Alphas burden

36CADEN

In the morning, we gather with the other alphas at an oblong table with high-backed chairs. For years since the packs broke away from the Original Pack and formed their own territories, pack heads have come here to set the terms of the alliance between us all. Arched stone windows draped in creeping ivy overlook the lush gardens, giving the sense we’re outside, one with nature. It’s what I like best about the summit grounds.

I guide Avery to our seats next to Alistair and Regina Ryan with my hand at the small of her back. Liam stands behind us, matching the other betas taking their support position with their alphas. Some others are joined by their mates, some, like Rooke Bell of Crescent Valley Pack, only attend with their beta and a handful of advisors.

“This is a lot more formal than I always pictured in my head,” Avery whispers.

I lean into her, admitting, “I was intimidated as hell when I first came, and once I was Alpha.”

Things begin with Alistair’s beta reading out the accords as they currently stand, outlining the alliance and peaceful relations between all the packs present. The representative Timber Hollow Pack sent to meet with me stands at a podium with him, shuffling through paperwork.

“Alphas, to start, do you have any heirs to name since we last met?” Alistair prompts, residing over the meeting as this summit’s appointed host.

I remember the one my father brought me to when he officially named me heir apparent. Despite being raised as heir, I didn’t want the responsibility. I was afraid I couldn’t fill the role. I know I’m capable of it now.

“Twin River Pack has named Oliver Bailey,” Alpha Shepherd a

He waves his nephew forward to a round of applause. The lanky kid turns beet red, shuffling back to the alcove. The other packs continue around the circle. Northwest Boulder Pack declares Ta

Alpha Bell shakes his head when it’s his turn. My brow creases. Rooke’s daughter is around Atlas’ age, and Alistair already named his son to take his place as the head of Timber Hollow Pack during my second summit as Alpha.

“Not your daughter?” I prompt.

He wrinkles his nose. “A female for a pack alpha? Not a chance. I won’t be naming Kyra as my heir.”

His statement sparks some murmurs around the table. Avery shifts in her seat, her scent turning bitter and sharp. I rub her back to soothe her disapproval.

Alistair signals his beta to move on. He outlines the Alpha heir program where heirs travel pack to pack for a few months at a time. Each pack provides a helping hand in training future heirs, allowing them to see how each pack manages its people to guide them to becoming a well-rounded alpha.

“Atlas Ryan, heir apparent to Timber Hollow Pack, you’ll spend time with each pack as part of your preparation to become a future alpha,” Alistair says. “You’ll learn from the pack alphas before you. After the summit, you’ll return with your first host, Alpha Blackburn, to Silver Mountain.”

Atlas steps up to the head of the table and bows his head. His father shoots me a wink. It’s my turn to return the favor guiding his son.

I didn’t think I was ready to train anyone else how to be a fair and decent alpha because since I took over for my father it felt like I was treading water beneath the thundering pressure of Silver Falls, fighting to stay afloat. It wasn’t until Avery opened my eyes to how tightly I was gripping the reins that I wanted to do better. Being a good alpha isn’t about being perfect, it’s about dedicating myself to giving my pack the best I can.

I’m looking forward to keeping Atlas on his toes the same way his father did with me.

The next few topics are dealt with quickly. Some packs have brought lists of those who would like to apply for a transfer to move to a new territory.

When trade terms come up, I lift a hand. “Silver Falls Pack would like to submit a proposal for sharing resources.”

Timber Hollow Pack’s representative passes out a copy of what I’m asking for from others for the winter months and the lumber, stone, and other materials I’m offering in exchange.

“We also have an addition.” I invite Avery to speak with a nod.

“I brought samples of what we’d like to offer to your packs in addition to the mountain’s resources. Please enjoy them,” Avery says. “Liam? Would you?”

“Of course.” He accepts the basket from her and circles the table to offer the selection of vials, jars, and bundles of dried herbs in sachets.

“What use do these have?” The beta from Moonlight Lake Pack stops the alpha and picks up a sachet, sniffing dubiously. “Looks like witchcraft to me. What is Silver Falls Pack playing at?”

Several distrustful rumbles sound around the table, including the loudest from my wolf at the accusation of our mate. I shoot to my feet, stance broadening.

“My mate is no witch. Take that back immediately, or face me in a challenge.” I bare my teeth, canines growing.

Avery grasps my hand with a soft smile, encouraging me to sit. “It’s fine. There’s no need to fight to defend my honor. Allow me to explain.”

I drag her chair closer with a terse sigh, scowling at the beta and anyone else who looks at her in a way that irks my wolf. He paces, emitting tetchy noises that reverberate in my chest like a motor. The only thing that calms me down is her touch when she rubs her thumb across my knuckles and glances at me with an expression that broadcasts get it together.

“Don’t be so close-minded. Use your senses. You can’t smell magic, can you?” She’s fearless in the face of their allegation, exuding confident satisfaction when a handful of them shake their heads. “These are herbal remedies made from wild plants that I forage and what is grown in my garden.”

She demonstrates by taking the salve Regina Ryan picked and smoothing it on her wrist. When her skin doesn’t melt off, their wariness fades.

“They help your elders manage pain and stiffness as they age. Aid our healing abilities to make things more comfortable.”

“Like human medicine?”

“Hardly,” she scoffs, then backtracks. “Well, in the modern sense. Their chemicals are useless on most supernaturals. There are other uses to calm the mind or offer relief from fatigue.”

Interest and curiosity buzzes around the room. Smugness twists my lips. They should be interested. My mate is incredible.

The alphas deliberate my proposal amongst their factions of advisors and mates. My stomach clenches until I sense a soothing stroke along the bond from Avery to set me at ease.

“Crescent Valley Pack agrees to the trade terms with Silver Falls Pack,” Alpha Bell declares. “It’s only right that we help each other out.”

“Timber Hollow Pack agrees as well,” Alistair says. “I’m intrigued.”

“You would be,” Rooke snarks. “You love to welcome humans to your packlands. I wouldn’t be surprised if you welcomed witches to your doorstep, too.”

“Not witchcraft,” Avery reminds him. “Just the gifts that nature provides to those who know their uses.”

A few others chime in with their agreements, Cove Coast and Twin River Packs. More than I expected when I submitted my first proposal to the accords. It worked. We’re more successful than I hoped. I hiss out a relieved breath without drawing attention to myself.

Avery laces her fingers with mine. Her smile is everything, lighting me up with her proudness. I’ve questioned if I’m on the right path, or if I’m only Alpha out of a sense of duty to keep my cousin from grabbing power. My chest buzzes with a sense of rightness. I’m meant to be Alpha. I take pride in Silver Falls Pack and I want to be their alpha.

“What’s next to discuss?” Alpha Marshall prompts. “Or have we finished?”

“Before we bring the accords to a close, there’s one last thing,” Alpha Shepherd says solemnly. “I’m afraid Twin River Pack needs to report a disturbing number of our pack going missing. My enforcers have looked into the complaints from families of them not coming home. We’ve found nothing concrete yet, and I bring it before you here to warn you to be on guard of the same happening in your territories.”

I exchange a look with Avery, a knot of tension forming in my gut. If other packs have had the same mysterious disappearances, it could mean we aren’t alone in the way we lost our mothers. This could mean it’s possible to find answers we never got.

“Missing?” I press. “We also wanted to bring this before you all for unexplained cases involving two females in Silver Falls Pack.”

Alistair’s brow furrows. “Your mother? Dempsey told me she found her True Mate and left him.”

“He assumed that was the case, but Avery’s mother also went missing. It’s what drove her father to act so brashly when he refused to listen to Clark’s concerns for his mate. Neither of them ever knew for sure what happened.”

“We think they could be co

“They go off and vanish without a trace when someone goes out in their fur to look for them,” Alpha Shepherd explains.

“Are they not rogues splitting off for Wanderer’s Canyon?” Alpha Bell suggests skeptically. “I won’t indulge in undue alarm. This sounds like they went moon mad and ventured off.”

“It’s not that,” Avery says. “There were no signs of restlessness or my mother’s wolf going feral from moon madness.”

“But this was years ago,” Alpha Bell points out.

“That doesn’t mean it’s not related,” she says.

“She’s right. We had a strange disappearance about two years ago that could align with the larger picture being painted now,” Alpha Goodwin says with a frown. “But it wasn’t a shifter alone, it was a mated pair. Their pups were orphaned. We thought…”

He trails off with a grimace, his implication hanging in the air that they went to their deaths together. Avery finds my hand and I give it a squeeze.

“I checked Twin River Pack’s records,” Alpha Shepherd says. “There's been at least four disappearances in the last fifteen years. They’re spread out enough to not cause alarm, but in the last two years it’s increased enough that it’s become noticeable.”

“We shouldn’t write these off as shifters going rogue or feral,” I propose. “What if they’re being taken?”

“I agree.” Alistair strokes his beard. “We should all remain vigilant and send word of anything out of the ordinary.”

“Very well,” Rooke concedes.

Murmurs of assent go around the table. The knot in my stomach loosens with the packs’ agreement to work together.

Alistair stands. “Any other matters to address?” When no one puts anything else forth, he claps his hands. “Right then. With that, this meeting of the packs is adjourned. The accords will be updated and copies delivered to your territories.”