42. Noah #2
“Mr. Alexander, this is Tom Jenkins from the Regional Fighting Association. We were disappointed to receive your email earlier today that your fighters won’t be competing in the upcoming bout.
We were looking forward to hosting you, so wanted to address any concerns you had.
Was there an issue with the event or our organization? ”
I frowned, my mind immediately jumping to Ky. He wouldn’t have sent that email without talking to me first. “I didn’t send any email. Who was it from?”
“It was signed with your name, but it appears to have been sent from a different account than the one we have on record for you. Is there a problem, Mr. Alexander?”
“My fighters are still in. Don’t cancel any bouts unless you hear it directly from me or Kyler Reid.”
“Understood, Mr. Alexander. We’ll disregard the email, then. Thank you for your time.”
A growl rose in my throat. George. It had to be. First the attack on my gym, then Ro, and now this? What the fuck was he playing at?
“What’s going on?” Zoey asked.
“George,” I spat. “He’s screwing with my business. Sent an email posing as me, trying to pull my fighters out of a big regional bout.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would he do that?”
I shook my head, frustration mounting. “I don’t know. To get under my skin? To mess with my head? I’m not sure. But I’m damn well going to find out.”
I stood up, pacing the room like a caged animal. My wolf was close to the surface, agitated and angry, wanting to hunt down the threat to our pack. But I forced myself to think rationally. George was playing a game, and I needed to be smart if I was going to beat him at it.
First things first. I needed to call Ky. We had to make sure everyone in the business knew to verify any unusual requests with one of us directly. We couldn’t afford to let George’s meddling cause any more damage.
As I scrolled through my contacts to Ky’s number, I glanced over at Zoey. She was watching me with a mix of worry and determination.
I hit the call button and waited impatiently as the phone rang. Ky picked up on the second ring.
“Noah, what’s up?” he asked. “Everything okay?”
“No, it’s not,” I snapped, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “George’s at it again. He sent an email to the organizers, trying to pull our fighters out of the next bout.”
“What the hell?” Ky cursed under his breath. “How did he even get access to our accounts?”
“I don’t know, but we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Can you reach out to the kids and the investors? Make sure they know to run any suspicious contact through us first.”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Ky. I appreciate it.”
There was a pause, and I could almost hear the wheels turning in Ky’s head. “So, what’s your next move? How are you planning to handle this?”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Right now, I’ve got to focus on dinner with my parents. They’re on their way over.”
“Damn, that’s right. How do you think it’s going to go with your dad?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Things have been better between us lately, especially after he helped with Ro’s shift. But I don’t want to give him any reason to criticize how I’m running the pack.”
“Just try to keep an open mind. He might surprise you.”
“I hope so, Ky. I really do. Keep me posted on the financial stuff, okay?”
“Will do. Good luck with your parents.”
I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket. My parents would be here any minute, and I needed to be ready. I wasn’t going to let George ruin this evening. I was determined to show my father that I was a capable alpha, that I could handle whatever challenges came my way.
But as I heard the sound of tires crunching on the gravel outside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this dinner was going to be anything but easy.
I opened the door to greet my parents and ushered them inside, taking their coats and hanging them up. Not wanting to upset Zoey, I told them about George’s latest attempt before we reached the kitchen.
“George entered town again today and tried to take Zoey and Ro. Sent one of his lackeys to distract me while he summoned Ro,” I said in a hushed voice.
My father’s nostrils flared. “He tried to summon Roland? Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” I said. “I managed to break the connection and officially accept Ro into the pack. George won’t be able to influence him anymore.”
To my surprise, instead of berating me that George had gotten into town, my father nodded in approval. “You acted fast. Wonderful job.”
I blinked, taken aback by the compliment.
I wasn’t used to hearing such things from him.
I cleared my throat, embarrassed at how emotional my father’s approval made me feel, then packed it away to deal with another time.
Right now, I had to focus on the evening ahead.
Dinner with my parents was sure to be an interesting affair.
“Shall we go through and eat now?” I asked.
My mother smiled warmly. “I think we should have a little celebration for Roland’s first shift. I know it’s a bit belated, but after everything that’s happened...” She trailed off. I could see the concern etched on her face, the worry for Ro and the tension from the situation with George.
“That’s a great idea,” I said. “I’m sure Ro would love that.”
I led them into the dining room, where Zoey and Roland were already seated at the table. Ro’s eyes lit up when he saw my parents, and a grin spread across his face. He jumped up and ran over to hug them.
Chuckling, my father patted Ro on the back. “Hey there, buddy.”
As we settled into our seats and passed around the dishes, the aroma of the home-cooked food filled the room.
“I love your top, Angie.” Zoey smiled warmly at my mother. “That color is gorgeous on you.”
“Thank you. I’d love to say, ‘Oh, this old thing,’ but I bought it especially for tonight.” My mother laughed.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily, the earlier tension slowly dissipating. Roland chattered on about his first shift, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
I glanced at my father. He was watching Ro with a mixture of pride and something else I couldn’t quite place. It was strange to see him like this: supportive, even complimentary.
Was everyone right? Had I misjudged him all these years?
As the evening progressed, my father and I discussed pack business, and I found the conversation surprisingly amicable. We talked about the upcoming border negotiations with the neighboring pack, and for once, he actually valued my input.
“I think it’s a good idea to have the meeting on neutral ground.” I took a sip of my drink. “It might help ease any tensions.”
My father scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I agree. We don’t want to give the impression that we’re trying to assert dominance.”
I stared at him. I hadn’t expected him to agree with me so readily. It was a nice change, not having to fight tooth and nail to be heard.
The doorbell interrupted our conversation. Excusing myself, I went to answer it and found Chief Warman standing on the porch, a deep frown etched between his brows. Him being back so soon didn’t bode well.
“Noah,” he said. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Dread twisted in my gut. “George got away again, didn’t he?”
Chief Warman nodded, frustration pouring off him. “My squad is out searching for him now, but he’s managed to slip through our fingers. I’m sorry.”
I clenched my fists, anger rushing through my veins. How many more times would George evade justice? How long would Zoey and Roland have to live in fear?
“I appreciate your efforts, Chief,” I said. “But I think it’s time we handle this the pack way.”
Chief Warman shook his head. “Noah, I understand your frustration, but we need to do this by the book.”
A growl rumbled through my chest. “With all due respect, Chief, the book hasn’t been working. My family can’t keep waiting for the law to catch up to George.” I looked him directly in the eyes. “You should know, I’ve issued him an official challenge.”
Chief Warman sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Noah, the police accept pack law, but only if it’s not misused. You can’t just go around killing people.”
“I know, but I also can’t sit back and watch my family suffer.
George has proven time and time again that he’s a threat.
He’s dangerous. If he comes after Zoey or Roland again, I won’t hesitate to do what’s necessary.
Protecting my pack and my family is not misusing shifter law, Pete.
It’s doing what’s right. I’d much rather this was done through legal channels for Zoey’s sake, but… ”
“But this is getting risky for everyone involved,” Pete said, finishing my thought. He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he nodded. “I get it. I really do. Just be careful, okay? Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.”
I tried to calm the rage simmering beneath my skin. “I won’t. But I also won’t let George terrorize my family any longer.”
With a final nod, Chief Warman walked back to his car. I watched him go, my mind swirling with my decision.
I was walking a fine line, but sometimes the law wasn’t enough. As alpha, it was my duty to protect my pack, and I would do whatever it took to keep them safe.
Even if it meant taking matters into my own hands.