Page 97 of Alpha Brock

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Brock

“Damn, we must be the first ones here,” I say as I pull up to the curb in front of the Stillwater packhouse and cut the engine.

True to his word, Gray called a council meeting the day after I returned from Denver. This time, though, we’ve got a few others joining us in addition to the council- Brooke and Quinn, because they’re leading the charge with IT these days, Astrid, because she’s our connection to our Denver allies and has the most information about the shadow pack through her visions, and Fallon, because she wasn’t about to sit this one out while everyone else’s mates participated. Jared’s on the council as my beta, but he had some business to attend to, so he told Astrid and I to go ahead and that he’d meet us here.

“Didn’t Gray say six?” Astrid asks, unbuckling her seatbelt.

I glance down at the clock on the dashboard, which reads 5:45 p.m. “Yeah, which is more like six thirty in Alpha time. Can’t remember the last time I was early for one of these.”

We climb out of the Escalade and I grab for Astrid’s hand, leading her up the front walk. It wasn’t actually Reid’s turn to host this meeting- the location rotates for every council meeting- but since I was next up to host and Astrid and I just returned from Denver, Reid offered to handle it, instead. Now I owe him one.

I let myself in through the front door of the packhouse, tugging Astrid in behind me and looking around as I close the door. Reid’s nowhere to be seen, but his beta, Cyrus, pops out of the kitchen, grinning when he sees us.

“Alpha Brock,” he greets respectfully, tipping his head to me as he approaches.

I give him a fist-bump. “Hey man, how’s it going?” I’ve always liked Cy. He’s got a few years on Reid and me, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he acts. The guy is young at heart. He’s now got a pup of his own, though, and fatherhood has been a major adjustment for him.

“Oh, you know… just hangin’ in there,” he sighs. “Sadie’s twelve-month sleep regression has been kicking our asses.” Cyrus scrubs a hand over his face, turning to Astrid beside me and flashing her a smile. “Astrid, nice to see you again. I hear congratulations are in order for you two.”

“Cy…” his mate, Taylor, appears in the doorway of the hall, bouncing their red-faced daughter on her hip as she cries. “A little help, please?”

Cyrus chuckles, turning toward his mate and clapping me on the shoulder. “Duty calls.”

I give him a nod, watching after him as he goes to take the child from Taylor’s arms and the three of them disappear back down the hallway she came from.

I turn back to Astrid, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “Reid must be in his office.”

I start leading her in that direction when the last person I expect to see rounds the corner. A ghost from my past with strawberry blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in waves and bright blue eyes that widen in surprise when they connect with mine.

“Brock,” she blurts, her voice lifting in surprise.

Over the last three years, I’ve seen her a few times, but we’ve never actually spoken. Every time I saw her, I went running in the other direction and then spiraled for days. Now, we’re suddenly face to face and there’s no escape.

“Anna.” Her name feels foreign on my tongue, like I last spoke it in another lifetime.

My gaze slides to the guy standing beside her who’s staring at me like a deer in the headlights. “Wes,” I greet, giving him a little nod. He looks shocked that I’m even acknowledging him- his mouth drops open, but no sound comes out.

An awkward silence threatens to stretch between us, but not on little miss sunshine’s watch.

“Hi!” Astrid chirps from beside me, extending her hand in greeting. She flashes a bright smile, seemingly unbothered by this exchange, though she knows all about my history with my ex. That’s my girl, always ready to lighten the mood with her cheerfulness. “I’m Astrid.”

“My mate,” I add, tightening my arm around her shoulders and pulling Astrid in a little closer.

Anna’s eyes flicker between us tentatively before taking Astrid’s hand, shaking it. “Annalise,” she replies. “So nice to meet you.”

Astrid offers her hand to Wes next, who has quickly recovered and shakes it with a smile. When Astrid pulls back, Anna’s eyes return to mine.

“It’s been a while,” she breathes.

I nod. “It has.”

She shifts her weight uncomfortably. “How’ve you been?”

“Never better,” I reply truthfully, glancing down at Astrid. My perfect little mate. With her beside me, it’s hard to remember what I even saw in Annalise years ago, or why I allowed her to continue to live rent-free in my mind for so long after. Seeing her again, I finally realize that all of those feelings, all of that resentment- it’sgone. I’m finally free of her.

I slide my gaze back to hers, surprised that when our eyes meet, I don’t feel a thing. “And you?”

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