Page 19 of Frenzy
“And Antonio?”
Loren picked at his nails. “He has his own demons to chase in the good old US of A, apparently.”
None of them would stay, and in a way, I had expected it. They wouldn’t be happy here, sitting on their asses in some idyllic little town filled with Manix. I’d thought perhaps Loren, but I guessed wrong. As long as they didn’t all go together, raising hell across the continent, I was happy. But I guess they wouldn’t be my responsibility anymore either.
“What are you going to do about the challenge? We both know you could take that old fuck in a fight easily, but he doesnt seem like the kind to just follow the rules and lie down, you know?”
Yeah, I knew his type too well. “A leader is only a leader while people are following him. They can follow him through fear or love, and given the looks on the faces of some of those soldiers this morning? He isn’t a beloved ruler.” I paused as the plan continued to work itself through my brain. “So, I will win the position and then get them to love me.”
Loren burst out laughing, and I raised a brow. “Sorry, but if our enemies could see you now. Planning to rule people with love. No offense, because I love the hell out of you man, but that has never been in your arsenal of tricks.”
As if on cue, there was a heavy knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” another of my men yelled from somewhere else in the house.
I smiled at Loren. “Ah, but I have a secret weapon.” I was moving toward the front door, Loren on my heels, when I saw the tiny powerhouse that was my half-sister.
“Courtland! What the hell?!” Naja shouted, and this time I let myself grin.
Behind her were both of her Alphas, and they eyed me coolly. I’d done my research before I arrived, of course. Gatlin, Naja’s primary Alpha, was the bastard son of the current Alpha General. But from all accounts, and what I’d seen in the weeks after her rescue, there was no love lost between father and son. Finlo was from an old and respected family, but he’d stuck his middle finger up at the authorities and created a Pack with Gatlin.
“Surprise?” I said drolly, and they all looked at me with incredulity.
Naja just gaped. “You better start from the beginning, because none of this shit makes sense. Like, why is there a fucking baby strapped to your chest? And can I please hold it, though you’d think after having a whole litter at home that I wouldn’t have baby fever anymore but fuck me, it’s like it’s sent me into overdrive.”
One corner of my lip tipped up as I reached back and unclipped the harness. I was a quick study and had managed to work out how to get this thing on and off without Bonnie’s help, not that I’d tell her that. I quite liked her touching me with soft fingers.
I handed over the baby, which really needed a name. I was trying to respect Pryce’s wishes, but a baby needed a name, and I refused to let these two live anything but long and happy lives.
Naja cooed, cradling the still bare baby to her chest. She looked up at Finlo. “Give me your sweater so this little angel isn't cold.” To his credit, he peeled off his sweater and wrapped it around the young immediately. They were good mates for her. If I didn’t think that was the truth, I would have torn her away from them in a heartbeat. But they loved her and treated her like the queen she was, so I was happy enough with her choices.
“What’s his name?”
I shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
“That’s an awfully long name for a baby this small, Courtland,” she said drily, and I couldn’t help my smile. Yes, she was definitely related to me. “Why doesn’t the baby have a name?”
“Not my place to name it.”
“Whose place is it then?”
A throat cleared behind me. “Mine.” I looked over my shoulder at Pryce, whose cheeks were pink but he was standing tall.
Gatlin frowned, and looked between us both before bowing his head reverently. “Omega.” Finlo did the same. Good, Pryce deserved all that reverence and more. Behind him was Bonnie, and she smiled at the two big Alphas.
“Hi Gat, hey Finlo.” She stepped closer to my sister. “Hi, we haven’t met yet because these guys have been keeping you trapped up in the mountains. I’m Bonnie. I run the Sanctum next door.”
Naja smiled pleasantly at her, before suddenly frowning. “The Sanctum? Like the place they put Ellar and you when you arrived in Maxton, Gatlin? The place where they used to kick the shit out of Ellar?” My sister’s eyes flashed back toward Bonnie, who held up her hands.
“Hey, way before my time. I don’t stand for that shit anymore.” She cast an imploring look at Gatlin and Finlo. “Tell her.”
Finlo laughed, reaching out to grab Bonnie in a side hug. “Nah, Bonnie is one of the good ones.”
I was growling before I even realized, and both of Naja’s Alphas pushed in front of Bonnie and Naja. That made my Beast even madder. I tried to push it down, but the sight of another Alpha with his hands onmyBeta, even if I hadn’t claimed her yet, had sent my Beast out of control.
Apparently, Bonnie got the idea though, because she stepped around Finlo’s back and in front of me. Gripping my chin, she dragged my face down to hers. I thought she might whisper something reassuring, but I was sorely disappointed. “Cut it the fuck out.”
Loren snorted from beside me, and I cut my eyes toward him to see that he had his hand on his gun but hadn’t drawn it.
Bonnie gave me a furious look. “We’ll talk about this later. I have no interest in any Alpha, least of all these two. I once saw Finlo drink so much moonshine, he vomited and shit his pants simultaneously. You can’t come back from that.”
