Page 4 of Alpha Brock

I glance up as a few of our pack’s warriors shuffle into the kitchen, helping themselves to coffee and breakfast. I haven’t made it over to the buffet table yet, but the metal trays of food lined up on it are practically calling my name. The packhouse here in Denver is huge, and it’s always busy- not only do Cole, Sam, and I live here, but also several of my brother’s advisors and about twenty of our pack’s highest ranking warriors. Then there’s the live-in staff, including our chef, who cooks a feast for breakfast and dinner daily, and two maids who do laundry and keep the place tidy.

I sip down some more coffee as I watch the warriors slide into seats at another table across the kitchen, eyeing the bacon, eggs, and toast piled on their plates.

“What’d you get from them?” Sam asks, touching my arm to get my attention.

I turn back to him, setting my cup on the table in front of me again. “From Theo and Brooke?”

Sam nods.

“Just their connection,” I say with the wave of a hand. “I felt it the first time they came to visit, and it was way stronger the second time. And that’s when Brooke told me the fated bond had snapped in between them.”

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that I’m not your average werewolf? When I was little, I started to realize that I was different- that I could sense things about situations and people that others couldn’t. Sorta like gut feelings, only they always turned out to be right. My parents picked up on it, and that’s when they told me that I had a gift, one that must’ve been passed down to me from my grandmother; I’m an ‘intuitive’. My grandma was also a seer, but I’ve never had visions manifest, just the feelings. I can’t control how or when they happen, they just do.

“And you never picked up on any reason not to trust them?” Cole arches a brow in my direction.

I give a little shake of my head.

“Good.” He tips back his mug, gulping down the rest of his coffee and setting his mug on the table. “So as I was saying, every able-bodied pack member will stay to fight, while those who can’t will seek refuge with the six-pack.”

I nod slowly, eyes wide. Allowing the reality of the upcoming battle to settle over me.

On my other side, Sam slurps down the rest of his coffee, rising to his feet and reaching over for Cole’s mug. “Want some more?”

Cole gives him a nod, then looks back to me.

I blow out a breath, reaching for my own cup again. “So what’s this exit strategy look like?” I ask as I raise it to my lips.

“Gray and I briefly discussed it,” Cole replies. “Each of the six packs are going to take people in, so we’ll split ours up into six groups and send them in waves, so there isn’t one big mass exodus from here that’ll draw attention.”

I nod again and Sam returns with their fresh cups of coffee, passing one to my brother and settling back into his chair.

“But I’d like someone to go down there ahead of time. be there when our people arrive to be their point of contact and get them settled in,” Cole continues, staring at me intently. “Someone the pack trusts.”

“You mean me,” I mumble, glaring at him over the top of my coffee mug.

He nods.

I’m not thrilled about the idea- being away from my pack in the weeks leading up to the biggest battle we’ve ever faced is definitely less than ideal. I’ll miss out on crucial strategy sessions with the warriors, intel gathering with our IT specialists at the hive… basically everything, if I go. But at the same time, Cole’s right- someone has to do it. The pack knows me; they trust me. I’m probably the best person for the job.

Damn him for being right.

I heave a sigh, setting my cup back on the table again. “Yeah, I’ll do it.”

“Atta girl,” Sam grins, placing his hand over mine and giving it a squeeze. He flicks a conspiratorial glance in Cole’s direction.

I glance between the two of them, shaking my head. “Ohplease. You guys knew I’d say yes.”

“I mean…” Sam sucks his bottom lip between his teeth, looking from Cole to me before chuckling. “Yeah, of course. Who else would we send? The pack loves you, you’re like their unofficial Luna.”

I turn to Cole, who shrugs and says, “you know it’s true.”

“You know,” I sigh, pushing off of the table to rise to my feet. “Someday you’re going to have to get an actual Luna.” I smirk at my brother, tossing him a wink before spinning around and heading for the buffet table.

I load up a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast and return to my seat between Sam and Cole, sliding back into my chair. I pick up a piece of bacon between my fingers and start nibbling on it when I catch Sam trying to steal a piece off of my plate, swatting at his hand.

“Go get your own!” I laugh, scooching my plate farther away from him on the table.

“C’mon,” Sam urges playfully, tilting his head and giving me puppy dog eyes. He knows damn well that the face he’s making always works on me.