Chapter 215


    Chapter 215 – New Beta


    Sinir


    Morninges much too soon. My body is sore and aching, but I’m much calmer now that I’ve let off


    some steam with my mate. Thest thing I want to do is leave our suite and deal with the fallout ofst


    week’s drama, but there is much to be done before the summit.


    I begin with a visit to the families of the men I lost in the bombing, starting with Aileen. I give her my


    oath to find the men responsible for the attack, knowing my words are an emptyfort in the face of a


    life without her mate. These visits nearly break me, as I’ve yet to truly begin grieving myself. In fact I


    don’t even make it five minutes before regretting my orders for E to stay in bed and rest. She is the


    only thing that could possibly calm my wolf right now, and I dearly want to return to her side. I still hope


    to steal some time alone with her this afternoon – a final reprieve before the entire continent descends


    on us – but that will only be possible if I finish my to-do list.


    Next I go to the airfield, needing to see the situation for myself. I’m astounded to see howrge the


    refugee camp has grown in my absence, even with the families Gabriel has housed in the city. Though


    each of the shifters I meet is grappling with profound personal loss, they’re no less thrilled to see me


    alive and well. Their warmth and relief is a wee balm, and I carry it with me into my meetings with


    the King’s security services.


    The enforcers assure me that everything is ready for the summit, and that security will be the strictest


    the capital has ever seen, but that’s where the good news ends. So far, there are no leads on the


    bomber, and when I exin my miraculous survival to the assembled wolves, they can only exchange


    befuddled looks and remark that the Goddess must have been looking out for me. I don’t understand it


    myself, and even though E has proved just how present divine forces are in our lives, it’s beyond


    surreal to think that the Goddess might have saved me. Even so, I’m much more concerned with


    discovering Damon’s allies in Vanara, but I don’t find the answers I’m seeking in the security offices.


    I leave, brooding as I check another task off my list. By the time I reach the pce library I don’t have


    any more rity about who might have carried out the attack, and I’m at a loss for what to do.


    Thankfully Roger is already there waiting for me, and he greets me with an uncharacteristic hug. I


    return it enthusiastically, wondering when west showed each other such affection – if ever.


    “I don’t know what to make of it.” I tell him, quickly bringing him up to speed on the situation. “Obviously


    Damon orchestrated it, but how? Who is he working with? Is it one of the alphas here? Are there


    counter forces working against us right under our very nose? Did he somehow figure out a way to send


    people to Vanara?” i


    Roger frowns, his mouth twisting into a grimace. I wait for him to speak, but I can sense his reluctance.


    “What?”


    “Well,” he winces, “it could be one of the refugees.”


    I take a step back, stunned he could suggest such a thing. “I refuse to believe that.” I argue, shaking


    my head. “You’ve been to the camp – you’ve seen what they’ve been through. No one there would help


    Damon.”


    “I’m not saying it would be a true refugee – but someone impersonating one.” Roger amends, holding


    his hands up defensively. “And I don’t necessarily think that’s the case, I’m simply saying that there’s


    only one way off the continent right now. So if Damon did send someone here, it might have been on


    one of the evacuation flights.”


    “If Damon found out about the flights and discovered the meeting point, he would just kill all of the


    refugees.” I argue, not adding that I’ve been terrified of this very eventuality for weeks, 1


    “Maybe,” Roger agrees. “Or maybe he’d use the opportunity to send spies or assassins. You know?


    Find out where we are and what we’re doing.”


    I smother a growl, hating this possibility but appreciating that he’s thinking strategically. ‘You need to be


    very careful who you say that in front of.” I warn gruffly. “That is the kind of idea that can spread panic


    and turn the locals against our people.”


    “I know that.” Roger admits, “I don’t like it any more than you do. I’m just trying to think of every


    possibility.”


    I grip his shoulder, “I appreciate that, and I’m going to need you to keep thinking that way if we’re going


    to get through this.”


    “Of course I will.” Roger vows, though his frown only deepens. “The real question is going to be how we


    investigate this without letting the public know our suspicions.”


    “Well, that can be your number one priority,” I reply, watching him closely as I continue. “As my new


    Beta.”


    Roger blinks, doing a double take as if he’s unsure he heard me correctly.” What did you just say?”


    Taking a deep breath, I exin.”! wouldn’t normally try to appoint a recement for Hugo so soon after


    his death,” I confess, feeling a stab of guilt for even suggesting this when his loss is so fresh. “And I


    know it’s a lot to ask when you spent your life dreaming of being Alpha, but I need a second in


    command and I… well, I want it to be you. It should be you.”


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    Roger drops his gaze to the floor, a sober expression on his face. “I lost any interest in being Alpha the


    moment I thought you were dead.” He shares grimly, his voice like gravel. “It was the closest I’d ever


    come to leading, and it’s the closest I ever want to be. My personal glory isn’t worth losing you –


    nothing is. You have no idea how desperately I prayed to have you back.”


    I feel a deep pang in my chest, undone by the vestiges of pain still haunting my brother’s features. ‘Well


    now I am back, and I need someone I can trust by my side.” I take him by the shoulders, encouraging


    him to look me in the eye. “Who better to watch my back than my big brother?”


    ‘That’s easier said than done.” Roger counters uncertainly. “Betas are supposed to bnce their


    Alphas, not antagonize them.”


    ‘They are…” I confirm with a grin. “Do you think you can manage it?”


    ‘That depends,” Roger quips, “how big of an ass do you n on being?”


    “No bigger than usual.” Iugh, offering him my hand. “So are you up for it, or are you going to make


    me ask Philippe?”


    He exhales dramatically, “And leave E without a guard? What am I, a monster?”


    “I know.” I grimace, thinking of all the soldiers I already have to rece. “At this rate my men are


    dropping like flies. I don’t think I can handle losing anyone else.”


    Roger slides his hand into mine, squeezing with his full strength. “I won’t let you down, Dominic. I’m


    going to find the people responsible for the bomb if it’s thest thing I do”


    “I know.” I assure him, pulling the stubborn oaf into a hug. “I trust you, brother.”


    He chuckles, thumping my back with his fist. “Just wait until we tell, Dad. The old man is going to


    absolutely blubber.”


    He’s not wrong, and I’m already looking forward to sharing the news with our father. Still, my to-do list


    isn’tplete yet, and the scent of my mate’s adoptive sister tells me I’m behind schedule. When we


    part I see Cora leaning in the library doorway, watching us warily.


    ‘You rang?” She inquires, keeping her attention focused entirely on me. She doesn’t even afford Roger


    a nce, and I realize that the burgeoning attraction between the pair hasn’t progressed well in my


    absence. I’ll have to ask him about itter, because right now my brother looks as though he’s forgotten


    I’m here. He’s staring at Cora with open hunger, and it seems to take him a minute to process her


    words.


    “You did?” Roger questions eventually, looking at me when the information clicks.


    ‘Yes, I need your help with something – if you’re willing to lend it.” I amend hopefully. “Just before the


    attack, I realized that E and I never got the chance to throw a mating ceremony after our secret came


    out.” I reveal, marveling about how much has changed in such a short time. “We’ve celebrated


    bing mates in private, but we never had the chance to celebrate it with our loved ones, and I don’t


    want to put it off any longer. I’d like to surprise E with a ceremony on thest night of the summit –


    before the ball. What do you think?”


    Cora’s face splits into a wide smile,”I think that’s a wonderful idea. She’ll love it.”


    ‘Then you’ll help?” I ask.


    “Of course,” Cora agrees.


    I nce between her and Roger, not sure the human realizes the full implications of my request. “And


    you think you’ll be able to work together?”


    Cora’s freezes, her eyes swinging to Roger. My brother grins, shing his fangs, and I can sense Cora


    forcing down an indignant protest. Instead she sters a smile onto her features, and forces her next


    words out through clenched teeth, “I can’t see why not.”


    I’m not sure who’s more pleased, me or my brother. “Perfect.”