Chapter 13 #2
Caidrik shut the door, and Oakley drove off.
Caidrik took Nadia’s hand as they walked up the stairs of the massive lodge.
The building loomed solid and warm, smoke curling from the chimney.
Nadia had a new hop in her step, and Caidrik filed that away.
He needed to make Slate Pack territory safe for her, too.
Inside, warmth wrapped around them immediately. To Caidrik’s surprise, the Alpha of the entire Copper Pack was waiting. Caidrik had seen him from afar while protecting both Nadia and Emily a while back.
“Hey. Sorry. I meant to come meet you sooner, but I had a few things to finish up.” Erik Volk turned to Nadia. “Welcome back.” He shook her hand firmly.
“Thanks,” she said.
“I’m Erik Volk.” The guy had dark blond hair and sharp blue eyes. He was big, built thick with the kind of strength that didn’t need to be proven. Power rolled off him without effort. Erik held out a hand to Caidrik.
“Caidrik McGregor.”
They shook hands, and then Erik led them into a large gathering room with a roaring fireplace. Heat soaked into Caidrik’s skin instantly. A petite female came in from the kitchen carrying champagne flutes. She had curly brown hair and unique greenish-blue eyes.
“Hey, it’s almost three o’clock,” she said cheerfully. “I figured champagne would be good. Well, for the three of you.”
Erik’s mate. Her smile was open and easy.
Nadia smiled and hugged her. “It’s so good to see you, Luna.”
“You too,” Luna said warmly.
Nadia turned slightly and gestured. “This is Caidrik. He’s probably going to be the Alpha of the Slate Pack, assuming he decides it’s worth the trouble.”
“No kidding,” Caidrik murmured. He shook Luna’s hand and caught the faint scent of baby powder. His gaze sharpened. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Luna said, grinning. “It wasn’t planned, but yeah. We’re having a baby. Mia’s pregnant too. She’s due before I am.”
Mia was the Alpha female of the Silver Pack, mated to Erik’s brother, Seth.
Caidrik absorbed that quietly. If Nadia became the Alpha female of the Slate Pack, then the four main packs in the Stope Packs coalition would all be tied together. Blood and bond. It was smart. It was safe.
It surprised him how much he wanted that. How much he wanted to belong to something solid and good instead of always standing on the outside, guarding the edges. Maybe he really was done wandering. Maybe he wasn’t just meant to protect the pack. Maybe he needed them, too.
He took a seat next to Nadia on a thick sofa as the other two did the same, across a small table from him. He accepted the champagne and handed one flute to Nadia.
“So,” Erik said, looking between them. “How’s it going?”
Nadia crossed her legs and tucked her feet beneath her.
Luna’s gaze dropped immediately. “Oh my gosh. Do you need socks?”
“No, I’m fine,” Nadia said, lifting the champagne flute and taking a sip. Her eyes lit. “Oh. This is good.”
Luna laughed softly, glancing at the glass. “Yeah. It’s one of my favorites.” She reached into the massive cargo pants she was wearing and pulled out a water bottle. “I miss it. Only a few more months.”
Erik wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer on the sofa.
Luna fit against him easily, almost disappearing into his side.
She was tiny compared to him, but the way they leaned into each other said everything.
They were solid. Happy. Caidrik noted it without meaning to, the stability of it settling somewhere deep.
“We’ve started farming the land you suggested,” Erik said, turning his attention back to Nadia. “I’d like to request your assistance, though. Any chance you could come work with us for a week or two?”
“No,” Caidrik said shortly, the word leaving his mouth before he’d fully decided to say it.
Nadia shot him a look and then smiled politely. “Once we get everything settled, I’d be more than happy to come help with the farming land. That’s what I do. I plan well.”
“All right,” Erik said easily, though his gaze sharpened a touch.
Caidrik remained relaxed, liking her against his side. Safe and protected, where he could take her down if there was any danger. “But she’d have enforcers with her the entire time.”
Erik barely hid a smile. “You can send all the enforcers you want. I guarantee her safety.”
Caidrik didn’t answer, but he appreciated the assurance.
“I hope you’re going to stay for dinner,” Luna said. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, Nadia. Even though we didn’t really get a chance to know each other, I’ve kept track of everything through Emily.”
Nadia’s expression softened. “She’s home with Jackson right now. I miss her.”
“Yeah,” Luna said. “We’re going to get together a lot more.”
The hope that filled Nadia’s eyes hit Caidrik square in the chest. She wanted this.
Connection. Packs working together instead of standing alone.
He didn’t fully trust the other packs yet, but maybe it was time to close ranks.
Attacks from outsiders kept coming. Holding everyone at arm’s length wasn’t working anymore.
Erik cleared his throat. “How solid is the pack?”
Caidrik stiffened. “Very. We’re a bit unsettled right now as we go through these trials, but we’re ready to fight if anybody tries to infiltrate our territory. I’m surprised you asked.”
Erik grinned. “I’m not making a move, Caidrik. We’ve just watched the Ravencalls, the Ghostwinds, and the Nightvein packs circling closer to your territory.”
The hair prickled down Caidrik’s neck. “Two of the challengers for the Alpha position have connections to other packs, including the Ravencalls and Ghostwinds. But Nightvein? That’s new.” All three were wandering packs without true territory.
Erik nodded. “I figured. We’ve been watching Nightvein for a while. They’re ready to expand, and they want territory. A fight is coming, just so you know.”
A fight was always coming.
Caidrik glanced at Erik. “We need to send word back to the Slate Pack that we’re both okay.”
“I already did,” Erik said. “We sent out an all-call. Apparently the two of you disappeared, and nobody knows more than that.”
Nadia winced. “Does anybody know what happened to Isaac?” she asked quietly.
“Who?” Erik asked.
“That’s what I thought,” she murmured. “He was one of the challengers.”
Erik looked from one of them to the other. “Are the challenges really to the death?”
“Yes,” Caidrik said flatly, unease edging through him.
It was a fact he couldn’t forget again.