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Ajax nodded. He completely understood where Kenji was coming from. He’d been just as lost and confused when his father died. He’d been in a bad headspace, no longer wanting to run a pack. That had never been his calling. It had been what his father had wanted.
Now Ajax had what he wanted. Peace and quiet and his own business.
“After I left, I came to Midnight Falls to see if I could find a place where I belonged. A place without packs or werewolf politics. And you know what? I found it here.”
Ajax leaned forward, his expression softening. “We’re two peas in a pod, Kenji. We’ve been friends our entire lives, and you know that I didn’t want to be alpha.”
“You were the best we’d ever had, no disrespect to your father ruling. A lot of people took it hard when you walked away.”
“I had to do it. For my mental health,” Ajax admitted. “Like you, I wasn’t happy. In fact, I was downright miserable.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.” Kenji sat back, looking around as Ajax glanced at the swirling steam rising from Kenji's coffee cup. “I called Maceson this morning. He all but admitted that Kramer was behind this, but I’d bet my life Maceson was in on it too.”
Ajax wouldn’t doubt it. He knew Kramer and his family. They’d been pretenders from the beginning. Luther had come to Ajax’s father, asking permission to join their pack.
At the time, Kramer was still young. But even then, he’d acted as if he was too good for everyone else. Ajax couldn’t count how many times pack members had gone to his father with complaints against Kramer and Luther, but somehow Luther had always smoothed things over.
But Ajax had seen through the man’s charms, seen through his son’s remorseful expressions. Neither of them cared about anyone but themselves. Letting the two join the pack was the worst mistake Ajax’s father had ever made.
“What do you think I should do?” Kenji asked. “Lord knows I want to go back there and rip Kramer’s spine out. That’s if I can even find a spine on him.”
“I think you should stay put,” Ajax said. “If I had to guess, I’d say that the demon attack was to provoke you into returning.”
“You think they’re setting a trap for me?”
“I do.” Ajax nodded.
Kenji slammed his palm on the table. “My mate was there, Ajax. He could have gotten hurt.”
Ajax leaned forward. “My mate was there too, Kenji. Drake was on the side of the fucking porch when that demon attacked you. Stay put.”
“Is that an order?” Kenji asked.
Ajax let out a deep breath and reclined in his seat. “I’m not your alpha anymore, so you can take my advice or ignore it. But just so you know, if Kramer sends anyone else after you, I’ve got your back. All you have to do is call me and Mason, and I will be there.”
It was the least he could do after years of Kenji’s undying loyalty to Ajax. They’d been friends since they were pups. If Ajax had to, he’d rally the entire town to help Kenji.
* * * *
When Tido entered the café, he noticed how tense his mate’s shoulders were. He couldn’t hear what Ajax and Kenji were saying, but he could read their body language.
So Tido stayed away from the two, following Drake behind the counter instead. “What do you think they’re saying?” Tido asked.
“Probably plotting Maceson’s demise.” Drake shrugged. “That’s what I would be doing if I had their abilities and strength.”
Tido didn’t want Kenji going back to his pack. They’d only met, though they’d mated, and Tido felt protective toward him. If Maceson was willing to send a demon after Kenji, there was no telling what else he would do if Kenji returned.
“Here, have a slice.” Drake slid a plate toward Tido with a huge piece of Black Forest cake on it. “You have to try it. It’s like heaven in your mouth when you eat it.”
Tido slapped a five on the counter. “I don’t want Ajax saying I didn’t pay for it.”
When he took a bite, Tido’s eyes rolled back as he moaned. Drake was right. It was the best Black Forest cake he’d ever tasted.
“I told you.” Drake grinned as he put the five in the tip jar. He grabbed a glass, filled it with milk, and gave it to Tido. “The best thing to wash it all down.”
Drake leaned in toward Tido as Tido took a sip of the milk. “We should tell Elijah and Gage about the situation,” he suggested, referring to their other two best friends. “They’d want to help too.”
“I’m not so sure about Gage,” Tido said as he licked the fork. “Remember how he got hurt when you called for him?”
