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OWEN
Owen gestured for his brother to stay in the apartment and make himself useful while Reika took care of the baby, gesturing to the piled-up dishes in the sink and giving him a look that Mateo quickly picked up on.
He slapped Trevor on the back of the neck and stepped to the railing of their balcony, turning to him. “Not that I hate seeing you, cousin, but I am surprised that you’re here.”
Trevor nodded, shoving his hands into his shorts’ pockets. He gazed out through the woods, a distant look crossing his features. “I did come here to congratulate you.”
Owen smiled at him. “Well, I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“How do you like being a father?”
He felt his chest swell. “It really is incredible. Seeing my mate be so brave while bringing him into the world and then us now getting to raise him …” Owen trailed off, feeling his eyes fill with tears. “It’s unbelievable.” He felt his cousin nudge him gently.
“Don’t get all worked up on me, now.”
He let out a soft chuckle, rubbing at his eyes. “Can’t help it. The family that I’ve found is incredible. It really is.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you, but again. I don’t think you came all the way down here to listen to me babble on about my mate and son.”
Trevor sighed to himself, his shoulders sagging. “I was … looking for advice, actually.”
Owen nodded, “About?”
His cousin’s brows pulled together. “My brother Brandon had been struggling with the lack of attention from our father. He’s been trying to gather support from within the pack to contest that alphaship, saying that it should go to the strongest, not the eldest like it has been for generations.”
“Hmm.” Owen couldn’t help but feel how familiar this song and dance was. “I see.”
Trevor looked at him. “I know that you went through something similar recently. You know … through the grapevine and all.”
“Unfortunately, I’m too familiar with that, yes.”
His cousin shook his head. “I’m at a loss for what to do. I’ve been training all my life for taking over as alpha one day, and I don’t want to fight my brother. But he’s making it kind of impossible for our futures not to go there.”
“Connor and I were the same way.”
“What did you do?”
Owen shifted on his feet and turned to stare up at the sky. The clouds overhead were white and fluffy. A perfect day for lying out in the grass with his family.
“Honestly, the whole thing was a mess. I ended up having to face my father and almost give him the death bite.”
“What?” Trevor breathed out.
“Yeah.” Owen shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memories. “Look, I’m not sure how far you think Brandon is going to push this issue, but you may want to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Maybe have a meeting with him and your father to discuss things.”
“I’m not sure how well that will go over. Brandon’s been really pushing the issue.”
Owen reached out, clapping a hand onto his cousin’s shoulder. “You must be stern. If you feel that you aren’t the right person fit for the alphaship, then let your brother have it. But if you think that, even for a moment, he wouldn’t be fit … you need to fight for it.”
Owen watched his cousin swallow slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing with the motion.
“Do you really think it’ll come down to that? Me having to face my father like you did yours?”
Owen squeezed his shoulder tightly. “Let’s hope it doesn’t. In the meantime, gather those still loyal to you. Speak with your father. It’s the best you can do until Brandon confronts you about the issue formally.”
Trevor nodded. “All right. I’ll do that.”
