Page 15 of Moon Destiny

It was more than that. In the nine years he’d served as my beta, Dylan had become a trusted friend. He was young enough to be my son—grandson—but circumstances had forced him to grow up fast.

I finished my scotch and gave him a pointed look. “You’re great at this job, but it’s not the one you’re meant to be doing.” He was an alpha in his own right—or should have been. Rival wolves had decimated his pack, killing Dylan’s father and seizing all of the Appalachian Pack’s territory. Homeless and powerless at twenty-one, Dylan had appealed to the Council, which had promptly ruled that Dylan’s father provoked the attack. The worst part was, the Council was right. I’d seen the evidence myself, and Ross Corbett had been far from innocent.

But that didn’t mean his son was cut from the same cloth. Several alphas had objected when I took Dylan on as my beta—and I’d politely reminded them I could do whatever the hell I wanted in my own territory.

And I’d never regretted my decision. As far as I was concerned, Dylan had more than restored his family’s honor. After nearly a decade, maybe it was time for him to reclaim what was rightfully his.

He tossed back his own drink with a grimace. “My gut tells me it’s still too dangerous. What’s left of my pack is scattered to the winds, and I’m not strong enough to pull them back in yet. I’m no good to anyone dead.”

I hid a wince.

But not fast enough, because Dylan was instantly contrite as he set his glass on the desk. “Shit, Hugh. I’m sorry.”

I waved it off. “It’s fine. And you’re right to trust your instincts. That’s where I failed Alex.” I sat back in my chair, which let out a sharp squeal. “My father always said power sits best on those who don’t want it. I told myself that’s what I was doing by naming Alex as my successor, but I was wrong. Being alpha was always going to be difficult for him as a half-breed. I should never have recognized him as my heir.”

“You were only doing what the Council pressured you to do.”

I shook my head. “I could have said no. Instead, I let their fear of the rogues convince me to act against my better judgment. Alex’s heart was in structural engineering, not shifter politics. I put him in an impossible position and it got him killed.”

Dylan didn’t argue, probably because he knew I was right. He also understood what it meant to lead. The alpha was responsible for everyone in the pack. There was no passing the buck. I obviously hadn’t made the rogues attack, but they wouldn’t have targeted Alex if I hadn’t pressured him to come home and train to replace me. Everything that flowed from the attack, including Brooke’s transformation, was my fault.

“How is she?” Dylan asked.

I wasn’t surprised he’d discerned my thoughts. The whole pack was buzzing about our newest member. Turned females were so rare, she was bound to spark curiosity wherever she went.

“Angry,” I said. “She didn’t like being on the receiving end of my orders.”

“I mean, does anyone?”

“She was particularly opposed.”

A somewhat fond smile touched his lips. “I can’t say I’m surprised. She’s strong. It’ll be interesting to see what her wolf’s like when she shifts. She had no trouble looking me in the eye.”

“Join the club.”

Disbelief flitted over his features. “She challenged you? She can’t be that dominant.”

“She’s not.” I drew a deep breath. “She’s…mine.”

For a second, he just stared. Then his eyes widened as comprehension dawned. “Fuck.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

He refilled our glasses, then downed his drink in one gulp.

My lips twitched even though there was nothing remotely funny about my situation. “Just leave some scotch for me if you don’t mind.”

“Sorry.” He shoved a hand through his hair, ruffling the dark blond waves. “What are you going to do?”

Good question, and one I’d grappled with since I realized she was going to survive the fever. I’d thought I might be able to control my wolf—and hers—but tonight had proved otherwise.

I heaved a sigh. “For now, keep my distance as much as I’m able.”

He frowned. “That’s going to be hard when you’re under the same roof.”

Hard was a regrettably apt description. I swallowed. “You’ve done it with Wren.”

“She’s in Virginia. There are nearly three thousand miles between us.” His jaw tightened, his usual affable demeanor fading. “And even that’s not enough sometimes.”

---