. “And you and I both know what’ll happen if this challenge goes forward.”
He shakes his head with a frown. “None of us know for sure.”
“Dad…” I sigh, throwing my head back.
“I have full faith in you, River,” he replies in a clipped tone. “You’re my daughter. There’s nothing you can’t handle. Between your mom’s brains and my brawn, you’ll be the best Alpha this pack has ever seen. And as for the challenge, you’ve got a month to prepare. I can help you, just like I did when your wolf first came in. We can work at it every day, see if we can…”
“Whoa, what about training camp?” I interrupt, flinching back with a scowl.
Dad levels me with a stern stare. “Is that really what’s important right now? You can join the squad later on down the road if that’s what you still want, but… hey, where are you going?”
I’m already halfway to the door from the garage to the house, my boots clomping against the cement floor with every angry step of retreat. I don’t stop, I don’t turn back, and I don’t answer him. If I do, I’m bound to say something I’ll regret.
He knows better than to follow me as I fling open the door and stomp into the packhouse, slamming it closed behind me. I’m sure he also knows exactly where I’m headed. He always relies on my mom to smooth things over when he pisses me off, and I march straight for her office, dipping inside the open doorway to find her reclining on the plush beige sofa inside. She sits up when she sees me enter, pulling her earbuds from her ears and furrowing her brow in concern.
“Hey, baby, what’s going on?” she asks, turning at the waist to set her earbuds and phone down on the side table.
I kick her office door closed behind me, stomping over to the couch and slumping down on the opposite end with an aggravated sigh. Digging a hand into my pocket, I retrieve my chapstick, swiping it over my lips as I consider how to respond. Because honestly, there’s far too much going on in my life right now to even articulate.
Stuffing my chapstick back into my pocket, I draw a deep breath, turning to face her. “Dad wants me to leave training camp.”
She snorts a wry laugh. “And this is news to you?” she asks, cocking a brow.
“Well, no,” I grumble. “But…” I trail off with a grunt of frustration, waving a hand. “It’s this whole challenge. He seems to think that if we just work with my wolf to prepare for it, this won’t end how we all know it will.”
Mom winces, her blue eyes rounding in sympathy behind the lenses of her black-framed glasses. “Well… it can’t hurt to try, right?” she suggests.
“So you’re on his side?” I spit, cutting her a glare.
“I’m on the side of whatever gets you through this with as little collateral damage as possible,” she states calmly, holding eye contact.
I avert my gaze, shaking my head with a scowl. “Jake’s not leaving training camp to prep for the challenge."
“Jake’s obviously not making sound decisions right now,” she replies.
“At least he gets to make his own ,” I mutter, staring down at my lap.
Mom sighs, shifting closer to me. “Honey, I know this is a lot to deal with…”
“You have no idea,” I snort.
She reaches out for my hand, taking it between her own. The warmth of her palms radiates into my skin as I lift my head to meet her eyes again. “Just talk to me, Riv,” she implores. “Tell me how you’re feeling.”
I yank my hand back, pushing up from the couch and pacing across the room. My head’s a mess right now, but I can still hear my Aunt Fallon’s words echoing through it as I pivot around to face my mom again. Maybe she’s right; maybe I should confide in her about what’s been going on. She’s always calm and rational– the opposite of my father. If anyone can help me sort through this, it’s her .
Dragging my hands through my hair, I pace back in my mother’s direction, working up the courage to come clean. “The challenge wasn’t the only thing that happened during the full moon,” I choke out past the lump in my throat, my voice a strained rasp.
Mom’s brows shoot up, her mouth rounding in shock. She quickly recovers her composure, staring into my eyes as she murmurs, “Are you saying…”
I jerk a nod. In our culture, the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of the full moon is the forging of mate bonds, so no further explanation is needed.
My mom nods slowly, drawing a steadying breath before she asks, “Who?”
“Seb Walker.”
She continues nodding, remaining calm and composed as ever. “I see.”
“And Ace Conway.”
Her composure cracks and she flinches slightly, blinking back at me in confusion. “How…?”
“I’ve been asking myself the same thing,” I grumble, averting my gaze and kicking the toe of my boot against the floor. “It shouldn’t be possible, but I’m bonded to both of them.”
Mom’s throat bobs with a thick swallow, as if she’s digesting the information. There’s no judgment in her gaze when I dare to meet it again, though; no disgust or resentment. All I see is caring concern as she opens up her arms, softly murmuring, “Come here.”
I don’t even realize how badly I need her hug until I cross the room to claim it. Dropping down beside her on the couch, my mom pulls me into her embrace, her arms circling me tightly as she squeezes my body against hers.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby,” she coos, and I sniffle, belatedly realizing that tears are wetting my cheeks.
When did I start crying?
I pull away from her embrace, sheepishly wiping the tears from my face. “I don’t know what to do, Mom,” I admit, desperation hollowing out my chest. “I mean, fate must’ve screwed up, right?”
She gazes upon me thoughtfully for a moment before giving a little shake of her head. “Fate always has a plan, sweetie,” she replies softly, reaching over to sweep a stray strand of hair out of my face. “Sometimes it’s just hard to see it.”
“Easy for you to say,” I scoff dejectedly. “You weren’t given two mates.”
“No, but your dad and I weren’t exactly on good terms when our bond snapped in.”
“I know, I’ve heard the story.”
“Then you know that sometimes there’s a bigger plan at play,” she muses.
I heave a sigh as I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and staring down at the patterned rug on the floor beneath my feet.
“What do the two of them have to say about it?” Mom asks gently. “Are they trying to make you pick one of them?”
“No, they want to try to make it work,” I grumble.
I’m not sure what response I expect from her, but it definitely isn’t a laugh. I turn to look at her as she chuckles softly, shaking her head and mumbling, “I should’ve seen this coming.”
I narrow my eyes on her in question.
“The three of you were always inseparable,” she continues. “I know Vienna and I used to tease you and Seb a lot, but you were just as close with Ace. It was hard to imagine you winding up with one of them over the other, you three were a unit.”
“Did you forget about the part where we stopped being friends?” I grumble bitterly.
“No, but this changes things, doesn’t it?” she asks, tilting her head. “Childhood arguments are a dime a dozen, but the fated mate bond only comes around once in a lifetime, Riv. Some people never get to experience it. No matter what’s happened in the past, you have to at least consider putting it behind you to explore whether you could have a future.”
I blink back at my mom as I turn over her words in my mind. “So, you think I should give them a chance.”
The corner of her mouth ticks up in a wistful smile. “I know if I didn’t give your dad a chance, I would’ve regretted it for the rest of my life,” she replies, pausing before adding, “And we wouldn’t be here having this conversation.”
I drop my face into my hands, scrubbing them down my face. “What will people think?” I groan, my voice muffled behind my palms.
“Who cares?” Mom scoffs back. “The opinions of other people don’t matter when it comes to your own happiness. Focus on what feels right for you.”
Lifting my head, I turn my skeptical gaze on her. “And Dad?” I bite out. “You really think he’ll let me go back to training camp if he knows?”
She hisses in a breath through her teeth, wincing. “I’d maybe wait to tell your dad,” she says, reaching over to pat my knee. “Why don’t you let me lay some groundwork, subtly prepare him a little bit so it doesn’t come as such a shock when you do tell him.”
I quickly nod in agreement, relieved she’s not pushing me to confess my secrets to him yet. This whole situation is hard enough to navigate without my dad flying off the handle. Which he will do, no matter how much Mom thinks she can prepare him for receiving the news.
“Thanks, Mom,” I breathe, “you have no idea how much I needed your advice.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” she laughs, slinging an arm around my shoulders and yanking me in. She presses a kiss to my hair affectionately as she murmurs, “I love you, River. And no matter what happens, that’ll never change.”
I sink into her warmth, my eyes falling closed as I whisper back, “no matter what.”