I let out a deep sigh and proceeded to make myself a sandwich. Eating would comfort me after the complete chaos of the past week, and I didn’t mind stalling for time.
As I bit into my sandwich, I realized I had nothing good to share. There seemed to be no end to the madness. “I’m not sure where to start. Let’s just say that things haven’t been great.”
Bryce raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Trouble in paradise with Liza?”
“You could say that.” I grabbed a bag of chips from the pantry. “Castro faked his own death, for starters.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Bryce gaped at me. I thought for sure his eyes would pop out of his head. “How did you find out?”
“He wrote a letter to Liza. He also texted her.” I sat down across from Bryce. “He paid off the coroner to slip him a pill that stopped his heart long enough to fool the hospital staff, then walked right out the door.”
“Son of a bitch.” Bryce whistled through his teeth. “He’s a sneaky fucker, isn’t he?”
“Yep. Now, he’s messing with our minds, saying he’s going to give us clues that will lead us to him.”
“Why would he do that? There’s gotta be more to it.” Bryce took another bite of apple and chewed with his mouth open, bits of apple falling onto the counter.
He was such a slob. Why did women find him so magnetic? It was one of life’s many mysteries we’d just never understand.
“Of course, there’s more to it. Castro’s a smart guy, and he wants Liza. Plus, he’d like to see the Keller pack fail miserably, if not completely burned to the ground.”
“How’s Liza holding up? Are you two still moving toward mating?”
That was a good question, and I wasn’t quite sure how to answer it. “We’re still together, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Shit. That doesn’t sound good.” Bryce tossed his apple core into the trash can from across the room.
“Dad wants us to move forward with mating, but Liza’s not ready. If we don’t mate soon, the power of the alpha might fade completely before he can transfer it to me.”
“Wait. Let me guess.” Bryce stood for dramatic effect, staring off into the distance and gesturing to an invisible audience. “The great alpha wants you to choose another mate lest the entire kingdom he built should perish.”
I scoffed. “How’d you know?”
“Your dad’s pretty predictable, Ty. The pack is his first priority, not yours and Liza’s romance.” He shrugged. “It’s a lot to ask of you, but he does have a point. You need to do what’s best for the pack.”
I groaned and took another bite of my sandwich. Bryce was right. Dad put the pack first, and as the next alpha, shouldn’t I do the same? Maybe choosing a temporary mate was the right choice.
It was good Bryce was here because I knew damn well there wasn’t anyone else I’d speak to so candidly or deeply about my personal affairs.
Dad had said it was important to have a confidant, and though Bryce was no Nico, he was my best friend, and I’d trust him with all of my secrets. He’d take them to his grave, I was certain of it.
Bryce’s hand on my shoulder interrupted my musings. “Listen,” he said in a low voice. “You’ll lose Liza if you even consider taking another mate. Can you imagine her being with someone else? You two have something special. Something others would give anything for.” His words settled on me like an anchor, reminding me of the bond I shared with Liza.
“No,” I said flatly, unable to fathom such a thought. “I don’t want to imagine her with someone else. I’d lose my mind.”
“Then, don’t even think about it. You can still be alpha without having to give up Liza. There must be another way.”
“I wish it was that simple. The fact that I’d lose her is exactly why I hadn’t considered a temporary mate up until now, but it’s like a fucking boulder is permanently attached to my back. I feel like I can’t make the right damn decision, no matter what I do.” I pushed my plate away. “Dad’s getting weaker by the day, and soon others will start to notice. I’m honestly surprised no one’s said anything about it already. He tries to be all big and bad when he’s in public, but even his stature is smaller.”
I closed my eyes, trying to push the image of my dad becoming weaker out of my head. He’d always been such a strong force in my life, and the thought of him aging so rapidly damn near broke my heart.
“I have to take the power of the alpha, and soon. Putting it off any longer just isn’t an option anymore.”
Bryce crossed his arms. “How much longer do you think your dad has before the alpha power fades completely? A year? Two?”
I sighed. “Two months. Three, tops.”
“Do you think that’s enough time to get Liza to fall in love with you?” He paused and considered his words. “I’m assuming sheisn’tin love with you now, right?”
