Chapter 170
Chapter 18: Theo
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Chapter 18: Theo
I pulled up to Will’s house and honked the horn. I would normally have gone in, but we needed to get
on the road. He came out the door a few minutester, Beth and the three younger kids in tow. Beth
managed to wave at me with a baby on each hip as Will hugged their toddler. I waved back, smiling at
the images of A shing through my mind.
My chest tightened.
It was just another reason why this was such shitty timing. Now that we had marked each other, A’s
heat coulde on anytime. I couldn’t even think about it happening while I wasn’t there. It would be
hell for both of us if it did.
Will finally managed to pry himself away from his family and jogged to my car. He threw his bag in the
trunk and climbed into the passenger seat.
“Damn, dude,” he said, shooting me a look and hitting the button for the window as I pulled out of the
driveway.
“Well, hello to you too,” I said. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I get that you had a better send–off than I did, but did you really have to make me smell that for the
next five hours?”
I didn’t stop the smug grin that developed. “Hey, consider it payback for subjecting a bunch of horny
teenagers to you and Beth practically dry–humping each other every second of the day.”
We bothughed. Will light–heartedly punched my shoulder before
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pulling my cor down to get a better look at A’s mark.
“So, the rumors really are true,” he drawled.
“Yeah,” I replied contentedly, “I’m a imed man.”
“How’s Kieran taking to that?” he asked.
“He’s the biggest pervert I’ve ever met,” I scoffed. “But I can’t say I me him.”
“Based on what you smell like, I doubt you’re any better,” Will chuckled. “But seriously, bro, I’m happy
for you. Confused as shit about how all this happened but happy for you.”
“Thanks, man,” I said. “It’s been a crazy few months, but she’s amazing. I can’t wait for you to meet
her.”
“Okay, but I have to get some things straight,” he said. “You know the rumor mill gets pretty wild by the
time it reaches this side of town. Is she really Kylee’s sister?”
I took a deep breath and started to fill him in on what had happened with A and me. Feeling bad that
he was just finding out about it all
now.
“You could have called, Theo,” he said after I told him about A being taken by Dad’s Beta.
“I know,” I replied. “But I know you wanted to step back from pack duties for a while…”
“That didn’t mean I wanted to step back from being your family,” he interjected. “And it was never
meant to be permanent, Theo. After we lost Lena, I just needed to focus on Beth and the kids and the
business for a little while.”
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“You don’t think I know that, Will?”
Lena was their oldest child from their first set of twins. She had passed away unexpectedly from an
undetected birth defect three years ago. It hit everyone hard, but Will seemed to carry it the most. He
stepped down from all his pack responsibilities and moved to the suburbs on the other side of the city.
It hurt, but I did everything I could to respect his wishes.
“I was waiting on you, Will,” I said quietly.
Will huffed, rubbing his neck. “Yeah, I know,” he said. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. I just feel bad that you
didn’t think to call me for help. But I know that’s on me.”
“It’s not on anyone, man,” I said. “Shit happens. You’re here for me now.”
He nodded. “Tell me more about these attacks?”
“They’ve hit three border towns now,” I said. “Thisst one was the worst. It’s the first time they killed
someone. The first two targeted property looking to do as much damage as possible. There were a few
injuries from some fires and idents and a few, warriors who scared them off. But this one was more
violent.”
“So, they’re escting.”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, “and so far, we have no idea why. That’s why I need you. We have prisoners now.”
“And two Alphas are better than one,” he concurred. “Why do you think they’reing after us? Why
now? We’ve never had problems with rogues like this.”
He was right about that. It wasn’t unusual for rogues to attack the
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borders of the nearest packs. But my father had set up a buffer zone years ago to help keep them at
bay. It was a stretch ofnd between our border and the human towns. Humans didn’t have a problem
with rogues as long as they didn’t cause trouble, so the rogue would be able to survive well enough to
keep animosity toward the pack at bay. Rogues could never thrive outside a pack, but if they could
scrape by, they would have enough, to lose to think twice about attacking arge pack.
Apparently, that wasn’t enough anymore.
“I don’t know, “I told him. “The fact that they are organizing their attacks makes me think they have
some kind of leader. Whoever that is may be vying for the chance to take some, or all, of our territory
for themselves and establish a new pack.”
“Let’s hope it’s that simple,” Will said. “They clearly underestimate our strength.”
“They could have heard about our transition in leadership,” I said. “Putting off my Alpha ceremony
could have them believing we’ve been weakened.”
“Well, it will be my pleasure to show them otherwise, cousin,” Will said, pping my shoulder again.
If that was what was going on, I might be able to sway the situation in my favor. If rogues are
questioning my hold over the pack, what will other Alphas think? I had plenty of allies who trusted my
capabilities, but others may decide to challenge me.
It would put any rumors to rest if I could swiftly put down a rogue rebellion.
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