Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
C hance
Brother, a voice calls.
I’m startled back to reality. It’s the one voice besides my own that I’d know anywhere. Chael’s voice, besides my own and my wolf’s, is the only voice that I’ve heard since I lost my sense of hearing. The only sound that can penetrate my broken shifter ears are my brothers’ words. Due to our bond as blood brothers. Along with being the natural alpha and beta of the pack.
Brother? Chael’s voice again penetrates my mind.
I look over my shoulder to find Chael staring at me. Concern etched in the wrinkle of his forehead.
His lips don’t move but I hear, “Are you alright?”
I swallow and give a short nod. I got lost in my memories as I stared out at the sun setting over the mountains. I should pay better attention to my surroundings. The safety of our pack is my only concern.
I will do another check around the premises . I tell Chael through our bond. But he stops me.
Alone? He narrows his eyes at me before saying, You know you don’t have to do everything on your own.
It’s my turn to narrow my eyes at him. This is my job, I remind him.
Yes, well you can take a few hours off. Besides… “The premises are secure,” he says with his mouth. He’s likely speaking out loud for the benefit of his wife, who’s at his side. When he looks down at her, his face splits wide open from the smile he grants her.
Reese’s grin is just as wide.
My wolf whines at something, but I ignore him. When he whines again, I console him by silently telling him that I’ll let him go on a run tonight. After the reception. This usually calms him down. But another whine spills out.
Chance, m y brother, calls through our connection. “Reese wants to dance with you.”
Reese takes a step forward, holding out her hand. “I know you don’t usually like to dance, but just this once?” she asks.
My gaze lands on her hand.
Don’t you dare deny my mate her request. My brother’s growl almost makes me smile.
With a slow nod, I take her hand. I would never turn down a request from Reese. She’s my brother’s mate and therefore the Alpha Queen of our pack. She’s brought a new energy into our pack that was needed. And she’s carrying the next alpha in her womb.
On top of that, I genuinely like her. She’s sweet and cares about others in a way that’s admirable. Everyone in our pack fell in love with her from day one. Mother Moon couldn’t have chosen wiser.
Yet, I’ve stayed away from her for weeks now.
Ever since she had one of her premonitions about me.
Once we reach the middle of the dance floor, Reese looks up at me. “Thank you for agreeing to dance with me. I was afraid you’d continue avoiding me.”
My lips fall into a frown.
From the parting of her lips and the way her body trembles, I can discern that she’s laughing.
She shakes her head but looks directly at me before she speaks. I know she’s intentional about letting me see her lips whenever she talks to me. Even though Reese can sign, she knows I prefer not to use it, if I don’t have to.
“Don’t deny that you’ve been avoiding me.”
“The new safety measures around our commune have kept me occupied,” I remind her.
She cocks her head to the side and raises an eyebrow. I’ve learned to read facial expressions as well as the back of my hand. She’s not buying it.
“Have you thought more about my premonition?”
This is the reason she wanted to dance. To ask about that.
“I don’t remember what you’re referring to.”
“You’re lying.”
I drop my head and stifle a grin. This is one of the reasons I like her. She’s forward when she needs to be and despite being one of the only humans in a pack of wolves, she isn’t intimidated or afraid. She belongs.
Reese waits for me to look at her again before she speaks. “What about her?”
I shake my head. “Her who?”
Her lips press together in an obvious display of frustration. “Your mate,” she emphasizes.
“I don’t have a mate.” I never will.
I bite back those three words. Reese may be the seer of our pack, but that doesn’t mean her visions are always correct.
“Not yet,” she quickly replies. “But what if…” She stops when I shake my head.
“Never,” I tell her. “My brother has found his mate. The Nightwolf legacy will continue on from the family you two create. My only responsibility is to ensure the safety of all of our pack while I’m still breathing.”
That’s it.
I lost my right to a family or mate of my own the same day I lost my hearing. Well before my first shift.
“Chance, that’s not true.”
The song ends. Beneath my feet, I feel the change of the rhythm of the music. It’s a subtle shift but through my honed senses, I pick up on it. I release my brother’s mate.
What did you do to her?
My brother’s voice thunders through my head. Chael comes up from behind me, glancing between Reese and me, settling on me with a glare.
Why is my mate frowning?
I don’t take offense at his tone. Wolves are extremely loyal and protective over their mates. Alpha wolves even more so.
“Babe,” Reese says before I can reply. “Your brother believes he doesn’t have a mate. But I know what I saw,” she tells him.
Chael looks at me, his facial features relaxing the slightest bit.
I shake my head at my brother. I won’t argue with our Alpha Queen. Many of her visions have come true, but I also know the fate Mother Moon dealt me the day my hearing was taken away.
“Ms. Elsie is waving you over,” Chael tells Reese. “I need to speak with my brother.”
Reese looks between the two of us before heading in the direction of one of our pack elders.
“I don’t have a mate,” I say to my brother out loud as soon as Reese leaves. “Don’t bother trying to convince me otherwise.”
He shakes his head. “Whether or not you have a mate is your business. This concerns the pack,” he says.
“What is it?”
“I need you to go to Florida.”
I cock my head to the side, giving him my full attention. “The Alliance wants me to join their ranks.”
I nod, knowing the Alliance, a council of the various types of shifters created to maintain the peace between all of us, requested my brother to take the place of Rufus Dalton.
The wolf shifter who tried to destroy our pack betrayed the council and paid with his life.
“I need you to be my eyes and ears and make sure there isn’t something we’re missing. Rufus was from Florida, and I want to make sure we tied up all the loose ends as far as he’s concerned. I also need to make sure the Alliance’s request is genuine.”
It’s not even a doubt that I’ll do as he requests. Even as my brother speaks, I mentally run through everything that I know about the plan the former Alliance member had to rid the world of shifters.
As far as we’re aware, Rufus scouted a few lone wolves out of Florida to do his bidding. Which included trying to kidnap Reese. This is likely why he wants me to start in Florida. Though us wolf shifters tend to remain in colder climates, there are many packs spread out all over the country.
What about that other issue you had me looking into? I ask. For a few years now, off and on, I’ve been looking into the history of one of our pack members.
Chael’s lips pull into a small frown as he contemplates. Sera’s gone for now. We’ll have to wait on that issue. My cousins haven’t contacted me as to her whereabouts.
A nod acknowledges his words. Sera, our pack member, and Chael’s three cousins from Colorado. That’s a whole other issue that we may or may not have to deal with when the time comes.
“As for Florida, I’ll leave tonight,” I tell him.
“Tonight?” Reese says, coming up to us once again. There’s a concerned expression on her face. “Where are you going?”
Chael cups her face and tells her something. I can’t tell what it is since his face is turned away from me. Reese’s features relax a little. But she looks at me, I can tell she wants to ask me something. If I had to guess, I believe it would pertain to our previous conversation.
My nonexistent mate.
But I don’t say anything. I refuse to have this conversation again tonight. It’s pointless and over time my new sister-in-law will come to accept it as well.
The premises are secure. I’m going for a run before I start my long drive. I tell Chael through our sibling bond.
I dismiss his attempts to get me to stay longer. I have a long drive ahead of me, and I need to give my wolf some time outdoors before I go. He’s been cooped up for long enough and has been extra restless lately.
I ration that it’s likely due to the recent upheaval and changes in our pack. Our alpha finding his mate, the recent betrayal of our younger brother, and the attempts by rogue Alliance members to destroy shifters.
My wolf is on high alert because of all of this.
At least, that’s what I tell him and me as we exit the wedding reception. But before I completely leave, something compels me to stop and take another look. Chael and Reese are back on the dance floor. Again, they sway in one another’s arms while those around them dance at a much faster clip.
My wolf whines. This time it’s followed by a yip.
“Get it together,” I growl at my wolf. I spin and head toward the exit of the property. Before I’m halfway there, I’m tearing off my tuxedo jacket.
This beast needs out now.
Too much fucking weird energy for the long drive we’re about to make.