Page 19

Marlon

We mobilized the pack to help out because we could and were blessed while others were suffering and losing loved ones.

That was the only reason. It was what we could do, and as people who had received help—had more than others—we should.

I didn’t force anyone as the Alpha of London and my people knew that.

There were just a lot of genuinely good people in our pack which was why I was always proud of them.

Except my eldest who was supposed to take over was whining about having to give up his weekend for people he didn’t know. I couldn’t hide my disgust which finally got through to him. I also noticed he didn’t thank the warlock we now employed who handled the portal for us.

Where did I go so wrong with Myung? Why did it take me so long to notice who he really was?

I made sure to check in with the military and show the emergency passes we had to visit, everything cleared. We got them faster than others because of Ha-joon and he must have let others know. Our showing up and the prospect of more help let us know how bad things were getting fast.

“Alpha, thank you for coming,” a man who jogged over in casual clothes said. “Dr. Clark told us he reached out and what you would be best to handle. He’s in surgery and will find you later.” He waited until I nodded. “We have too many uninjured—”

“Ha-joon told us,” I interrupted. “We’re providing safe comfort for the uninjured to come to terms with what happened and wait for word on their families if they were directly involved.”

“Yes, exactly,” he agreed, relief in his eyes that he wouldn’t have to spell it out for me.

“We’re clearing out the parking lot, but that will take time because it’s—it will take time.

For now, if you can set up the start on the grassy areas along the patient parking over there, that would be great. You have to be careful of anthills.”

I blinked at the man like he’d grown another head. He quickly explained how the Southern states like Georgia had fire ants that weren’t like ants we were used to. They bit and those bites burned, even supes. Some had severe reactions and to take it seriously.

So basically, we needed to start by searching the area for these ant hills and getting rid of them.

“I’ve got it,” a soldier told the man when he got flustered and clearly had more to do. “I’m from around here originally.” The soldier nodded and took over, leading the way. “The fire ants are no joke, but I wouldn’t want to worry about them if I’ve never seen them.”

“I would think an anthill is an anthill and would be hard to find in the grass.”

“Yeah, you won’t miss them once you see the fire ant ones,” he drawled.

I couldn’t hide my shock when I saw the massive anthill. I was actually a bit disgusted that it was allowed to get that big and their landscapers or maintenance didn’t notice? When they were dangerous?

The soldier seemed to understand where my head was. “They said the grass was mowed last week. That’s a week’s hill. I’ve seen them three times as big.” He nodded and then waved me back before stomping on the hill and jumping back.

My eyes went wide as large, red ants came pouring out of the mound in a way that I’d never seen before. “I feel like I’m in a Discovery Channel wildlife in the jungle special, lad.”

“Yeah, they’re bad. So are the black widow spiders,” he drawled. “I’ll get a few guys who are used to this and we’ll rope the areas off. It takes a while for the poison they use to kill the little fuckers. But we’ll get you spots that are safe.”

I thanked him and then made sure everyone in the pack saw what I had, most having the same reaction I did.

“Ha-joon had to move to some weird area with biting bugs and now we have to visit,” Myung grumbled.

I gave him a look to shut it. We weren’t there for Ha-joon but to help.

We worked for hours, and luckily their military and someone from the hospital were managing our help because I was mostly distracted with Myung. Normally, my focus was solely being Alpha and handling too much. This was a rare time I could observe him while just doing what I was told.

And I didn’t like what I was seeing… Or hearing. Not at all.

To make my day more trying, the Paris pack had done the same as we had to help. That was great given the amount of people and chaos, but their Alpha was a pretentious git who boasted about being the wealthiest and best pack in the world.

According to who? I could declare whatever I wanted as well. That didn’t make it true.

Yes, of course they were towards the top, I would never debate that. Our pack was as well, but I never, not ever said we were the top. There was no actual ranking or scale. We could figure out which pack had the most income like cities did but… Why?

Who the fuck cared? Spend that time doing better by your pack and the world.

“Good to see you here,” I greeted, nodding my head to his mate to be polite.

“They’re well organized and our contacts have been appreciative.

Hopefully, more will join in aiding with both of our packs here.

” I turned to get back to what I was doing, thinking I’d handled that well and there wasn’t much else to say given what was going on and what was happening.

“I hear your youngest said he’s going to take over, which is funny because your eldest is boasting that London will become the top when he takes over,” the Alpha said loudly.

I told my wolf to settle and chuckled tiredly.

“Nothing is decided, and if Myung was being childish to care about who is top dog when that never really matters in life to anyone paying attention, it just proves none of my children are ready to take over. Which is fine given I’m in my prime and they’re still young. But today is about helping people.”

He didn’t let it go though, hearing the dig that I thought he was an idiot for saying the same or even caring.

I let him boast they’d brought more than us and were willing to do more because they were better.

I bobbed my head as he ran his mouth, looking a fool in front of so many who weren’t in either of our packs.

But it was upsetting my wolf. He wasn’t passive and this git was insulting our family and pack. He should pay for that.

With blood.

Ellie Reed seemed to appear out of nowhere and moved in a way that put distance between the two of us.

She gave a hostile smile as she glanced between us but then focused on the Alpha of Paris.

“Comparing dick sizes during a calamity is about as uncouth as you get. I’m sure you’re both the prettiest and bestest there is, but people are dying .

“Right this second, people are coming through another portal who won’t make it.

Their loved ones and others getting out of range in our way of helping those people.

I think any adult with a functioning brain understands that to be more important than whatever old rivalry you both have. Glad to hear it.”

I swallowed a snort. She was fierce and reminded me of my mate how she didn’t even give us time to respond.

She waved someone over and assigned them to help the Alpha of Paris, muttering that it was best to separate the children before problems started.

Needless to say, the Alpha was less than thrilled, steam about coming out of his ears. He opened his mouth to blast her, probably throw in her face that they were there to help.

“Try it,” she chuckled darkly, mocking in her eyes.

“I’ll be in front of the ample media here before you can blink saying you withdrew your help because you wouldn’t get preferential treatment and enough ass-kissing.

Or would you prefer I told them that I had to toss your pack out of here because you are unable to handle a crisis? Which would play better?”

I heard a few people behind me from my pack snicker, but I was too stunned to be amused. She threw down faster than I would have thought, almost to the point of being reckless.

“Glad we can be adults about this,” she purred when the Alpha didn’t reply, too shocked as well.

She leaned in and lowered her voice so only we could hear her.

“And just so we’re clear, their son is my lover and one of my doctors.

So do not fuck with his family again because I am a petty, vindictive woman who would cut your pack off from my hospital. ”

And then she walked off as fast as she had shown up.

“I think it best you and your pack follow me, Alpha,” the man from the hospital said to the other wolf.

“Ms. Reed doesn’t make empty threats, and given what else she’s dealing with today, I would advise not testing her.

Certainly not when several of your pack have medical conditions that require treatment at ASH. ”

I swallowed a flinch knowing the wolf was just as petty and vindictive… And had a long memory of slights. Ellie Reed had just made an enemy today that was dangerous.

“Thank you so much,” his mate cut in with a bright smile, her accent thick. “Please forgive the anxious attitude. The situation is tense, and everyone is too stressed over something that should never have happened. Please, show us to where we can help.”

The Alpha gave a sharp nod and followed after his mate, not giving me another look.

Well, that was one issue handled for the moment. The other made me want to shift and tear into my eldest.

I was terrified he was going to be a disaster and immediately lose the pack if he took over, and he was so deluded that he thought the pack would become number one with him as Alpha?

That was ridiculous no matter who took over.

A young Alpha taking over always made the pack’s standing in the world fall.

It wasn’t even a slight on the new Alpha. It was just how life and the world worked. He wasn’t a known. He was wet behind the ears and wouldn’t have the reach and connections his predecessor had. I’d gone through the same growing pains.