Page 27 of Their Marked Mate

“How many packs are there?” According to Evelyn there were ten, but all of Evelyn’s information had been gleaned from the guards. It was nice to hear the specifics from the pack alpha.

“Ten, including Riverside,” Nate answered.

Riverside was Alex’s pack, the largest and most powerful. Luna looked at Alex as she asked, “Do your cousins’ packs come next?”

A reluctant smile tugged up one corner of Alex’s mouth. “Aspen, Drake’s pack, is the undisputed second. I consider Bloodstone pack next because of Caden, but Silverthorne pack is larger and has highly skilled warriors.”

“Are the rest of the packs okay with the nepotism?” she dared to ask, his indulgence making her bold.

“It’s not up to them. Lupine village is not a democracy.” Alex insisted. “I’m the village alpha. What I say goes.”

She nodded, but couldn’t help asking, “Then what’s the role of the alpha council?”

“They provide information and offer advice, but the final decision is always mine.”

“Dictatorships are efficient,” she granted. “But absolute power is a temptation few can resist. Things often end badly for dictators.”

Alex chuckled, unoffended by her jibe. “Is that a prediction or a threat?”

“An observation.” She paused for a sip of wine before asking, “If I succeed in completing the formula and you’re able to form mating bonds, how will the females be awarded?”

“The first set of females will go to the pack alphas,” Nate admitted. “With wolves it’s only the alpha pair that is allowed to breed.”

“Really?” She shook her head. “That seems counterproductive to building a strong pack. Wouldn’t you want as many cubs as possible?”

“With humans there is strength in numbers,” Alex explained as he pushed his plate aside. “For wolves it’s more important that each member of the pack be physically strong and skillful. Packs hunt together and protect their territory, but if each member is not strong and proficient then they are just another mouth to feed.”

He was speaking of the animals, but the principles clearly applied to the lupine village as well. Of the three shifter species, lupine hybrids seemed to be the most influenced by their animal nature. “You’ve only been village alpha for a few weeks. What did you do before you overthrew Elias?”

Alex refilled his glass then answered her question. “There wasn’t time for anything but work for the first few years. Every day was a struggle to survive.”

“After the village was built and things settled into a routine, alliances formed and the stronger packs started making plans,” Nate added.

“Plans dictated by Elias, or plans to overthrow him?” Luna wanted to know.

“Elias was a murderous bastard that only cared about himself,” Alex stressed bitterly. “But his pack was large and ruthless. We lost dozens of fighters every time he ordered a raid. The bloodshed got so bad I couldn’t sit back and let it continue.”

“Have you always been Riverside pack alpha?” she asked softly. The memories were clearly painful for Alex and Nate, but she needed to understand the events that formed them if they ever hoped to build a future together.

“His older brother was the first pack alpha,” Nate told her. “But Jax didn’t survive the first winter.”

“Jax ended up at Nuevo too?” She was surprised but shouldn’t have been. Nuevo Biotech’s tentacles threaded through all of Earth’s militaries.

“A hybrid named Damien tried to take Jax’s place,” Alex went on. “He wasn’t worthy, so I challenged him.”

None of these males wore uniforms, but they were all still in the military. Luna preferred a society with more freedom, more flexibility. Her opinion, her personal preferences were irrelevant. Rydaria only tolerated those strong enough to survive. Freedom would have to wait until security had been achieved, and that day was still far in the future.

“Are you finished with your questions?” Alex asked after a long pause.

His expression had hardened and his gaze had grown cold. Was he simply annoyed by her questions or was something else wrong? “I’m sorry,” she said automatically. “I thought you’d welcome my interest in you.”

“I do, but I can barely detect my scent on you. Care to explain why that is?”

“I didn’t disobey you,” she stressed. “You told me not to shower and I didn’t.”

“Then why are our scents so weak?” Nate joined in.

She swallowed past the lump of dread rapidly forming in her throat. “I might have wiped away some of the mess while I was getting dressed. It was unavoidable.”