Chapter 3. The Meeting

Brayden

I sigh and grumble under my breath as I fight to keep my eyes open. How could those two idiots not let me sleep? Well, we got a few hours this morning, but clearly it wasn’t enough. I can’t argue too much though. I was screaming for more last night, which they did as I requested.

However, the next time I talk to them, I’m going to give them an earful.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time this morning. But when I finally corner them, they will wish they didn’t pull a stunt like that.

I ease up to the front of Yellow Moon’s pack house, which is about average for its size. However, the white paint is chipping, and the flower beds need to be weeded. I can’t tell what flowers are even in there with all the weeds hiding them. If this is any sign of how they run everything else, I’ve got my hands full.

As I step out of the vehicle, a tall, dark-haired man walks out of the building and calls out, “Alpha Brayden. I’m so glad you could come on such short notice. I didn’t know if my request would be looked at since we are such a small pack.”

I give him my professional smile and shake my head. “Alpha Blake. All packs are important. You shouldn’t have worried.”

As I walk around the front of the vehicle, he meets me and greets me with a handshake.

He adds, “My father had told me that our pack is too small for packs like yours to worry about, unless we have something important that you want. Sorry, I should have believed in our alliance agreement more than in my angry father.”

My eyebrow raises up as his words swirl around in my head. I’m going to have to make sure that other packs aren’t thinking the same thing.

The quickest way to break up an alliance is to plant a seed of doubt within it. I don’t have a seed right now. I think I might have an entire forest.

I’ll add that to the already growing list of things to address with him and the pack elders.

A slight frown appears on my face as I ignore his comment. “So, I’ve read your email with your initial request. Is there anything else that you would like for me to look at while I’m here, or do you want me to do a full review of everything? To be honest, I’ll probably catch more with a full review. I have a feeling there are plenty of things you don’t even know you need to change or improve on.”

I glance back over at the pack house. This is only the first thing of many that needs to be fixed.

He flashes me a bright smile. “Really? You would do a full review of everything?”

I turn my attention back to him. With a smile and a nod, I answer, “Yes. I honestly think that would probably be the best approach. It will take me longer to do, but I think it is the only way for me to identify everything that needs to be done. Will you be able to devote enough time to sit with me, so I can go to that depth?”

His smile doesn’t falter as he shakes his head. “I’ve asked my younger brother, Zack, to be your point person for me while you are here. Someday, he will make an amazing Alpha to some pack. Honesty, he is better at it than me. However, he still hasn’t met his omega mate.”

I stare at him for a moment before I ask, “Why do you think he will be an alpha of a pack and that his mate will be an omega? It is rather common to have a beta mate. Plus, there aren’t too many packs with omega heirs who are looking for their alpha mates. You know it is very rare.”

He nods his head. “I know, but you will understand when you meet him. He is clearly fated to be an alpha of a pack, even the elders say so. He just needs to find his omega mate.”

My stomach twists, but I ignore it and mentally shake my head. It is just a coincidence.

I walk past him to the other side of the car. “I’ll get my things and then you can show me where I’ll be staying and where I’ll be working. Once I put my suitcase in my room, I’ll come back down, and we can get started right away. I would like an overview of the pack and the current lines of defense. Then I also want a to do a walkthrough of the area. In addition, I want to watch your training sessions.”

As I open the passenger’s door, Blake follows right behind me. “Wow. You aren’t kidding when you say you are going to look through everything. Okay. I’ll start with you, but when I need to leave for a meeting, I’ll have Zack take over and finish everything. Then you can proceed tomorrow directly with him.”

I toss the strap of one bag over my shoulder and reach in for another bag. “I would like to have daily updates with you, so you know every day the things which I have immediate concerns about. There is no use waiting until I’m done with my entire investigation to take action.”

I glance over my shoulder at him as he nods and replies, “Sure. That is understandable. I will make sure we talk at the end of every day.”

The hesitation in his voice also sends up another red flag.

I’m not here even ten minutes, and I can see where the issues begin. I also have an idea about how it has gotten to this point.

This is not going to be an easy ‘get in and out’ review. I have a sinking feeling I’m going to be here longer than I have expected.

***

With my tablet in one hand, I point with my other hand over to a run-down building which looks like it is going to cave in any minute. “What is that building? Why is it in such a state of disrepair?”

Blake sighs. “That building was built and used by my great grandfather. However, after his death, the building was never used again. I’m not sure what is in it. To be honest, no one has gone inside since my great grandfather passed away.”

I raise an eyebrow and stare at the building. The exterior shows the many years of neglect, but there is something about it that says there is more to it than what appears.

After a few moments, I take a deep breath and turn my attention back to my tablet. I add additional notes to my already growing list. At this rate, I may be here for years.

I have never come across a pack who has let things slide to this extent. There has to be something more than what I’m seeing. There must be a cause for it.

I won’t believe that it just happened.

As I type a few things into my tablet, Blake asks, “It is about supper time. I know we didn’t get to eat with the pack during lunch, but I would like to introduce you to everyone, including my siblings who were busy earlier. Luckily, I could reschedule my meeting this afternoon, but I can’t tomorrow. I need for you and Zack to meet each other, so you can start working together.”

I look up from the tablet and nod. “That would be great. I have plenty of questions for him, too. You keep saying that he is the one looking over everything. So, I want to get an idea of what his thoughts are about how the current system is working.”

A snort instantly spills from him as he shakes his head. “I already know the answer to that. He doesn’t like our current systems and says they aren’t good enough. He is also the main reason I emailed the request for help.”

Well, that is interesting. I think I might like him already. He seems to be the only one with a level head here.

Blake nudges my arm. “Come on. Let’s go eat.”

I nod and quickly finish typing my notes.

When we get to the dining hall, my heart twists a bit. I don’t expect shining and brand-new tables and chairs, but these are so battered, I don’t know if they will even hold up.

I quickly make a mental note to ask my father to send our used table and chairs here. We have just gotten new ones in our dining hall, and we have put the old ones in the basement. However, we didn’t really know what to do with them.

We have a lot more than they need and they look brand new compared to what they are using now, but if this pack needs things like this, I’m sure I can find other packs who need them too.

A pang of guilt shoots through me. We only replaced our things because they only had a few marks on them. Instead of replacing only one or two, we decided to replace all of them.

Blake smiles at me and motions towards a couple of long tables at the front of the room. “You will sit with me and my family at the head table. My parents are away visiting family, so it will only be my siblings sitting with us, along with my sister’s friend. I swear those two are joined at the hip.”

I return his smile and nod while we make our way towards the front.

The room buzzes with chatter as people file in and head to their tables. As I sit down next to Blake and scan the area, I ask, “What is on the menu for tonight?”

My stomach quietly grumbles, and I quickly realize I haven’t eaten much all day.

He turns towards me and his eyes sparkle as his smile grows wider. “We have something special since you are here. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Surprise. I may love food, but it ruins nothing by telling me what we are going to be eating.

My eyebrows knot together as I stare back at him. However, I remain silent. Something in his look tells me it will ruin it for him if he tells me.

A deep, husky voice in front of me grunts, “Stop it, Blake. I keep telling you, no one likes these stupid surprises of yours.”

Even though the voice has a hint of irritation in it, it sounds sexy and alluring.

Wait. What the heck?

I turn my attention towards the gorgeous voice.

My heart skips a beat as my eyes land on a walking god strutting towards us. His short brown hair bounces slightly as his blue eyes lock with mine.

My breath hitches as his eyes narrow and almost drill into me. He stops right in front of the table and raises his sexy eyebrow, while his beautiful blue eyes scan me. However, I wish something else would run all over my body.

Wait. What am I thinking?

Gulp. Is it getting hot in here?

He leans down and puts his hands on the table while his gaze comes back to mine.

However, his next few words have my world almost grinding to a halt.

“Are you sure you are an alpha? I have never seen an alpha this short.”

Shit.