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The room looked like a family reunion, he thought, and wondered how many people here were related to the Alpha. The old Alpha, he amended, he was the Alpha now. And wasn’t that a mind-bending notion? A family reunion, or a potlatch, he thought, remembering the celebrations his mother took him to when he was young.
If he was coming back to this region, there were things he would have to face there too. He wasn’t getting older. That was easy enough to hide among people who didn’t remember a hot-headed young Tom George —but there were a lot of people in Okanogan who would recognize him. He grimaced. His mind seemed to be hopping from thing to thing. And he should be focused, wary. Things seemed even-keel enough, but that could change in a heart-beat, especially among some of the younger wolves.
It’s OK,Jessie soothed.We’ve got this. Your Ryder Wolves. Benny. Titus. Even me, the lamest pack Second on the West Coast. To be honest, I think most people are relieved. Uncertain about the changes ahead, but I’m sensing things had gotten... a bit crazy.
Mate, his wolf said contentedly.
Ryder grinned. They might have to teach Jessie to fight, but he’d never have to worry about who had his back.
A woman approached him nervously, and he smiled at her. “Do you have a question?” he asked gently.
She swallowed. She was an attractive woman, who looked to be in her 50s, which meant she was probably much older.
The Alpha’s wife, I think,Jessie said through the mate bond.
He sat up straighter. “Mrs. McKenzie?” he asked. “Can I do something for you? This must be a difficult time for you.”
She nodded once, then swallowed again. “When do you need us out of the house, Alpha?” she blurted out. “It might take me some time to find places for everyone to go.”
Ryder’s eyes widened. He saw Benny lean back in his chair — his cue that this was Ryder’s problem to handle. “I don’t need you out of the house at all,” he said, projecting reassurance. “It’s your house, after all. We can discuss a stipend for you and your family, but be assured you will be taken care of.”
“But where will you stay?” she asked, her voice quavering as she vacillated between alarm and relief.
Good question,Jessie sent wryly.I’m not sure how many nights I want to stay at the motel across the street. Clerk knew we were being set up, by the way, and didn’t sound an alarm.
“Perhaps you can aid me in finding a place,” Ryder said. “But I don’t do well in towns. I need a place outside of Penticton a ways, preferably south. Maybe toward Osoyoos, a bit. I gather I’m going to be travelling a lot.” He glanced wryly at Benny who just grinned.
“There are people who can help with that,” Duncan said intervening. “See, Marta? I told you. He knows how to be an Alpha, and an Alpha takes care of his pack. All of it.”
Ryder glanced from Duncan to Titus, recognizing the sounds of a man who was instructing him on how to behave. Great, he thought. Now I have two of them.
Marta smiled nervously, but she nodded, and went back to the other women, who appeared to be holding a conference about something. Jessie slid off his lap. “Be right back,” she murmured, and went to join them. He just watched her with a smile.
“You got it bad, bro,” Benny said, with a shake of his head. But he was smiling too. Ryder just shrugged. He wasn’t going to apologize for being fascinated by his new mate.
“So, quick,” Ryder said to the three men sitting at the table. “What do I need to do before I can get out of here? Because falling flat on my face isn’t the first impression I’m going for.”
“Circulate,” Duncan said promptly. “Let them all feel your presence up close. You and your Second. Is she your mate?”
Ryder glanced at Benny. Was there any reason they shouldn’t know this? Then he answered himself. Pack.
“Yes,” Ryder said. “Mate and Second. A new world, hey?”
“New world, indeed,” Duncan said, looking around the room shrewdly. “But the two of you can do a lot just by getting close enough to let them feel your presence. And buy another round of beer. Might shoot some pool with Dennis —the Alpha’s son. Or darts, if you’re game. Turn it into a party. Then make a short speech, introduce yourself, your mate, and use the mate bond as an excuse to call it an early night. The pack will like that. We’ve needed fresh blood for a long time.”
Tomorrow, Ryder reminded himself. Tomorrow he’d probe and figure out what had been going on with the pack that left it reeling like this.
“And tomorrow, first thing, you need to decide what to do with those new recruits,” Benny said.
Ryder grimaced. Then he brightened. “Delegate,” he said confidently. “Titus? You’ve got incoming recruits.”
“Wait, not me,” the old man protested. Ryder ignored it. He’d come around. Ironic though, that had been McKenzie’s plan, wasn’t it? Send them to the Okanogan? He laughed and stood up. “Mingle it is.”
And gradually people relaxed. Jessie was really good at it, Ryder discovered. And Duncan had been right —the fact that their new Alpha was also newly mated made people happy. Hell, he was turning into a regular old family man. He did play darts with Dennis McKenzie. And Jessie kept bringing him food to try out. It was all good, and he said so loudly. Jessie’s amusement grew.
What?he demanded.
I feel like we’re at a church social — circa 1950,she answered.Like in a movie.
