Truer words had never been spoken.
They arrived at the alpha headquarters, the tallest building in the territory, a few blocks away from downtown. The parking lot was large and empty, Kingsley having obviously cleared the way for Austin’s arrival. An adjoining park had lush green grass with chalk lines forming a soccer field, a play structure on the other side with a couple of kids swinging, and a skate park alive with activity.
“We need to put in more parks,” Jess said as the driver pulled into the parking lot. “More kids are moving into the town, and they need a place to play.”
The front door to the building opened. As Austin gave instructions on where the van should park, Kingsley filed out with a line of his top shifters. They followed him down the walkway and to the concrete pathway in front of the building, their formation crisp and lineup perfect.
Austin’s gut pinched. He recognized every single face, most of them having wished him good riddance all those years ago. A few of them had always hated him. In the end, they’d all been on Kingsley’s side, not wanting Austin to challenge Kingsley’s authority even when Kingsley had offered to step down for the good of the pack. And that was how it should’ve been. Austin hadn’t faulted them for their stance. He’d been glad his brother had backup. But man, they’d been the worst, and he doubted they’d forgotten the past or gotten over their hatred of him. Dealing with them would be a rocky affair.
“I’m right here,” Jess whispered, squeezing his hand. “We’re better together. Stronger. I’ve got your back, baby. I’m here to support you in any way you need.”
She’d clearly felt his turmoil through the bond.
He gave her a soft kiss, letting it linger, before backing off and reaching for the door.
“I saw that, sir,” Mr. Tom said as Austin climbed from the van, the old butler waiting in his new tux with a straight back and an air of importance. “You might wipe off the lipstick unless you are hoping to start a new trend in which only half of the mouth is covered.”
Austin ignored him as the trucks and campers pulled into the parking lot. Kingsley didn’t show any of the confusion he must feel.
“I’ll just go sort that out,” Jess told him, hurrying to the first truck and lifting her hand for the driver to stop.
As practiced, Austin’s shifters lined up along the walkway, their line as perfectly crisp and uniform as Kingsley’s. The gargoyles did the same with Tristan standing at the head, his face uncustomarily hard and unreadable, easily the largest person in the parking lot.
As an introduction, it was perfect. His shifters had immaculate form, and the gargoyles fit right in with them. If it had been left at that, they would all have immediately felt like they were on a level playing field, ready to get down to business.
But then Jess’s crew exited their vans in a disorganized huddle. Even though Austin had wanted to
impress his brother and show his dissenters he’d come a long way, he could barely contain his smile.
“What do we do?” Cyra asked Hollace, much too loud for a whisper. “We didn’t practice with the basajaunak in campers. Should we get in a line and wait for Jessie?”
“As opposed to waiting in a blob?” Niamh asked before walking up in front of the shifters.
“How’re’ya doin’， Kingsley? Are ye well? Shite. I’m meant to call ye alpha. Sorry about that.”
“Find your place,” Mr. Tom told Cyra and Hollace as Nathanial walked to his position, Ulric and Jasper right behind him. “It shouldn’t be this difficult.”
“Said the guy not in his place,” Ulric murmured.
Indigo, the healer, hastened up with her luggage, having apparently forgotten they were supposed to deal with that later. Nearly to her position, she tripped and, because she didn’t let go of the stuff in her hands, crashed down onto her face. Her glasses skittered along the pavement, hopped the tiny curb to the walkway, and stopped against one of Kingsley’s shifters’ shoes. The shifter in question, Bruce, had a square face, flat top, and zero sense of humor.
He looked down at them, and then at her, making no move to either get the glasses or step forward to help in any way.
“Oh no, Indigo!” Cyra jostled into Hollace, trying to get to her. Ulric and Nathanial were already there, though, hauling her up and trying to separate her from her luggage.
“We’ll get it later,” Ulric murmured furiously. “Just let go— we’ll get it later. ”
“I can’t see,” Indigo told them, waving her hands. “Everything’s blurry. I need my glasses.”