Page 72 of Escalating Alpha

Good.

“Eat. Juice!” he said when he was done.

“Whoa, he was really holding back the floodgates,” Reagan chuckled as he kissed Topher’s head. “Let’s check with Maya what you’ve had.”

“Maya!” he giggled. It was more like “Maea,” but we knew what he meant.

“Our son is legit a genius,” Brian praised. “Yes, let’s go see Mayaand we all need to talk adult stuff.”

Topher was fine with that as long as he got the juice he really liked. He gave me a worried look when I slipped on my ring.

“Mama has a headache,” I told him, rubbing my head. I was glad when he accepted that and quietly snuggled up to Reagan like he knew to not shout any more.

Cutest little bugger ever.

My migraine pills were in my hand the moment we were in my apartment.

Topher held out his arms to Eva. “Nana.”

Dain moved his hand over mine when I went to slip off my ring. “Please, you don’t always have to—we can manage.” He smiled at Eva. “Brian’s mother was repeating it over and over again trying to get him to say it when they visited. He doesn’t really understand besides it’s a name for female family.”

Eva nodded. “He can call me whatever he wants.” She moved closer and booped his nose. “You’re perfect, child. And well done being fair to your family who loves you so much.”

“Nana,” he repeated… Quietly for my head.

“Where did we leave things with the president?” I asked with a sigh as I sat down. Relief filled me as I was filled in. Brianand Eva gave him an abbreviated tour and he was finishing up with Noah before heading back to DC. He was under alotof misconceptions and the big one was the “lie” that vampires didn’t drink from children.

Which he was genuinely now rethinking after seeing how horrified all of the vampires were around him when he’d said that. Apparently, he didn’t think any group could act that well. Plus, Noah was smooth and said the president really needed to spend a day with a member from each council, plus Queen Laila. There was such a divide of information that it was ridiculous.

It was 2017 after all, not 1917.

He seemed open to it, truly and genuinely. Even Eva was impressed how the man just wanted the truth more than to hold onto his opinions.

If he could really follow through, then I had no problem using my influence to open back up talks with other countries and smoothing things over. I wanted the US to succeed.

But not to the detriment of others who didn’t deserve it. We had to be better than that. Wehad toif we were to survive as a planet. Hadn’t history taught us that yet? Why couldn’t people fucking learn?

Eva updated me that two cousins from Zeno’s side had arrived both in Memphis and Indiana.Apparently, my parents had really embraced how I’d done things in Sioux Falls, and after getting recommendations from the Alpha there, had teamed up with other displaced Alpha families. Several of my cousins were working with them and “sponsoring” them almost.

I sighed and sat back in my chair. I was glad for the backup and planning ahead, but it was also a lot of pressure on me that there were whole families and displaced packs in the background waiting for me to take over more packs here so they could… Well, not take over but—gods save me.

But really, Alena saved me by plotting ahead with this. Someone our family trusted completely was willing to stay for months to oversee the packs and if this Alpha family could work—the whole pack leadership. All to protect me and that area. It was a miracle for me.

It really left me with only one question.

“What do they want in return?” I worried.

“Probably their own pack under you.” Eva nodded when I sighed again. “It’s always been too much of a risk to branch out. The different governments and current climates—you understand it all. Plus, it was always forever. I know even your sister struggles. She wanted out from Melicent’s shadow, but she can never just come home.”

“I offer them the best of both worlds and the experience for more that they’re not tied to for their immortal lives,” I mumbled. “Except no one will give me the same. It’s fucking awesome.”

She came over and squatted down in front of me. “You will do what we do, and many years from now, you will have a daughter—many even, and the right one will want to lead. Trust me that you will be relieved but at a loss that you are not in charge to help everyone. It’s a burden, but you are also blessed not to be a foot soldier.”

That was true. I knew that.

It was just also fair to say my life was a bitunfairand it was all too hard.

Davis got Councilman Antony to see the St. Louis bodies and it was something he’d never seen either and told her that I’d done the right thing to involve him. He was going to send a few of their best and most experienced investigators to work with our office to help in any way they could.

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