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I hadn’t been a child inyears,but that was something else entirely.
Before I could venture down memory lane, I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts. Checking the time quickly, I decided my cousin would still be awake in London. He’d always been more of a night owl, anyway. I tapped on his name, leaving the phone on speaker so I could set it down.
That was another bonus to living alone, I supposed.
The phone line clicked after a handful of rings. “Eli,” he greeted me.
I snorted. “Myles,” I replied, raising my brow. He huffed, and I huffed back. “Sorry, are you too busy for me?” I scoffed, rechecking the time. “It’s 10:00 p.m. You getting ready for bed, grandpa?”
I could hear my cousin flip me the bird through the phone and snorted. “Just surprised is all,” he replied casually. “It’s been a minute.”
I grunted. That was true. I hadn’t checked in with him since my father and I had left for Texas most recently, but there wasn’t much to talk about. Myles would be my beta one day when I took over the Longbow Pack, but my father was still going strong, and— Well, there was the Remus issue. I bristled at the thought of my older half-brother, who’d miraculously appeared from America about a year ago, before shaking it off. He had no specific duties; he didn’t even work at the family’s financial firm. He’d told me, more than once, that it was too difficult to work with his father.
“How’s the excavation business going?”
Myles barked a hoarse laugh. “Busy as ever, mate,” he replied, clicking his tongue against his teeth. “Busy as ever. No lack of rich fucks who want more space and still want to keep their fancy, historic homes.”
I couldn’t help but snort. “Wearethose rich fucks, Myles. Just because you don’t dress like it.”
“Hah! Nah. Until Uncle Nic decides he needs to put an infinity pool in your basement, you’re not the same kind as them,” he shot back. I could almost imagine the smirk on his face. “You aren’t planning on renovating once Archer Manor is yours, are you?”
I grunted. I had a few ideas of how I might add my own touches to the place, but… “A pool is an absolute waste. Thehumidity, for one thing.”
Myles broke into laughter, and I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe it would have been better to call him sooner. He was so easy to get on with — even more than your average beta. Maybe it was because he was my cousin; we’d practically grown up as brothers. I’d wager we were closer than Myles was with his actual brother. Maverick and Myles had been my closest friends in childhood, but after Mav had fucked off to join the army…
“The humidity — fuck’s sake, Eli. You think of the most absurd things. The weather in Texas killing you yet?” Myles’ voice brought me back to the present.
“It’s close,” I grumbled, glancing out the window. The sun was sinking behind the city skyline. At least I could keep the air exactly how I liked it inside. “How are things back in London?”
Myles huffed, the laughter dying away. “Pack’s fine,” he said after a moment. I could almost hear the shrug. “Nothing interesting to report, which I guess is a good thing.”
“It is,” I agreed mildly, raising a brow. “And Uncle Gage?”
My cousin grumbled again. “Eh, my dad’s doing fine. You know how he is. He takes everything your dad says like it’s the word of a god. Makes sure it’s all done. It won’t even look like you’ve left at all.”
I snorted. Honestly, I was pretty sure my dad wouldn’t lose it if Gage didn’t follow his instructions to a T. He wasn’t that kind of guy. Disappointed, maybe, and if Gage completely fucked everything to hell, maybe mad. I couldn’t even imagine the sort of situation that would make my father lose his cool with his younger brother. “Well, I’m sure Nic and Gage have been in touch about it,” I said, having nothing useful to say.
Myles hummed for a moment before speaking up. “So, how are you doing out there? Like, seriously. I know that shit with Remus was kind of tense for a while.”
I sighed. Ihadbeen… hmm, not on my best behavior when my father had introduced the other alpha as the older brother I’d never met. At the age of twenty-four, that came as a shock. I’d always wanted a brother when I was a kid — I was jealous of Myles, or maybe I was just jealous that Myles had someone else, and he was as close as I got. That childish desire faded, though, and I’d practically forgotten I’d ever wanted a sibling by the time Remus waltzed into all our lives.
That was a year ago, though. “Well, he hasn’t turned out to be an ass yet, so that’s good,” I replied dryly. “And his kids are pretty cute. He’s invited me over a lot which… is pretty nice, I guess.”
Myles snorted. “Yeah, Eli, that’s what you do. And they’re your nephews, so.”
That had also come as a shock, but they were pretty easygoing as far as infants went. “Yeah, yeah,” I replied, shrugging it off. “Remus and his mate invited me to their Moonmate ceremony that’s coming up, so there’s that.” I couldn’t help the small growl.
“Yeah, I remember Uncle Nic mentioning that at the tail end of your trip,” Myles replied. He sighed. “You still thinking of going? I know that really isn’t your scene.”
“It’s not,” I grunted, leaning back into the couch. There was very little I could imagine as less ‘my scene’ than a party coordinated simply to find a ‘fated mate’ that may or may not exist. The entire concept was absolutely ridiculous. “I don’t get it, Myles. Remus and his mate aren’t even fated. Shehada fated mate who rejected her — at a damn Moonmate ceremony! Is there anyone less qualified?”
Myles grunted. “Would you rather have two lovebirds fawning all over each other and preaching the joy of a fated bond?” he replied. I could feel his eyebrow raise from here. “Seriously, if you don’t want to go, I’m sure Remus wouldn’t make you.”
“Eh.” Remus and I are on better terms than when we’d met, so I suspected Myles was right in his assessment. My father, however? That was a whole other story. “I told them I’d go. They have a nice house, and Remus’ taste in whiskey is on point. No one said I had to stay after I made an appearance.”
My cousin chuckled. “Fair play,” he replied. “Is Nic going? I heard he’s got a new girl. Old-new girl. You know what I mean.”
“Fiona? Yeah. They aren’t kidding anyone.” I was pretty sure both of them were trying to be subtle, but no one was buying it. No one. “It’s pretty weird, though. He hasn’t dated anyone since… y’know.”Since my mother left forherfated mate.
