Page 63 of Escalating Alpha

Awesome. Just fucking awesome.

“It was half falling down anyways, Sera,” Freddie called over.

“Plus, she owns it all, right?” someone offered.

“No, it’s not that clear-cut when there’s children or a mate after the Alpha is gone,” Freddie explained. “She got everything of Engle’s since he didn’t have family or immediate family. Normally, it’s anything of that pack’s. So pack lands that are in trust. Any co-op companies—anything like that the Alpha is trustee of.”

“There are certain loopholes and rules if someone tries to invade her versus if she takes over too,” Councilman Antony added. “Honestly, her having an official son adopted makes her less of a target. There is now immediate family to inherit her personal holdings if she dies. It’s why Alphas quickly have children sometimes.”

“That’s not why I adopted Topher,” I snarled.

“Of course you didn’t adopt him for that,” Dain cut in, moving into my view even. “You probably never even heard me say that or others comment it before.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and let out a slow breath. “I don’t know. Maybe? Sometimes the rules are like weird ass D&D ones or whatever where if it’s an elf on the third full moon of the year and after you’ve been an Alpha for so long—it all gets confusing.” I sighed when I glanced down. “This all had to be on the full moon. Awesome.”

“You haven’t slept. You didn’t get to shift at all yesterday if I’m informed correctly,” Dain said for the others mostly. “I would have taken out the garage too, but none of this was your fault, Sera. It was more mine than yours. I was getting updates from this pack because we knew it was a problem, so I really want to know who was reporting to me that the Alpha Mate was fine.”

“I didn’t even get that far,” I whispered as I shifted back. I thanked him when he made clothes appear for me, not even paying attention enough to think of who was seeing me naked. “You would have heard in her voice if she was lying.”

“More if she was under duress or in pain,” he clarified. “I can’t tell lies over the phone, but at my age we catch emotions. Something seemed off, but she kept saying it was fine and not to intercede.”

Fair enough.

“You weren’t talking to the Alpha Mate, and someone in this pack impersonated her or maybe was forced to,” Gere said. “Always a fucking mess in our communities.”

Yeah, preaching to the choir.

I answered a bunch of questions that I was sure had a greater point, but right then I couldn’t see it. My mind was just a mess and… Overloaded didn’t cover it this time.

“Mostly, I need to know what landed you here or in Indiana today of all days with what you have going on?” IA guy asked, seeming to wrap up.

“Indiana was honestly because it was on the way to here and I was already traveling,” I said with a sigh. “Here because it was brought…” I glanced at Dain. “Do you know this? Hagan and Reagan’s—”

“Yes, I’m updated,” he cut in, looking at IA. “One of the men Sera is bonded with, one of her Betas, his aunt, uncle, and cousin are in this pack. They wanted to use their connection, but in doing so, they reported that no one has seen the Alpha Mate or Alpha’s children for weeks. Sera realized calls to check in weren’t enough and had to come in person.”

“Another fucking mess,” I grumbled. Suddenly something felt off and I had just enough time to step back so I wasn’t grabbed. I reached for the person and my fingers touched hair, so I clenched my fist to get what I could.

They were faster—better trained and flipped me, popping my shoulder out, so I let go.

Fuck.

I landed on my feet and immediately popped in my shoulder in one movement before she was on me. I blocked the first hit and sprung out of the way of a kick, wincing when I had to use the hand of the arm I’d just popped back in to manage it.

“Don’t,” I called out to the others, knowing they would have a range of responses and draw weapons. “She’s a Dorcus.”

“Haven’t you already done this schtick?” Emilio grumbled behind me. “Is this how they say hello?”

The breathtakingly gorgeous woman smirked at me, her amber eyes and flawless black hair the same as Alena and Eva. This was definitely someone related to them.

Unlike when I went through this with Melicent, I had no chance of winning.

None.

“Do not shift,” she warned after the first time she laid me out. “A true Alpha can always stay in control. The full moon is not an excuse we use. Your emotional or mental state—never. You are the rock others lean on—the steadfast shield that protects many.”

I swallowed my need to shift, but then she was on me again and I couldn’t block all of the hits. I did try my new power and to take the aggression from her.

Except there was none to take. This was sport for her.

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