Chapter 4 #2
“I do,” he said. “But I can’t spare anyone right now, not when we’re still trying to rebuild from the war with the mages.
The High Council has asked for my assistance in this matter, and they made it clear that it was not a request.” His nostrils flared.
“The Boston Clan is in tatters. The High Council has offered leniency to members who were forced to do Ronan’s bidding, but anyone who doesn’t come forward themselves to confess will face consequences.
But we have no idea what’s happening right now.
There’s also the question of leadership.
Ronan doesn’t have a child or heir presumptive, right? ”
“No.” Ronan hated the thought of having to give up power. He would have held onto the title of Alpha until his last breath.
“I’ll go too,” Sloane offered. “I’ve lived there my whole life, Alpha. I still have friends there.”
“I was about to ask you to go, so thank you for volunteering,” Anderson said.
“And I’ll come of course,” Jacob asked. “After being stuck inside for a whole month, I wouldn’t mind going on a road trip.”
“Me too,” Olivia added.
“What?” Killian said.
“You can’t come,” Eli objected at the same time. “You’re pregnant.”
“So is Sloane,” she pointed out.
Eli rubbed his jaw with his thumb. “There might still be a few Lycans who are loyal to Ronan.” Meeting Sloane’s gaze, he could tell she was thinking the same thing and probably thinking of the same people. “I don’t know what we’d be walking into. Sloane, you should stay here in New York too.”
“Nuh-uh,” the she-wolf shook her head. “No way I’m letting you do this alone, Eli. Besides, both Olivia and I are invulnerable, remember?”
“It’s too dangerous,” he said. “Alpha, I need to do this myself.”
The Alpha’s expression turned grim. “You’re expecting trouble?”
Eli pressed his lips together. “Maybe. The ones truly loyal to him might kick up a fuss.” He paused as a different, more horrific possibility entered this brain. “Or …”
“Or what?” Killian asked.
“Take over and be another Ronan,” Sloane finished.
“Which is exactly what the High Council and I don’t want to happen,” the Alpha said. “There’s a power vacuum, and the best thing to do is to fill it with someone who can lead the clan properly. A real Alpha who will protect his or her Lycans and stay out of human affairs.”
“And if we don’t find one?” Sloane asked.
“Then we would have no choice but to disband the Boston Clan. The remaining Lycans will have to transfer out.”
“Some of them have been there for generations,” Sloane pointed out. “They won’t want to leave.”
“Then they’ll have to become Lone Wolves, which will leave them vulnerable,” Killian said.
“No.” Sloane shook her head vehemently. “No way. We can’t let that happen.”
As much as Eli didn’t want to go back to that hellhole, he agreed with Sloane. There were still good people back in Boston. This was something he needed to do.
But Olivia …
“I really can’t dissuade you to stay behind?” he asked her.
“Nope,” she said with a determined shake of her head. “You’d have to lock me up if you want to stop me.”
“I’ll take care of her, no worries,” Jacob said.
“I can take care of my myself. I’m Lycan, too, remember? And we all trained under Uncle Connor and Uncle Jackson.” She grinned at Connor, who nodded back at her.
That somewhat eased Eli’s worry, as he knew Connor would have made sure his niece could take care of herself. But still …
He let out a frustrated breath, then looked to Killian. “Can’t you talk her out of this?”
“You hardly know him, Olivia,” Killian said to his daughter. “And there’s no need to go with him to Boston.”
“I know,” she said in a quiet voice. “But I want to.” She smiled up at him. “We said we wanted to get to know each other.”
“This isn’t what I had in mind,” he muttered.
She smirked at him. “You said you’re not going to abandon me and the baby, right? Well, we won’t abandon you either.”
A warmth spread over his chest as she placed a protective hand over her belly.
I don’t deserve her.
She really would have been better off without him. He should leave. This kid didn’t deserve a father like him.
But he wanted her too Goddamned much and he was too selfish to leave her alone.
“It might actually make sense for Olivia to go,” the Alpha said.
“How so, Primul?” Killian asked.
“It’s better if the members of the Boston Clan don’t know you’re coming and the real reason why.
We don’t want to alert anyone who might still be loyal to Forte or want to take over.
As far as they’re concerned, they’re just visiting because now that Forte is gone, it’s safe to see their friends and break the happy news. ”
The plan was brilliant, but Eli couldn’t help but worry about Olivia. If there was any trouble brewing, he didn’t want her being in the middle of it.
“That works,” Sloane said. “I’ve been locked up and Eli’s been dead, after all. We don’t even have to lie about how we found each other since Olivia and Jacob are cousins.”
“It’s settled then,” the Alpha said. “You leave tomorrow.”
Eli was physically and mentally exhausted, but from the Alpha’s tone, it was obvious there would be no arguing. In any case, the sooner he started this task, the sooner it would be done. “Yes, Alpha.”
“My office will make the arrangements for their travel,” Killian said. “Which reminds me, we should head back to Lone Wolf and the party.” He shot Olivia a meaningful glance. “Your mother and brother are waiting.”
Olivia winced. “Right.”
Arch Jones wasn’t going to be initially delighted at the news of the pregnancy, but Eli guessed he wouldn’t object either, seeing as was expecting his own child with his True Mate. However, having never met Mrs. Jones, he had no idea how she would react.
“We can tell them together,” he said.
Her lips pursed. “Actually, I think it would be better if I tell them first.”
“But—”
“You look like you’ve been through a wringer and ready to drop,” she said wryly. “Trust me, it’s better if I tell them first. You can meet the family later.”
“And then the whole family,” Jacob added.
Sloane snickered. “It’s a good thing they all like me, so that should be points in your favor.”
“Ahem.” From the Alpha’s serious expression, it was obvious he was done with them and wanted them to leave.
“Primul.” Killian bowed his head in deference, and the rest of them followed. “Thank you for your time. We’ll see ourselves out.”