“They were right.” Jobe would thank Kellan and Dean the next day. “You didn’t disrupt anything. Please come inside.” Jobe reached for Wesley’s arm, but the other man flinched away.
“I realize you weren’t expecting me until tomorrow.”
“I’m glad you’re here early.” He reached for Wesley again, this time managing to curl his hand around Wesley’s shoulder. “Come inside.”
Arching his eyebrows, Wesley said, “You have company.”
“Company?” Jobe turned around and saw Brian standing by the sofa, politely waiting for Jobe to introduce him. Seeing Wesley had scrambled Jobe’s brain to the point where he had completely forgotten his friend was there. “Oh. This works out really well. Brian’s leaving for Purple Sky early tomorrow but now you have a chance to meet him.” And then Brian could leave because Wesley looked tired and stressed and having anyone else see him in that condition rankled Jobe.
“Brian Berger?” Wesley said, finally crossing from the porch into the house. “You’re the Alpha my pack chose ov—” He snapped his mouth shut and flared his nostrils. “You’re the new Purple Sky Alpha?”
“Yes.” Brian moved closer to Wesley, his hand outstretched. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’m leaving for Purple Sky tomorrow. Any last minute words of wisdom for me?”
Brian’s tone was jovial, a smile spread across his face. His question was more friendly banter than an actual request for advice.
But Wesley must have taken it very differently, because rather than shaking Brian’s hand, he crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. “You agreed to care for a pack without knowing how to do it?” If Wesley’s posture hadn’t been clear enough, his words would have done the job—he was challenging Brian.
All the humor fell from Brian’s face and he bristled, the Alpha in him reacting instinctively. It was a testament to Brian’s self-control and his respect for his home pack that rather than attacking the new Alpha, he took in a deep breath and said, “I’ll care for Purple Sky just as you’ll care for Red River.” He turned to Jobe. “I’ll leave you with your new mate, Jobe. Don’t be a stranger.”
“No matter where destiny takes you, you’re a son of Red River.” Jobe walked over to Brian and gave him a quick hug. “We’ll never be strangers.”
Brian leaned into him, his breath catching for an instant before he nodded and stepped back. In a second, a large wolf stood in his place and Jobe walked with him to the doors at the back of the house.
“Brian?”
Jobe and Brian both looked over their shoulders at Wesley.
“There’s a young shifter in Purple Sky. His name is Ricky Marx. The boy’s had some worries and I promised I’d look out for him.” He swallowed hard, rubbed his lips together, and tugged on his shirtsleeves, clearly uncomfortable with whatever he had to say. “I’d appreciate if you could help me keep my word.”
Brian tipped his head down in acknowledgement and Jobe ran his hand over his fur, saying goodbye and thank you at once. He then opened the door and watched his friend bound through the yard, leaving Jobe with his mate. Finally.
Chapter 3
Red River was an established, healthy pack. The sentries who had greeted Wesley on entry had been friendly and loyal. Henry Root, the current Alpha, had been welcoming and powerful, despite his advanced age. And while it had been too dark for Wesley to see much of the pack lands during the drive to the Alpha’s house and then Jobe’s house, he had glimpsed large, well-maintained homes. If he had been choosing a pack to lead, Red River would have been an excellent prospect. But the problem was that he hadn’t had a choice, not really.
During his solitary drive to Red River, Wesley’d had a lot of time to think, and no matter how many ways he turned the situation over in his mind, he could only come to one conclusion: the pack he had been born and raised in had essentially sold him, and not just as an Alpha, but as a mate, which effectively made him a whore. Oh, in theory he could have refused the trade his uncle had proposed, but no Alpha would intentionally leave a pack unprotected, which was what would have happened to Purple Sky if Wesley had said no and walked away. His other choice had been to challenge his uncle and no doubt win, but that would have left him as the killer of his only remaining family member and the leader of a pack that didn’t trust or want him. Without any other viable option, Wesley had effectively been forced to go along with the plan, which made him disgusted with everyone he knew, himself included.
“Are you sure I can’t get you something to eat? Dinner was hours ago,” Jobe asked, sounding concerned. He took a step toward Wesley and then paused, pressed his lips together, and moved his weight from foot to foot.