Chapter 115

Chapter 115
When I finally made it back to the pack house, there were two very different feelings. On one hand, Amelia and Landon were ecstatic to see Nessa and Fey again. Finn was still holding Hailey, and Leah had her arms crossed over her chest, frowning. My two Betas looked angry, and I could see Amelia and Landon torn.

I walked past Nessa, Fey, and Alpha Jacob without looking at them and kneeled down in front of my kids. “I know it’s been a while since you have seen Nessa and Fey, but I need to talk to them first. Is that okay?”

“Are they in trouble?” Landon looked past me, his eyes narrowing.

I smiled and ruffled his hair. “I need you to show Uncle Noah and Uncle Finn to their rooms. Leah and Hailey have no idea of the work we have been doing on their rooms too. You guys have made sure they had everything they needed, so it’s only fitting you show them.”

Landon nodded, while Amelia took my hand. “Daddy, is this an Alpha thing?”

“It is. I just need to speak with them for a moment. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

The both of them let out simultaneous sighed and I couldn’t help but smile. They looked so close, but their personalities made them so different. However, there were moments like this where it was so easy to see that they were on the same wavelength as each other. Standing up, I smiled at Noah and Finn.

“Check out your rooms. We can make sure we get the truck emptied tonight too. Or if there is anything you don’t want, we can take care of that as well.”

“Wait…Nate…” Noah stepped forward. “What is happening?”

Turning, I nodded to the three looking sheepish in my entryway. “You three, follow me. We can talk in my office.”

My voice dropped, my back straightened, and I could see the surprise on their faces. I had been practicing using the small bit of authority I had. I knew it wasn’t going to be enough to truly force someone to submit, not until I got angry or frustrated, but at the very least, they would understand I meant business. Alpha Jacob leaned his head to the side in submission, and I motioned them as I walked down the hall.

Opening up the second door, I waited for the three of them to step in before closing the door behind me. There were some arguments happening between Finn and Noah, but when I head Amelia step in, I stopped listening. They would take care of it. I didn’t expect Finn and Noah to start right away. Then again, I didn’t think we would have an actual pack for months, and we were already getting enough to push the limit of me not having to go to the Alpha King.

“What are you doing here?” I walked around my desk but leaned up against the back of my chair instead of sitting down.

Alpha Jacob stepped forward, a serious look on his face. “My brother has taken over the White Sun pack.”

My eyes widened, and I stood up from my lean. “What? How?”

“They took over by force. My brother has apparently been working with a few other Alphas without my knowledge. They took hostages. My pack and my family started to get hurt as they fought back. I couldn’t…” He stopped for a moment, taking a breath. “I negotiated with my brother. Anything to stop the senseless infighting. No one needed to get hurt. I’ve had enough of that.”

“Why didn’t you reach out to the Alpha King? He would have helped you, you know that.”

Alpha Jacob nodded. “I know. It would have been too late. Ten people had already died, two of which were just children, Nathaniel. I couldn’t drag it out any longer to wait for help.”

Pulling out my chair, I plopped down into it. I stared at the papers on my desk, not reading any of them. I knew, just from doing the work of Beta and speaking with the pack, Alpha Jacob’s brother was an asshole. Nessa and Fey, though more Nessa than Fey, told me about some things their father did in order to secure the pack. It never worked, mostly because of Alpha Jacob. His reputation was enough.

It made sense that there were some willing now to move against him. Alpha Jacob was older, trying to get his son to take up the mantle. He wasn’t afraid to make enemies, but with the younger generations taking over, their boldness and rashness were overtaking their awe of a hero. It didn’t help that you could see more than just the faction that Silas had aligned himself with, but others from the newer Alphas just taking over for their fathers. The ones who had something to prove.

“So they removed you from the pack.” I looked up at him, lacing my fingers together as my elbows rested on my desk. “Part of me wants to say that it’s karma. That the Moon Goddess has judged you for what you did to me and the kids.”

Nessa seemed to agree with my statement, nodding and rolling her eyes. Fey was standing quietly, her eyes looking between me and her uncle. However, Alpha Jacob surprised me the most. He took a deep breath and went down on a knee.

“You’re right. It probably is. What I did…it was in my self-interest. I knew the consequences, but at the moment, I didn’t care about the repercussions it had.”

“Was it because I wasn’t part of your pack? Because I…I wasn’t good enough?” My voice cracked as I looked down at the wolf that I had held in such high regard.

Alpha Jacob looked up at me, slightly surprised. “No, Nathaniel. Not at all. I would never…is that what you thought? I always considered you part of my pack. I…I thought of you as my family.”

“So you sold your family out? How does that make sense! How can you stand there? How could you even think of coming to me when there are thousands of packs?”

It was hard to stuff down the anger and the pain. I tried to allow myself to look at this like an Alpha would. Not as Nate, who they had betrayed. It was hard, though. The only thing that was in their favor was that my kids didn’t get hurt. That was it.

Sighing, I watched as the shadows crossed Alpha Jacob’s face. “I knew my brother was planning something. I needed leverage. I needed something that I could show I wasn’t some washed-up old hero. After coming up with nothing, when I saw the three…I saw the opportunity to put my name on something new.” He paused, shaking his head. “I know it was wrong, Nathaniel. I take full responsibility for my actions. If anything, I would like to receive my punishment from you as Alpha. Which is part of the reason we came to you.”

“Uncle…” Fey reached out, rubbing his back before going down on a knee as well. “He messed up, Nate. He messed up really bad, but…please…”

I put a hand up to silence her. “What happened after you confronted your brother?”

Alpha Jacob pursed his lips for a moment. “We negotiated the pack. I would leave, giving up my right as Alpha. In return, he would let all those who would want to leave, go as well. There would be no fighting or chance of retaliation if all those who stayed were fine with him being Alpha.”

“How many are without a pack?”

Nessa answered me. “About a third, including myself and Fey. Some went to their mates’ packs. Many didn’t know what to do. Some are just waiting to hear what Uncle is going to do.”

“I already told them I would not be Alpha. I’m done. I’ve paid the price for so many years and…” His voice trailed off.

“What of your son? He could be Alpha.” The looks on their faces darkened, and I sighed. “He’s one of the casualties.”

Alpha Jacob nodded. “My son was protecting his children. They survived, but he did not.”

“I’m sorry. Your son we a good wolf.” I meant it.

His son had been nothing but kind to me. We worked together a few times, and while he didn’t want to really be Alpha, it wasn’t because he was lazy. It was because he knew the undertaking and the responsibility it took to be Alpha. He worried he wouldn’t be able to walk in his father’s footsteps. They were big shoes to fill, but if anything, I thought he would end up being a better Alpha than his father.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me, Nathaniel. I know what I did was wrong. I knew my selfishness and my inability to stand up against my brother the right way caused all this. My son dying, my pack members dying, all of them now leaving…all of it is my fault. A sin I will atone for the rest of my life.”

“What are you asking of me, Jacob Bouras?” I didn’t use his title, speaking deep as Wren pressed forward.

He bowed his head lower. “I am asking you to allow the previous pack members of White Sun to live here. I am asking you to allow my nieces to stay. I also ask that you allow me to stay as well. That you punish me as you see fit, in order to regain your trust in me.”

‘I don’t know, Wren. I don’t know how to feel.’

‘He would be an asset. However, if it’s half of the pack, that is a lot of wolves. We don’t have the space for them. We haven’t figured out the housing situation.’

Sighing, I pursed my lips together, staring down at the three of them. ‘Noah and Finn are here now, so that is going to help. At least a little.’

‘You need a doctor, as does Finn. It’s going to get dicey the longer we wait.’ Wren pointed out.

‘I don’t know if I can trust him.’

Wren snorted. ‘I mean, the Moon Goddess dished out his punishment already. You could request something as well. Something that would make you feel better about having them here. Nessa and Fey are also teachers. They don’t need to live here at the pack house. They can live in the city until we work things out.’

Rubbing my eyes, I leaned my head back. “Stand up.”