Page 16 of The Price They Paid

“I’ll call you back soon. I need to take care of something.”

“Is everything, okay?” I wasn’t sure how to alleviate her fears. She was human and wasn’t to know anything that was going on. Maybe Alice could offer some advice on how to calm her.

“Yes, I’ll call you back tonight, promise.” I smiled hoping that it carried through the phone.

“Good. I miss you, Justice.” I knew she was concerned and worried about my whereabouts.

“I miss you too.” After our goodbyes, I hung up and stood to approach Maddox.

“Is he improving?” Maddox asked impatiently. He seemed off.

“He is. It’s slow moving, but he is getting there. Is there something that I can help with?”

“No.” He was so tense that I could tell that something was up.

“Maddox, you can talk to me. If I can help, I want to.”

Maddox hesitated. I could see the war raging inside. It was difficult to tell which side would win.

“Please!” I pressed.

“The pack is only as strong as their Alpha, and right now things aren’t looking good. I’m getting really backed up on all the responsibilities, and I don’t want everything to fall apart because of it. Seuss never created his own hierarchy after the old Alpha left, taking his with him. What we had in place worked if we were both around, but it was always bigger than a two-person job, so leaving it to one is definitely not going to work.”

“Can you tell me some of the things that need to be done?” I looked around the room searching for a pen and paper to take notes.

“If you don’t mind going out, I can tell you as we walk. I’ve still got a lot more things to do today.”

I confirmed by nodding then walked into my room to put on shoes and a jacket of Seuss’. I met Maddox in the hallway to head outside. I found a notepad and a pen on the lower level of the house before we exited. I took note of the things that he listed were done by the Alpha and on which days. Then he explained to me which things he did. I was also able to get him to list the things that they weren’t doing that needed to be done. As we walked, he spoke to the people in the town, and I made note of things that I saw on the way.

The Wessex pack was huge. There was no valid reason why Seuss was doing all of this with only himself and Maddox, but maybe I didn’t understand.

“Can I ask you something?” I turned to Maddox as he began chopping down a half-fallen tree.

“Sure.”

“Is the Wessex pack the average size of a normal pack?”

“God, no. We have the largest pack on the eastern half of the U.S.”

“Then why …”

“Why does Seuss think that we can do this alone?” He said the words for me. I nodded. “I have no idea.”

I looked around me at all the trees that were in danger of falling. There were nearby houses in danger, and Maddox would be out here for days getting them cut down. I looked at my list and sighed. There had to be a way.

“I’m going to go for a walk,” I said to Maddox as I began walking away.

“Hang tight.” He ran over to me and took off his work gloves and dusted his soiled hands on his denims. He reached into his back pocket retrieving a platinum signet ring. He slipped it onto my ring finger and I looked up to question him.

“There are a lot of wolves who haven’t met you yet, and even though his scent clings to you lightly, you haven’t been fully claimed, and it’s noticeable. It would help if you introduced yourself as the Alpha’s mate with the ring as proof.”

I started to object but he covered my hand with his. “Even if it’s temporary. I can see something brewing behind those eyes of yours, and something tells me that you’ll need it.”

I sighed, not liking this idea, but he was right. To get the people involved in anything I came up with, they were going to have to trust me and know that I am just as official as the Alpha. Maddox held up his hand showing his signet ring as Beta.

“Does your mate have one?” I wondered out loud.

“I don’t have a mate, but if I did, hers would be a family crest. The Beta’s wife doesn’t have a role to play in the community. Besides, I’m old fashioned. The Beta should never take a mate before the Alpha.”

---