Page 15 of The Alpha: Part Three
“What happened? What's wrong?”
“Mostly Devon,” I answer.
“It usually is. What did he do?”
Brandon goes through the whole thing again and waits for Seth to process it.
Seth looks at me. “I thought he was family?”
“We all look out for him.”
“But he doesn't have a legal guardian?”
I shake my head.
Seth pokes his tongue into his cheek. “Are you enrolled in school here?”
Brandon shakes his head. “I don't need it. I can read and do math. I know all the important stuff.”
Seth glares at Ben. “And you all just let him wander around? Nobody bothered to put him in school?”
Michael laughs. “Plenty of people bothered. Joseph's parents and Cody's. Hell, even I filled out the paperwork. He won't go. He won't stay put long enough to catch a bus or get a report card.”
Seth drags his hands down his face. “Alright. Come on. Get in the truck.”
“Why?” Brandon's eyes narrow. “You're not shipping me off to some place.”
“Just get in the damn truck. And listen to me right now, I know how it goes with the packs here. I know y'all form connections and bonds really young, obviously,” he gestures to me and the twins. “But you can't just order around an entire pack when it comes to things like this. I'm going to do what I can to help you, but you have to listen to me. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don't do that. I'm not a yes, sir kind of guy. Just listen to me. And don't throw a fit when we get there.”
“Okay.”
Chapter eight
Seth
“It's awfully late, Pratchett,” Devon says, eying the boy behind me.
“It's only eight-thirty, Devon. We won't be long.”
Devon crosses his arms. He knows why I'm here.
“Is that Seth?” Talia calls from somewhere in the house.
“Goddammit,” Devon mutters. “Yes.”
“Tell him to come to the kitchen.”
Devon gives me a flat look. “Okay.” Then leads the way to the kitchen.
“Oh,” Talia smiles. “You've brought Brandon back. Would you like anything to eat? We still have a few burgers left from earlier.”
Brandon looks at the floor and shakes his head. “No, thank you.”
Talia looks at me, hands on her hips. “Why won't you hold the baby?”
