Crossed Fates by Lexi C. Foss

Alaric

“I don’t thinkit’s a coincidence that you found your mate the same week as your brother’s death,” my father said quietly from his seat beside the fire in his den.

It had taken me nearly two hours to find him here.

After leaving Makayla at my house, I’d wandered on foot back to Tyler’s home, expecting my parents to still be there. But they’d left shortly after the pack coroner had arrived to handle my brother’s remains.

A morbid part of me had forced myself to stand there and watch the process of removing him from the house, like I needed to witness every minute in order to believe this was really happening. Several other packmates had joined me in silence, their distress a palpable wave to my senses, one my wolf had ached to console.

But I didn’t know how.

Did I touch them? Talk to them? Offer words of wisdom?

All I wanted was to go for a run, to hide in the woods, and never return.

However, alphas didn’t cower. So I’d opened my arms and hugged them. Or maybe they’d hugged me. I couldn’t really say, only that it had felt right to accept the strength of the pack and offer my own in return.

It only lasted a few minutes. Yet I could smell their wolves on me now as I stood inside my father’s upgraded den. He and my mother resided in the house next to Tyler’s, a home they’d built during my youth because they’d known our family home would one day belong to the new pack alpha.

The windows lining the back of his proverbial cave overlooked the same woods as his den-like office back at the other house. However, the deck outside was bigger.

He sat by the fireplace, the chair beside him empty and waiting for me.

I considered his opening statement regarding Makayla and our mating not being a coincidence. It wasn’t exactly a greeting, but I preferred it over his usual disappointment.

“It wasn’t just the same week, but the same day,” I clarified as I took the seat beside him, a small coffee table the only item between us. He’d already poured two glasses of scotch from his minibar across the room. My glass lacked ice, just the way I preferred it.

“I found her right before you called me earlier,” I continued as I picked up the tumbler. “She stabbed me when you told me about Tyler.”

My shoulder still ached. Although, I’d forgotten about the pain while sparring with Makayla. And it hadn’t just been the physical agony, either. But everything. For a blissful moment, she’d given me peace.

Which unnerved me more than I wanted to admit.

My father’s lips curled into genuine amusement. “Is that why you favored one arm during your little wrestling match outside?”

“I should have known you were watching,” I muttered before taking a long gulp of the fiery liquid. It was just what I needed to take the edge off.

“I suppose you’ll tell me the injury is why she won,” he added, ignoring my reply.

“She didn’t win.”

He grunted. “She had you by the balls, son. At least own it.”

“I seem to recall pinning her.” I set my glass down. “Which means I won.”

“Except you kissed her afterward, thereby giving her the win.” He grinned to lessen the insult. “It’s all right. Your mother gave me quite the chase, too. She got all the way to Ohio before I pinned her down.”

A snort came from the doorway. “You mean until I finally let you catch me.” My mother’s long, dark hair hung over one shoulder, her slender arms folded as she arched a brow at my father. “And why did I let you catch me, hmm?”

“Because you wanted my heart, of course.”

“Of course,” she deadpanned.

I just shook my head. I knew their story from years of hearing it repeated in my youth.

My father had used his computer skills to locate her whereabouts, then he’d ordered flower deliveries from every florist within a ten-mile radius to send her lilies—her favorite flower—all day, every day, everywhere she went.

She’d finally given up the chase when she’d arrived at a new hotel to find her room already flooded with fresh flowers. It had been clear that he knew her patterns and locations and that he wasn’t going to stop inundating her with gifts until she agreed to heel.

“I do love those earrings,” my father said, eyeing the rubies on her ears. Another story I knew all about—he’d given her those the day she’d let him catch her.

“My stalker gave them to me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” She pushed away from the door. She appeared almost normal despite today’s trauma, but the light red rims of her eyes underlined her deep-seated pain. She wouldn’t let the pack see her cry. She probably wouldn’t even let me. Mostly because she wanted to be strong for everyone else. The only one she’d allow to see her true agony was my father.

Which explained why they’d returned here before the coroner had finished.

She’d needed a moment.

My father likely had as well.

Just as I’d needed one, too. While Makayla watched. She’d accepted my pain and had allowed me to essentially take out my frustrations on her. Just like a mate.

I swallowed, pushing the thoughts away.

Except I could feel my father offer solace to my mother now and vice versa. They were both hurting together. Grieving in their own way and helping bolster the other through their mating bond.

Emotions weren’t a weakness. They were a strength. And alphas knew better than anyone the importance of harnessing that strength to better support the more vulnerable members of the pack.

Transitions of power were never easy, especially under these circumstances.

Which was precisely why my father hadn’t even waited an hour before demanding I come see him.

He wanted to talk about my ascension.

And all this small talk about mates was just his way of breaking the ice.

The only reason I allowed it was because of my mom. She needed this far more than my father or I did. She needed a discussion of normalcy to distract herself from the agony ripping her apart inside.

“I don’t recommend wooing by stalking, Alaric.” My mother’s advice came with a soft yet slightly chastising glance at my dad. He merely smiled, no sign of regret in his expression.

“I think I’ll be okay.” Because I didn’t intend to woo anyone. Makayla might be my mate, but there would be no wooing between us.

My mother gave me a knowing smile. “Playing hard to get?”

“Not playing at all,” I drawled.

“Hmm,” she hummed, a habit I most certainly picked up from her. She always made that noise when she didn’t believe something, just like I did.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Makayla doesn’t want a mate, and neither do I.”

“Hmm,” she repeated.

I glowered at her. “Seriously. Don’t.”

Her green eyes glittered in response. Tyler used to give me a similar look when amused, his forest-green irises the same shade as our mother’s. He’d had her thick, dark hair, too. As did I. But my eyes were the same shade as my father’s, just like my ebony fur rivaled his, while Tyler and my mom had brown coats.

“I give him a week,” she said conversationally, glancing at my father. “He’ll be on his knees, begging, by the end of it.”

I huffed a laugh. “Not a chance in…” I cleared my throat. Cursing in front of my mother would be in bad form. She might be an alpha female surrounded by wolves all day, but I was her son. And while I might not see her often, a certain amount of respect was always due to one in her position. “It’s not going to happen,” I rephrased.

“Why am I having déjà vu?” she asked, looking upward and tapping her elven chin. “Oh, right.” She gave my father a knowing look. “Looks like he’ll be chasing her after all. Like father, like son.” She blew us a kiss, then turned to leave with a genuine smile on her face.

It might have been at my expense, but I didn’t begrudge her the reaction. Mostly because I knew it distracted her, if just for the moment.

The same mirth shone in my father’s expression, putting me a little at ease. I picked up my drink to take another sip as he shook his head. “You’re so fucked.”

I choked on the liquid, his curse so unlike him. “Dad.”

“Just calling it like I see it, son,” he replied, lifting his glass to click it against mine. “She stabbed you, huh?”

My mood soured. “In the fucking shoulder.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, this pack can use a strong female. What kind of wolf is she, anyway?”

“Not one I recognize,” I muttered. “And she won’t tell me.”

“Interesting,” he replied. “I’d say Lycan, but she’s too pretty. And she’s not feral enough to be Totemic.”

“Lycans can be pretty.” Not that I’d really met any. I shook my head. “Yeah, I don’t know what she is. As I said, we met this morning.”

He nodded. “Well, whatever she is, something tells me a few enforcers are going to have their hearts broken by her.”

I rolled my eyes. “No one will have any hearts broken because she’s not theirs.”

“So she’s yours?” he countered, the taunt clear in his tone.

My jaw ticked. “I’m not having this conversation.”

“We’re absolutely having this conversation,” he countered, some of his mirth dying behind a mask of seriousness.

And here comes the alpha,I thought, downing the rest of my drink for some much-needed liquid courage. I might be an alpha, too, but if anyone around here could put me on my ass, it was my dad.

“I shouldn’t have implied that she wasn’t welcome at Tyler’s home,” my father said suddenly, shocking the hell out of me. “I was hurting. Hell, I am hurting. And my anger over the situation was misdirected. I’ll make an apology to her directly as well. She’s obviously welcome here. Just like you.”

“Am I?” I asked, meaning it.

“Of course you are, Alaric. This is your pack.”

“But is it?” I pressed. He started to open his mouth, but I lifted my hand. “No, please, hear me out, Dad. I haven’t lived here in over a decade. I left to allow Tyler to lead. I barely know these people now. Yeah, I grew up with a lot of them, but I’m not the boy I was at eighteen.”

“No, you’re a man at thirty,” he countered. “A man who belongs here with his pack.”

“Do you think the others agree with that?” I wasn’t blind. I’d felt their wariness, had seen some of their uncertain looks, had experienced the awkwardness of those hugs outside. “Whenever I’ve come back, I’ve been forced to run alone. I’m too alpha for the enforcers. Too lone wolf for the pack in general. How am I supposed to lead?”

“Oh, Alaric. You were born to lead this pack.”

“Yeah?” I arched a brow. “Then why was I born second?”

“Because you needed the extra push to succeed,” he replied without missing a beat. “Fate intended for you to challenge your brother, but you walked away instead. And now…” He trailed off, his gaze going to the fire. “And now she’s forcing your hand.”

“Are you saying Tyler died because I didn’t take up the mantle of alpha?” I demanded, furious by the insinuation in his statement. “Because I decided to let my brother lead rather than destroy him?”

“You wouldn’t have destroyed him,” my father muttered, ignoring my other comment entirely.

Because he believed fate had done this to right a wrong. My wrong.

My fingers curled into fists, shooting a spasm up my arm to my shoulder. But fuck if I could feel it. Not over the rage boiling inside me. “I left for the betterment of the pack,” I said through my teeth.

“You left because you didn’t want to take down your idol,” he corrected, flashing me a look that was all wolf. “Tyler was a worthy alpha. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that you are stronger, faster, and more appropriate for Silver Lake.”

More appropriate, I repeated to myself, growling through the words. There was nothing appropriate about being pit against one’s flesh and blood for a position we’d both been trained for.

“Why haven’t you found another pack?” my father asked suddenly, his eyebrow arching. “You’re an alpha, son. It’s your natural inclination to find other wolves to mentor. Yet you haven’t been drawn to any of the surrounding packs. Why?”

“Because I was too busy making a life for myself with E.V.I.E.”

He laughed without humor. “Bullshit. You didn’t find another pack because none of them called to you like Silver Lake.”

My jaw hurt from clenching my teeth so hard. Rather than reply, I just glared at the fire.

He wasn’t wrong.

But he wasn’t right either.

I hadn’t wanted another pack. Too much responsibility. Too much pain.

Leaving Silver Lake had been the hardest mission of my life. I’d done it for all the right reasons, but that didn’t mean it’d felt good.

Leaving had made me both strong and weak. Strong because of how difficult it had been. Weak because… I should have fought my brother for the right to be alpha.

But how could I hurt the man I’d considered my best friend all my life?

How could I challenge the one I’d looked up to for guidance and training?

He’d been bitten first, his alpha nature awe-inspiring. I’d never expected to be so much like him. I’d never anticipated being stronger.

I ran my fingers through my hair and blew out a breath. “I can’t ascend until I know what happened to him,” I blurted out. “It won’t be right. I need to find his killer, Dad. I need to avenge him.” Hell, I needed to avenge them all. “Someone is targeting alphas. Which means I could be next. I’m not even going to discuss ascending until I fix this problem. And even then, I’m not promising anything.”

My father’s wolf stared at me, the alpha in him unappeased by my unspoken rejection. “You’ll do what’s right for the pack, as an alpha should.”

“What’s right for the pack is finding out who is targeting alphas, and taking him down,” I countered.

His nostrils flared, his animal snarling at me through his darkened gaze. “And who will console the pack while you’re off playing slayer, Alaric?”

“Do you really think they can be consoled with their alpha’s murder unsolved?” I ached a brow. “Wouldn’t bringing the killer to justice serve almost as a right of initiation back into the pack?” I leaned toward him. “They don’t even want me, Dad. I’m not one of them. I’m an outsider. And before you say it, yeah, I only have myself to blame, and I own that. But if I’m going to stand any chance at winning their respect, then I need to do this my way. Not yours.”

I wasn’t sure where the words came from, but they felt right.

And from the look on my father’s face, they’d also been the right ones to say.

“I’m not promising anything,” I quickly repeated, aware that my statement made it sound as though I’d already made up my mind to ascend. But this wasn’t about my place as alpha so much as honoring my brother’s memory. While also appeasing the pack, providing them closure, and ensuring none of the others could be hurt, too.

All right, so maybe it was about proving my worth on some twisted level. But that wasn’t why I had to do this.

“Discovering who did this will protect us all,” I whispered. “They’re targeting alphas, Dad. Alphas like you and Mom. Alphas like me.” I couldn’t just stay here and assume my leadership role. I had to ensure everyone out there was safe first.

Everyone including myself.

My father studied me for a long moment, the alpha notorious for thinking through every possible angle before delivering a verdict. Not that his verdict would necessarily apply here. I’d already made up my mind, and he had to see that in my expression.

I was just as alpha as he was. Just as stubborn, too.

“You know I’m right,” I added, my voice low.

“Not necessarily right,” he replied, his tone rivaling mine. “But an alpha needs to trust his instincts, and I trust yours.”

My heart stuttered with his words, the praise in them so unlike any I’d received from him in years.

I trust yours.

“You’ll need to remain for the funeral,” he added. “And I suggest you consider putting in your notice at E.V.I.E.”

My mood plummeted.

That last statement sealed my fate, or at least the one he intended for me. Because he didn’t see me refusing the alpha mantle. He saw me solving this case and returning to my rightful place.

Which meant he’d ignored half of what I’d said and had only chosen to hear what he’d wanted to hear.

Typical.

“I’ll stay for the funeral,” I replied, ignoring the latter half of his statement. Because hell if I could promise to follow through with that. “Anything else?”

“We’ll need to review the pack records,” he said. “But that can wait until you’re ready to accept your role.”

“Right.” I couldn’t decide if I wanted to punch him or hug him. The former because the old man clearly wasn’t hearing me. And the latter because I craved the comfort.

Which only irritated me more.

I hadn’t lived the lone-wolf life for over a decade just to succumb so easily.

I didn’t need him or his soothing touch. I just needed my wolf.

Fuck, I needed to run.

With a nod and a muttered “Thanks for the drink,” I left.

If he had any more to say to me, it could wait.

My animal desired freedom.

And I had every intention of giving it to him.

I shifted before the last of my clothes hit the ground, my paws already beating over the earth and taking me straight into the trees. I no longer felt a damn thing. Not the pain ripping down my arm from my injury. Not the agony my father stirred inside me with his words. Not the torment I felt from my brother’s untimely death. Nor the anger of his brutal murder.

Just air.

Forest.

Rain.

And female.

My nose twitched, my wolf hungry for that delicate scent.

Where are you, Makayla?I wondered, picking up the subtle traces of her perfume. Where did you run off to, little wolf?

I took off along her fragrant path, my mother’s words taunting me every step of the way.

“Looks like he’ll be chasing her after all.”

Just for a harmless run, Mom,I thought at her, thankful she couldn’t actually hear me.

However, I knew all I’d hear in return was her tinkling laugh followed by a, Didn’t even last an hour, let alone a week.