Page 52 of The Alpha: Part One
I don’t want to meet Mateo and the rest of Desie’s brothers in Long Shop. The fact that Mateo texted Michael instead of me, and didn’t text Desie about it at all, tells me all I need to know about this little lunch date. We negotiated an extra day off of time with the chief so we could deal with whatever Mateo’s throwing at us, and I hope it won’t take up the whole day because I want to go back home and drag everyone back into the nest. I woke up smashed between Desie and Seth and it wasn’t anything but comfortable. It probably shouldn’t have been, but it was and I don’t really care except I could feel something poking me in the small of my back. Morning wood has never been an issue until it was me being poked with it instead of Desie. Michael has given me shit about it all morning, and giving my brother new material to use against me is something I generally try not to do. I just can’t seem to be bothered by it this morning, though.
“He didn’t say what it was about? Nothing?”
“No,” Michael says, buckling his seatbelt. “He just said to bring you and not mention it to Desie or Seth. It feels shitty. I was tempted to take Seth, anyway.”
It does feel shitty. I don’t like secrets and this seems very secret and sideways.
Everybody is already at the diner when we walk in, sitting in the big corner booth in the far back. Another bad sign. It’s an unspoken understanding that that booth is where big, bad news is delivered. This is probably the worst time for Michael and I to get bad news. We have to go back to the mountain, we can’t make good decisions out there if we’re worried about what’s happening here.
Nobody says anything when we sit down. The waitress comes by and takes drink orders. Nobody asks for food, not even Sebastian. Another bad sign. Maybe the worst sign.
“Just tell us what the fuck’s going on.” Michael has never had much patience for small talk.
Mateo sighs and exchanges a look with Lucas, then drops the bomb. “Seth Pratchett needs to go.”
“Excuse me?” I can’t believe this shit, especially when things are finally lining up for us.
Mateo and Lucas exchange another look, and I losemypatience. “Stop looking at each other and tell us what the fuck is going on. What do you mean, Seth needs to go? Go where?”
“Away,” Mateo says flatly. “He needs to pack his shit up and go back to the East Coast. He can’t be in your pack and he can’t be my sister’s alpha.”
“Fuck off, Mateo,” Michael growls low in his chest. “You don’t get to make choices for our pack, or for Desie anymore.”
Mateo growls right back. “I will always make choices for my sister. Seth cannot be her alpha.”
“And I said fuck off,” Michael snarls and slams his fist on top of the table. “You do not make choices for our pack. We will take your advice under consideration, but you donotdecide what happens to our pack or who is in it.”
The sound of a shotgun being loaded comes quietly from behind the counter, and Seb and I both put up our hands to let Lito know we’re not going to be a problem for him.
“Calm down,” I hiss. “Just take a breath. Why do you have a problem with Seth?”
Mateo rolls his shoulders and flattens his hands on the table. “He’s not a good person. He’s done some really bad shit.”
“Just tell us what he’s supposed to have done, Mateo. Just say whatever it is,” Michael clips.
“He raped a girl back east a few years ago. And killed the members of his last pack.” Lucas deadpans. No emotion. Just says it.
I look at Michael, and he looks at me. And we’re silent.
When Michael speaks again, his words are full of ice. “What do you mean, he raped a girl?”
“What the fuck do you think he means, Michael?” Mateo barks. “Seth raped a girl, she couldn’t have been older than nineteen. The record is missing details, but there is a record. I’ve already passed it on to Alpha Minos.”
Fuck. “What details are missing? How did you find out?” If Seth really did that…if he was capable of it… But it doesn’t make sense. He could hardly stand to hear us with Desie when she was in heat, and even last night I thought he and Michael were going to fight over a little spanking.
“Flores,” Sebastian mumbles. “It’s always Flores. He came by this morning. Mother fucker gives me the creeps, but he sent Mateo the file. How he got it, we don’t know. We didn’t ask.”
“Show me,” Michael orders.
Mateo slides his phone across the table at Michael and after he looks at it, pushes it in front of me. There it is. No names are listed, no details. Just a blacked out medical report and a letter from the Eastern Institute for Omegas stating that they do not recommend placing any omegas with any pack under the leadership of Seth W. Pratchett. “Goddammit.” What else can I say? I feel like my stomach has turned to lead. Desie’s going to be distraught.
“Let’s go,” Michael says, nudging me with his thigh.
“Where are you going?” Mateo asks, moving to get up from the booth.
“To deal with this shit,” Michael grits. “We have to call the chief. We’ll handle Desie, and deal with Seth. We’ll call if we need you.”
Mateo nods grimly, very suddenly looking every year of his age. “Has he…did he and Desie…?”
