Chapter 112

Chapter 112
I was running on fumes. Between watching the kids, trying to get everything ready for when Finn and Noah came with Leah and Haley, I was running myself into the ground. Still, it needed to be done. Today was probably the biggest day, and maybe after that, I could rest a little.

Right now though, I was waiting for the delivery truck on the far east side of the territory. There was enough space for me to drive the ATV from that point all the way into the pack house without too much deviation. I’d purchased three ATVs and two carts that could hold up to 1200 pounds. Luckily, none of the appliances that I ordered weight that much. I’d have space for two more appliances, and it would still be within the weight limit.

Yesterday, the kids and I cleared any serious debris that would jostle the cart around too much when trying to get it delivered to the house. I’d also caught two of Solaris’ warriors from the first prince’s army hanging around town. Apparently, the word got around after the barbecue, and more than a few who had left were interested in what I was building.

There wasn’t much I could offer them at the moment from the pack yet. In exchange for paying for their rooms, they were helping me bring in stuff from the city to the pack house. Today, they were helping me load, unload, and put all the appliances into place while I helped hook them up.

I’d called for the power and the water to be restored, though, that turned into a fight I didn’t realize was going to be an issue. Someone between the time Solaris had purchased the land and now tried to claim the land as theirs. So I ended up having to take a day, with the kids, to go to the local courthouse will all my documentation and fight it.

Luckily, Solaris was overly thorough in her paperwork, and the development company that tried to lay claim to it left the courthouse with their tails between their legs. It also helped that I said I was going to do my best to keep as much of the forest as possible. This part of the forest wasn’t considered the national forest side; it was still part of the same forest. The development guys planned to mow the entire area down and set up townhouses or something facing the forest so people could own a timeshare for the area.

“Alpha?”

I looked down at my phone. The truck with everything we needed was due to come by any minute. We’d cleared the space for them to drive up, and I hoped we’d made enough room. It was going to be a big rig, and they said we were their only delivery considering how many things I’d ordered. This was going to be an all-day endeavor, which is why everyone was up at six in the morning.

“Alpha!”

Jumping, I turned to Gerald, who was chuckling. “Sorry. I’m still not used to being called that. What’s up?”

“I got a message from a few of the other guys they were coming into town later today.”

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Right now, there is a tree house set up on the west side of the territory. If you all want to stay there. I think there are three or four rooms. The packhouse is nowhere near ready. The tree house at least has some furniture left over.”

“Are you sure? Weren’t you staying there?”

I shook my head. “We couldn’t. It’s not built to house the kids. I’m hoping to have the house done in a few days, but if you and the guys want to move in there for now, I would be happy to set you up with everything you need. Eventually, I’d like to build that area out more.”

“As in houses?”

“No, well, more treehouses. I think it would be good for the area. Plus, I wanted to have it available for those who didn’t want to stay indefinitely.”

Gerald’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, rogues who want a safe place to stay for a little while before they move on. Or fey who want a taste of the outside world. Vampires who are just passing through. Anyone, really. I want this pack to be safe for everyone, even if they don’t belong to my pack.”

He looked at me, a little shocked. “I didn’t think Alphas like you existed anymore.”

Winking at him, I shrugged. “Maybe because I wasn’t raised as an Alpha. I was support, not the person barking the orders. Still, Solaris was my mate, and it’s what we wanted to build. A safe haven for everyone and a home for our ridiculously huge family that apparently we were manifesting from thin air.”

Laughing, Gerald shook his head. “Looks like you’re already well on your way, Alpha. I don’t know about you, but five is a crowd to most people.”

“Not to Solaris and me when we were little.”

“She went all in, I can tell you that much.”

Nodding, I smiled as I saw the large truck come around the corner. I stepped up to wave them down when Gerald stepped in front of me, pushing me back gently.

“I’m not chancing your getting run over. Not with you at half-speed lately.”

I let out a sigh, but stepped back to the ATV. “Fine. This time.”

Gerald waved down the driver, and they pulled off the road onto the dirt side. We convened together to confirm everything that was getting delivered and how we were planning on moving the items. This was going to be a whole ordeal. We had all three ATVs here, and one had my two kids sleeping in the front seat. The other two had carts attached to them.

Gerald and Blythe were planning on driving everything in using the two ATVs with the carts. The only issue was that this was going to take forever. It was miles of forest between us and the pack house. This was the easiest place to pick everything up, but pretty much the furthest from the pack house we could get. I’d probably have to babysit everything as they made the trips to unload everything.

Sure enough, only one piece of appliance would fit on the carts at once. It would not be a weight issue but a size issue. Shaking my head, I watched as the truck driver and two other helpers unloaded the truck while Gerald and Blythe took off with the first load to the house.

“Daddy, your phone.”

I turned, seeing Amelia holding out my phone that I had set down for a second. “Thanks, sweetheart. You can go back to sleep.”

She nodded, yawning and curling up with her brother. Without looking at it, I answered it before it went to voicemail.

“Hello, Nate speaking.” I cursed in my head that I needed to be more official when answering the phone.

“Well, good morning, Alpha Nathaniel White.”

My spine snapped straight. The voice sounded off. Which meant I wasn’t speaking to werewolf or human. This was a fey. While I hadn’t spoken to many, I did know how they sounded. The ethereal breathiness of their voice and sounding like they were speaking in front of you, even through a phone. I hadn’t dared to reach out to anyone yet, and the next thing on my list was speaking to the Alpha King. It didn’t make sense that a fey would know me by my title.

“Good morning. I apologize; I wasn’t expecting a work call this early.”

“No, no. I understand completely. I apologize for calling you out of the blue like this.”

I tapped my toe in the dirt. “How can I help you?”

“Oh dear, my manners seem to have left me. I am Councilor Morel.”

My heart dropped into my chest. “What can I do for you, Councilor Morel?”

I wouldn’t say that it was a bad thing when the Council of Elders called you directly. It was, however, not a good thing either. My nerves were just shy of making my hands shake.

“I would like to meet in person, if you don’t mind. As much as I know the technological advances of humans have come a long way, I much prefer a face to face. Especially when speaking of important matters.”

“Ah, sure.” I winced, hearing how that sounded in my head. “I would not mind speaking in person. Is there a specific time and place you would like me to meet you?”

He chuckled, but it sounded nothing like a normal laugh. “Oh, aren’t you adorable. Daeva is going to have a field day with you. Just expect us this evening. We won’t make you go anywhere far. We understand you have offspring to take care of.”

“Yes, Councilor. Thank you. I’ll…look forward to speaking with you this evening then.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

The line disconnected, and I looked down at my phone, still shocked. Blythe came over, his eyes narrowed. He put his hand on my shoulder, and I jumped, tearing my eyes away from my phone.

“Everything okay?”

“I…think so? I don’t know.” I looked down at my phone. “The Council of Elders was not someone I was expecting to speak to this early.”

He chuckled. “Ah. Yes. Solaris used to speak with them, frequently actually. Though she’d never say about what. Hush-hush and all that. Don’t worry. I don’t think they are too bad. They never were when we dealt with them.”

I nodded slowly. “Sorry, did you need me…?”

“Gerald and I are going to head in with the first pieces. The driver is going to continue unloading.”

“Got it! Be careful. I don’t want you guys pushing yourselves too much. Take it slow.”

Patting me on the back hard, Blythe shook his head. “You’re worse than Solaris was. Don’t worry about it, Alpha. We got it.”

Smiling, I saw them secure the units before they drove into the forest. It was really going to take some time to get used to being called Alpha. Every time sent a little rush through me, and I was pretty sure I could feel Wren preen like a cat.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Oh please. You know you like it.’

He scoffed. ‘Just because I like it, Nate, doesn’t make me a cat.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Sure, Wren. Whatever you say.’