The War of the Royals - Chapter 4

MADDIE POV

“Okay, let’s do it.” I agree, still unsure I’ll be able to make that choice if I don’t find him. But Daddy is right, I’ve never had the opportunity to go very far to search for him. This will be perfect.

“Good. Thank you for agreeing to the trip. Now, one more thing.” He says as I roll my eyes and take another bite of delicious Nutella brownie. There’s always ‘one more thing’ to talk about. Ever the alpha.

“There will be a council spot opening up within the next year and I want you to vie for the seat.” I drop my spoon in shock that he would ask me to join the council. But then I realize who’s seat is opening up and I begin to get angry.

“Who? Who is retiring?” I think I already know; I just want him to confirm it.

“Armaros.” I growl when Daddy says his name. “I know honey, we all feel that way. But once the twins take their pack, you’ll have a lot of free time. Nolan and I both think you’d be perfect for the seat. And if we find you a mate, no one can deny you the opportunity.”

“You’d be perfect for the seat, sweet pea.” Mama says with a smile. “Besides, technically, as his successor, the seat is already yours.”

“Fuck that noise! I refuse to take his seat as his heir. If… and that is a BIG if, I decide to try for the council, I will run like every other Alpha. I refuse to acknowledge that I have any of that asshole’s blood flowing through my veins.” I growl out.

I already have grandparents. Amazing ones who love me unconditionally. I don’t need that ex-Alpha-hole in my life at all; trying to use me or abuse me. I saw, firsthand, what his influence did to Kent. I’ve refused to see him or let him be part of my life since I was seven years old, I’m not changing that now.

“We can revisit that later. I just wanted to put the bug in your ear and have you think about it.” Daddy says.

“Okay. I’ll think about it.” I concede to his request, really just wanting the subject to drop.

“We don’t want to keep you from your ‘me’ day. Enjoy the rest of your adventures, sweet pea.” Mama says as she stands and hugs me again. Daddy scoots out of the booth and hugs me too.

“I’ll be by Blue Meadow in a few days. I’ll bring Thomas and Niall, and we’ll all go for a run together. If Infinity is bad, the three of us can handle her, but you need to let her out more. It’ll help keep her sane a little longer.” I nod, knowing he’s right. He usually is.

“I love you both, bigger than Pi is infinite.”

“We love you too, baby girl.”

“Bigger than Pi is infinite.” Mama adds in with another smile.

~~~~

            I pull up to Maeve’s Tavern well after dark. I can hear the rock music and smell the heavy scents of stale alcohol, weed, cigarette smoke and the faint hint of sex from out here. I love this place. The owner is a pack member of my brother’s at River View. Maeve used to work at the packhouse when I was growing up. She’d bring her pups along with her to work and we’d all get into so much trouble together. So, she has always had a soft spot for me. Well, all the Evans kids, really.

Maeve keeps all of our favorite liquors refrigerated on the off chance we stop by. Hell, she’s even got a special ‘Evans Hellions’ refrigerator behind the bar where she keeps all those liquors. Its embossed on the stainless-steel door for all to see. I laughed when she put that in.

However, she always knows to expect me on my birthday night. And she usually makes it a ladies drink free night, so I’ll have plenty of good males to choose from. More men come to the ladies nights than women, simply because they think they have a better chance of finding a nightly hook up. Little do they know; they are the true target audience.

The first time she did this for me, I thought it was a little weird that she was helping me hook up. I mean, she’s known me since I moved into the packhouse when I was seven. She’s like a surrogate grandmother. But it’s not strange anymore, I’ve gotten used to it.

I think about how the rest of my day went as I approach the heavy wooden door to enter the dark, crowded bar. I took a long, leisurely drive up the mountain side to Cliff’s Edge pack. It is my sister, Suzie’s pack territory. I saw her pack patrols and they acknowledged my presence, but no one approached me.

All of my siblings allow me access anytime I want to their pack lands, but only when I am alone. Technically, being an Alpha, I am supposed to announce myself at pack proper, but we all have an understanding; I periodically need alone time to re-center myself and I am most comfortable, when away from my own pack, to be on one of theirs.

I know I am safe, and I can feel their Royal Alpha powers pulsing through their respective territory. My siblings are a comfort, a balm to my slightly unhinged-ness. I knew that Suzie knew I was there too; she could feel me, just as I could feel her. She left me be, but I could feel her love and support for me through our family bond.

I sat on the edge of the cliff that Suzie’s pack is named for, and I watched the forest wildlife skitter about below me. It’s always so peaceful and serene up there. Quiet. The perfect spot for life contemplation and deep thoughts.

I sat there and thought back, over all that has happened in my thirty-six years of living. To the difficult times as a child before Mama met Daddy. How hard she had to work to make ends meet. The sacrifices she made to make sure my genius brain excelled. It was so incredibly difficult for me, to watch her starve herself because we couldn’t afford food. To see her working herself to the bone to be able to afford my special school. The guilt I felt while watching her do these things, tore at me, constantly.

Until I got my wolf, Infinity.