The Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,4
Especially out of the fucking blue. Nothing they can say would possibly have any impact on my life."
"Then answer the damn phone. Or let me do it. Come on, Matt. At this point, the curiosity alone is killing me." Yeah… no. I was not going to have another alpha deal with my shit. I could handle it, whatever it was. Maybe.
"Fine. Only so you'll quit whining like a little girl." I accepted the call, immediately putting it to my ear as I answered with a growl. "If you're looking for Matthias, you've got him."
A voice I hadn't heard since right after it deepened surprised me. "Matty? Sorry. I meant to say Matthias. Thank the goddess you finally answered! This is Jared. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I’m pack beta now and the captain of the pack council."
"Shit, like I could ever forget you. How the hell are you doing, Jared? And more importantly, how did you get my number? I don't want to make things awkward, but I don't want my father to have it."
Jared sucked in a breath. "I know your grandparents left the pack when you did, but they stayed in touch with my parents. Didn't they tell you? Matty… your Uncle Horace challenged your father about six months after you left. As for your number, your grandmother gave it to me in case there was ever an emergency."
Stunned, I leaned back against the pool table and rubbed a hand over my mouth. All these years, and my father had been dead nearly the whole time. I understood why they hadn't told me. A brother challenging his own family member and giving the killing bite was horrifying. My father was a dick, but even he didn't deserve such a death. Thanks to the tradition forcing him to strike out on his own at eighteen, I'd never met my uncle.
Hmm… maybe there was a reason for only keeping one alpha son around. Biology could be a bitch. Either that or the packs could, I don’t know, teach their alpha sons to coexist.
But then again, my father never had a good word to say about his brother Horace. According to him, Horace was a sniveling coward who couldn’t be trusted. The type of alpha who fought dirty and stabbed people in the back. I'd always figured my dad was simply being his not-so-charming self, but now it sounded like he’d been telling the truth.
Jared was quiet for several moments as if realizing I’d needed to absorb the idea. I took a deep breath and forced myself back to the conversation. "I appreciate you calling, Jared. But if you want me to come challenge my uncle, then it’s not gonna happen. This apple fell and rolled far away from the poisonous tree. I'm sorry, but Lucerne Valley doesn't have a hold on me anymore. My uncle can have fun being alpha. I made my peace years ago."
"Your uncle’s not why I am calling, Matthias." When he spoke in a more serious tone and used my formal name again, a spike of dread punched me in the gut. "He’s dead. Do you remember Monty Whitetail, the alpha of the Newberry Springs pack? He challenged Alpha Horace in retaliation—or so he said—for stealing Monty's omega son and mating him against his will. As of yesterday, your uncle is gone, and the pack and all its holdings officially belong to the Newberry Springs pack.”
At the thought of anyone related to me doing such a thing, my blood ran cold. "You don't need to play word games with me, Jared. I'm a straight shooter, so tell me the truth. Did my uncle really do it? Did Monty have the right to challenge him?"
Jared hesitated, then sighed ever so softly in my ear. "Sorry, I'm so used to having to watch everything I say. Yes. As much as it pains me to admit it. I don't have proof your uncle stole him, but I heard the poor omega's anguished screams the night Alpha Horace brought him home. And my quarters are downstairs and in the east wing. Matty… shoot. I hate to put this on you, but Alpha Mate Elisha needs you."
I froze, unable to make a sound because I knew full well what was coming next. I felt a hand on my shoulder and swallowed at the concern on Tucker's face. Jerking my chin to let him know I was okay, I forced myself to talk.