Page 172 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“Flynn. Flynn Edgerton.”

Jace cleared his throat. “Well, Donna, where can we find Flynn?” A victorious grin spread across his lips. “He needs to get home and claim his pack.”

Chapter 18

Jace

After Donna and Ivy relayed Flynn’s contact information and ended the call, I stared down at the phone number I’d written down, a hundred confused thoughts rattling around in my mind. Eren wasn’t the true alpha of his pack, and the actual alpha was in hiding. It was completely insane, yet still believable. Surely, the world and fate weren’t twisted enough to allow someone like Eren to lead people.

Hope flickered in my chest. Eren had strong-armed most of his pack into following him, and they’d done so, too afraid to say anything against the person they believed to be their rightful leader. If I did fight him and succeed, many would be relieved, but many more would be irate that I’d taken down their alpha. Even if Crestwood did absorb their pack, many would never accept my leadership. I’d have to worry about schisms and blowback. If there was another option, someone they’d accept as their leader, things would be much easier.

I slid the paper with the phone number across the table toward Abigail. “Call this guy. Set up a meeting for tomorrow if he’s available.”

Abi held the paper up in front of her. “What if he says no?”

“Make sure he doesn’t.”

Abi rolled her eyes. “Oh, okay.” Dialing the number, she stood and went outside.

“What are you thinking?” Langston asked after she’d left.

“I’m thinking this could be what we’ve waited for. A way to get rid of Eren once and for all with minimal bloodshed—maybe. It all depends on Flynn. Would he even want this? This could all be a moot point if he tells us to fuck off or thinks we’re lying.”

“Would he really think that?” Kirsten asked as she took a seat beside me. “Don’t most shifters dream of being an alpha?”

“It’s not like that,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s a huge burden, plus you have to be born to it. A beta or sigma wolf could try to lead a pack as the alpha, but—”

“It would never work,” Waylan countered. “An alpha has more power and influence. It’s like the aura Jace projects; he demands respect and obedience. This Flynn guy, if he’s the son of an alpha, he has a good chance of being an alpha himself, but it’s not a guarantee. Problem is, an illegitimate birth can play havoc with a pack hierarchy.”

“Why?” Kirsten asked.

“Human kings and politicians bang everything that moves and have illegitimate kids all the time,” Harley said. “It causes a bit of a scandal, but for the most part, everyone just ignores it.”

I pointed at her. “That’s the key—human. Shifters have fated mates for a reason. It’s fate and magic intertwined to bind you to the person who is your soulmate.” I put my hand on Kirsten’s thigh, and she smiled at me. “Most shifters find their fated mates, but even those who don’t and take a regular mate are still bound by our society’s ideals. If an alpha betrayed their mate’s trust and cheated? It’s a huge deal. It could cause a pack to break apart or embolden another alpha-born shifter in the pack to issue a challenge.”

“That pack alpha could give his illegitimate child the title of heir, but he’d need to officially acknowledge the offspring,” Langston added. “Which Eren’s father obviously didn’t do. He didn’t want the trouble, so he shipped his side piece and her baby away. Washed his hands of it and acknowledged Eren as his only true heir.”

Abigail came back in, interrupting the conversation. The bemused look on her face worried me.

“Did he agree to come tomorrow?” I asked.

“Um, no,” Abigail said. “Not exactly.”

I sighed. “What does that mean?”

Abi shook her head in bewilderment. “He’s, uh, he’s on his way now.”

“Wait. You mean tonight?” I asked, incredulous. “Are you serious?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I explained who I was. Told him what was happening, though I kept it pretty vague. Just said that there were some issues with the pack his mother had been born in. Before I could even finish, he said he’d be here in an hour.”

“Interesting,” Waylan said.

Perhaps this Flynn guy knew more than his aunt thought he did. Why else agree so quickly?

“Let’s get some food in us,” I suggested. “Then we’ll wait for him outside.”

“I hope you like spaghetti,” Harley said.

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