Taking Down the Alpha

39 According to Plan

We swiftly made out way back to the clearing, just in time to find Alard looking for me.

"Where did you wander off to?" he asked with just the perfect balance of casual protectiveness so as not to be stifling. He really was perfect for me. If he were more overbearing we wold have clashed, but all he did was make me feel like he had my back.

"I spotted Alice and her friends sneaking off. But don't worry, I took backup, and Liana is handling it."

"Liana?" he sounded slightly surprised .

I sighed, thinking of how bothersome Alice could be. "I found her crying, not plotting. She harboured unrealistic expectations and now she's upset they didn't work out. I told her so, but seems she did not listen."

Alard nodded. "Exactly the kind of nuisance I always avoided."

"Maybe we'll luck out and she'll find her mate in some other pack." It was such a nice thought. I really should set up a mixer in the future, not just to try to get rid of Alice and her cronies, but for the benefit of other unmated wolves as well. But that was a task for after I got the pack running at peak efficiency.

"I find her antics amusing, it reminds me of the girls who used to throw themselves at my brother. Drove him crazy. But if she really bothers you, send her off on a mate hunt. It worked for you. You could charter a bus."

"Wouldn't it seem strange if I sent just three wolves off on a bus?" I asked innocently. While the thought was tempting, I had read that wolves of equal rank were statistically more likely to stay at the pack where they met, and I wasn't keen for Huntstone to bleed other pack members anytime soon. The more stable I could keep everything through the transition the better it would be long term.

He just chuckled. "Come, let's go sit with your parents, it's been a long day and you could use a break. And I heard your mother was looking for you."

"What did she want?"

"They didn't say."

"Alright." It was probably nothing important, but like my father, I knew it was easier in the long run just to stay on her good side.

I hadn't had a chance to speak to my family with all the wolves vying for my attention. As we approached, I noticed my mother's chair was empty beside my father. When they noticed us coming, both my brothers completely ignored me in favour of my mate, babbling something about the challenge fight. Alard was as gracious with them as ever, which was probably easy because they didn't pull all their usual annoying tricks on him. Why did he get their best behaviours? I bet they wouldn't cheat if they played a board game with him.

I sat down beside my father. "Congratulations, Jessica," he said. His tone was blase, but he was proud underneath his calm expression. "You'll do Huntstone proud."

"Thanks, Dad." I had quite a lot of confidence that I would, but hearing his vote of confidence made me feel good. "Where's Mom?"

"She went off to get something else to eat and got lost, talking to my sister." He scanned the crowd and added, "See, she's over there with Jillian now. It'll be a bit before she makes it back here since she never even made it to the buffet yet. I predict she'll have to stop for at least two more conversations before she gets back." The unspoken advice was to enjoy the peace while it lasted.

"At least she seems to be having fun."

My father nodded.

"Did you know they were prepping this party?"

"Yes, but your mother swore me to secrecy. Sorry."

"It's not bad, as far as surprises go. And my plan—if we won—was to have a quiet night, so not much to reschedule." I still had our go bags sitting in the closet in case things went badly, but unpacking could wait.