Chapter 195

Ethan

Such is the life of a leader.

“This vendetta wouldn’t be good for either pack, and I’ve told him to stand down, but I’ve had two Gammas watching your father since I learned of his plans. If you don’t stop him, I don’t think he’ll stop,” Ryan says. I sigh and scrub my hand down my face. My father has never done anything without thinking first, especially something as dangerous and foolish as planning to attack another pack when he doesn’t have the resources.

He seems to think he can still rally the Gammas and the pack enforcers to his cause simply because he was the former Alpha. If they think I’m dying, the Gammas may listen to my father, so we’re on a time crunch here.

“You’ve done well, Ryan.”

He freezes at the door and looks back at me as I move to Fiona’s bedside. The wide-eyed expression on his face makes me smile.

After pressing a soft kiss on Fiona’s forehead, I stand and walk over to Ryan. He’s never had to be full leader for the pack before, but from what he’s told me, he did well.

“Thank you, Alpha.” He bows respectfully, and I clap a hand on his back. If there is anyone I trust to take over, it’s Ryan. His high morals and quick thinking have been major assets so far. I have no doubt he’d make a great leader, and honestly, that’s why I picked him as my Beta. He’s dependable, trustworthy, and kind man.

I lead him out of the hospital and to my parent’s section of the pack house. My body is still weak, I note, as I enter the living space my parents occupy, but I don’t let them see that. In fact, when they see me, both of them jump to their feet, and my father ends the phone call he was on.

“E-Ethan,” my mother stutters, her eyes wide and shocked.

“Good to see you up, son,” my father says.

“Is it?” I ask, pinning a hard gaze on him. His eyebrow ticks up and his jaw clenches. He stops in his tracks, not coming closer when I narrow my eyes. “I hear you’re planning an attack even though my Beta ordered you to be still and let him handle the situation.”

My father’s mouth opens and closes twice before he finally stutters, “I was trying to—”

“No.” I lift a hand, silencing him. “You will drop this vendetta since we both know it is nothing more than a power play to try to regain the Alpha title. You are not to contact anyone outside the pack and are here in confined to your residence until I deem it is safe for you to leave.”

“You can’t just—”

“You are forbidden to act on any plans unless they are approved by me,” I growl, letting my Alpha tone seep into my voice. He staggers back a few steps while my mother just stands there, gaping, but I pay her no mind. I keep my gaze on my father until he nods in acceptance of the order.

Without another word, I leave the room. It’s sad that I have to use an Alpha command on my own parents, but if I didn’t, he would have continued plotting.

“The intruders,” I say, glancing at Ryan. “Which pack are they from?”

“Bluemoon.”

Of course. Bluemoon is the only pack stupid enough to try to attack and the only one cowardly enough to try when I’m weak. Breaking peace treaties like this, for the second time- if I’m counting the kidnapping of Fiona and challenge from the Alpha’s son while I was in the East- is stupid. To put it plainly.

Breaking treaty is never a good idea unless in dire situations, and this was clearly not that. Though, it doesn’t surprise me that they would try when I’m at my weakest. Their pack is half the size of mine, so if they were to even have the slightest chance, they would need to strike when we were weak.

“Keep a close eye on the Bluemoon pack. They may try to attack soon if they already sent out scouts.”

“There were four in total, and each is locked up in the Pack House basement,” Ryan informs me, and I stop walking. He hadn’t told me they caught the intruders. “I didn’t want to let them go, in case they could be useful in negotiations or just to get information out of. We caught one early on and the other three were taken when they attacked Laxus and Luna Fiona.”

The sound of her name put with the Luna title stalls my brain a bit- in a good way- before I can reply.

“I missed so much in such a short time,” I mutter. I pinch the bridge of my nose to alleviate the growing headache. It was only one week, but so much had happened. My mate came to help me, my pack protected her, the Challenges ended, rivals struck… there was too much to fully process it all, but I have to.

And the biggest surprise of all wasn’t that my father was trying to stage a mutiny. It’s the fact that my mate, the little human that’s taken over my heart and mind, came to me even though she said we were finished.

She still cares about me, and that has hope sprouting in my heart. I may be able to win her back like I’d been planning to. Now, though, I don’t have to wait until I make it back to the East. She’s here, in my home.

In a home that isn’t as safe as it should be.

Thoughts of Fiona being attacked flash through my brain, and I growl. Before she can be welcomed, I need to take care of any danger that she may come up against.

“Keep the Bluemoon Pack’s members on lockdown until I speak with their Alpha,” I tell Ryan, turning toward the main pack house where my office is. “Send Michael down to watch them, then have Laxus and Robert stationed outside the hospital to make sure no one gets to Fiona while I’m not there.”

Ryan nods and jogs off in the direction of the Gamma training grounds. Most of the Gammas are usually there or patrolling. As part of the Alpha family guard and because they’re the highest-level Gammas, Laxus, Michael, and Robert are usually at the training grounds.

Before long, I’m sitting behind my desk, dialing the direct number of the Bluemoon Pack’s Alpha.

The phone rings twice before he answers, barking, “Who is this?”

“Ridiculous,” Zev rumbles in my mind. I bite back the laugh and focus.

“This is Alpha Ethan Montgomery.”

Silence.

I wait, knowing he’s probably realizing his mistake. “Probably wondering how to kiss your ass so you don’t kill him,” Zev says. I’d have to agree.

“Alpha Montgomery, what can I do for you?” He finally asks after two minutes of silence.

“If you want your men back, you will meet with me in three days in the No Man’s Land between our packs,” I tell him, keeping my tone even and composed so he knows I’m serious. Sometimes the older generation of Alphas like to think that taking orders from a younger Alpha is optional.

It’s not, and he will know that before I’m done speaking.

“You will not bring more than yourself and three guards. I will return your men to you if you meet these standards.”

“Of course. That sounds reasonable,” he says, his words taking on a more placating tone.

Zev rumbles, satisfied that the man seems to be afraid or at the very least wary.

“We’ll meet at noon. If you’re late or do not show up, your men will be staying with me permanently.” I give him no room to argue before ending the call and leaning back in my seat.