Page 138 of Brutal Reign
Seb can’t raise his hand fast enough, Theo jerking a nod. The joint in my pocket is calling to me, but somehow I doubt I’ll be excused from the table to go outside and spark it up.
Should’ve done that before the meal.
Chase turns on a heel to head for the kitchen while my dad clears his throat, looking to Theo.
“So, what happened with your former Beta?” he asks in an attempt to spark conversation.
“Cory asked to remain in the pack, and I allowed it,” Theo replies curtly. “After years of dedicated service, it didn’t seem right to exile him for his son’s mistake.”
“Or his mate’s,” Brooke adds, a frown touching her lips. “Cory might not have known about Jake’s plans, but I’ll bet anything that Ellie did. What kind of mother destroys her child’s future to further her own agenda?”
“Jake was ambitious in his own right,” River mutters, glancing up from her plate. “He pulled enough of his own shit at training camp to prove that he wasn’t just acting as a puppet for his mom. He really thought he could beat me.”
“There will always be men out there who think having a dick somehow makes them superior,” Vienna snorts, the corner of her mouth lifting in a smirk as she turns to look at River. “Way to prove ‘em wrong, sweetheart.”
Riv grins, rolling her shoulders back with pride.As she should.She didn’t just beat Jake last night, she fucking demolished him, proving to every person there that she’s so much more than the sweet little Alpha’s daughter. She’s an absolute badass.
Tucking a hand underneath the table, I slide it over to grip her thigh, flexing my fingers as she darts me a side-eyed glance. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before anyone else steps up to challenge you,” I remark.
“I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with Jake anymore,” she sighs, leaning into my touch. “Avery told me he’ll be on the next cut list at training camp. They only kept him around through the challenge because they didn’t want it to come back on me in a negative way.”
“Good riddance,” Seb scoffs. “Any chance they’ll give his mate the boot, too?”
“Speaking of, Quinn told me they showed up in Westfield last night!” Vienna exclaims, slapping a palm to her chest in outrage. “Can’t believe he had the audacity to turn up there and ask Iver to take him in after challenging his cousin.”
“Well, it makes sense, since that’s Chandler’s home pack,” I murmur as Chase returns from the kitchen with a couple of beers, passing one over to Theo.
“Hey, where’s mine?” Seb objects as his dad retakes his seat at the table.
“I’m not gonna support underage drinking, go get it your damn self,” Chase grumbles, raising his beer to his lips with a cocky smirk.
Seb sighs dramatically as he shoves up from his chair, stomping off in the direction of the kitchen while his dad rolls his eyes. Our fathers act as if they weren’t doing the same shit we are at this age, but we all know better. We’ve heard stories of the infamous parties they used to host right here in this packhouse.
“So, did they take him in?” my mom questions, her brows knitting together in concern.
Theo takes a swig of his beer, swallowing as he sets the bottle back down on the table. “They did, but Quinn said he’s being watched like a hawk,” he replies. “No chance he’ll ever hold any type of rank, and if he screws up, there won’t be any second chances.”
“Bet Chandler’s regretting her choice of mate now,” Riv snorts.
“They deserve each other,” Seb comments as he returns from the kitchen with three beer bottles in his grasp. He blatantly ignores his parents’ disapproving looks as he pops the cap off each and passes two of them to me and Riv, raising the third to his lips as he drops back into his chair.
The room lulls into silence and I reach for my beer just to busy myself, glancing around the table at the unlikely gathering. This is far from the first time our families have all been together, but it was always with the other Alpha and Beta families in the alliance. It’s never been justus.
“We really shouldn’t have been surprised about this,” Vienna sighs, gesturing to me, River, and Seb as she looks around at the other parents. “They were always together as kids, always stirring up trouble. And how many times did we go back and forth over the years about which of the boys we thought River would wind up mated to?”
Theo grunts discontentedly, taking another swig of his beer.
“Well, if we knew she could have both, it would’ve saved us all a lot of speculation,” Brooke says with a soft chuckle.
“I think that wild wolf of hers needed two mates to ground her,” Seb drawls, sipping from his beer bottle.
Vienna nudges River’s mom with an elbow. “Maybe you were supposed to have two mates, Brooke,” she teases.
Theo chokes on his beer, punching a fist against his chest to catch his breath and shaking his head adamantly. “No fuckin’ chance,” he coughs, glaring at Vienna.
“Do multiple personalities count?” Chase jokes.
“Watch it, Walker,” Theo growls, pointing a finger at him. “I can still kick your ass.”