Chapter 2: Hot Springs

Chapter 2: Hot Springs

James

“Thud” I toss my suitcase next to the bed.

“Plop” I fall face-first onto the bed. Rylie does the same thing.

“That was the longest flight of my life, and I really can’t sleep on a plane,” Rylie whined, but I could agree with him more.

“I know we are way too big to try and sleep in those tiny seats. Why did we get stuck in coach, but all the Alphas were up in first class?” As I Complained, I stretched out my knees and back.

“Don’t get wrong, I love our nieces, but they would not sleep! Even Rose was bouncing around singing a weird song about a fox.” Rylie sat up on his elbows. We got roped into babysitting the Flowers, as we call them, so Am and Gid could take of the Trees or the other set of twins.

“I feel too big for everything. Like I’m going to break something or hit my head on the door frame.” I get up to check out the bathroom. The showerhead is really low. As I turned around, I forgot to duck. “Son of a! Damn it.”

Rylie let out a sigh, “Why do I feel like this will be a regular thing.”

I rub my head. I know I’m going to have a bump all day now. “Do you want to check out the hot spring? I think a relaxing soak would feel great after that long plane ride.”

“Yeah, it’s not like this is a vacation, so we better enjoy what we can for now.” Rylie unzipped his suitcase. “What’s the etiquette about swim trunks in the hot springs.”

“It’s a shared mountain hot spring, so grab your trunks.” I look at my phone, and it says it’s 1:23 PM. The 14-hour time difference has my body extra tired. I get up and grab my trunks too.

We head down to the outside hot spring and find it empty. We showered off completely before getting in when a man came running out, yelling and pointing at a sign. We were glad it was also in English. I guess it’s rude to get in without showering first. I’m tired, and the culture shock is wearing me down.

“So, what do you think? This whole International Council meeting about the Night of Raids?” Rylie wrings out a small towel and puts it around his neck.

“I don’t know. This whole meeting is more to learn how things got to that stage to prevent it from happening again.” I lean my head back on the rocks behind me. Rylie didn’t reply after that. We just sat there and soaked in silence. Both of us were just deep in our thoughts.

Dad was a member of the International Alpha Council. The chairman of each national territory was. They rotated International Chairmen even three years, and the current chairpersons is here in South Korea. To be honest, I don’t know what region I’m in or anything more than we are at a mountain resort between two pack territories away from any major cities. Pulling all the Alpha chairpersons together looks like a UN meeting, so it’s best to keep onlookers at bay. Well, now we’re here.

What a mess. This whole trip has my stomach in knots and my mind spinning. How was I going to take over such an important role? Other Alpha heirs only have to worry about their pack, but I have my pack, the Alpha Council Chairmen position, and a seat at the International Alpha Council. I just want to be a dumb kid babied by his sisters and play video games all day. The expectations and pressure are too much. How did Amelie and Hope just jump into the Luna role like it was nothing?

“Rylie, did you ever feel overwhelmed with being your father’s heir?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Every day. We have a seat on the Alpha Council that I will have to take over along with one of the largest territories. Yeah, it’s a lot. I don’t envy you or Birch and Aspen. The Black Hills Pack and Alpha role are already overwhelming. I couldn’t imagine the added pressures you have or the Druit Guard.” Rylie dipped down to his neck and smiled slightly.

“Geez, thanks.” I flooded my words with as much sarcasm as I could.

“Don’t put that on me. That’s your birthright.” Rylie plopped the towel over his face.

“Why do I hang out with you?” I flick a little bit of water at Rylie.

“Because I’m the closest, you will get to having a brother, and we have the same older sister.” Rylie tossed his wet towel at my face. I throw it back at him and sunk back into the warm, soothing water.

He wasn’t wrong. Our families were complicated. He and I were only ten months apart. Rylie is the older of us. Our older sister Amelie is both our half-sister. Rylie and I don’t share any blood, but we basically grew up like cousins because of Amelie. As we got older, we realized that the list of other wolves we could trust was short. It honestly consisted of family in one way or another. Outsiders of the family were always trying to get on your good side so they could get something from you. You become cold and indifferent quickly.

“James, I know this is an official trip and all, but maybe it won’t be so bad. This resort is pretty nice. There are vending machines everywhere with all kinds of snacks. Everyone here is a powerful Alpha family, so we won’t have anyone being creepy and following us around.” I swear sometimes it’s like Rylie could read my mind.

“You might be right. I’m glad we came a couple of days early to adjust and relax. We should go on a run later!” My wolf Rafe had been dying to run ever since we landed. It’s kinda odd he usually’s really chill.

“Neither of you will leave this resort without one of your fathers or your brother-in-law.” We both turn our heads at the sound of my father’s voice.

“Dad, we are not pups!” I protest. I was an adult.

“I never said you were a pup. We don’t know the territory, the language, or the culture. If you run into trouble, we don’t need an international incident.” Dad steps into the hot spring.

“That’s a bit dramatic, dad. An international incident? We’re not rouges. Anyone would know we are visiting.” I roll my eyes. Ever since all the crazy shit happened with my sister, dad’s been super overprotective. It’s getting really annoying.

“Alpha John is right. Rylie, if I catch you wandering off… well, let’s just not let it happen.” Logan plops down next to dad and splashes a little.

“Dad, you’ve never laid a hand on me outside of sparing,” Rylie scoffs. “And last time we spared, I got the better of you.”

“We can go a few rounds and see who gets the better of who this time.” Logan huffed, but we all knew he was the biggest Rylie fan.

“Boy, just take today to relax. Tomorrow our work begins.” Dad signed.

“Tomorrow! What the! The inquiry hearing doesn’t start for two days.” I’m sitting straight up, and so is Rylie. This tomorrow bs is news to us.

“All the East Asian Council members and pack Alphas are coming to welcome us.” My shoulders hunch, and my head drops forward.

In other words, it’s a meat market. All the Alphas were going to bring their heirs and daughters and try to make some political-mates. Whenever things like this happened, Rylie and I always became surrounded by thirsty she-wolves who wanted to be a powerful Luna. It was the worst.

“I think I’ll have an injury; I’ll need to rest.” I pick up my head and give my dad a smirk.

“If you keep acting like a spoiled brat, I’ll tell your sister you want to watch all four kids alone while she and Gideon go on a date,” Dad smirks back.

“You win.” I love my nieces and nephews but all four at one time sounded like the beginning of a horror movie that ended with me choking on crayons.

“You’re too soft.” Rylie throws his towel at me again.

“Oh, son, are you volunteering?” Logan chuckles.

“Nope.”  With that, Rylie gets out, and I’m close behind him.

“We’ll see you, boomers, at dinner.” I wave, and Rylie and I head off.

“I don’t know what that means,” Dad yells at our backs.

I turn my head to yell back. “G****e it.”

I guess our time of relaxation is almost over. Tomorrow was going to be a battlefield.