Chapter 40 - Healing the Broken Alpha

Lenora

The home of the former beta was some distance from the grand Blackstone packhouse. Although it was a very large house, almost a mansion, it had a different feel to it. Where the packhouse was cold and imposing, the beta’s house seemed to imply a warm, friendly, family environment. There were planters on every window spilling over with random flowers, a tricycle tipped over in the front yard, and a flagstone walkway that led to the front door.

A door which was immediately pulled over by a tall, plump, red-headed woman. She was absolutely beautiful, with white milky skin and startling green eyes. Her hair was deep auburn-red with just the slightest streaks of white beginning at the temple. “River!” She cried, like she was welcoming a long lost son, and immediately she folded him into a hug. “It’s been too, too long! I’m so happy to see you, and–!”

She turned to me, and I took an uneasy step back. “Your beautiful mate! Hello my dear, I’m Marguerite, but that’s Aunt Maggie to you. Welcome, welcome, please come inside!”

The inside of the house, like the outside, was warm and inviting. Although it was clean, it had that “lived in” feel. There was a bit of clutter on the table in the entry hall, a mish-mash of sweaters and jackets draped over the coat rack, and an umbrella with one broken spoke leaning in the corner. Maggie ushered us into a big, spacious living room, filled with cozy, well worn couches and overstuffed chairs. The floral wallpaper was probably a little too bright to be fashionable, but it matched well with the sapphire drapes. Again there was scattered evidence of a child, from a doll that was left on the arm of one loveseat, to a little parking lot of tiny cars on the hearth of the fireplace.

“Oh don’t mind the toys,” Maggie said with an easy grin, as she scooped up the doll and tossed it into a large bin of children’s playthings in the corner. “My grandchildren are here nearly every day! Twins, you know! Ohhh, they do keep me busy!”

I smiled because it was so apparent that she adored her grandchildren.

“Sit! Sit! Make yourself at home! Your uncle Richie will be right in, he was just on the phone in his office. The company…” She pulled a face, as though she didn’t approve of him working after-hours.

We obediently took our seats on one of the couches that faced the beautiful marble fireplace.

Maggie continued bustling around the room, scooping up a children’s book and a random little sock. “And I think Zach will be joining us later…”

At the mention of his cousin, I felt River stiffen beside me. He reached for my hand and squeezed it. I had the feeling that he was trying to reassure himself, more than me.

A moment later, River’s uncle breezed into the room.

The family resemblance was strong. Richard Blackstone was tall and broad shouldered, like his brother Darian. Unlike Darian, however, his hair was thinning on top. Although I understood he was the younger brother, his receding hairline and barely-there comb-over made him seem much older than the former alpha.

The man was dressed casually, in a pair of khaki slacks and a black t-shirt. He smiled warmly and shook River’s hand with enthusiasm. “Finally! Finally, so good to see you! And you too, young lady!” He pumped my hand up and down like he was priming a well pump. “Welcome to our home! Let’s move to the dining room, shall we? Dinner is almost ready!”

I felt a bit dazed as I followed River into the dining room. It had a big table that could have seated twelve, but it was set only at one end. A rosy-cheeked maid was just filling the water glasses as we entered. “Thank you, Carla. You can let Sammy know we are ready,” Maggie said to the woman before she gestured to the empty chairs.

River slid into a chair to the left of the head, and I sat next to him, folding my hands in my lap and once again feeling horribly out of place. But at least in his uncle’s home, there was none of the strange, heavy hostility that I encountered on a daily basis in the pack house.

The serving staff put a lovely meal on the table, but I hardly had any appetite, especially once River’s cousin joined the table.

From the first day I met the man, Zachary Blackstone had made me uncomfortable. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me want to take two steps backward. Unlike River’s half-brother, Asher, whose gaze always seemed lascivious and sexual, there was something darkly aggressive about Zachary, like he was scanning me for any weakness he could possibly exploit.

And, since River had confessed to me how his cousin had betrayed him while he was in a coma, I had an intense dislike for the man. We may not have marked each other, but River and I were now a mated pair. If Zachary wronged my mate, then he also wronged me.

I might not be strong or beautiful, but at least I was loyal.

Before the dessert course was served, the business discussions were beginning to get heated around the table.

“And I’m telling you, there could be serious legal ramifications,” River insisted. “If your business needed a loan, Uncle, you should have gone through Blackstone Innovations, and used the normal channels and processes. Taking a loan from the pack looks very suspicious.”

Richard looked confused. “But I did take a loan from Blackstone Innovations. Didn’t Zachary tell you? Well, it was while you were in the hospital, but I assure you we went through all the proper procedures.”

It was River’s turn to look puzzled. “But if you were approved through the business, why did you also go through the pack?”

“We needed more funds to expand and upgrade all of our equipment,” Richard explained, shifting in his seat. “The new crane alone cost us half a million dollars. But I assure you, River, it's a safe and secure capital investment. We have three demolition projects in the works right now, and we are bidding on six more major contracts. And Blackstone Innovations holds three of those new contracts!”

River scowled, “We do?”

“Sorry Cuz,” Zachary looked anything but repentant. “We haven’t had time to bring you up to speed on all of our dealings. We have bought out all of the former White Pine Pack’s lands, and we will be demolitioning their packhouse next week.”

“Why wasn’t I informed?” River’s voice was growing louder. “I have been working from home for months, there is no reason not to include me in these contracts.”

“Well,” Zachary sat back, folding his arms across his chest. “I didn’t feel it was necessary to burden you with inconsequential details while you were still in recovery…”

I felt myself sliding down in my chair, wishing I could get away from all the testosterone in the room. Aunt Maggie must have sensed my unease. She put her napkin down on the table and stood up. “Lenora, dear, would you like to join me for a walk in the garden before we take dessert? I feel like I could use some fresh air.”

Smiling gratefully, I pushed my chair back quickly. “Yes, please. That sounds like a very good idea.”

Maggie circled the table and looped her arm through mine, leading me toward an exit in the rear of the house. “It’s not that I think that business should be left to the men,” she told me in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. “But I have no desire to be a witness to a pissing contest.”