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“That’s why you’re promoting her rank?”
“The moment she became my mate, her rank changed. And when I became alpha, it changed again. Theoretically, she’s the highest-ranking female in the pack.”
“True.” He pressed a button on the coffeemaker and it rumbled to life. “So, that means, Lucille is free?”
I shook my head. “Tyren, Lucille is twenty-one, six years older than you. Right now, she probably considers you a younger brother. If you’re really into her, wait another five or ten years to try something, okay?”
He shrugged. “No promises.”
I cocked my head, taking a good look at him. “Raika told me you were like a moody teenager most of the time while in … while I was away. And you are, most of the time since the pack was freed, but right now, you’re different. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He rolled his eyes. “Okay. I had a conversation with Killian yesterday after practice. I was complaining you were treating me like a kid, and he said that might be because I was acting like one, especially when around you. He said I should try to be more like your friend. Then maybe you would trust me and let me help more.”
By the moon, I had to have a talk with Killian. Or not. I didn’t like the idea of Tyren in the battlefield, but this interaction we were having was nice. I could easily see the both of us enjoying spending time together if it was always like this.
“Killian is an old vampire. You know what they say, wisdom comes with age.”
Tyren half-smiled, something I did often. “And when are you going to be wise? When you’re two hundred years old?”
Two hundred for a wolf was like ninety for a human.
I shook my head. “Just … eat your breakfast and get ready. Today you’ll be accompanying me everywhere.”
Tyren’s eyes rounded. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I’m alpha, but if something were to happen to me, you’re next in line. You have to learn how to take care of the pack.” Not that I knew what I was doing. I had studied with our father for many years, but it was one thing reading records and watching from the sides. Another was actually being at the helm and navigating a stormy sea with a ship full of holes.
His brows slammed down. “I don’t want to be alpha. You will live long, and one day, one of your pups with Raika will be your successor.”
Pups with Raika. Even though I wasn’t ready to be a father, I liked that picture for the future. “That’s okay. But we never know what tomorrow is going to be like.” I drank the rest of my not-so-hot coffee. “Get ready. We leave in fifteen.”
* * *
Tyren didn’t complain,even when I noticed his breathing came in faster bursts in the middle of morning practice. He had run the perimeter of the pack lands with me, and he helped lead the practice with the other wolves.
The others saw how I coached Tyren, and the older ones took note of what was happening. I was grooming a successor in case something happened to me. Serge was the first to voice his displeasure.
I was already enraged because he bullied Raika yesterday. I didn’t hold it in. I sent the old wolf to run four laps around the pack lands, and if he slowed or stopped, he had to start over.
He called me names under his breath as he turned, shifted, and dashed away.
If he continued provoking me like this, I would have to do more than punish him with laps.
After practice, Tyren and I went to my office at town hall. Lavinia had said she would bring lunch to all of us, but Lucille came in with a big sandwich for me and for Tyren. She halted by the door and watched us as we took bites of our lunch.
“Is it good?” she asked with a smile.
“Delicious,” Tyren said, his mouth full. He stared at her like a damn puppy.
I swallowed and said, “Thank you, Lucille, but you know you don’t need to do this.”
“I know, but it’s the least I can do.” Her smile dimmed. “Oh, Shane, I actually came with a request today.”
This couldn’t be good. “What is it?”
“You know, during both battles … some females fought because we were right there, but we didn’t really know what we were doing. We had fighting lessons while in school, but after that, your father never allowed females to train with the male wolves.”
I nodded. My father was old-fashioned that way. Nowadays, women wanted to be involved in everything, which I thought was fair.
