“It’s wonderful seeing you, too, Sis.”
It was one of the few positive things about visiting my former pack. My heart ached for my family I left behind. And laying eyes on my sister now filled a bit of the hole that had erupted in my heart.
Sky drew away, fastening me with a reprimanding glower. “Two years is hella long. You better start stopping by more often.”
I fought a chuckle, knowing that would irk my sister more. “I understand and I’m sorry. Things have been… busy lately.”
“No, they haven’t,” Sky said. She gestured around the den to the werewolves that milled about. “You just didn’t want to return to this.” Her voice lowered to a murmur. “Which I can understand, of course. Just… don’t forget about us. Your blood.”
I shook my head. “Never. You, Tyler, and our parents are always close to my heart.”
Sky glanced at the two sentinels flanking me. Her smile faded as she no doubt caught sight of their solemn expressions. She turned back to me. “What brings you here?”
“Official business with the alpha.” I glanced at where the adolescent warriors congregated, donning battle attire of olive T-shirts and beige cargo pants. “The den is busy, and the pack has upped the training regimen. I noticed passing across the border there’re more wolves on sentry.”
Sky nodded. “Yeah… our security has jumped from level two to four.”
I gritted my teeth. So Alpha Ryan had upped the risk factor for an invasion from the enemy—the werebears. Either that or…
“That flea-brain is sending the pack into war,” I hissed in a whisper.
Sky blinked. “What?”
“I’m sorry, Sky, but I’ll have to catch up later. I have to meet with Alpha Ryan. Now.”
I watched as understanding washed over my sister’s face. “O-of course. Should I tell mom and the others you’re in the den? I’m sure Ty would love to see you.”
A wry smile touched my lips. Of course, our eldest sibling, Tyler, would want to see me. Ever since pup-hood he always shadowed me, protected me from the taunting jibes volleyed my way from the other pups, because I was a latent. Tyler also wasn’t afraid of throwing a punch or two, and had left a trail of bloody noses in his youth. The youngsters of the Silverfang pack had learned real fast to give me a wide berth.
“Of course you can tell them,” I told Sky. “Knowing Ty, he might intrude upon the meeting—Alpha be damned.”
Laughter rang from Sky’s throat. “Thathe would do.”
With a brief exchange of farewells, Sky headed off, leaving my pack and me to our business. Once I arrived at Alpha Ryan’s office, I knocked on the steel door built into the wall of the cave.
After a pause, a deep voice boomed from beyond the door. “Enter.”
I grabbed the crack in the metal door, sliding it back and my sentinels and I crossed the threshold. Garret closed the door behind us. Alpha Ryan sat at his desk, elbows propped on the surface, his chin resting atop his steepled hands.
“I figured you’d stop by,” Alpha Ryan said.
“My scent notifies you I’ll arrive at your office?” I lifted my brows at him.
He scoffed. “Hell no, more like intuition.” He leaned back in his large chair, the wheels groaning under his solid frame. “You only come to the den when you’re nosing around in my affairs.”
I ignored the cutting remark, stepping closer to the desk, and asked, “Are you going to war with the werebears?”
A long moment wrought with tension descended. Alpha Ryan met my gaze with unwavering focus. He blinked up at me. “How does that concern the Hopecrest pack?”
I rolled my shoulders back, jerking my chin up a notch. I was an alpha, and the sooner Ryan recognized he spoke to a fellow alpha, the less chance shit would go down.
“Yes, or no?”
His upper lip curled back just enough to hint at fangs curving downward. A subtle shift of movement and Garret flanked my side, along with Kevin. I allowed the wolf to shine through my gaze, my vision glowing amber.
A knock at the door, before the whooshing of it sliding back sounded.
“Alpha, the patrol is… Wait, Sasha?”