The alpha 10, p.29
The Alpha 10, page 29
Simon ran one hand across his chubby cheeks as he glanced off in thought. He must have been seriously thinking over my request.
But this made me suddenly realize that Simon Thorbes was probably the reason why Hazel hadn’t received any new cases in a while. I was half-tempted to bring it up and force him to let her do the damn job she loved so much, but I knew I had to keep quiet about that.
I pulled out my phone and started typing a message to my betas just to keep myself focused. I told them to head over and get me, and then I let out an annoyed sigh as I put the phone away.
“Here, I’ll leave you my number.” I smirked as I scribbled my number down on a piece of paper. “I know you’ll do the right thing. You could even just call Mr. Beck right now to see if he’d be willing to talk to me. If he is too busy, then I can return tomorrow for us to sort this out together.”
Simon sighed as he stared at my phone number. “I’ll see what I can do for you, Mr. Rafe.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. “That’s all I’m asking from you.”
I didn’t really give a shit what Simon thought of me as I left his office. I knew I’d done the right thing by taking the first step to meeting Myles Beck, so that’s all that mattered. I’d also have to think of an excuse as to why I couldn’t return tomorrow if Myles declined the invitation, but I was sure I could think of something.
My beta captains were waiting in the car as I left the building, and Lily, Cameron, Finn, and Dex were only minutes behind us.
So… Daniel said silently as he began the drive back to Monroe. How did it go?
I’m… not sure, I snickered. I met with the boss, but he wanted to sort out the issues himself. But hopefully I persuaded him enough to call Myles instead of taking it on.
And if he doesn’t? Sage asked. What do we do if the boss decides to help you without even calling Myles?
Then we’ll have to think of a Plan B. I shrugged. The previous alphas have ambushed us, regardless of where we were, so maybe I could try and set up a trap somewhere.
However, before we’d even reached Monroe, my phone began to ring. I didn’t recognize the number on the screen, but I still decided to answer it.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Mr. Rafe, it’s Simon Thorbes,” he replied.
I shared a smirk with my captains as we all heard the name.
“That was quick,” I said as I held back my laughter.
“Well, I must admit, I’m also just as shocked,” Simon answered. “I did as you requested, and I called Mr. Beck. I had to leave a message, but I simply told him that you wanted to talk to him about some difficulties you’ve been having lately, so I asked him to call me back. I couldn’t believe it when he returned my call only five minutes later.”
“Maybe he wasn’t that busy after all.” I shrugged.
In reality, I knew it was because Myles was just as desperate to talk to me, but I couldn’t tell Simon that much.
“Yes, perhaps,” Simon replied. “However, after I told him about these issues you’re having with alphas, he agreed to meet with you.”
Fuck yes! Sage cheered silently.
“That’s excellent.” I smiled. “When?”
“Well, it just so happens that Mr. Beck will be returning to Oregon next week,” Simon said. “I couldn’t believe the coincidence.”
“Neither can I…” I sighed for dramatic effect. “That really is some good timing.”
“Yes, absolutely,” the boss replied. “So if it’s okay with you, Mr. Beck has asked if you could meet him on Wednesday at three o’clock?”
“Next Wednesday?” I clarified.
“Yes, the twenty-first,” he said.
“I…” I paused to make Simon believe I was thinking it over. “Yeah, I think that should work. I am very busy, but it’s extremely important that we set up this meeting, and I can end all of this drama.”
“Of course, it is, Mr. Rafe,” he replied. “But that’s great. If you’re willing to meet him on Wednesday, then I’ll tell Mr. Beck you’re happy to do that. I can send you a message with a location once Mr. Beck has confirmed that with me, and he said he’s looking forward to meeting you in person.”
“As am I, Simon.” I smiled. “As am I… Thank you very much for helping me with this. It’s good to know us shifters are in such good hands.”
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Rafe,” Simon said with a bump of pride in his tone. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with.”
“I will.” I nodded. “Thank you.”
But what Simon didn’t realize was that he’d unknowingly set up a date for me to kill his boss.
Because I was going to meet Myles Beck in five days.
And only one of us was going to leave that meeting alive.
Chapter 17
It had been a few days since my meeting at the SDD office, and I’d spent that time trying to act as normal as possible. I was still unsure whether Myles had someone spying on me, but just in case he did, I didn’t want him to think I was planning anything.
All of our important conversations continued to happen in private, and I made it seem as though I was focusing on getting ready to return to college. I had six days before classes started up again, but I only had thirty hours before I was supposed to meet with Myles Beck. So even though I wanted to act like I was just going about my daily routine, my pack and I needed to finalize our plans.
We couldn’t wait any longer, so I’d planned to meet with a large selection of my pack to discuss what was going to happen tomorrow. It was normal for an alpha to meet with his betas, so I hoped that wouldn’t come across as suspicious.
Fortunately, Myles had now made his trip to Oregon, so I was able to confirm the address I was given. However, the fact he was so close to us did put me slightly on edge. I just had to stay confident that Myles was going to meet me tomorrow at three, and that he wasn’t going to try anything before then.
I still had my ravens and bald eagles keeping watch over him and his goons, so at least I’d receive a warning if they suddenly packed up and headed for Monroe. I’d even asked one raven and one bald eagle to return home so they could confirm everything about the location for tomorrow and keep us up to date with the people we’d be dealing with.
It felt like it was potentially going to be the biggest fight we’d ever taken part in, with so many aspects and layers to the entire thing. So I had to make sure we had absolutely everything organized before we even thought about leaving Monroe.
I refused to be defeated, and I refused to have the Pseudo Great Reuniter take everything I’d worked so hard to get.
Myles may have thought I was some hyped-up puppy, but I knew my shit. I was already playing in the big leagues.
And he was going to be made aware of that tomorrow afternoon.
“You good to go, Jess?” Benji asked as he plodded down the stairs.
“Yeah, I’m all set,” I replied as I stood from the dining table and pocketed my phone. “You?”
My half-brother raised his hands into the air. “I’ve taken my morning shit, so there’s nothing else for me to do.”
“Eurgh, Benji!” Arielle moaned from the kitchen. “Did you really have to tell us that?”
“Hey, it could have been so much worse.” Benji smirked. “I could have allowed you all to read my thoughts while I was curling that puppy out. You’re welcome.”
“He’s got a point.” I nodded.
“Okay, enough of this,” Aunt Eva sighed as she came in through the back door. “Benji, you can stay at home if you’re going to act like a child.”
I tried to be subtle as I snorted into my hand, but Aunt Eva caught that, too.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing at,” she told me with a stern look. “You’re just as bad as he is. From now on, no toilet talk in my house, thank you very much.”
“Technically it’s Jesse’s house…” Benji muttered.
Everyone froze, and my eyebrows flew up toward my hairline.
That might have been way too far, actually.
Eva even gave Benji a slow turn as she leveled him with a stern look, but her usual easy grin replaced this only a few seconds later.
“Yes, but where would you be without me?” Aunt Eva shrugged. “You’re lucky the omegas and I put up with your childish antics, otherwise this cabin would have burnt to the ground months ago.”
“Oooh, Aunt Eva’s on a rampage!” Blair chuckled as she skipped down the stairs in her second outfit of the morning.
She didn’t feel comfortable in her black skinny jeans and red t-shirt, so she changed into gray skinny jeans and a black t-shirt instead. I didn’t quite understand a woman’s brain when they looked at their outfits in the mirror, but I refused to ask that question.
“I stand beside Eva’s rampage,” Arielle replied. “My stomach is already sensitive, so I can’t have Benji talking about his morning bowel movements when I’ve just finished my breakfast. Jesse can do no wrong, but Benji on the other hand…”
“Hey, I’m nothing but an angel,” my half-brother gasped.
The conversation could have gone on for hours, and we still wouldn’t have resolved it. But because my betas were already waiting for us in the forest at the back of the cabin, I knew it was time for us to leave.
“Alright, let’s go,” I laughed. “Benji, stop talking about your shit. Aunt Eva, I’m sorry for my ‘childish antics.’ There, we’ve sorted it out.”
Once Hailey, Azalea, and Nikita had joined us downstairs, we all piled out the back door and headed toward the forest.
Do you want us to shift, Alpha? Benji asked as he pulled at his Star Trek t-shirt.
You can if you want, I replied. But most of the betas have already shifted, so it doesn’t really matter.
I decided to shift, mainly because I’d have to rely on my mental communication anyway, and it would have looked strange if I stood in the middle of a forest and said nothing. Benji also decided to shift, but Aunt Eva and my omegas remained in their human forms. There was no point in them saying anything out loud if I couldn’t reply the same way, so it wouldn’t have looked odd to anyone, or a potential spy.
I didn’t even notice Benji was removing his clothing until the large gray wolf bounded in front of me and sprinted off into the trees. So I quickly stripped from my own outfit, which Nikita kindly held for me, and then I allowed my body to transform.
It had been a couple of days since I’d last shifted, so I’d been needing to feel the stretch of my muscles and the rush of adrenaline that fueled my veins.
There was a large clearing a few minutes from the cabin, so it didn’t take long for us to get there, and I received silent updates from my betas as we made our way over.
We’re all set, Jesse, Connor Mackenzie spoke for some of the Californian werecoyotes.
And Dallas and I have found the perfect branch to perch on, Luca added.
It’s good to have you both back. I gave the raven and the bald eagle a wolfy smile.
Maaaan, it’s so fucking good to be home! Dallas called into the air. I bet you’ve all missed me and my spectacular jokes!
Yes, it was awful without you here, Azalea said in a monotone voice.
You love me really! the bald eagle chuckled.
Some of the Idaho werewolves also announced their arrivals, as did the San Bernardino werewolves, and the Modoc County werecats. They weren’t all in the clearing, though. They were wandering around the trees for about a mile around to make it look like they were simply patrolling the forest.
I also had a mix of betas from the islands and Everleigh, and because the Everleigh betas didn’t want to leave Mordaine on his own in the mansion, my avian lawyer came with them.
Is Mordaine aware that he won’t be able to listen in on the conversation? I asked Kristina.
He is. Kristina nodded, and her curly black hair bobbed against her shoulders. He’s just going to sit there until we’ve finished, and then I’ll find a way to fill him in if he asks about the conversation.
Mordaine actually looked pretty comfortable sitting on the forest floor. He had a red tartan picnic blanket laid out beneath him, as well as a flask, probably filled with tea, and three books to choose from.
“Don’t mind me, my boy!” Mordaine waved one hand when he spotted us looking at him. “You won’t even know I’m here!”
I just nodded in his direction and barked out a laugh. He really was one of a kind.
But Kristina made a good point, I added silently. There are some betas who aren’t mentally connected to us yet. Including the Eugene werecats, the Washington and British Columbia betas, and even some of the ravens and Idaho werewolves. So I want someone from each group to fill them in later on. Send them a text message, or something along those lines, but it has to be silent.
The people and animals around me nodded their heads in agreement.
It’s my hope that we’ll all be connected after this fight with Myles, so we won’t have to worry about barriers until more betas come along, I continued. But until that moment comes, we’ll just have to do what we can.
We’ll get this sorted out, Jesse, don’t you worry. Connor Mackenzie smiled.
Thank you, and I know you will, I replied. Now, let’s get down to business, shall we? Luca, what can you tell us about the address for tomorrow?
I glanced around to locate the raven, and then I spotted his large black body perched on a branch to my left.
Well. Luca flapped his wings before they folded back against his body. It’s a sweet fucking mansion. Like, you’ll all shit your pants when you see it. It almost reminds me of the house in The Conjuring movies. Y’know, wraparound porches, potentially even a creepy swing set in the backyard. It’s in the middle of fucking nowhere in Harney County, Oregon. The nearest city is Hines, but even that is at least a forty-five minute drive. And you’re looking at a three-hour drive to get there. Maybe slightly less than that.
Okay, so we shouldn’t have anyone passing by and interrupting us? I asked.
No, I highly doubt that, Luca replied. The house has a few open fields surrounding it, but there’s also a thick forest, too. The ravens and I feel pretty confident that you could use the forest to hide in if you had to, but that would be a worse-case scenario.
Why’s that? I frowned.
Because Myles Beck isn’t taking this lightly, Luca squawked almost like he was laughing. The betas and bodyguards he traveled around with were already in position when I left this morning. Some of the bodyguards are manning the gates at the top of the long driveway, and the betas are situated throughout the fields, and even in the forest. Myles has his own patrol groups set up, and there will be more men arriving soon, if they haven’t arrived already.
Who else is arriving? I queried.
Sebastian Rush and twenty of his betas arrived late last night, Luca said. I overheard Myles on the phone saying that Carlo Abella and his betas are arriving at some point this morning, and they’re just waiting on Romeo Bell.
Is Romeo definitely going to be there? I asked as I looked over at Dallas. What can you tell us about that, Dallas?
Yeah, man, Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo is desperate to get going, the bald eagle replied. Those assholes have been hiding in the suburban houses for almost two weeks, dude, so they’ve got a serious case of cabin fever. The dude’s climbing the fucking walls waiting to drive over to meet up with Myles. From what we heard, Romeo and his bunch of bastards are leaving this afternoon to drive toward Harney County.
And is it just Romeo and his twenty betas? I asked. Did anyone else arrive during those two weeks?
Nah, man, not a soul. Dallas shook his eagle head. So you’re looking at about sixty betas in total at the sweet mansion. But that’s not including the human bodyguards and the three alphas.
Is there a chance more betas could arrive? Benji asked as he stretched out his furry back. You said there will be sixty, but could there be more than that?
It’s honestly hard to tell, Luca replied. We didn’t hear Myles calling anyone other than the alphas, so we didn’t hear him asking for extra betas to join them. So we won’t actually know concrete numbers until we get there.
To be honest, from the way things have been going so far, Myles probably thinks Jesse’s too weak anyway, my half-brother said. But in saying that, he’ll know how well you’ve done against the other alphas recently. So if Myles is only bringing sixty betas, then he’s either a cocky bastard, or maybe he has a plan up his sleeve.
True. I nodded. He could have been planning something secretly, just like we have, and perhaps he’s leaving it up to his own betas’ mental connections to bring in reinforcements without talking on the phone. Either way, I’ll be taking nearly my entire pack with me, and there are hundreds of us now, so we should still outnumber them, even if Myles called in some extra help. Okay, so let’s go back to the house in question. Do you know who owns it? Is it Myles’ vacation home?
It was more important that I knew whether the house would be mine once everything was said and done, but I also needed to know who owned the house. I didn’t want to murder Myles and tick off his betas and bodyguards, but then get faced with an angry homeowner when he saw me on his land.
Again, we don’t know for certain, Luca said with a tired tone. Myles walked in like he owned the fucking place, so maybe he does? He obviously knew where this house was, because it was a sudden decision to meet there, and he didn’t search around for the right property.
Maybe we could have Rachel MacMillan find that out? Hailey suggested. She might know who owns the house. Or maybe her friend, Kinley, could check Myles’ file in the Manhattan office?
Yeah, I’ll pass the information over to Rachel, good idea. I smiled.
Thank you. Hailey winked.
I’ve also taken a look at a map for you, Jesse, Kiri spoke up in her sweet, silent voice. I’ve marked out every country road, main road, and available plots of land within a couple of miles from the house. I’ve also noted down other houses, convenience stores, and a gas station so we know how far away they are in relation to us. Like Luca said, Myles’ chosen location is literally in the middle of nowhere, and I doubt anyone will pass us while we’re there.
