An Alpha's Instinct

Chapter 7: Treelark Pack

Victor sits in the library at the front of the house, legs crossed underneath him. There's a book open on his lap – something about fairies and elves – but he can't be sure. After the renovations were complete for the inside of the house, a few of the pack members were sent to the bookstore to fill the shelves. Victor has been trying to make his way through them all and was doing well before recent distractions. He re-reads the same line for the tenth time, before giving in to the temptation to look out the bay window at Erin working in the yard.

Erin's on top of a lawnmower – the fancy kind with wheels you drive around – wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses to shield his eyes from some of the sun's attack rays. The sleeves of his Storm Landscaping jumpsuit are still tied around his waist, except the whole outfit is now dusted grey with sweat and dirt. Victor's eyes soften as he smirks, 'there are perks to waking up early' he thinks, remembering the perfect view he had of Erin's back and bicep muscles through his sweat-soaked tank top.

So, whether Ben is right or not about Erin being a simple replacement for his mate, Victor sure is enjoying the view.

“We got a problem," Ben speaks as he strides into the room, swinging the door hard behind him so it closes with a thud. He sits in one of the red armchairs opposite Victor with a pile of paper in his arms.

Victor tenses, closing the book in his lap. “What kind of problem?" The top paper looks like some kind of seating chart, so perhaps there's been a recent fight between two packs who are meant to be standing next to each other at the Council Meeting.

“Matt Harkin brought word that the Treelark pack will be arriving late, practically right as the Council Meeting is meant to begin." Ben leans back in the chair, left leg shaking.

Victor frowns, tapping his fingers on the book cover. He remembers the stories Stella used to tell him about the Alpha of the Treelark pack, Adam Treelark. His name was on the list she always made him write and repeat during pack history lessons. She never wanted him to forget, saying it was his duty as Alpha to know the name and behavior of those corrupted by the Moon Goddess' darkness, so he could keep an eye on them.

Victor walks over to the window, arms crossed over his chest. Erin is sitting atop the lawnmower drinking from a water bottle. He's looking toward the red shed Storm Landscaping brought this morning. Natalie and John are there, standing in the open doorway. John is holding some papers – maps of the house it looks like – while Natalie is pointing around the backyard. Victor wonders if they have fans inside the shed as it looks like it would get hot in there. Maybe he should buy them some portable fans.

“Victor." Ben stands, throwing his stack of papers on the chair behind him before stomping over and closing the cream-colored curtains.

“Hey!" Victor protests, reaching up to open the curtains again when Ben grabs his arm.

“This is serious," Ben yells, the scent of rotted roses oozing out of him. His eyes are wide, pupils shaking, and his body is tensed. He looks like a man preparing for war.

Victor takes a deep breath, releasing his sandalwood and leather scent to overpower Ben's. “Calm down," he commands.

Ben blinks a few times before bowing his head and stepping back. His shoulders are still tensed, fingers now tapping his thigh, but he's no longer releasing pheromones. A good sign. Victor turns back to the curtains and opens them. Erin is gone, the lawnmower now deserted.

“I'm sorry," Ben says, voice wobbly.

Victor sighs, closing the curtains and turning to face Ben. Victor's always been just a hair's breadth shorter than Ben, but now he feels almost a head taller with Ben's shoulders slumped forward and eyes downcast.

“Listen, the Treelark pack is dangerous, I know that – we know that – more than anybody." Victor walks over to Ben, touching a hand to his shoulder.

During the Lovelace pack War, Victor's parents, as well as Ben's father, were all killed by the Bellmore traitors Gray and Stacy, the previous Alpha and Luna of their pack. Adam was best friends with Gray and Stacy, his pack having been in a close alliance with the Bellmore pack for generations. If Adam had done something, warned Stella about the attack, then maybe Gray and Stacy could've been stopped earlier. Maybe Stella could've saved them all.

There's a knock on the door. “Come in," Victor calls. It's one of the younger boys, a chef in training by the name of David. He looks nervous, standing half behind the open door with one hand still on the handle like he's afraid to come in all the way.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I need some confirmation on the dessert menu from one of you ..."

Victor's eyes go soft as he smiles. “I'll be right there, David. Just give us ten minutes, okay?" David nods, a shy smile on his face as he leaves, closing the door behind him. Ben's now sitting on the armrest of the chair he was on before. His head is bowed, hands clasped together on his knees. It almost looks like he's praying.

Victor walks over to the chair and picks up the scattered papers. “I'm grateful you've been handling a lot of the responsibility with the Council Meeting and the move down here. I know I should be doing more, but I didn't expect to meet Erin. I don't know why I feel like this. So, I'm sorry if it feels like I'm a bit distracted lately."

Victor stands, moving in front of Ben. “But I am listening. I'm planning and keeping all of Stella's training in mind. My instinct as Alpha – and my desire as your family – is to protect the pack. And for some reason, Erin makes that instinct stronger. When I look at him, it's like my mind clears. All the black fog lifts, and I can think straight."

Ben's lips quirk up. Victor sends him a glare with no heat behind it. He holds out the papers toward Ben, watching the thoughts swarm around like bees in Ben's brain and across his eyes as he stares at them. A couple of seconds pass before Ben's eyebrows relax. Victor sees the moment the determined green glow turns back on in his eyes.

Ben slaps his knees, standing up with a deep breath and taking the papers out of Victor's hands. “Well then Alpha, your orders?"

Victor matches Ben's determined smile before speaking, a commanding tone back in his voice. “There's no point trying to contact the Treelark pack now because most packs won't be arriving till the end of the month anyway. So, for now, let's leave it. Extend perimeter checks by five miles and double our numbers on runs. I want no one venturing out alone." Victor hears the lawnmower starting up again. “But that doesn't mean we won't be ready. Alert the Alpha's of the other packs – the ones we trust who haven't arrived yet so they can keep an eye out during their journey – as well as Alphas Matt Harkin, Ross Cooper, Lee Foster, and Christian Reed. They'll be here much earlier than the others, so they need to be aware of any potential threats."

Ben nods, “I'll introduce joint pack training too with the Harkin pack and the Cooper, Lee, Foster and Reed packs once they arrive." He bumps fists with Victor before leaving, calling out over his shoulder, “Don't forget about the kitchen. You'll upset little David if you keep him waiting."

Victor huffs through his nose. He crosses his arms over his chest as he turns around. Through a slit in the curtain, he can see Erin atop the mower looking even more sweaty than before. As if he can feel Victor's gaze, Erin brakes and turns around in the seat of the mower, looking toward the library bay window. Victor reaches out, sliding the curtain aside a bit to wave. The pack ring on his finger gleams. Erin waves back, a small smile on his lips before he turns back to keep working.

“Looks like there's a storm brewing," Victor whispers to the wind.