Azaire POV
“What the hell happened?”
I was about to get laid. My wolf wasn’t happy and neither was I. However, when I saw my little brother being yanked out of the destroyed sports car my anger faded and concern took over.
“Lucas, what the hell?”
“The punk drove into Richie’s car,” Ross replied.
The betas from the army dragged my brother out of the wreck. He was lucky he barely had a scratch but he wreaked of alcohol.
“Take him inside, I don’t want to see him,” Richie ordered.
I hit him on the back of the head as they carried him away. He’d be fine after a few hours.
“That’s a brand new car,” Richie complained.
“You can get another one because that one won’t be fixed,” I replied.
“I don’t want another car man. He needs to learn responsibility. You’re supposed to be the sensible one here.”
I chuckled. He was right. “I just don’t want to see him hurt.”
“He’ll get hurt if he doesn’t straighten out. This isn’t the only shit he’s pulled.”
“What are you talking about Richie?” I raised a brow.
My brother placed a hand on my shoulder and led me away from the wreckage. My brother and I were pretty big men from a distance you’d think we were the same height but I was a few inches taller than Richie but my twin Aiden would have been a foot shorter than me had he lived.
Coming to sense with Aiden’s senseless death was a daily struggle but I wasn’t alone. I had my brothers and my beautiful mate. I had a nephew or niece on the way. My family was growing and with that came the fear of losing one of them.
“Look, Lucas’ has been hanging around the wrong crowd. One of the betas came to me and mentioned a group causing trouble. They’re questioning our leadership and think the Blood Moon Pack will be better off with a new Alpha.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I replied.
“I know…”
I can come up with a few reasons why they think that but they’re equally ridiculous.
“Are you saying Lucas has been hanging out with them? That doesn’t make any sense. Does he want to overthrow his own family?”
“The beta said he’s been seen hanging around there.”
“Why am I only hearing about this now?” I frowned.
Didn’t I work here too?
“I was going to tell you but you’re overprotective over the brat but you’ve seen it for yourself.”
“Doesn’t prove he’s brainwashed though. I’ll talk to him when he’s out of it.”
Richie ran a hand down his face. “Do you know how much alcohol a wolf needs to drink to get that drunk? I never got that drunk when I was his age.”
“It just means you were a loser. I’ll speak to him, okay?”
He nodded. “That isn’t the only thing bothering me though.”
“Just keep avoiding her and she’ll eventually get the hint that you and Opal aren’t ready to get married.”
“No, not Mom. It’s about Opal… and Elaine.”
“What about Elaine?” I grabbed the front of his shirt.
“This is why I don’t tell you stuff!”
“Speak up Richie because she locked herself in the bathroom this morning.”
“Whoa, whoa, I don’t know anything about that. I do know people in this Pack aren’t happy about the Blood Moon men taking Black Claw women as mates.”
I groaned. “Elaine hasn’t told me about any incidents at school.”
“Maybe she’s scared you’ll overreact but I understand. If someone talked to Opal out of line I’d lock them in the basement and have a long conversation with them.”
I nodded understanding. “Glad to know we’re really brothers.”
I turned around so I could head inside and find Elaine but she marched out trying to stuff her books in her bag.
“Hey, where are you going?”
She brushed her hair out of her face glanced at the ruined cars behind me and frowned.
“Yikes… I’m going to class. I can’t miss this one.”
“I wanted us to talk it’s important.”
She turned pink in the cheeks. “After my classes. Come and pick me up okay?”
“How are you getting to school now?”
She hurried past me. “The bus! Bye, babe.”
Did she just blow me off?
Richie placed a hand on my shoulder. “Do not follow her.”
“Why would I do that?” I grumbled.
“Because you’re crazy about her.”
“I’m not following Elaine but I have to go to the army base. I have catching up to do if there’s groups out there trying to overthrow us.”
“I hope so Azaire,” Richie said sceptically.
He had nothing to worry about. I was a professional and I took my job seriously. Pack security was important.
***
I’d been waiting in the parking lot for over two hours watching the college kids walk by without a care in the world. I watched Fran leave the property as she had a rapid conversation on the phone. However, there was no sign of my mate.
She couldn’t have ditched school and gone somewhere else. That wasn’t like Elaine or was it?
My instincts told me to enter the school and find her. I just wanted her to be safe and break anyone’s jaw who made her uncomfortable. However, just before I opened my door a silver sports car parked to my right and a familiar young woman strolled towards it as she spoke on the phone. She was annoyed with whoever it was she spoke to.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
Thank goodness my windows are tinted.
My ex-girlfriend Holly was in the driver’s seat of the silver sports car. She had black shades on and barely paid attention to her surroundings that’s one of the reasons she always got into accidents on the road.
Our relationship wasn’t casual like what I had with Megan or brief like Wynter. What I had with Holly was intense and it lasted longer than three months. No one knows how to throw a blow dryer like Holly Stanfield. We broke up over a year ago. I couldn’t deal with her anymore. Shortly after the break-up she left town.
How did I forget about Zoe, her younger sister?
What if she ran into Elaine already? I’m screwed. I didn’t tell Elaine about Holly but Fran might have. Rae definitely would. Megan would give her all the details. Damn, the women in my life can’t keep a secret. Once the car was gone I hopped out of my vehicle and marched into the school building to find my fated mate.