Midfield Academy: Book 3

Chapter 82: Blood of an Outsider (16 years, 7 months)

Raven and Jesse hurried into the ballroom that had been decorated for Christmas. Aden was in the far corner with his parents talking with River and Troy. Aden had his arm around the other sub and was pointing toward their mates as the group laughed. Raven sat down next to his father who was seated on the couch under the windows with his mother and leaned into the alpha's side. The full thick, pine tree rose high over their heads and the bottom was overflowing with presents.

Jesse ran at Daven who was talking with Trevor and jumped onto his fiance's back with a war cry. Daven tired to grabbed the sub as he turned in a circle.

Darius put his arm around his son's shoulders. "Did you sleep good?"

Raven nodded.

"You slept through breakfast. I was going to come and get you, but your mother said she heard from a servant you two were up rather late last night."

"Jesse wanted to hear all about Europe and I wanted to know what was going on at school." Raven grabbed his father's hand that was draped over his shoulder. "Dad, why isn't Jagger here? Jesse didn't know why. I tried texting Jagger, but I didn't get a reply."

"Probably because he's busy."

"With what?"

Darius took a deep breath. "Jagger will have to lead Northern Ridge one day. He needs to start taking on more responsibility. Bloodhound has a beta that would have served with Jet, but with me gone, someone needed to stay behind to look after our pack."

"It's Christmas, though. Couldn't you have the older dominants do it? Like Rupert?"

"Jagger volunteered. The pack is catching on that he's going to be their next leader. They're not too thrilled about it."

"Why?" Raven frowned. "Everyone loves Jagger."

"We may love him as part of our family, but not everyone else feels the same. Jagger was raised in Northern Ridge, but he was born in Bloodhound. It's hard for some of our packmates to come to terms that they will most likely be led by someone not of Northern Ridge blood."

"Jagger would never betray us. He's a Northern Ridge wolf. I've talked to him about it and he'd never do anything to hurt the pack."

"I know that, Rav." He rubbed his son's shoulder. "It's change and people have never really been open to change. The idea of an outsider taking the rank of alpha hasn't gone over well. It doesn't help that I gave our alpha to Midfield." Darius glanced at his eldest son. "He would have been an alpha of Northern Ridge lineage that goes back to the days the pack was founded. They're upset and they have every right to be."

Raven ran his hands down his hair. "I was upset when Daven left, but it was for the best. I didn't think people were still mad about it."

"Irritate, and unfortunately, they're taking it out on Jagger." Darius sunk down in his seat. "It was the right choice to have Daven mate into Midfield. Northern Ridge now has a brotherhood with Midfield that will help us as surrounding packs grow stronger. But Daven was still our alpha. Jagger was meant to lead another pack, and some only see him as Daven's replacement."

The sub sighed. "That's not true. Jagger works really hard. Harder than Daven, I know that much."

Darius kissed the top of his son's head. "I agree. He's going to have to work even harder to get the pack to see what we already know. Jagger is going to be their alpha one day, but to lead a pack that resents him, won't be easy. He needs to start proving himself now so he can convince the pack that he deserves his rank and is loyal to Northern Ridge."

"It's not fair," breathed Raven, laying his head on his father's shoulder. "Can he come for at least one day? Please. I really want to see him before I have to leave again."