Saved By The Alpha
Chapter 7

Sunlight was streaming into the bedroom when I finally peeled my eyes open. Gr0aning in protest, I rolled over, squeezing my eyes shut. My brain kicked in a few moments later, and I startled, realizing I was in bed alone. When I spread my hand over the slight indent, I realized the sheets were still warm. Iris must not be far.

Before I knew it, I was on my feet, looking around almost frantically for my shirt before my thoughts caught up with me again. Eli. Calm down. She probably didn’t disappear again — Bella is here. She probably needed to get up and take care of Bella.

Bella was three. She needed care, especially if she was hungry or if she’d had another bad dream. The thought of nightmares made me shiver before I threw my shirt over my head. Iris is probably just in the kitchen, I thought as I walked out, looking over to check the door to Bella’s room. It was open, and the room was empty.

My pulse didn’t settle until I got downstairs though, spotting Bella on the floor on a pillow. Next to her was her faithful stuffed toy, also on a pillow. She was watching a child’s cartoon on the television, her attention rapt. A moment later, she giggled at something on the screen. My heart leaped, and I beamed, the smile startled clear out of me. I hadn’t heard her laugh before, and I could only hope that meant Bella was starting to feel more comfortable around us.

“Good morning,” Iris said a moment later, leaning over the kitchen chair. She was smiling at Bella, too.

“Good—” I paused then, looking up to realize there was not one but three people sitting in the kitchen. Remus and Nic were sitting around the table, too. I cleared my throat, unable to help the smile as it faded away. “Good morning.”

“There’s coffee,” Iris said, nodding to a cup. “And I think we managed to save you one donut from Bella.”

“Donut?” Bella asked, looking up from her show.

Iris laughed. “I think you’ve had enough, little miss. We have to share with Eli, too.”

Bella seemed to consider this for a moment, giving me a long look before shrugging her shoulders. “Okay,” she agreed simply, eyes already back on the screen.

“Thank you,” I said, not even sure if the little girl was still listening. I joined the adults at the table a moment later, even if part of me just wanted to turn around and go back to sleep.

If they’re here, something must be going on with Project Night Moon — and I told Iris we’d work on it together. I can’t just abandon her to work on it now, especially not after the shitshow that was London.

I withheld a sigh and slouched into the chair, reaching to grab my coffee with a mumbled, ‘Thanks.’ I ate my donut in silence, not really tasting it so much as simply swallowing — the last thing I wanted was for anyone to tell me I needed to eat or something else.

Bella giggled again, and my father beamed, shaking his head. “That is a sound that could warm any heart,” he said, fondness in his eyes as he looked into the other room.

“I’m glad she’s starting to come out of her shell,” Iris said, clearly trying not to smile herself and failing.

“Maybe she’ll be up for talking a bit more soon,” Remus said, humming. “Perhaps she’d like to play with my boys.”

I finally turned, looking into the living room as well. “Maybe we should see about taking her to a professional,” I said after a few moments. “She’s been through a lot.”

My father grimaced. “She has,” he agreed, his voice somber. “Especially for one so young. If luck is on her side, she won’t have formed any memories of it, but we shouldn’t count on that.”

Iris looked a little uncomfortable with the idea. “Are you sure? If she doesn’t remember it, will this bring it back up?” Her brows pinched together. “I was sent to a shrink when I was younger, and at first, I liked having someone to talk to, but…” She trailed off and shook her head.

I frowned. “But?” I asked.

“I don’t know. At some point, it stopped helping, and it felt like she wasn’t listening to me anymore. My foster mother at the time didn’t listen when I said as much, either.”

My frown deepened. “That’s not how therapists are supposed to handle things,” I rumbled. “There isn’t one set type of therapy. She should have tried something different — or suggested a different therapist if that wasn’t in her wheelhouse.”

Iris just shrugged, and I paused, sensing this was not a topic to push — especially not with Nic and Remus around. It was really a private conversation.

“We’ll evaluate it when the time comes,” Nic said, nodding. “One step at a time, yes?”

“Of course,” I said, just as eager to end the conversation as Iris looked. I shoved the rest of my donut in my mouth, hoping it would buy me a moment or two of peace.

My peace was exceptionally short-lived.No sooner had I polished off my donut and taken a sip of coffee did the door open again. I turned, expecting to see Jaxon or Clay, and was greeted by the unwelcome sight of my Uncle Gage strolling in as if he owned the place. Brock walked in behind him. My entire spine went stiff, and I growled.

Everyone else turned — I could feel Iris tense up next to me. Even Remus looked puzzled and then mildly concerned based on everyone else’s reaction.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded, fighting the urge to jump up and show them right back to the door. This is supposed to be a safe house! How the hell are we going to keep it safe if everyone and their brother knows where to find it?

“We’re here to help,” Gage answered coolly, walking into the kitchen. He paused as he walked through the living room, smiling down at Bella. She looked up, frowning when she realized the adult standing nearby wasn’t one she knew and wiggled away. “We can’t help if we aren’t included in the planning process.”

I ground my teeth together, but Remus and my father stood. My father made a low noise, one I couldn’t quite interpret. “Remus, this is my younger brother, Gage,” he said. I scowled as Gage extended his hand. “Gage, this is my son, Remus Silverstreak — alpha of the Silver Streak Pack.”

Once they’d shaken, Brock took a step forward. “And this is Brock Beckett, a member of the Longbow council.”

It irritated me to see Gage and Remus shake, but somehow seeing Remus and Brock shake was ten times worse. My gut twisted and tightened. My breakfast threatened to make a reappearance as my mouth suddenly tasted sour.

“Good to meet you both,” Remus said, his voice and expression a casual neutral.

It was too much for me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I lurched to my feet, pointing at the pair of them. “You aren’t welcome here. You weren’t invited,” I bit out, barely able to keep myself from growling. My wolf had already surged back to the surface, pressing insistently against me as he demanded to be let free. I couldn’t risk that now.

Remus’ brows pinched together, and he tipped his head in my direction. “No?” he questioned, glancing back at the other men. “You don’t want assistance from your family?”

“Absolutely not,” I seethed, shooting them a dark look. “You don’t know a damn thing about the Archers.”

“Now, Eli,” Brock cooed. He couldn’t have been more condescending if he tried. “That isn’t any way to talk to — or about — your family. Do you snap at this sweet little girl like that? No wonder the poor thing doesn’t want to talk.”

I’ve never wanted to punch someone directly in the teeth more than I did at that particular moment. I was standing between Bella and Brock before I even realized what I was doing, and it took everything in me to keep from allowing the red from bleeding into my vision.

Remus stiffened as he watched us. He moved closer to me, folding his arms over his ch3st. “If Eli does not want the two of you involved, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” he rumbled, voice dropping an octave or two. He nodded toward the door. “You should leave.”

Brock bristled, all pretenses of being a pleasant packmate discarded the moment he wasn’t getting his way. For a moment, I thought he might actually bare his teeth. “You aren’t my alpha, Remus,” he huffed, scowling. “I’ve considered your suggestion, and I’ve decided to ignore it.”

My half-brother snorted. He didn’t bristle or growl because he wasn’t intimidated in the least by Brock’s insubordination. I side-eyed him, tucking this realization away for later inspection. “You are a guest in my territory, Brock Beckett,” he reminded the other man, tipping his head to one side. “A guest I’ve only permitted because my father — your alpha — asked. A guest currently standing not only in my territory but in my house.” He offered Brock a mirthless smile before baring his teeth. “Get out.”

Brock balked, eyes growing a bit wider. He took one step backward. “Now, Remus, I meant no offense—”

“Get out before I have you forcibly ejected,” he snarled. Red began to tinge the outer rim of his irises.

Iris finally moved, slipping behind me as she wordlessly picked up Bella. Bella had gone silent too, clearly picking up on the tension in the room even if she didn’t know what it all meant. For a moment, the only sounds were her footsteps and the door as the pair of them disappeared to the backyard.

My father finally intervened, folding his arms over his ch3st. He didn’t move from the kitchen table but leveled Brock and Gage with a cool look. “The two of you are guests in the Silver Streak territory,” he said calmly. “I am disappointed you would be so rude to a host, much less one we’re so closely connected with.”

Brock had the good sense to look slightly abashed as his alpha scolded him, but Gage simply looked annoyed to be told off by his older brother. “We weren’t being disrespectful,” Gage argued.

My father lifted a hand and cut him off before he could say anything else. “You were,” he said simply. “I am ashamed to call you packmates right now. Now, you will abide by the residing alpha’s request, or I will save us further embarrassment and remove you two myself, are we clear?”

“Of course,” Gage growled, turning. Brock said nothing, leading the way out the front door.

As soon as they were gone, my father whipped out his phone, calling the guards. They were not to leave their hotel room once they arrived until he said otherwise. Once he’d hung up, I growled.

“What the hell, Dad?” I demanded, unable to contain my frustration any longer. “I didn’t want them involved at all, and not only did you blab about Project Night Moon, you told them about the safe house, too!? It’s not exactly secure when half of the family knows where it is!” I snapped.

My father sighed, relaxing his shoulders as he tore his gaze away from the front door. “I didn’t tell them about this location, Eli,” he said calmly, his mouth drawn into a thin line. “I haven’t spoken to Gage or Brock since I dropped them off last night. I came over to talk to you.” He looked away, rubbing a hand over his chin. “But you’re correct. It’s my fault they’re here — and this is starting to get out of control. I’ll make it right.”

He got his phone back out and murmured, “Excuse me,” seeing himself to another room. Remus huffed and shook his head, finally turning his full attention to me. None of the intensity had left his gaze, and for a moment, I felt like he could see right through me. See every inch of me, inside and out. I felt the urge to squirm and crammed it back down.

“Eli,” he said, reaching out to rest one hand on my shoulder, “I have your back. Not just in this, either. No matter what.”

I paused, opening my mouth to brush him off, but — he meant it. I don’t know how I knew that, but I knew it. I could feel it, and it wasn’t just me. My wolf could sense it, too. He’d relaxed almost entirely, all the aggression and defensiveness melting away. I could sense Remus’ wolf, too, just under the surface, but he was…calm. It was pleasant.

Even within my own pack, I’d felt nothing like this, not since before Maverick had left to join the army. I frowned, a bit startled by the strong reaction.

“Thank you,” I finally said. It was the only thing that came to mind. I cleared my throat, buying myself a moment to get my thoughts together. I couldn’t let this throw me off entirely. “That means a lot.”

Remus just hummed, giving my shoulder a squeeze before drawing his hand away. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have given them permission to enter my territory. I want you to know that.”

I huffed. “Even if our father asked?”

The older alpha paused, his expression lightening a little. He smiled.

I frowned. “What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“What?” I demanded, frowning deeper.

Remus couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’ve always called him ‘my father’ before,” he pointed out.

My cheeks grew hot, and I scowled. “Whatever,” I grumbled. I hadn’t realized I’d been doing that, but I didn’t really appreciate being called out, either. “My question still stands.”

“Of course,” he replied, tipping his head.

“Hm.” I really didn’t know what to say to that either, so I said nothing.

Thankfully, there were other things on Remus’ mind. He pulled out his phone and gave the screen a quick glance. “Ah. The reason I came over was I have a call scheduled with Lexi today. She should be ringing in about thirty minutes. Will you be ready, or should I ask her to delay?”

I shook my head. “No, that’s fine,” I said. “We came back to shut down this project, right? So, let’s find out what Lexi knows and get it done.”