Chapter 19

Daisy, Joel, and Charles can barely contain their excitement, Marcus notes with distaste. It's tactless, the way their eyes gleam and they practically bounce in their seats.

Yes, this is a moment that all three Alpha children have been anticipating for some time, but it's hardly graceful to be so obvious in their eagerness. Father retiring means that he no longer feels that he can keep up with the duties of his role.

Marcus is firm on how he feels about this: he wants to be Alpha as much as either of his siblings, but he cares deeply for his father as well. Family politics can be messy, but at its core, an Alpha's family is supposed to be a pack all in itself. They're meant to lead by example.

A werewolf pack functions best when its members are loyal to one another, genuinely care for one another, and have each other's backs. There will always be some competition, of course; that's only natural. But at its center, a pack is meant to be a family.

Strong, unbroken family bonds are the true strength of a wolf and their pack. An Alpha family is a micro-pack unto itself, or at least, it's supposed to be. It's meant to be a tight, solid bond that sets the tone for the wider pack.

This is exactly why Marcus doesn't trust either of his siblings to be Alpha, he reflects as he looks round the table.

Charles's face is gleaming with naked greed, and he's not even a wolf. It's transparent that he's here to suckle power from Daisy's position. It makes Marcus sad; the marriage of a wolf is meant to be the strongest bond of all. Charles should be here to support Daisy, but Marcus has long suspected the man is only here for himself.

Joel has a conniving little grin on his face, his canine teeth longer and sharper than they have any right to be outside his werewolf form. It's like his wolf is straining to break free and seize power right here at the table, a table that exists specifically so that they can work on pack issues together. As a unit, as a family, as a pack.

Daisy is nearly vibrating with anticipation, her eyes sharp and alert. They dart from their father to Joel to Marcus, and then they come to rest on Charles. He reaches across and squeezes Daisy's arm. She puts a proud, protective hand over her stomach.

Marcus is the only one, he knows, who is most interested in the position of Alpha because he most cares about his pack and his community. He's worked hard over the years to cultivate a good public image, to learn as much as he can about genuine leadership, to put the needs of his pack first.

Those should be the priorities of an Alpha, who is really like a king to his community. Alphas work long and hard, for all their lives. Yes, the position comes with plenty of power, riches, and prestige, and yes, that's an attractive part of the package. No denying that.

But that's only the surface, the glossy perks that cover the real duties and responsibilities of an Alpha. Being an Alpha is about projecting the pretty, wrapping paper image to the world while harboring a powerful and dangerous bomb beneath the surface.

Daisy, Joel, and Charles have never fully understood that, or respected it. It troubles Marcus deeply. He's not so much concerned about his own position and career as he is what will happen to his pack and his community if one of his siblings gets named Alpha.

He's afraid the pack will fall apart, to put it bluntly. Selfishness and blatant self-interest has no business being at the heart of an Alpha leader. Marcus is worried that his father won't see this, that he'll overlook it in favor of promoting a married child over the truly dedicated child.

Which means that Marcus is going to have to come up with a solution to his bachelorhood, and quickly. There isn't much time between an Alpha's retirement announcement and his naming of an official heir, so Marcus needs to move quickly.

Unbidden, his mind flits to thoughts of Nicole again. He pushes them away for now, waiting alongside his siblings in the silence that has filled the room since his father's announcement.

The Alpha speaks at last.

"Before any of you can ask, no, I am no closer to naming an heir than I was when I first began contemplating retirement nearly a year ago." He sits down heavily in his ornate chair at the head of the meeting table, and Marcus notices how tired his father looks.

"I'll be blunt," he says. "Marcus, if you were mated, I would name you heir right now."

Gasps from Daisy, Charles, and Joel. All three of them turn to glare at Marcus; they hardly make an attempt to conceal their jealousy and anger.

Marcus clears his throat. "Father, I will find a mate," he says. "I promise you. You'll be dancing at my wedding by Christmastime, if you can put off announcing your decision until then. Give me some time."

The Alpha sighs and leans forward to rub his face.

"That's an unusual amount of time, Marcus," he says. "I have put off retirement for as long as I can, to give you a chance to catch up to your siblings, but my health is poor. I can't wait much longer. I'll put off the announcement as long as I can, but you need to find someone soon."

Then he stands and exits the room, followed by all of his assistants except Liam, who also happens to be a close friend of Marcus. Another heavy silence falls in his absence. Daisy and Joel are staring down at the tabletop; Charles is staring at Marcus, looking contemplative.

"Marcus." Liam steps up to him, frowning in concern. "You know what I'm going to say."

"I do," Marcus says. "And I know you're right. I will find a mate."

"You must," Liam says urgently. "Time is running out, and you don't have the luxury of waiting for the perfect woman to fall into your lap anymore. You must take a mate. Marcus – we've been friends a long time, so please don't tear me apart for this."

Marcus looks up sharply, suspicious of what Liam is about to say.

"I've taken the liberty of lining up a few eligible young women from the noblest of our pack's oldest families. One lady is a woman you haven't met yet, as she's been living with her maternal family's pack in Spain until recently.

"Her name is Lydia, and she's very kind and lovely. I've known you a long time, Marcus; I know you'll get on with her. You should at least give her a chance, longer than just a weekend date. Show your father that you're making a true effort this time."

"Very well," Marcus says, feeling resigned. "I know you're right. Make the introductions, Liam. And yet…." he trails off before deciding to forge ahead. "Did you ever follow up on that woman from the soup kitchen?"

Marcus had asked Liam to check in on Nicole, simply because he was worried when he didn't hear from her after the wedding. He's sure she's fine, probably just not interested in him or all the hoopla that comes with a position like his, but still. Something felt off about her radio silence.

Liam nods. "I did. No one has seen or heard from her in days. She stopped appearing for her shifts at the kitchen."

Marcus's voice is sharp. "What? Why wasn't I informed of this immediately?"

"I only just found out this afternoon," Liam says. "I was going to tell you after this meeting."

"I want people looking for her," Marcus snaps. "Now. She lives in a dangerous part of town, and last I knew, she didn't have a car. She walks to the kitchen. Anything could've happened to her."

Liam looks taken aback. Marcus is usually so calm and collected; he's never shown any real emotion over any woman before. He knows that Liam must be wondering who Nicole is, and why she's having this effect on Marcus.

Still, Liam merely nods and pulls out a phone to start sending instructions. Charles chooses that moment to pipe up.

"Erm, actually, Marcus, I don't think that will be necessary."

Marcus glowers at Charles. "What are you talking about?"

"I only just found out myself," Charles says in that smooth politician voice of his. "But Nicole was killed in a car accident. Dangerous driving and all that, some kind of escape from the police. A real shame, how far she'd fallen."

He dabs at his eyes, affecting a grief that Marcus doesn't believe for one moment the man actually feels.

Marcus feels stunned, like someone has stabbed him in the heart. But his wolf isn't satisfied by this news. Something feels off. And Marcus always trusts his wolf.

"Liam, I want you to send people out. Look for her. Something feels rotten about all this, and I want to know what it is."

Marcus shoves back from the table, knocking over his chair before he storms from the room.