Chapter 171
#Chapter 171 – Good friends in tough ces
Delia scrambles, her vision darkening as Joyce squeezes her throat even tighter. She can’t think –
can’t breathe –
All she can do is look into his cruel face, his teeth elongating before her eyes, his rage overtaking his
desire for information –
Then, suddenly, there’s a crash and the pressure on her throat lessens –
Delia gasps, weing the fresh rush of oxygen that floods her throat, falling to her knees. Her hands
go directly to her neck, soothing her wounded skin, but she frantically looks around, trying to figure out
what –
There – on the floor, Joyce, his eyes closed and his mouth open – ss and liquid scattered all over
his back and around him – as Delia, breathes her nose smarts at the scent –
Delia’s eye flit upwards to see Cliff standing there, the neck of a broken liquor bottle in his hand, staring
down at Joyce.
“Knew he was trouble,” Cliff says quietly, “the moment he walked in.”
Delia can’t help the shocked littleugh thates out of her then. Cliff looks at her then, shaking his
head, offering a hand to help her up.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah,” she says, her knees shaking a little. “I wasn’t…expecting it to go so bad so fast.”
Cliff just shrugs. “I don’t like it when strangerse in and mess with my favorite customers.”
Truly touched, Delia suddenly wraps her arms around him in thanks. She and Evelyn had beening
here for years, and while they had quickly developed an affection for the gruff bartender, they had
never known it to be reciprocated.
Cliff hesitates for a moment and then pats Delia on the back. “There there,” he says, awkwardly, as if
he can’t think of anything else to say.
Deliaughs and pushes away. “Do you want to help me with onest thing?”
Cliff nces around the room at the customers who are studiously minding their own business and
then nods.
“Okay,” Delia says, walking to stand at Joyce’s feet. “You take the front, I take the back. We have to get
him to my trunk.”
Cliff sighs and then nods briskly. “Fine, but take him out the back. Don’t want to upset the customers
more than you have already.”
Delia gives Cliff a grin. “Whatever you say, boss,” she says as she leans down to heft Joyce’s legs up.
It’s almost midnight and Victor is surprised to see that Alvin is still up, helping Victor to keep organized
while he makes ns to shut down the little cottage and move to the Beta camp for the start of the
campaign against Walsh.
During a lull, when Betas have moved to prepare the necessary cars, Victor leans down and crooks a
finger at Alvin, asking him toe over.
Excited, Alvin finishes neatening a pile of paperwork and then dashes over to his father. “Ready for
duty, sir!” Alvin says, shooting him a little salute.
“What are you still doing up?” Victor asks, working to keep his face serious.
Alvin frowns at him, confused. “I’m…helping?”
Victor nods slowly at him. “Yes, you’re being very helpful,” he says. “But aren’t you tired? You’re a
civilian, son – you’re not required to help us unless you want to.”
Alvin nods firmy, looking up at his father with determination. “I want to help,” he says, simply and firmly.
Victor sighs and goes to one knee in front of his son, putting a hand on his shoulder. “And I appreciate
your help, son,” he says, “but you haven’t to remember that you’re only six –“
“Almost seven!” Alvin interrupts, seeing where the conversation is headed.
Victor’s mouth quirks at that but he contains himself. “Almost seven, yes. But still, quite a bit younger
than even our youngest recruit. You have to take care of yourself, Alvin, which means sleeping when
you’re sleepy.”
Alvin nods, understanding. “But I’m not sleepy yet.”
Victor studies his son’s face and knows this is a bit of a lie – Alvin’s clearly running on adrenaline. But,
he’s also the heir to the pack. Victor isn’t going to stop him from participating in the running of it, at
least not until it’s fully necessary. A boy can stand e night.
Victor considers this for a moment, though. e night, but then…
This campaign was going to be long andplicated. What, really, was he going to do with his son
when he went away to war?
“Alvin,” Victor says. “We’re going to the camp tonight – the Betas and I. So that we can make a big
push in a few days. We’re going to…try to get mommy back. And also move against some of our
enemies.”
Alvin nods eagerly, understanding.
“But,” Victor says, and Alvin’s face drops, knowing what’sing next. “Alvin,” Victor continues, “I want
you to stay here. With Burton, and aunt Bridgette. Where you’ll be safe.”
Alvin’s face falls further, growing pale with disappointment – but then, Victor is surprised to see it grow
red. With anger.
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“No,” Alvin says, balling his little fists and stomping his foot. “No, I’m going with you. You can’t stop
me.”
Victor holds back augh at this – of course he can stop him – but Alvin shakes his head firmly.
“No,” Alvin says again. “Ian gets to be there – he’s going to be right there with mommy, so you can’t
leave me behind.”
Victor considers this. “Well, that’s true. But if it were up to me, I’d make sure Ian stayed home too, safe
and sound. You’re both still kids, Alvin – it’s my job to keep you safe.”
“We’re not just kids, dad,” Alvin says, his voice softer, though his face is still red with his anger.
Victor blinks at this. What?
“Ian and I,” Alvin continues, “I know we’re little – but we are…special. We can do things, papa. We can
help you – we helped you at the trial to decide who owned the pack! You wouldn’t have won without
us!”
“You put yourself in unnecessary danger,” Victor says sternly, “entering an active war zone when you
knew you weren’t supposed to.”
“Papa,” Alvin says, intively, his eyes wide. “This is our life, our world. We have to learn all about it. If
we are going to war, teach me how to go to war. You can make the rules – I promise I will follow them.
But let me go, let me help.”
Victor’s eyes soften as he studies his son. Usually, he sees so much of himself in the boys – they look
just like him, smell like him, act like him. But in this moment…he sees so much of Evelyn in Alvin’s
earnest sincerity, his desire to act, to help.
Despite himself, Victor feels moved. Taking his hand off his son’s shoulder, Victor looks at the floor,
considering it. Alvin stays perfectly still and quiet, letting him think. Alvin knows – as Evelyn usually
does – that he’s won, but he lets Victore to it on his own terms.
“All right,” Victor says softly, and then he looks up at Alvin’s bright face, where he’s trying to hold back a
smile. “You cane to the Beta camp, and then we’ll decide what your role is in this. But,” Victor
holds up a stern finger.
“You must promise me,” Victor continues, “to follow my rules at all times. No matter what. Okay?”
“Okay, papa!” Alvin agrees nodding enthusiastically. Victor can’t help butugh.
“Okay,” Victor agrees, standing. “Go upstairs and pack a bag. All ck clothes, if you have them.”
Alvin scurries up the stairs, eager to get started, and Victor watches him fondly as he goes.
He’s surprised, though, to hear a voice at the entrance to the living room. He wasn’t aware that
someone else was there.
“What about me, papa,” Rafe says, smirking, imitating Alvin’s use of the word. “If the little boys can go,
can Ie y as well?”
Victor just narrows his eyes at him.
“Oh,e on,” Rafe says,ughing as he crosses his arms. “You’ll let the six-year-old go, but not me?”
“The six-year-old,” Victor says coldly. “Didn’t just betray me.”
“Come on, Victor,” Rafe says, spreading his hands and shaking his head. “What can I do to show you
that I’m on your side?”
Victor turns to face him and considers. “Let me put you under Alphamand,” he says. “To follow my
every instruction.” Rafe blinks at this, surprised. It’s not usually something done, to an Alpha of equal
rank. But he just takes a moment to consider.
“Fine,” Rafe says, nodding. “Go ahead. Lay it on me.”
Victor takes two steps forward to do just that.