Page 13 of Escalating Alpha (Seraphine Thomas #18)

I knew something was really going on when Virgil didn’t pull his normal goof with jumping me and saying he was a man and a wolf to expect it. It was funny when it was him and our chemistry was so intense, not as creepy as when I told people about it.

I found it endearing.

But there was none of that—a huge warning that I wasn’t going to like what was going on.

“Hey, Sera, thanks for dropping everything and coming,” he said as he kissed my cheek.

“You’ve done it enough for our pack and we’re friends,” I replied easily, kissing his cheek back. “But things are bad in St. Louis and I can’t stay overnight even or—” I swallowed a sigh when his mother snorted.

“Ma,” he said, his tone warning. “No, I get it.”

I didn’t think he did, and people were already jumping to conclusions, so this would be fun. I thanked him when he offered me a seat but stayed standing. “Sit, please. The ride over—I need to stand a bit longer and the tension—”

“Yes, of course, your comfort over what’s polite and will set others at ease,” his mother snarked.

“Ma!” he snapped.

“What is this?” I asked, gesturing to her. “Last time we met or talked we were good. I don’t know what this is and I know I certainly haven’t done anything to deserve it when—”

“When you’re trying to steal my son from me?” She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.

I held up my hand to hold off Reagan and Freddie who were growling. “Is he your possession? Do you own him?” I snorted when anger filled her eyes. “I read people for a living and you give off too many red flags.” I leaned back and saw Ashley down the hall. “This is why your parents aren’t overbearing and too much, kiddo.

“They care about protecting you while you find your path, put up bubble wrap around you or those bumpers in the gutters at bowling. Freddie would hover and punch anyone out of your path who might hurt you, but he wants you to live your path . These are the red flags to worry over. Virgil is hers . It’s ownership and creepy.”

“You have no right to come into our family home and say that,” she snapped.

“You started it if we’re going to be childish and it’s his home. I was invited here by him and it’s his home,” I reminded her gesturing around the open concept kitchen and living room that dozens of people were in. “And I’m not doing this again with Memphis. I was asked here because you want something from me, and I’m not taking this shit.

“I’m certainly not stealing your son. He and I will never be a real item and I’m looking at the reason. You win. I won’t ever be with your son.” I snorted when she looked thrilled. “You’re a bitch. He could be ridiculously happy with me, but all you care about is what you want. But yeah, I won’t get into anything I know is toxic.”

“Ouch, Sera,” Virgil whispered, looking like I’d kicked him in the nuts.

I gave him a sad look. “You’re ready to jump on me for calling her a bitch, Virg. Which side you fall on this is apparent, and I’m not getting involved with someone who allows this in my life. Brian’s parents can be tricky and pains at times, but he would never, not ever let them talk to me like this. They wouldn’t. They actually and truly like me. His grammy too.”

I shrugged. What else was there to say? I would never, not ever have a toxic mother-in-law situation. Life was too short for that bullshit.

And I was immortal.

“Mom, shut it or leave,” Virgil bit out. “She’s right and our pack has already embarrassed itself. The fact Chicago is still allies with us after how we behaved is a miracle and I’m not letting you burn down this bridge.”

“Especially when they want something from us,” Reagan drawled, looking too on edge as well.

“Des Moines. They want the Des Moines deal,” Freddie surmised.

I kept my face neutral, not reacting either way while people watched me. Virgil had already admitted to me that he’d been considering the idea and for a while, but I’d never betray his confidence like that.

“Yes, we want to know how much she offers as the buy-in,” someone else said as he stood, clearly an elder of the pack or something.

“Buy-in?” I mumbled. “Are you offering me a condo timeshare in Florida?” I felt better when most of the people with me snickered.

“This is the reason you might lose your Alpha, not Sera,” Reagan said firmly, focused on the people there. He gestured among the gathered group, mostly between the man who spoke and Virgil’s mom. “Who are you to—”

“I’m Alpha here, Reagan,” Virgil cut in.

“Do they know that?” Reagan pushed back, sighing when Virgil got pissed. “No, enough with this shit, Virg. You’re a good guy, and it’s time to show them that they are the problem.”

I cleared my throat when Virgil went to open his mouth, giving a half shrug when he glanced at me. “Your mom gets to shit on me, but the man I’ve sirened and permanently bonded with can’t call them on their bullshit? Yeah, that sounds like something I’d allow. Especially when I agree with him and they don’t deserve you. They are the problem.”

“I get you’re new to being a wolf, but this is—” that man started to say.

Reagan was across the room and his hand wrapped around the man’s neck in a flash. “She is Alpha of multiple packs. She’s been a wolf for years now. She’s learned etiquette and more from the Dorcuses. You are the one who is living in their fucked-up corner of Memphis and disrespecting Alpha land.”

“Hear, hear,” Freddie and Ashley both said.

Gods, they were so related. I loved it.

Reagan tossed the guy to the floor. “Every time any of you behave this way you embarrass Virgil. You undermine him. No one in our pack pulls this when we have guests. You’re asking for help—you’re not even a Beta. Who the fuck are you to speak for your pack—speak over your Alpha and take control of the conversation?”

“None of you show Virgil any respect, and it’s annoyed a lot of us who deal with your pack,” Freddie added. “I’ve heard several refer to you as ‘the kid.’ Yeah, I get it, you knew him in diapers. So? So fucking what?”

“It’s a hard gear to change out of,” someone defended lamely.

“And yet, a chunk of the pack knew Hagan and Reagan when they were in diapers and I’ve never once heard or seen them be treated the way you disrespect Virgil,” I said firmly, nodding when Virgil glanced at me. “Never. No one’s ever interjected or talked over them because they knew them as kids. And they weren’t the Alpha’s son .”

“They left for a while and came back,” Virgil said quietly.

“You’re enabling them, Virg,” I replied gently. “Because you love them. You’re in an abusive relationship with this pack and it breaks our hearts. It really does.”

He sighed and looked so defeated. “I know. It’s part of why I can’t stand the idea of being Alpha any longer.”

The shock from his wolves was so thick I could almost reach out and touch it… And yet Virgil looked lighter.

“You were the one who kept pushing me to get things off my chest even if it would be hard for others to hear. It was time for me to return that favor,” I told him gently, rubbing his shoulder. I waited until he nodded. “Why am I here?”

“I made it clear that I will step down as Alpha in the next year no matter what, so it was time for this pack to start seriously considering options. And I was pretty sure this option would go away if I wasn’t Alpha anymore, so the elders were willing to openly discuss it,” he answered. “I want to do the deal and name one of my Betas as Alpha.” He frowned when I winced.

“You don’t get to name the Alpha, Virg. I do. It’s my ass and name on the line. I pick.” I nodded when he swallowed. “I don’t know your Betas but…” I looked to Reagan for help.

“We’d have to test all of them to see if they’re up for it and I don’t think they would be,” he said with a sigh.

“We didn’t call you here to judge our pack or—” someone snarled.

“But you did,” I chuckled darkly, staring down the man and letting out my power. They all bared their necks to me and I gave them just the basic, not even cranking it up or anything. “This isn’t just some open offer or a buy-in. I take over the pack. It’s my pack , and I basically instill my Alpha here to keep it running.

“Yes, for Des Moines that was the Alpha. But I know him. He has the right support. They’re on the same page as us. Fuck, you assholes would work to undermine it at every turn and be the problem.” I gave Virg a look I wasn’t kidding. “There wouldn’t be any of this forgiving them or standing in the way of your mom. I don’t allow this dissension in my packs. I don’t.”

He let out a slow breath and moved his hands to his hips. “I get that, and I knew how it really worked, but I thought we had enough trust that you would value my assessment and opinion.”

“Absolutely.” I turned him to look at me. “Absolutely I would. He would be my top choice, but he’s not you. I don’t know him. I can’t just—I worked closely with Linus for a while before making the call on him. This isn’t just buying in for your pack, Virg. Yeah, we put a lot in, but you will become a bigger target as people will see this as a step to get to Chicago.”

“Des Moines has stepped up everything. Their Alpha and Betas train now,” Reagan took back over. “You’re already on the radar of problems and people who hate us—hate how you thrived after what happened here and churches went down. So yeah, you get Sera’s protection and a lot of good comes from that, but you have to work for it.”

“What did you think we got out of the deal for this ‘buy-in’ bullshit?” Freddie asked that first guy. “You thought she gave you a bunch of money to say you were under her umbrella like that’s… Fun for her? She gives you everything and gets what in return?”

“Virgil,” someone muttered.

I think a piece of Virgil’s soul died at that moment. He went for the back door, stepping around any of us who tried to reach for him. I glanced at Freddie when he was gone. “What is this new bullshit that I’m buying men for my bed or whatever? Is this really because of St. Louis running his mouth? I mean—no one thinks Des Moines and I hooked up, right?”

“Sera, you’re looking for logic from stupid,” he sighed. “Two of your Alphas are women—one, your sister. You’ve never touched Linus even if he threw himself at you originally.” He gestured to the group. “This is a level of stupid you cannot try to explain with any intelligence.”

People were not happy he said that.

I thought it was fucking fair though. “Tell them what it really means and how we’ll dig into their lives more than we did when we helped—tell them all of it.”

“You’re not seriously going to offer it to them, right?” Reagan worried.

“To free Virgil?” I sighed, giving him a knowing look. “If he leaves and they get invaded, the Virgil we know is gone and they know that. They have their claws in him because he can’t hurt them like they hurt him. Hell, I’m so pissed I might not give them a choice like I did Des Moines. I might just make the call and save their stupid asses.”

Anything else I had to say was laced with bile, and I cared more about going after Virgil. He was on the far edge of his property staring out at the night.

“What was the plan after you leave here?” I asked gently, knowing he had one.

“I wanted to be your traveling Beta,” he whispered. “I know they all think this is about being with—” He snorted. “Apparently, they were willing to sell me for money even if my ma was pissed I would give up everything for a woman.”

“I know it’s not for me. We’ve talked about this. So what did you decide after taking all this time and distance from your grief?”

That was all I’d asked from him. That he not make a rash decision after he’d lost his best friend and Beta, Ross. It had been about two years now and that was a good amount of time.

He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his head. “I still talk with Brian trying to help him. He said Mauro made the call that you need more Betas and I wanted the job. I want the job. I think you need a Beta that travels between your packs and checks in on them. Stays a week here and there and gets the first-hand information—makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

“I think that would be a great role and I agree it’s needed,” I told him. “It would even be great for you and visiting other packs on our behalf. You’re a likable guy and—you’re a great leader, Virgil.”

He chuckled darkly. “No, I’m not. You’re right. The pack doesn’t listen to me and—”

“That is their fault, and being kind is not a flaw. I’m so fucking tired of people taking advantage of us who aren’t cruel. They don’t fucking deserve you!” I felt petulant that I had to walk away because this wasn’t about me, but I was too all over the place and I didn’t want to make it worse for him.

Except I should have stayed outside instead of going back in to get something to drink.

“What now?” I sighed when I felt the tension.

“These two ‘elders’ have been calling Des Moines to demand the details of our deal, apparently annoyed they wouldn’t share them and were so obstinate,” Freddie told me.

I moved before I’d even made the decision, my wolf teeth out and biting both of their necks. Like I took a chunk from each of them. I spit on them when they were on the ground. “You ever —that is my pack now. You ever harass one of my Alphas and I will put you in the ground. Alliance or not. You ridiculously overstepped.”

“I didn’t know about that,” Virgil said from the door, looking horrified.

“Why would we need to tell you?” one asked looking stupefied and like we were all insane.

That was the moment Virgil snapped. He grabbed the guy and dragged him outside before changing to his third form and beating the shit out of the guy.

I grabbed Virgil’s mom when she went to intercede, having some choice words for her while he was distracted. “You have set him up to fail, and now you’re pissed he doesn’t want this life—this trap . They were going around their Alpha and starting problems with my pack? Even if it was still just Des Moines—you have to see—”

“What would your mate have done if he was still in charge?” Reagan tried when I didn’t seem to get anywhere.

And there it was. There was finally something more than hostility or annoyance towards us and the situation.

I shoved her to the ground. “You shit on your mate’s memory by letting them treat his son like a figurehead Alpha and not respect him. You don’t deserve a son like him.” I bent down and in her face. “I’m not the problem here. You are. You are weak and let them abuse your son, gaslighting him until he’s lost his sparkle. Shame on you.”

Freddie cleared his throat, and I darted over by Virgil and stopped him just in time before he landed the killing blow to that guy. He turned towards me but dropped to a knee when I turned up my power.

He shifted back and looked… Destroyed didn’t cover it.

And just like Virgil had done for me multiple times to reach out and save me when I needed it, I did the same to him.

I hugged him tightly and promised everything was going to be okay. His shoulders shook as he silently cried, feeling too hopeless from what I sensed, and it worried me.

When he calmed down, I cupped his face and made him look at me. “I’ll do it, Virg. Sign over the pack and I’ll take over.” I nodded when he couldn’t hide his shock. “One change. I put in a cousin as Alpha for a couple of years. This pack cannot continue as it is and will run over your pick. They’re too toxic and need an ass kicking.”

“A fucking reality check on how packs work,” Freddie grumbled. “This used to be a good pack that had its shit together. Did you all seriously lose your minds because Virgil inherited it young? Do you hear how fucking stupid that is? You should understand you are blessed that someone didn’t immediately invade and he was strong enough to protect you!”

“We don’t want the deal anymore,” someone had the balls sneer. “We don’t want you as our Alpha or—”

My mouth dropped open when Ashley threw a side punch and knocked the guy on his ass. She looked down at him with disgust. “No one fucking asked you, tiny dick. You don’t have a choice. That’s how packs work. They’re the boss.”

“How dare you speak to an elder like this, child? Were you raised by actual animals or—” he snapped as he went to stand.

Ashley kicked him under his chin and he went right back down. “You’re old? That’s your whole excuse of why I have to treat you with respect? Bitch, please. What do you do for the pack? Why do you deserve that respect? My whole education is being adapted so I’ll be able to help my pack and family the most.

“I train diligently so I’m strong and an asset to Chicago. I’ve helped take down wolves older and bigger than me when they stupidly tried to invade us. And you do… What? Undermine your Alpha and cause trouble? Clearly, you’re lazy as fuck because we both know you can’t take me. So you’re not even able to protect your pack. You are nothing and don’t fucking count.”

“Jessica is so going to blame you for this,” Freddie said under his breath, several from our party trying not to laugh.

Ashley went on, pointing to a few of the ancients saying they were old and the wolf was just an inflated ego of stupid. It was honestly great and snapped Virgil out of some of his upset.

She dipped her head to me. “Sorry, Alpha. I will accept whatever punishment you think fitting for speaking out of turn and embarrassing you. I just hit my limit for…” She growled and scrubbed her hands over her head. “Bullshit. My limit for bullshit.”

“I hit it all the fucking time, kid,” I chuckled darkly. “I’m proud of you, and the fact you pulled back on that punch at the last second when you were so upset—well done.”

“I saw that too,” Freddie agreed, looking like a proud dad.

While all the Memphis wolves seemed shocked or didn’t believe us.

I shrugged. “Show them.”

Ashley walked right up to that other elder I’d bit and threw a quick punch… Knocking his ass out.

Easily.

“Yes, we train in Chicago because we’re not lazy and we know it takes work to keep what we have as wolves and we have to fight for it,” I told everyone there. “You make one more crack or comment and I will lose my temper. So fucking behave for once.” I held out my hand to Virgil. “Say yes. Don’t let them do this to you anymore. Let me help you, Virg.”

He swallowed loudly and stared up at me, still on the ground sitting on his feet. “It was better when Ross was here. He would tell them to knock it off and I wasn’t a fucking kid anymore. He would push back, but since he’s been gone… They just—I’m so tired, Sera. All they do is chip away at me.”

“I know,” I rasped. “So let me help. Let me fix this because I can.”

“Don’t do it, Alpha,” someone yelled, others jumping in.

“Now you call him Alpha and try to act like you respect him while still challenging him?” Reagan snapped. “This pissed me off before, but it’s… Elder my asshole. You’re not on the fucking council. Elder of what? A hundred and fifty wolves at most? Oh yeah, big talk.”

“Do it, Virg,” someone said firmly and stepped out from the group. “It’s been enough and we support you. We can’t get this pack back on track and you deserve better.”

A different man stepped forward, one I recognized as a Beta. “Sorry we failed you, Alpha. I thought we were doing better, but—I get swallowed by my grief some days. I didn’t see how bad it was until tonight. Let them help you so you can take the role you really want to help wolves, not these selfish assholes.”

A few more men echoed the same, stunning Virgil’s mom and the others there. They were clearly all his Betas and friends.

I glanced over at them. “Be honest—do any of you want to be Alpha? It might change who I bring in.” Most immediately said no, but one said he would like a day to think about it.

Fair enough. It wasn’t something to decide lightly or quickly.

Virgil took my offered hand. “Yes. Please take over the pack and—please.”

I pulled him up to stand and hugged him. “I got you. I won’t let you fall into the darkness, just like you saved us.”