Page 60 of King of Inferno

“Okay, thank you.”

Nika and Violet keep me distracted with finding my gifts for my sisters. I send them back home to our room with plans to wrap and hand them out when I return.

By the time we go to lock up the shop and head to the pack house, my mind is all over the place. I’m nervous and concerned. It finally dawns on me that I’m here to meet three packs of werewolves.

What have I gotten myself into?

Bradan

When I arrive at the main pack house, I head inside and go straight to the main hall where meetings and balls had been held in the past. This used to be the pack house for the Sapphire Moon pack when it was run under Alpha Dyson. This was once my home away from home.

I spent a ton of time on these grounds. The alpha being more like a brother to me than a friend. When you have been around as long as I have, you find many ways to pass the time.

I have to stifle a laugh as Ace, Dom, and Nik come into view, looking like they want to claw their hair out. Ace and Dom are blowing up balloons while Nik is trying to attach them to the arch.

If supers did the godfather thing, that’s who I would be to these three. I remember when they were newborn pups. Even then, it wasn’t hard to tell they would all become alphas.

When I look to see former Alpha Dyson straightening flower arrangements, I do release a laugh. He looks up from his task and frowns at me. His wrinkled and weathered face reminds me that wolves live long lives, but my friend is coming closer to the end of his. I’ve known Dyson for a very long time.

“There you are,” he says.

He grabs his walking stick and starts toward me. He has always been a fine warrior. If not for a dirty trick and poisoning, he never would have been bested to sustain the injury that forced him to eventually need to use that walking aid.

A lesser wolf would have died or succumbed to the injury much sooner. Dyson, the older, stubborn bastard, had pushed through for years before the poison and injury took hold of him, causing him to pass the pack down to his sons. That’s when Sapphire Moon became Crescent Moon, Full Moon, and New Moon.

“Old friend,” Dyson croons as he pulls me into a hug.

“It’s good to see you, Alpha.”

“I haven’t been alpha in years and you and I go too far back for the formality.”

“You will always be an alpha, and there will be no time that will go by when I will not show you that respect,” I say.

“In that case, My King. Since you are older than I am, I think I’m the one who needs to show some respect.”

“You two can have this old argument some other time. Bradan, would you please use your magic to finish this?” Ace groans.

Dyson and I snicker at his oldest son. When I told the alphas I would be bringing Taylor here to present her with her court. They all insisted on throwing a huge party.

Because I’m completely in love with Taylor, I not only agreed but I thought it was an amazing idea and something I could surprise her with. This weekend will be all about her.

“You mean to tell me you can’t huff and puff a few balloons into shape? They don’t make alphas like they used to,” I taunt.

“Fuck you,” Nik bites out.

I laugh and shake my head. “I told you to allow the rest of the pack to help you.”

“All hands are on the festivities at the holy land for the night. We wanted to do this. Besides, Violet and Nika were supposed to be here by now to help,” Ace says.

“Bree was helping until she ran off muttering to herself. You know how she gets. Just help us,” Nik grumbles.

“Pick a struggle, Nik. You can’t be grumpy and look the way you do,” I tease good-naturedly.

I think me and his brothers are the only ones he’d ever allow to say such a thing. Nik has always been sensitive about his appearance. It’s no fault of his own. He and his father fell victim to the same poison and attack—Nik only being a small child at the time.

He flips me the bird and kicks the arch over. I give a deep belly laugh, knowing there are no real hard feelings between us. As I laugh, I finish decorating the room for Taylor’s arrival.

“Shit, why didn’t we just let him do that in the first place? Do you have any idea how long it took to rig those roses up there in that net and program it to the trigger? Where’s Taylor anyway?” Dom gripes.

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