Page 19 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Nineteen

CALIX

After parking the truck, I slip a hand around Blair’s shoulders and pull her close, and for once, she doesn't resist. Maybe it's the men standing guard outside with their arms crossed, their gazes narrowed at us. I can imagine they're pretty intimidating to a human.

The closest one nods at me. “Alpha Calix. Who's this?”

Blair stiffens in my arms, but I hold her closer and say, “My mate.”

The wolf continues to stare at us, sniffing the air.

“Human.”

It's my turn to narrow my eyes. “Can you move aside?”

He does so, but not without watching Blair intently. I stare at him as we pass, muttering under my breath about how disrespectful some wolves are, especially the pups.

“Who was he?” Blair whispers, leaning in to me. Her familiar scent catches on the air, and it soothes the tension in my shoulders in seconds.

Funny how my mate has that effect on me.

“A guard,” I tell her as I pull open the door to the packhouse where we're meeting.

The aroma of scorched lamb fills the air, and I grin. It can only mean one thing: Luna Marie is here. “Expect lots of food,” I add as we step from the hallway into a large kitchen diner filled with people.

Blair swallows, and her eyes widen at the spread on the table: creamy mashed potatoes, jugs of gravy, racks of lamb, endless vegetables, and plenty of cheesecake for after.

Alpha Drox lifts his bushy brows at my arrival, nodding at me. “Hello, old friend.”

“Alpha Drox,” I say, nodding back.

“Now that Alpha Calix has arrived, we can dig in!” Alpha Drox announces, reaching for a spoon.

Everyone lunges at the food, but his wife, Luna Marie, stops mid-step and stares at Blair, her face flushing.

“You brought her!”

The wolves stop clambering over one another for food to look at my mate, and I hold her closer, my hackles rising. Everyone stares at Blair, but like me, they're confused.

“Her?” I ask, still staring around us warily.

Luna Marie blinks out of her trance-like state and moves over to us, her hands cupping Blair's cheeks as she sighs happily.

“Your mate. She's special.”

I nod and look down appreciatively at Blair, who looks stunned. “She is.”

“How can I...” Blair begins as Luna Marie chuckles, stealing Blair from my arms.

I growl, but Luna Marie waves me off, sending the same message to her husband, who has risen to his feet at my warning.

“Girl talk. Eat, Calix. I need to talk to your mate.”

I don't like this, but I trust Luna Marie with my life.

She was a close friend of my mother's, and she's a Seer.

Not many packs have them anymore, but they're highly respected for their ability to see into the future.

They know things that can change the trajectory of our time, so they're highly sought and cared for.

“She needs to eat,” I respond gruffly as Luna Marie nods. She grabs a plate and piles on lamb, mash, vegetables, and gravy before ushering Blair out the door.

I'm safe with her. Blair's voice slips into my mind easily, and I relax.

Blair's ability to communicate via the mind-link is something I'll be forever grateful for.

Humans aren't meant to do that, yet here my mate is, human and communicating like a wolf.

Pride swells in my chest as I watch her go, and I sit down to eat.

“A human mate,” Alpha Drox remarks as he chews. “I'll be honest, son, I didn't think you had a mate.”

There's a rumble of agreement from the table, and I scowl. So I was later than the other wolves—so what? Who cares?

“Well, I found her.”

“She's a pretty thing,” Alpha Rico comments, winking at me. His Luna, Sal, swats his arm, and he holds up his hands, whispering in her ear. Luna Sal is pregnant, and as he whispers to her, his hand strokes her swollen belly.

Need courses through me at the thought of Blair carrying my child, but there's no point in fantasies right now. I'd need to fuck her first, and there's not much chance of that when she's resisting me.

I don't mean to resist you.

I still with my glass of water halfway to my lips when Blair re-enters the room, her face pale.

I rise to my feet and move toward her, pulling her into my arms as Luna Marie beckons me close.

“There is much you need to know, Calix, but now is not the time. Wait for me after the meeting.”

Alpha Drox is on his feet also, but when I nod, Luna Marie smiles and goes back to her mate.

“Are you okay?” I rasp, staring down at Blair.

Her eyes are wide, and she's paler than I've ever seen her. She gives a nervous laugh and swipes her hair behind her ear with one hand; I notice it's trembling.

“Blair,” I say, tilting her chin so she's staring at me. “I'm your mate; you can tell me anything.”

She shakes her head softly and waves a hand at the table, dismissing me.

“Eat, Calix.” Her voice is softer than usual, and I find myself obeying her for once. I eat until I'm stuffed, then turn to watch my mate as the plates are cleared away and replaced with maps and whiskey bottles.

No wolf meeting is complete without whiskey.

I pour a small glass and sip it, enjoying the burn as it slides into my stomach.

“The Applegate Pack couldn't send anyone to attend—” Alpha Drox begins as the door to the packhouse booms open.

We all jump to our feet, ready for battle, when a large man enters the room, his eyes an obsidian black. He bares his teeth and bunches his fists, wearing his pain like a mask.

The new Alpha of the Applegate Pack.

“Alpha Asher,” Alpha Drox calls out, stepping closer with his hands raised. “You have no enemies here.”

“Don't I?!” Alpha Asher snarls, his eyes shifting to the wolves surrounding him. “Only someone who knew my father could get through his defenses.”

I frown and exchange a look with Alpha Drox, who doesn't flinch.

“That's not true, Asher.”

Alpha Asher steps closer to Alpha Drox and grits his teeth, his dark eyes wild. “It was guarded by magic, old man.”

I glance at Luna Marie in surprise, but her face gives away nothing. Magic died out within the wolves; no one practices it anymore. Only the Seers or the witch, Lexie, use it.

Did the Applegate Pack have a Seer?

Either way, Alpha Asher is murderous, and I know the feeling too well.

“Calm down,” I implore him, stepping closer. “This happened to me, too, and we didn't have any magic guarding us.”

Alpha Asher glares at me. “Well, we did. So it shouldn't have happened.”

He can't use his anger towards me, so he directs it at everyone else, chomping at the bit for a fight.

“One of you is responsible!”

The Alphas and Lunas around the table stare at one another in stunned silence, their eyes wide. I study each of them, each from a pack that they rule over, or they’re retired and help with the Council from experience.

Fourteen Alphas and ten Lunas.

Plus Blair and me.

And Alpha Asher.

Twenty-six people he currently suspects, yet I know no one here would have harmed either of our packs. The Alphas are experienced and older; they aren’t reckless or filled with vengeance; they’ve lived good lives up to this point, yet nothing like this had ever happened before.

I turn to Asher and take a deep breath, knowing he isn't going to like what I'm about to say.

“It's the work of a rogue pack, Asher. No one here would do such a thing—they loved your father and mine. You need to get ahold of your anger before it gets ahold of you.”

Alpha Asher glares at me, his fingers twitching and his eyes blazing. His wolf is so close to taking over, and I can't imagine what will happen if it does. We may be respectful Alphas, but most of us have mates present. We won't hesitate to protect them at any cost.

Alpha Asher steps closer, and I brace myself.