“Why would he care?” Sebastian asked.
“Shifters didn’t used to be welcomed,” Mimi replied. “When the pack was taken over from my late mate, they created a lot of turbulence for Dicks. Not to mention it was a couple of generations ago, and people were close-minded about what goes bump in the night. It was a rough time. When I regained the pack, I worked to mend those fences, so to speak, but we were quite separated by then.
Denise, Austin’s mom, followed in my footsteps, trying to repair bridges and establish trade and goodwill. Kingsley maintains the semblance of a divide, and he’s in the position that he can turn a blind eye to the Dicks without it being a problem.”
“Until now,” Nessa said.
“Until now,” Mimi confirmed.
Kingsley
THE LIGHT FALLING through the windows dimmed as the day slid into night. Kingsley sat forward in his office chair, his elbows planted on top of his desk and his gaze far away, thinking about the meeting he’d just had with Austin.
Well, not just. It had been over an hour since he’d turned from his brother and shut the door behind him. Over an hour stewing in the anger and frustration that meeting had caused. Over an hour
of growing uncertainty about the fate of this pack and his family.
His phone clamored across the wood. Earnessa’s picture popped onto the screen. He should be home by now, getting everything set up for dinner. This was the big reveal of Austin’s mate. Everyone was curious to learn more about the woman who’d finally pinned his wild younger brother down.
They wanted to know if Jessie could handle him or if their relationship was as doomed as Kingsley’s parents’ had been.
Mother and son would also need to reconcile. Kingsley had no idea how that would go. His mom kept her emotional cards close to her chest at all times, not even confiding in Kingsley. He did know, however, that the reunion between his daughter and his brother would likely be fraught. Aurora was not quick to forgive, and she’d been devastated when Austin left without saying goodbye.
All that lay before Kingsley, and usually he’d be eager to get to it. It was about time for their family to get together, whole once again, easy and friendly but with the little arguments family always seemed to have at these things. Aurora’s new man-friend was a source of contention, for one.
Kingsley’s son Mac having zero interest in the future of the pack or a role as alpha was another issue.
But those seemed like trivial nothings compared to what had happened at that meeting earlier.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come,” Kingsley barked, ignoring the phone and sitting back in his chair.
His beta entered with tight eyes and tighter shoulders. This wouldn’t be good news.
“Did you get them all settled?” Kingsley asked.
James took a seat in one of the plush leather chairs facing the desk, a remnant from when his mother had ruled from this office.
“Yes, with a couple of housing changes.” James leaned back and crossed an ankle over his knee, getting comfortable.
“Which are?”
“Most notably, the mages won’t be taking that house after all.”
Kingsley planted his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. “Where will they be staying?”
“With Austin and his mate.”
Now Kingsley’s eyebrows lifted. Austin was breaking protocol there. Usually an alpha stayed solely with family.
“Did he give a reason?” Kingsley asked.
“They worried about the mages being separated from the others in case any of the pack decides to try to…cut out the threat.”
“Meaning he thinks my people won’t know friend from foe?”
“Yes, and I didn’t push, because when it comes to mages, I’m not sure we do know friend from foe. Most of the pack won’t easily tolerate mages within our borders.” James hesitated for a moment.
“Not to mention that Austin’s mate—”
“Jessie. Use her name. She might not be a shifter like us, but she is his forever. She’s good for him. You saw it yourself. She has a wild side, but her personality balances it. I saw it firsthand.”
James held Kingsley’s gaze for a moment before looking away. “I did,” he admitted. “I didn’t think anyone could back that polar bear down. You remember how his old girlfriend, Destiny, used to incite him against me, trying to get him to kill me and take the beta position. It almost worked on a few occasions.”
“I remember. Jessie isn’t like that, and Austin is firmly in control of that beast.”