He shrugged. “The bloodlines are strong there. His pack is solid, with no drama. He’s caused no strife.”
“So you were going to flip fate off for his wet towel of a niece?”
Justifying his decisions, Drew said, “Not every wolf finds his mate. And often alphas take mates not destined for them.”
“Yeah, which just screws everything up. It’s like a ripple effect.” Callum crossed his arms and shook his head.
“But if you’ve found your mate, then they’re shit out of luck,” Maddox interjected. “You’d still have to let him down easy. Don’t want to cause waves.”
Before Drew could comment, Callum said, “Lydia will be relieved. She didn’t want to mate Drew.”
Stopping short, Drew asked, “What makes you say that?”
Callum shrugged. “She wanted me.”
Maddox chuckled.
Scoffing, Drew rolled his eyes. “You think all women want you.”
This time, Callum grinned. “Most of the time, they do. I can’t help that.”
Drew shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from playfully shoving his beta. He couldn’t deny Callum’s success with human and wolf females. They found him charming and delightful. “Get to the damned point.”
“She asked me out last time they were here when you spoke with Shaw.”
Narrowing his eyes, Drew had to wonder if mating Lydia would have meant a future as a cuckold. And what the hell had she been thinking, approaching his beta for a quick fuck when she was preparing to mate with him?
It didn’t matter. “I’m meeting with him next week and will inform him that the mating is off, it wasn’t meant to be, and that I’ve found my mate. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Are we meeting her tonight?” Maddox asked, clearly intrigued by the notion.
Drew winced. “No. Not yet.” He and Callum shared a look. “There are a few details to hammer out first.”
Callum laughed outright at this.
“When will you tell the pack?”
He took a deep breath and considered how much to tell Maddox. The man was new to their pack but was proving to be a vital member, taking on volunteer roles and looking out for others. He was always willing to pitch in, a beta by nature. “Honestly, I only met her two days ago.”
Maddox’s laugh boomed once more. “Then I’m surprised you left the bed. Is that where you left her? Too exhausted to move?”
“Actually, he struck out.” Seeming to decide that their little group would not proceed down the hall anytime soon, Callum crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “Twice.”
Drew glared at his beta until Callum’s gaze dropped. “I’ll address the pack when I’m ready,” Drew said to circumvent further questions. “But there may be an issue with heritage.”
“Heritage?” Maddox stumbled. “Meaning?”
“Meaning I’ve met the girl twice, and there seems to be a lack of understanding about exactly what I am to her.”
“But that means…” Trailing off, Maddox’s brows pulled tight as he worked through Drew’s statement. Then he whispered, “Is she human?”
“I haven’t ruled anything out just yet. Tomorrow I’ll get some answers about Alyssa, and then I’ll meet with the pack. There are too many unanswered questions for me to bother saying anything now. I trust you’ll keep this to yourself.”
Drew had barely finished the thought before Maddox was nodding in agreement. “Of course.”
Confident that his pack members, unlike Shaw’s, wouldn’t speak out of turn, Drew continued down the hallway. He needed this run badly; to push his muscles and expel some pent-up energy.
“Wait!” Maddox halted their movement with his sudden exclamation. “Alyssa? Like Alyssa Mayers, that new artist?”