Page 93 of Reclaiming Home

“Huh.” After a minute, Holden said, “I think not quite SOS is still better than SOS.”

“Yes, but we both know who those visitors are, and….”

Holden put his hand on my arm and squeezed. “Alpha, breathe. It’ll be fine. Our pack are all strong and capable people, and from what I know about these idiots, they well, aren’t. Not strong, and definitely not capable.” He chuckled a bit darkly. “And you have two betas and a vampire. What do they have? Those sorry excuses Rusty called betas and a couple of humans?”

I hoped he was right, and turned to a backroad where I could speed up enough to feel like I was actually moving instead of sitting behind a soccer mom or a fucking tractor.

It took me ten minutes less to get home than if I’d driven at normal speed. I decided that it was worth it and if Holden wasn’t scolding me, it was fine. Not that he would’ve. Not because I was his Alpha, though. He was a reasonable man and knew that even though he was an officer of the law, those laws really meant nothing in this case.

I threw the truck in park and got out, barely registering the signs of vehicles having left the yard in a hurry. The stench ofunwashed, drugged up bodies made my nose wrinkle, but I had no time to dwell on any of that.

The relief I felt when I could see my pack in one piece, looking happy and proud, was immense. Luckily my mate was intelligent and pulled me away from the kitchen.

I’d always been a strong man, physically and mentally. I’d had to be, with what life had thrown at me.

My life with Kye was just starting, and the fact that I was here, in this big old house, starting over and making better memories, happy even in my imminent little breakdown, seemed like a miracle.

I didn’t have to be strong here, in his arms. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

An hour later, we gathered on the couch for a pack meeting.

“We really need to figure this out,” Kye said firmly, holding the iPad to Carys who was ready to take notes if needed.

“So, let’s go with the assumption that my boss was trying to warn you guys off,” Holden started and sipped his coffee at the end of the couch.

“Warnusoff,” Kye told him firmly. “You’re part of this now.” Then he stuck his tongue out at Holden who rolled his eyes fondly.

“Fine.Us.”

“Good boy,” Kye deadpanned.

“So what we think,” Rian interrupted them, “is that Gerrell had some sort of a deal with Rusty. We also heard one of thebetas mention the sheriff, and the leader hushed him pretty harshly, right?”

“Yeah, it was very strict and a big fuckup to mention him,” Kye said thoughtfully. “I say he’s definitely in on this. But what could he be wanting? There’s nothing here for him.”

“He got money before, but sending some thugs to intimidate us doesn’t give him money,” Max pointed out quietly.

“Right,” Kye replied.

“What about the house itself?” Carys asked.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well you know how you automatically got the property when you became Alpha. That’s the law, isn’t it?” At my nod, she continued, “What if he thinks if he can take you out, he’ll get the house through the betas or something?”

“Let me do some research on the laws,” Holden said, holding up a finger as he started to scroll on his phone.

“I doubt he wants to be an Alpha himself,” I murmured. “I got the vibe that he thinks we’re shit on the bottom of his shoes.”

“The language the thugs used wasn’t very pro-wolf, either,” Kye said lightly. Too lightly.

I was immediately on alert. “What did they say?”

“It wasn’t for polite company,” he hedged.

“Fuck polite company, what did they say?” I rumbled, because nobody fucking insulted my mate.

Kye looked stubborn and stayed silent.