Page 17 of Escalating Alpha (Seraphine Thomas #18)

“There’s still a lot to discuss,” the president hedged when I brought him towards the elevator to leave.

“There’s really not, but we can stop by the party room and take a breather,” I said with a chuckle as I stepped on, making it clear he needed to as well.

He was less than thrilled, but at least he did it, glancing around when the doors opened. “Now that we’ve come to an understanding, there are things—”

“Yeah, this is where you’re having a misunderstanding. There’s no understanding,” I drawled as I stepped off and went for the fridge. “I’m not calling the presidents of Iran or Bolivia. I’m not telling Greece we’re good.” I grabbed when I wanted and left the door open, gesturing for them to take what they wanted. “You have to prove that we’re good first.

“ You are getting the chance here to make things right and do better. I’m not taking any more lip service or promises. I already did that with people assuring me that it wouldn’t really be so bad or it was all politics and bullshit. Except it wasn’t. It was way worse than even I saw coming. Two different insane presidents pulling shit.

“So you want me to use my influence and help out—which you really shouldn’t even be asking—you need to prove it to me that you’re really going to do what’s right. For all the citizens of this country, not just the ones who contributed to your last campaign.” I smirked at him. “We don’t really have much to go over then, right?”

“I understand things have been difficult and over the top, but I came here to show I’m sincere,” he argued.

“Lie,” I chuckled. “You came here to silence your own conscious about what you hate most about me. That I’m raising a human child and you think that’s wrong. You came here because most people cannot say no to the president’s face. Hell, I used to be one of them. I’ve done several things that were against my best interest. I’m over that. I’m a smarter Sera.”

I might have said more, but my phone vibrated at the same time two ancients came flying into the room.

“Our guy at O’Hare caught panther shifter scents. A lot of them,” one of them informed me. That wasn’t a big deal. It was an international airport. We had all kinds of supes that weren’t from Chicago daily with layovers.

“The scents left the airport, and they’re not Chicago panthers,” the other one added. “Maybe an hour ago.”

“Simone,” I whispered and pulled out my phone, fear filling me when I realized that vibration was her sending me her location. “Get who you can. She’s a few blocks away at the other building and I think they found her.”

“I’ll call the council and make sure it’s not sanctioned,” Hagan said.

“They wouldn’t risk pissing me off,” I replied but was already at the elevator. I turned to meet the president’s stunned gaze. I simply shrugged.

I’d really said all I wanted to, and my friend was way more important to me than he was.

Waiting for the elevator was torture. It felt like ages even though I knew it wasn’t remotely that long. The moment the doors opened I ran as fast as I could… Supremely glad that Dain had given me casual clothes and sneakers to change into after I shifted and shredded what I’d been wearing.

I blinked and I was blocks away and immediately identified the problem. I barreled over the supe. I let out my power at the same time and flared it until the other panthers released who they were holding and dropped to a knee, all baring their necks.

I went back for the one who had been fighting Simone and practically ripped all his hair out when I picked him up. I kicked him in the face, but he was strong enough to be able to focus even with my power riding him.

He got free and rolled to his feet. “You cannot interfere in panther business, wolf.”

I moved in front of Simone and didn’t hide my amusement. “You’re right—if this was legal, but we both know it’s not. This is a fucking invasion . A non-sanctioned invasion and I’m really sure she didn’t do anything for the few exceptions to be in place. Like someone sent a hitter for me.” I turned my head enough to see them both. “Did you—”

“Of course not,” she huffed. “He got kicked out of my birth pack years before I was born and now apparently is getting revenge on them by taking me over here.”

There was definitely more to it. He’d probably had a million chances to do that before I came into the picture, but no one had. Fine, people thought Engle was stronger than he had been and… Actually, that was probably part of it. Plus, the penis.

It really always came back to who had fucking penises.

The guy tried to make a move to get to Simone and I thrust my hand at his chest with enough force that I heard and felt ribs snap.

Hagan caught up and had his phone visible. “It’s not legal, and Councilwoman Haton has several words for you about doing this without the approval of the feline—”

“We don’t have a feline elder but a bitch who doesn’t know her place,” the guy hissed. He groaned in pain but still got up.

That was actually impressive.

But now I was extra annoyed, so I broke his kneecaps. I pointed to one of the panthers that went to move. “Don’t. I will start taking hearts and heads instead of just handing you over to the council if you don’t behave.”

“You cannot take us all,” he countered.

I snorted. “In what world would I come alone? So we can’t be council members or the boss and we’re stupid too?” I glanced at Simone, but she gave me a look like she didn’t know why I was bothering to ask as she wiped blood from her lip.

Fair enough.

A bunch of the ancients arrived and I felt him with them. No matter what was going on between us and the pain, relief hit me that he was there. I knew he would protect me and I could rest.

“I’ve got you, Sera,” he whispered as he moved up behind me. “We’ve got this. You can let go.”

I nodded knowing he felt that I was on empty. That last flare of my power had pushed me too far with the lack of sleep… All of it. I didn’t have to fight it anymore.

Leaning heavily against him, I glanced up and finally said what had been hurting me the most. “I was supposed to be your wolf, not her.”

Carter blinked back tears. “She wasn’t my wolf. I thought she was a trusted friend, but she abused me. I was abused again and it cost me you.”

I wasn’t sure if he said more because I passed out, exhaustion and too much crazy getting me.

Shocker.

I woke sore and starving. Axel had been snuggling with me, so it was late enough that he was back from the training center. He immediately fed me power and I moaned as my muscles and body felt better.

“Food just arrived,” he told me as he rolled out of bed with me in his arms. “Eat and then we’ll shower. There’s a lot to update.”

“Anything good?” I mumbled.

“All of it, but it’s a lot.” He nuzzled my neck. “I’m fucking exhausted just from hearing about it all.”

“And I’m just amused because I thought you weren’t going to expand,” Mauro drawled. He gave me a wink when he came into view. “I like a challenge, so I am just teasing you.”

“It would have been a bigger mess and led to more problems if I’d walked away and not done what I’d done,” I grumbled.

“Which is why you are a smart girl,” Eva praised. “And I will beat Demi for giving one of her tests when you were in such a state. She is so good but so stupid to her surroundings sometimes.”

That was like the pot calling the kettle black, but I would never say that.

“It’s fine. Please don’t be mad at her and let’s just—it was educational.”

She gave me a look not to lie to her, but I simply shrugged. “She’s handling things well in Ohio. The council team and that Gere’s team is a big help. Seven criminals the council has been looking for were hiding out there and paying off the Alpha. Demi confirmed they were guilty and allowed them to be taken into custody.”

“Good.” I practically stuffed an Italian beef in my mouth while trying to fit fries in as well, no one remotely judging me. I got a second one down right before Maya came in and gave me a desperate look. “I would have sensed if he was hurt.”

“No, he’s just fussy and keeps crying for you. I think he needs to tell you something?”

I chuckled and wiped my hands. “You love how special he is, but it also drives you nuts. I get it. I mean—I saw it a lot growing up and he sees more than me.” I took a few gulps of my drink and went across the hall, my heart hurting when I heard Topher crying.

“Mama!” he sobbed, immediately reaching for me.

“I’m here. I’m here,” I whispered, hugging him tightly and rubbing his back. I nodded as I saw the images he projected to me so fast it hurt my head. “You’re the bestest boy. You’re fair and amazing. They’ll love it.”

“What is going on?” Brian worried. “He didn’t want any of us and just kept crying for you.”

“He’s been wanting to say something to you guys, but he didn’t want to say it first to anyone, and he’s scared someone will get upset and jealous, so he wanted me here,” I explained, giving his four dads a look to be smart for this.

But Dain already knew. He saw as much as I could—sometimes more but in different ways.

“We’re all here and no one will get upset, buddy,” Reagan said, looking as exhausted as I felt. He must have just gotten back now that people came from Greece to handle Indiana?

I had no idea, and that was dangerous. It wasn’t the time for me to have zonked out. I seriously needed like four of me.

“They’re ready,” I told Topher when he settled down.

He nodded and seemed to gather his courage. “Dada. Me dadas.”

My mouth fell open. The little bugger really had an ace in his back pocket adding in the “me” there.

Then he held out his arms to Dain. “Dada.”

“Yes, my son,” he rasped and took him from me. He leaned his forehead to Topher’s, and I saw a tear run down his cheek. “You did so well. We’re all your dads. Thank you so much.”

He did the same to each of them, going from how they stood closest to me probably thinking it was fair. It put Reagan last, and he gave me a glance that showed he was fine with it. He understood.

Good.

“Eat. Juice!” he said when he was done.

“Whoa, he was really holding back the floodgates,” Reagan chuckled as he kissed Topher’s head. “Let’s check with Maya what you’ve had.”

“Maya!” he giggled. It was more like “Maea,” but we knew what he meant.

“Our son is legit a genius,” Brian praised. “Yes, let’s go see Ma ya and we all need to talk adult stuff.”

Topher was fine with that as long as he got the juice he really liked. He gave me a worried look when I slipped on my ring.

“Mama has a headache,” I told him, rubbing my head. I was glad when he accepted that and quietly snuggled up to Reagan like he knew to not shout any more.

Cutest little bugger ever.

My migraine pills were in my hand the moment we were in my apartment.

Topher held out his arms to Eva. “Nana.”

Dain moved his hand over mine when I went to slip off my ring. “Please, you don’t always have to—we can manage.” He smiled at Eva. “Brian’s mother was repeating it over and over again trying to get him to say it when they visited. He doesn’t really understand besides it’s a name for female family.”

Eva nodded. “He can call me whatever he wants.” She moved closer and booped his nose. “You’re perfect, child. And well done being fair to your family who loves you so much.”

“Nana,” he repeated… Quietly for my head.

“Where did we leave things with the president?” I asked with a sigh as I sat down. Relief filled me as I was filled in. Brian and Eva gave him an abbreviated tour and he was finishing up with Noah before heading back to DC. He was under a lot of misconceptions and the big one was the “lie” that vampires didn’t drink from children.

Which he was genuinely now rethinking after seeing how horrified all of the vampires were around him when he’d said that. Apparently, he didn’t think any group could act that well. Plus, Noah was smooth and said the president really needed to spend a day with a member from each council, plus Queen Laila. There was such a divide of information that it was ridiculous.

It was 20 after all, not 19.

He seemed open to it, truly and genuinely. Even Eva was impressed how the man just wanted the truth more than to hold onto his opinions.

If he could really follow through, then I had no problem using my influence to open back up talks with other countries and smoothing things over. I wanted the US to succeed.

But not to the detriment of others who didn’t deserve it. We had to be better than that. We had to if we were to survive as a planet. Hadn’t history taught us that yet? Why couldn’t people fucking learn?

Eva updated me that two cousins from Zeno’s side had arrived both in Memphis and Indiana. Apparently , my parents had really embraced how I’d done things in Sioux Falls, and after getting recommendations from the Alpha there, had teamed up with other displaced Alpha families. Several of my cousins were working with them and “sponsoring” them almost.

I sighed and sat back in my chair. I was glad for the backup and planning ahead, but it was also a lot of pressure on me that there were whole families and displaced packs in the background waiting for me to take over more packs here so they could… Well, not take over but—gods save me.

But really, Alena saved me by plotting ahead with this. Someone our family trusted completely was willing to stay for months to oversee the packs and if this Alpha family could work—the whole pack leadership. All to protect me and that area. It was a miracle for me.

It really left me with only one question.

“What do they want in return?” I worried.

“Probably their own pack under you.” Eva nodded when I sighed again. “It’s always been too much of a risk to branch out. The different governments and current climates—you understand it all. Plus, it was always forever. I know even your sister struggles. She wanted out from Melicent’s shadow, but she can never just come home.”

“I offer them the best of both worlds and the experience for more that they’re not tied to for their immortal lives,” I mumbled. “Except no one will give me the same. It’s fucking awesome.”

She came over and squatted down in front of me. “You will do what we do, and many years from now, you will have a daughter—many even, and the right one will want to lead. Trust me that you will be relieved but at a loss that you are not in charge to help everyone. It’s a burden, but you are also blessed not to be a foot soldier.”

That was true. I knew that.

It was just also fair to say my life was a bit unfair and it was all too hard.

Davis got Councilman Antony to see the St. Louis bodies and it was something he’d never seen either and told her that I’d done the right thing to involve him. He was going to send a few of their best and most experienced investigators to work with our office to help in any way they could.

Because he had the same gut feeling I had and this wasn’t something isolated and we needed to know more. Yeah, nothing was ever easy enough that it was some sort of freak accident and we’d never see it ever again.

The updates from everywhere were amazing. Summer was getting all kinds of interviews and footage from what we were doing in Indiana. Apparently, most of the pack were all about giving her an in-depth look at their lives and how they were treated.

Apparently , I was going to have to kick the asses of a lot of people in Louisville. Always fun. I was still dealing with that in Sioux Falls… Which actually had some amazing updates as well.

Two of the city council members were out. We uncovered enough that they knew it was time to tap out and thought we’d drop it if they did.

Stupid people. No, and one was going to be arrested soon. I didn’t know all of the details since that remote team was under a different office, but I knew it was going to be good.

The FAA finished their full investigation and the mayor decided he was not running for reelection. One of the air traffic controllers was singing. That was all Brian knew, but the smirk on his face said his gut said we were going to have quite the show to watch soon.

I loved to sit back and watch drama unfold that wasn’t mine.

As long as the bad guys were punished in the end.

Mauro was all for Virgil’s idea of a traveling Beta to dig into my packs more. He thought it was a really smart idea and one he was going to handle, but he could use the backup especially since I’d just expanded with three packs.

Yeah, I did my best to stress people out.

No, but… Again, what else could I have done? Left it alone?

Not when I liked being able to sleep.

Ohio was a bit more complicated because it was a niece of Eva’s, but from her consort’s side of the family, and they didn’t like me much for killing Bernard. She was also a problem and wild, in the camp that this would be easy and she could be a cute queen here now.

The look I gave Eva that I didn’t have time for that was so loud without words that they could probably have felt my annoyance in Greece.

“I understand, but this will go a long way to show the family that you are family to them too,” she said, her voice even in a way that I’d not heard before.

Meaning she had a lot to say on the topic and was trapped in the middle.

“I have done a lot for the family already,” I told her. “I’ve done a lot to help Greece and point out flaws. Melicent will be an amazing queen because of the training wheels I’ve given her the ability to have. Yes, I’ve also received a lot, but this is underhanded and we’re not going back to this. I have no crime to pay for, and that is what they want .”

“Agreed,” several people said, Mauro included which made me feel better.

“What would you propose then because she’s already on her way?” Eva said, and again, carefully.

“Did Mom approve this?” I checked. I sighed when it was all over Eva’s face. No, Alena didn’t, and someone went behind her back and was trying to be… Fuckers.

So I pulled out my ace and called Melicent. She was furious when she learned the full story and what had happened. She said there were way better candidates and the people of that pack were already traumatized under that leadership. It was not the time to use them as a way to kick a spoiled brat into shape.

“Let her be one of your temporary Betas to work with Uncle Mauro or whomever to learn how things are done here. I was groomed for leadership, and I would have drowned if not for your constant support and allies guiding me,” she said firmly. “The other two I have heard nothing but good things. I know Mother was careful in her selection. This is meant to fail.”

“No, because they want this child to succeed,” Eva corrected. “It’s a mess they want to dump off and put Seraphine through her paces or whatever. I believe that with all my heart.”

“It still shows dissension in the ranks, Grandmother,” Melicent said gently. “They went behind our backs and that cannot be. If nothing else, you deserve more respect than that. Mother has done nothing wrong for one of your consorts to undermine her. She has always been good to them. They are punishing her for not taking revenge on Seraphine for her son .”

“It has to end, and I know I sound biased when I say that, but it’s not because of me,” I sighed, glad when I saw the same in Eva’s eyes. “Divert them here and with the change of plan or tell them to turn around. We could use the help here with our people covering all over. I want the people my mother worked out for me knowing this was the plan. I won’t agree to undermine her.”

“I ask you allow me to handle this, Sister,” Melicent said gently. “I will take the anger for it.”

“You can handle it, but make it clear I was the one who made the call. I’m not letting them think you guys puppet me either. I’m not backing down from this. There is too much we could lose for these stupid games.”

I was glad they all agreed and it would be handled.

Tanner and his team were doing well in Indiana, and I found out this was his team’s last mission. I knew they’d all put in their notice, but they had to give the council time to train people up. What I didn’t see coming was Tanner talking about retiring too. Apparently, he’d had it with the bullshit.

Oh boy. Another reason for the council to blame something on me.

But the team was going to stay for an extended period in Indiana to right the ship and then they were all moving here. Yeah, they were all joining the pack and had been working with Simone on their housing. I was happy to have them even for the headaches it would cause me.

Demi found out who was lying to Dain in Ohio and pretended to be the Alpha Mate. It was so disgustingly cliché that my eye started twitching.

It was the Alpha’s side piece.

Yeah, like… Seriously?

And she was totally in love with him, jealous of the mate who gave him kids and had the “respect” of the pack and blah, blah, blah . The hesitation and upset he’d sensed was her really worried that the Alpha was going to kill his mate or the kids and she didn’t want to be involved with that. But she also really didn’t want us to come and save them.

Because her lover would be super dead then. So that was the conflicting issue. Dain was upset because of how similar they had sounded and he’d been fooled.

No one could blame him. It shouldn’t have been on us to handle it. The council should have. They were so worried about when they overstepped after too much overstepping that they were still fucking useless most days.

But all of the updates were good and things were going way better than I could have realistically hoped for given the crazy.

How jaded was I that I braced for what was going to explode soon because things weren’t already blowing up?