Chapter 4: Alpha Rising

Dimitri stepped into Shades, ready to drink his troubles away, the smell of beer and the loud raucous din of several conversations competing with each other, assaulting his senses. The entire drive over, he kept replaying the audacity of his father's comments, Dimitri's anger still hot. He couldn't believe his father had been so cold and callus when it came to his children's futures. Standing up for the family was one thing, helping out and pitching in another, but sacrificing your entire future for the family pushed that line a little too far. Dimitri would not sit still and allow his father to bulldoze over his life, like he did to the eldest Everest sibling. Fitz surrendered his destined mate for his father's ambitions without even putting up a fight. It wasn't right. Their father demanded too much.

Sliding onto a barstool, shoulders slumped, Dimitri motioned for Drey Hawkins to pour him a whiskey.

"Thanks for the text," Josh Rayburn said as he slid onto the stool beside Dimitri, his mood a bright sunshine compared to Dimitri's thunderstorm. "I'm always up for a spontaneous night out at Shades. What's the occasion? I thought the Everest clan would be holed up in that fancy mansion toasting your brother's nuptials all weekend long."

Dimitri glanced over at his friend, one eyebrow cocked. "Did you actually use the word nuptials?"

Josh shrugged. "It was on that Word of the Day toilet paper your sister bought me for Christmas last year." He motioned for Drey to get him a beer. "Now, to what are we drinking or is this just a casual night out, and by the look on your face, I highly doubt it."

"I'm drinking in order to prevent myself from killing my father," Dimitri said as Drey slid his glass in front of him and a beer in front of Josh.

Instead of moving on to another customer, Drey leaned on the bar in front of them and joined in on their conversation. "Always a better alternative."

Josh picked up his beer and then turned to face his friend. "That didn't take long. I thought the Everest family would be all giddy with Fitz's marriage for at least a week. What has you so annoyed at your old man now, not that there aren't a ton of reasons already?"

Dimitri took a long swallow of his drink, rubbing his lips together as he did, setting the glass back down on the bar. He shook his head. "Dear old Dad isn't satisfied ruining my brother's life; he intends on ruining my life and Lainie's as well. Hell, he's already set his sights on a match for Lainie. He intends to marry each of us off to increase his position in the business world."

"For what it's worth, the pack didn't approve of your father's actions when it came to Fitz's marriage arrangement," Drey said. "I think my father even tried talking him out of his plans, but as we can see, Daniel didn't listen, claiming he was alpha of his family and would lead them as he saw fit. Seems he has his sights set on something bigger, but we can't tell what."

Dimitri shook his head. "Not bigger, just more materialistic. He's aiming for a bigger slice of the lumber industry. He's hoping Josiah's lumber business will help him cut corners at the paper mill."

"So, what are you going to do?" Josh asked. "It's not like this is the first time your father has tried to steer your life in a direction that profited him. Hell, he wrecked my relationship with Lainie because I was a mere employee with no real prospects as he said constantly."

"True," Dimitri said. "He's always working some angle, manipulating people for his goals. Hell, he was never happy with my friendship with you, either, thinking you'd lead me astray." Dimitri rolled his eyes. Josh had been his friend since they were in elementary school together. They would shift into their panther forms as kids and race through the woods around Draven Falls, almost inseparable at that age. They were still inseparable, much to Daniel Everest's regret. Josh knew all about Dimitri's father's selfish ambitions and how far he would go to accomplish them. He knew all the Everest dirty laundry, as well, and still, he remained Dimitri's best friend, and sometimes, Dimitri's only salvation. "Maybe it's time to move on, find another place to call home. As long as I'm here, my father will always strive to control my life. I can't let him win. I won't let him win."

Josh took a swig of his beer, nodding as he did. "Where the hell would you go? Draven Falls is the safest place for paranormals. Out in the real world, you could very well find yourself in the minority."

Dimitri shook his head. "I have no idea, but anyplace is better than being here right now."

They heard someone moving behind them and turned to see who it was. "Thanks for leaving me alone with the dynamic duo," Lainie said as she punched her brother in the arm, moving over to the side opposite of Josh. "I'll take a merlot," she said to Drey with a wink.

He just chuckled as he moved to fix her drink.

Lainie made a point of leaning over the bar and checking out his ass, whistling as he walked away, which only made Drey shake it a little more for her.

Dimitri slapped at her arm, telling her to sit down. "Stop. You know damn well he's mated."

"Never hurts to flirt a little," Lainie said. "He always pours heavier drinks when you flirt with him." She turned to face Dimitri. "Now, what's this I heard about you leaving me alone with the jackals?"

Dimitri laughed. "You may have just insulted the jackals."

"Ha Ha. Now, seriously, were you going to just run off and leave me behind?" Lainie demanded to know.

"I can keep you company," Josh offered, holding his beer in front of him with two fingers. "I'm sure I'd be better company than this grouchy-ass brother of yours. Besides, it would help piss off your father."

Drey slid the glass of wine in front of Lainie and leaned back on the bar. "Anyone's better company than the sourpuss pussy cat here."

Lainie shook her head as she laughed. "Been there. Done that. I don't need a repeat of disappointment."

"Hey, now, ouch," Josh said, holding his hands over his heart. "You wound me, little kitty."

"Sourpuss pussy cat?" Dimitri stared at Drey. "What the hell?"

"This little kitty will claw your little pecker right off if you keep it up," Lainie warned Josh. "Tonight has not been a good night."

"Well, you've been all doom and gloom since you walked in here tonight," Drey told Dimitri with a shrug, not looking at all apologetic. "The name fits."

Josh nodded, a smirk on his face. "I heard your ol' man picked out a hubby for you already. When do we get to meet the poor soul to be trapped with you for the rest of his life?"

"You really are asking for it, aren't you?" Dimitri said with a chuckle. "Don't blame me when she kicks your ass."

"She's a deputy," Josh said, feigning shock. "She can't harm a poor defenseless citizen."

"Miles Hemingway," Lainie said with a sigh, ignoring the rest of their banter. "Can you believe it? That jackass of a father of ours wants to pair me up with the most pathetic man around. He was a giant slimeball in high school, and I highly doubt he's changed much since."

"Not into greasy men, huh?" Drey asked with a chuckle.

Dimitri watched as Lainie just rolled her eyes at the man. She then turned to her brother, desperation masking her face. "Look, if you're leaving, you're taking me with you. I will not be shackled like our brother. Nope. Not gonna happen."

"I'm not even sure where I would go," Dimitri said with a sigh. "I've lived in Draven Falls my entire life. This is home."

"Home is where your family is," Drey offered. "And it seems like your family—or at least one of them—is willing to go with you. If you can't refuse your father while you're living here, then make a fresh start somewhere else. Savannah and Brighton Cove, both, have a strong paranormal community."

"You'll be saving me from a fate worse than when I dated Josh," Lainie stressed, winking over at her brother's best friend.

"And another arrow to the heart," Josh sighed.

"And here I was aiming lower," Lainie said with a dramatic sigh.

"Double ouch," Josh said with a chuckle.

"But where do we go?" Dimitri asked, and if he was honest with himself, he had to admit, the whole idea of leaving Draven Falls for the outside world scared the hell out of him. Still, he couldn't leave Lainie at the mercy of their father. They needed to leave, true enough, but where?