Page 51 of Escalating Alpha

“Yeah, you want them or me to read them out?” she asked.

“Read them out,” he instructed.

She nodded and shot me an apologetic look, probably knowing it was going to be news to me. “Twenty-seven packs have asked for the deal Des Moines has or a conversation about it. Seventeen packs, the council wants our Alpha to investigate or possibly handle. And nine, they’re begging her to take over. Regularly.”

I sighed. Heavily. “I really am going to become the Alpha of America if some people get their way. Great.” I moved over towards Reagan, tapping his shoulder and saying it was time to move on while making a point not to even look at the Alpha which pissed him and his people off. “Let me make it clear that if I take over St. Louis you wouldn’t be who I put in power. Ever.”

I almost laughed at the fear that instantly filled my nose. Fucker. He’d never considered I’d just take over and kill him.

Seriously, what a fucking idiot. He was making all of these waves, and—it wasn’t like I hadn’t done it before. I had.

Simply not since I’d been recovered from my abduction. So a year and a half was too long for people’s memories?

“I have to speak with the families of the three local victims,” I told them. “If he steps a toe out of line or tries to make us or wolves look bad, tear out his throat and I’ll worry about the mess on the other end. We can’t have something else make shifters look bad when we were wronged.”

“Yes, Alpha,” all my wolves responded.

Davis had gotten a jump on things and the right people brought in for me to speak with. Two were so grateful that I was there and would help that they kept crying. I understood their upset, and it was valid after weeks of trying to get someone to do what they should.

But I wasn’t the best with my own emotions, much less other people’s. And I needed information from them.

The first was cold and full of rage—again, expected. He was exceedingly helpful about his brother.

No, nothing out of the ordinary.

No, he hadn’t gone off the map, made new friends, been secretive about anything, nor asked for money.

No, he hadn’t seemed paranoid or worried—nothing that pointed to him being a drug user or drugs being in the picture. Fine, some people were functioning while using all sorts ofdrugs, but if this was something new… I didn’t see that being a factor.

“You’ll get whoever did this, right?” he checked as he stood.

“I will do my absolute best and never give up. That’s what I can promise you,” I answered as I met his gaze. “I don’t give up. I don’t want to give you false hope because sometimes we can’t ever get the answers or find the people. I have cases still that wake me in the middle of the night because they’re like sand through my fingers.”

He nodded. “Thanks, Chief Thomas.” He turned Davis’s card in his fingers. “I’ll let you know if I find anything else. I’ll check in with his friends too—human and supe—and let your agent know.”

“Any nerves you register let us know,” I told him. “Doesn’t mean they did something wrong, but it’s worth an in-person conversation. Don’t try it and spook them. Enough has been fucked up on this already and I can force answers.”

He dipped his head. “Yes, Alpha.”

Good.

“I’m a bit shocked at what you said and the lack of hope you gave,” the local division chief admitted when I took a break.

Lewis snorted but then apologized, giving me a look. He sighed when I nodded for him to go ahead. “We’re immortal, Chief. Telling someone that unsolved cases keep us up at night makes it clear we won’t give up. And when we can live hundreds of years—that’s a lot of years to hope and not be brushed aside. That’s what she was telling him. That she cares that much.”

“That’s what most supes want to hear,” I added. “Humans want someone to blame, not always caring they got the right person. I saw it time and time again. Supes want the right person even if they have to wait. We’re too—our animals can’t handle sending someone innocent away when we smell lies and sense so much. So supes want to hear we care and will do it right.”

He opened his mouth and then closed it, repeating that a few times. “Sometimes you guys are scary like you talking about ending that Alpha like brushing your teeth. I know bravado and you were serious. But then other times I think you guys have the right outlook and I wish more humans thought the same.”

“Both can be true,” I said, not taking offense. I gave a half shrug. “And I was serious how easily I’d kill him because him spreading rumors and lies can bring trouble to my door and the fight for Alpha is to the death. I’m not letting my people die for that asshole, and we’ve lost people in those kinds of fights—other fights for what was right.”

“Now ask her how often those wolves she’s had to kill wake her up in the middle of the night too,” Lewis muttered gently, giving me a knowing look.

I didn’t make the chief ask. “Too fucking often.” I snorted. “At least once a week. It’s great. I hope it fades because I did the right thing.” I wasn’t surprised when the chief patted my shoulder.

Yeah, that was how most people felt after talking to me instead of the rumors and bullshit about me.

Right before we wrapped up and all the paperwork was in for the transports and more, Reagan pulled me off to the side. “Virgil is begging you to swing by Memphis. It’s pack business, but he says he’s in a bind and finally got people ready to talk. He said he didn’t want to call in those favors we owe him, but he really hopes you can pull one out for him.”

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