Page 54 of A Deeper Blue
“Nah,” said Rafe, waving away the idea.
“Yes,” said Albert. “When I was young, I thought nothing of taking up against the government or the Chinook and the Kalapuya. I had no trouble traveling places like you do and going off on adventures. But I am finding it harder and harder to leave my territory. I make myself do it because otherwise, my territory becomes this land, and then this house, and then I don’t get up into human form much, and then it’s the den outback. And then it’s sitting in the sunshine in front of the den until one afternoon I take a nap and don’t wake up.”
“It’s not the worst way to go,” said Rafe, trying to sound light-hearted, but the path his father laid out disturbed him. His father was still too much himself to be thinking of retiring to the den.
“I’m not there yet, but I can feel it,” said Albert, looking down at his hands on the back of the chair. “And I can feel other things are coming, just as I’m getting weaker, and…” Albert finally looked up at him. “I’m afraid. This thing I’m doing is new, and I’m promising the pack that I will see them through, but I can’t see all the variables. This may be the path to pack failure.”
“But sticking to the safe path is no longer safe,” argued Rafe. “Inevitably, those roads will also lead to pack failure. And not just for us. For all the Supernaturals.”
Albert nodded. “That was what you said when I made you leave, and neither I, nor the pack, was ready to hear it. But we’ve talked about it a lot since you’ve been gone. We have come to believe that you are correct.”
“Then the pack is with you,” said Rafe. “The pack moves as one. What is there to fear?”
He wasn’t sure what to make of his father’s attitude. It was as if Albert had decided that Rafe was now an adult. He remembered listening to his father and uncle speak this way as he played under the table, pretending that he wasn’t listening as he arranged his toy soldiers.
Albert ran his hands across the wood branches under his hands, a familiar gesture that had worn the wood smooth over the centuries. “We just said the stakes were bigger than the pack,” he said softly. “That means that at some point, what’s good for the pack or the ones I care about may come into conflict with what is good for all Supernaturals.”
“What are you trying to say, Dad?”
“The others that were here have come to a consensus. They will join in the Pact—I changed the name.”
“Sure,” said Rafe. “Close topack, but you know, not, so that the others don’t get weird about it.”
“Right,” said Albert, but he didn’t look happy. “They think to make an impact that we need more. More packs, more races, more powers. They’re willing to chip in funding for the political stuff, but they want to unify across the board. As usual, the human world is the least of their concerns and the cause of most of our problems.” He shook his head in frustration.
“Yeah, well, between you and Azure, you’ll get them straightened out,” said Rafe, confident that he was right.
“Yes, but that’s just it.” Albert finally looked up at him, and Rafe sensed they were getting close to the heart of the trouble. “The Pact consensus is that the best person to bring others in will be Azure. She has the Lady’s blessing, and that carries a lot of weight. They want her to reach out to people.” Albert’s hands twisted on the chair nervously, and his gaze remained fixed on Rafe’s face.
Rafe nodded. It made sense. In some ways, it was what Azure had feared, but in other ways, it was better. Albert could direct traffic and start putting the money into action. Azure could be herding the cats. And the wolves and the nymphs and the sasquatches and whatever else they found. Albert seemed to be waiting for him to say something.
“She’ll be leaving,” said Albert, as if trying to clarify things. “If she says yes, that is.”
“I expect she will,” said Rafe, scratching his ear. “It’s her destiny.”
Albert made an angry growl.
“What?” Rafe was confused.
“You love her!” snapped Albert.
“Yes?” Rafe wasn’t clear on where or what the problem was.
“You are so frustrating!” Albert came around the chair and flung himself into it. “Even as a tiny pup, you were always trying to hurt yourself.”
Rafe laughed, suddenly seeing what was upsetting his father. He had been gone from the pack for a long time—long enough that he’d forgotten what it meant to be in one. Packs stayed put in a chosen territory. Lone wolves, whether shifter or natural, were chased away for upsetting the pack dynamic. Lone wolves roamed and saw the world until they found their own place. Once a territory was established, it was rare that a wolf would leave it. That was why Albert’s pack visits were so unusual. But it was also why Albert would be concerned about Azure leaving. It wouldn’t occur to him that Rafe would want to go with her.
“I’m serious,” barked Albert. “I literally watched you dive off the barn roof that one time.”
“I wanted to see if I could change into a bird. I figured the best way to do it was to fully commit,” said Rafe, chuckling over the memory. He’d nearly forgotten about the incident.
“What if I hadn’t been there to catch you?” demanded Albert. “You could have broken your neck!”
Rafe shrugged. “I was eight. I don’t think eight-year-olds are known for their brilliant logic.”
Albert growled again and shook his head. “Look, Rafe, I don’t know what Liam and Scarlet have going on. He says she’s his fated mate, and I don’t know, maybe it’s true.”
“It’s true,” said Rafe.
