Chapter 367
Chapter 367
37-Ben
I reach for my phone and try calling Elara, but as I had suspected, it goes straight to voicemail. I attempt to contact Jax and Dev as well, but there’s no answer from either of them. They’re probably caught up with work or so exhausted that they don’t even hear the ringing. My gut tells me it’s the latter. I keep my foot on the accelerator, pushing the speed limit just enough to make good time as the sun finally rises fully above the horizon, bathing the world in warm morning light. Today should be flawless. My Alpha and Luna have just welcomed their first pups, marking the arrival of our next generation. One of my closest, longtime friends has been marked and is now officially the Luna of her pack. Not only that, but she’s been deemed special enough by the Goddess to receive a wolf companion and become a shifter herself. By all accounts, I should be feeling joyful and at peace with how everything is unfolding, yet an uneasy feeling churns inside me.
Grant had made sure I had a vehicle waiting with a full tank of gas so I wouldn’t have to stop unnecessarily. That’s a relief because I’m on my own and pressed for time. I can’t afford to pause and deal with any rogues or nomads along the way. Not all of them are bad, but their way of life is something I just don’t comprehend. Shifters are meant to live and thrive within packs. We depend on each other. Many nomads are mixes of different bloodlines, which complicates things further. When casters or fae are mixed in, it alters how the wolf inside us manifests. Most wolves with magical DNA lean toward one side or the other, but occasionally there’s a rare individual who carries an equal balance of both species. That’s where nomads come from-they don’t fully belong to any single group. I can only hope this isn’t part of the trouble brewing beneath the surface. My mind races, spinning through countless possibilities. It’s better to let my imagination run wild now, while I’m alone, so I can keep a clear head when I get back to Elara and see her pushing herself to the brink.
When I pull up to the packhouse, Alpha James is already waiting on the front porch. Tommy must have warned him I was coming. I park quickly and jump out, ready to keep this visit brief.
“Hey Ben, come on in,” James calls, waving me inside before turning his back.
“I actually need to keep moving, Alpha,” I reply. “I was just here to switch vehicles and grab some clothes p>
“Your stuff is already on its way to Black Claw,” he says firmly. “Come on. We need to talk p>
His tone sets off alarm bells in my mind. Does he have news about Elara? I swallow the knot of anxiety tightening in my chest and follow him at a slow pace that feels almost painfully deliberate. We head toward his office.
I’ve always had a soft spot for this packhouse. It stands apart from the others I’ve seen. Junior’s looks like a cozy cabin tucked in the woods, though its size reveals it’s an Alpha’s home. Elara’s packhouse is grand and ostentatious, with sweeping architecture that demands attention. Even Ryker’s place is larger than life, with rooms that feel like spacious apartments. But Alpha James’s packhouse was built more like a large family home. It sits at the end of a long, circular driveway, surrounded by towering trees in the back. I can’t count the hours we spent playing back there as kids. The blue siding and white shutters give it a warm, inviting feel. Every room is a comfortable, normal size-not designed to impress or intimidate neighboring Alphas. He built it to fit the needs of his family and friends.
His office reflects that same practical spirit. It’s spacious enough for five or six Alpha-sized men to gather without feeling cramped. The walls are adorned with a few family portraits, but there’s not much else in the way of decoration. A single bookshelf stands against one wall. He once told us that all pack history is preserved with the Elders in their own spaces, so he prefers to keep his office free of clutter. That always made us laugh.
Now, standing here, I wonder what serious conversation lies ahead.