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At the thought, a growl built in Draven’s chest, and he fought a losing battle to swallow it down.
His father, Mateo, and Kade all tilted their heads, but none questioned his reaction. At least not out loud.
Fuck. He needed to get a grip on his wolf. It wasn’t like he could go growling at every person who got near Flora. Draven could admit he was in too deep with her already, but his wolf was acting like a love sick pup, which wasn’t a sentiment Draven shared. The growly motherfucker needed to get with the damn program and realize she was not a permanent placement in their life.
“Your guest is safe. She’s still sleeping.” His father slid into the seat next to Kade and stole a slice of bacon from the plate. “I was surprised to see you let her stay. I figured you would have taken her to the pack house.”
“She didn’t exactly leave me much choice.”
“There is always a choice, son,” he said with a smile and a wistfulness in his voice that came whenever he was trying to teach Draven a lesson.
Samson was the perfect Alpha in Draven’s eyes. He was fair and just, but led with a firm hand. He learned from his father, who learned from his before him. They were the reason the Moon Ridge Pack was the most respected pack in the Americas and the liaison to the supernatural world.
“What did the elders say?”
“I’ve convinced them to hold off on contacting the pack tribes. They are willing to hear us out and review your history with the pack to determine if you are the only heir.”
“You don’t have another heir. Your wolf sired mine. I may not be of your blood, but my wolf is of your line.” Draven clenched his hands at his sides.
“I know, son, and they will see that too. We have to play their game. Our status in the world is that of royalty. We may not be kings or princes, but we are the leaders of the American packs and as such we are placed under the microscope. Over the last few years there have been packs that wish to see change. They wish to see us fall from the leadership so they can take over and run the packs as our ancestors did.”
“Ambersy.” That damn pack had been chomping at the bit to see them fail.
Samson nodded. “Yes. Roland would love to take my seat as the liaison and throw his weight around.”
“More like his bags of money,” Mateo snorted. “They have no honor. No loyalty. There’s a reason I defected.”
“I know.” Samson nodded in Mateo’s direction. He’d always seen Kade and Mateo as his own, and Draven loved him for it. “But Ambersy has purity in a world on the edge of change.”
Draven let out a long breath. “More than you know.”
“What does that mean?” His father’s eyes locked with his, a hint of worry in his brow.
Draven relayed everything he’d learned from Flora and Callum. He explained how Flora only wanted to secure help for her friend, who was carrying a hybrid witch and vampire child and currently residing with the witches. How Callum seemed to think Flora was the key to the future of the supernatural world, and how he offered the location of the other half of the moonstone in exchange for Draven’s help in the matter.
When he was finished, Draven’s father scrubbed his face, and his eyes softened. “This baby of vampires and witches. You, my son. The supernatural world is shifting. I can feel it. And as much as I hate to admit Callum is right, we must show them they have no reason to fear. That the future can be found in those who are different from what we’ve always known.”
“Or Draven could just compel them to obey.” Kade muttered offhandedly. “That would really pack a punch.”
Mateo let out a cackle. “You’re just mad he compelled you to do his chores for the better part of three years without anyone, yourself included, catching on.”
Draven chuckled, but stopped when he met his father’s pointed stare. “I already have a plan in place. I’m going to send Ansel to New Orleans to protect Emery and her child. Flora and I will be going to Lune to retrieve the other half of the moonstone.” He left out the part where he made a deal to fuck her. His father didn’t need to know the details of their little agreement. Hell, no one needed to know. “I’ve already ordered the jet to the runway, and can have everything ready for us to go tomorrow.”
“Take Mateo and Kade with you. I don’t want you or Flora alone so long as there is unrest in both our pack and the supernatural world.”
Draven nodded in agreement.
His father pressed his hands to the island and stood. “I’m going to work on the elders. See if I can set their mind at ease. I’m not going to step down just yet as Alpha. It’s not the right time and…”
His father’s voice trailed off, and Draven winced. “You don’t need to say it. You don’t know that I am going to be a member of this pack when all is said and done.”
“Draven, you are my son. My legacy. I don’t need the elders or the pack tribes to tell me that. I believe you are what this pack needs. What the supernatural world needs, but today more than ever, I worry that you don’t believe it yourself. Use this time to figure out if this is truly what you want, or if you are called to something bigger than Moon Ridge.”
“I—”
“No. Don’t say anything now. Go, the three of you and prepare what you’ll need to retrieve the stone, then prep that poor girl. She didn’t do anything but have the bad luck to get herself thrown into something she truly doesn’t understand. Remember that.”
Kade and Mateo looked at him, and Draven was once again reminded he was lucky to have them at his side. He gave them a nod, and they stood and swiftly jumped into action, heading out the door to prep for their trip.
