Chapter 103: Chapter 41

HALEY

“Moon Flower, I need to talk to Dec privately. Can you…”

“Virgil, I will only listen to thoughts at summits and inspections, unless you request otherwise. Everything will be shared with you. Okay?”

“Thank you, Moon Flower.” Virgil kisses my cheek. We then step out of his truck. He rushes to my side to hold my hand as we enter the pack house.

Miss Regina welcomes him with a hug. “My wonderful boy, I’m so proud of you.” She kisses his cheek. “Are you both hungry? I’m making lunch.”

“We just ate, thank you Miss Regina. Where are Dec and Jason?”

“They’re in the office with Troy. We haven’t said anything to Anna and Davey. Anna is in the entertainment room with Alana, Kya, and Conall. They’re all watching a movie. Haley, you’re welcome to join them. Dec says you want to play with the pup.”

“I’m going to keep her for a minute then she can join them. Thank you, Miss Regina.” He kisses her cheek then pulls me along to Alpha Redd… Dec’s office. I’ve never been in this room, but my eyes automatically fall on the wall of books. His collection is impressive, but I think I have most of them.

Jason lifts his chin upon our entry. Dec just stays seated. “Glad you guys could make it. I was just filling Jason in on yesterday’s events. I’m planning on having him take your place as my guard for the summits.”

Virgil offers me a seat on the couch then takes the seat beside me. “Actually, I need a beta. Jason, you’re my choice. We’re best friends and we’ve been through everything together. There’s no one else I would want by my side.”

“Damn it,” Dec blurts out. “First Damon, now you…are you taking anyone else with you?”

“Just Kenna. That is if you accept, Jason.” Virgil allows him the chance to choose for himself.

“Yeah, of course, but uh, what do I need to do?” Jason looks between the two alphas.

“Just help me out and be there for me. I’m going to be traveling a lot, so I’ll need your help to keep the packs in line. Most of them are fine, but there are a few that need some work. Dec will be in charge of the East Coast. I’ll have to find reliable alphas in each area to report to us. You’ll oversee anything I can’t attend to personally. You’re to me what Chase is for Dec.” Virgil lays everything out for him.

“What pack will we be in?” Jason scratches the back of his neck.

“We’re part of every pack. Haley has a home already in mind.”

“My auntie was the previous Oracle. She left me everything she had.” I clear my throat. “Including a private jet.”

Dec whistles. “She was a very smart woman and had to travel quite a bit. Well, Jason, you have a decision to make. You might want to include Kenna in everything.”

“We’re with you, Virgil.” Jason doesn’t hesitate. “Kenna wants to know if she can stop to see her family at some point?”

“Of course.” Virgil looks to me and I nod. “What do I do to make him my beta?”

Dec tosses him a pocket knife. “Bring him into your pack. The link will establish and his power will kick in. Which I’m interested to see.”

Virgil hisses as he cuts his heart line. Jason licks his thumb and traces the cut. The wound heals and Jason’s bond is established. Dec grunts, but doesn’t say anything.

Jason gets to his feet. “This is crazy. I feel people, a lot of them.”

“Yeah. The beta is connected to the pack, it’s just not nearly as strong which is why there isn’t a link. Goddess, it would be a lot easier if they could link the pack too.”

I shake my head. “It used to be that way, but when Nathaniel’s beta used the link to undermine him and cut him out, that gift was redacted by the Goddess. I almost wonder if that could be reestablished…” I think out loud.

“If the Goddess took that away, I’m not messing with it. Jason, I trust you, but there are other betas that could give their alphas trouble.” Virgil states.

“So, how strong is your power now, Jason? Are you higher than an alpha?” Dec asks.

“I don’t know.” I feel it, but it’s pretty well contained.

“Only one way to find out. Stand up to me.” Dec gets to his feet.

Jason and Dec go toe to toe in a stare down. Neither flinches nor moves, then they both relax.

“Can you try that again, please. I want to see something.” I ask then link Virgil as the stare down goes on again. I show Virgil the gold threads. He practically reaches out to caress them with his mind. ~Lend Jason your power.~

~This is cool, I could feel them, but not actually see them.~ Virgil manipulates Jason’s thread and~ ~Dec drops to his knees in shock.

“What the hell just happened?” Dec asks as he stands back up.

“Try again, this time see if you can do that with Dec.” I suggest. Dec shakes off his discomfort then goes toe to toe with Jason again. Virgil manipulates the threads and Dec’s power increases but Jason’s power matches Dec’s.

“Hmm, that’s interesting. It looks like Jason is equal to an alpha no matter their power, but I can lend him my power to get the alphas to submit.” Virgil says while deep in thought.

“That’ll be good to have, Jason, especially if an alpha is giving you shit.” Dec comments.

~Virgil, uh, I think you increased Dec’s power and didn’t retract it. His thread feels stronger than any other alphas.~ I show Virgil and a small smirk appears on his face.

“He’s in charge of this region, he should have more power.” Virgil answers out loud. He looks to Dec. “You were already one of the strongest alphas, but now you’re just a little stronger than everyone else. Alphas will submit to your command. Alpha Weston’s was equal to you, but now you have the upper hand. Not that you’ll need it against him. He’s a good guy.”

I don’t know how to feel about him singling out my uncle. Virgil squeezes my hand. ~I trust your uncle completely, but Dec needs to have the upper hand when he starts the inspections. There are others equal to your uncle’s power.~

~I guess you’re right.~ I concede. Virgil kisses my cheek then we wrap up this little gathering. Jason goes to talk with Kenna, and Virgil stays to have that private conversation with Dec.

I head to the entertainment room and find Kya feeding her copper-haired pup. She gives me a smile and waves me in.

Anna spots me and rushes over for a hug. She has really grown since I last saw her at Virgil’s eighteenth birthday, when I ran away like a scared pup, which I was.

Her wispy hair is now thick and healthy, her brown eyes are bright and intelligent. Her body has become firm and strong. I know Dec requires training for all of his pack, I guess she’s taken well to it.

“I’ve missed you, Haley. Now you’re my sister. I’m so happy for the two of you.”

I hug her back. “I’ve missed you too. I’m so sorry for not keeping in touch. After I broke up with Virgil, I thought you would hate me.”

She softly snickers. “I thought you were supposed to be smart.” I can’t help but laugh too.

We break apart and she offers me her seat beside Kya then takes the floor in front of us. “So are you guys leaving us?” Alana’s pup tosses a ball at her. She catches it and rolls it back.

“Wait, how do you know? Miss Regina said they haven’t said anything.”

“Virgil is linked to everyone, it’s hard not to notice.” I look to Kya and she just shrugs her shoulders. “You don’t feel him, Luna?” Anna asks a little confused.

“No. I had no idea until Dec told me last night. Maybe it’s because you’re his sister?” Kya pulls the pup from her breast and hands him over to Anna to burp while she fixes her shirt.

“Or maybe it’s because Anna has always been intuitive.” Alana chimes in. I agree with her assessment.

“I’m sorry, Anna, but yes we are leaving. We’re bringing Jason and Kenna with us. Virgil chose Jason as his beta. Goddess, he is so cute.” I touch Conall’s chubby little cheeks. Like all babies I see, I glimpse his future, but I can only see through his teen years, after that is blank. “Huh. That’s weird.”

“What is?” Anna asks then offers the pup for me to hold him.

His silver eyes are so bright and alert. He gets a grip of my hair so I pull it out of the way. I tickle his puffy little cheek with my finger. “His future. I can’t see it.” I start cooing to the pup and he smiles then starts gnawing on his little fist.

Kya pulls his hand out of his mouth to give him a teething ring. “That doesn’t sound very good. Should I be worried?”

I shake my head. “No, that happens sometimes if a choice has to be made or if their future intertwines with mine somehow. Now I’m really curious. Conall is a rare name. Were you sticking with Dec’s Irish name?”

“Yeah. Chase gave me crap, but I think it fits. It means strong wolf, how could I go wrong with that?” Alana chuckles and Kya gives her a dirty look. “Shut it.”

I look between the two. “Has he started calling him cannoli yet?”

Kya grunts and Alana laughs harder. “Yes, that asshole. He started calling him that a few days ago. The worst part is he taught Lacy and Lucas, so now they call him that too.” Anna just smiles at the exchange then goes to color with Lacy, while Lucas is playing with his bouncy ball.

I feel someone’s eyes on me so I look to the doorway to see Virgil and Dec leaning against the frame. ~I can’t wait until it’s our pup you’re holding~.

I smile up at him. ~I hope you’re not disappointed that it will be girls I’ll be holding~. I hand Conall back to Kya.

~Of course not. I’m just happy it’s you that will be the mother of my pups~. Virgil pulls me to my feet. “We’re going to go for a run. Dec ordered his guards away from the river. We’ll have the area to ourselves.” We say goodbye then Virgil leads me into the woods.

The river is frozen over, but it’s still very beautiful. Virgil stops then turns to face me. The sun has faded, but we can clearly see each other. He pulls me in for a steamy kiss as he removes my clothing. I shiver as the cold caresses my skin.

“Shift, Moon Flower, then run as fast as you can because I’ll be hot on your trail.” I smile then take off, shifting as I go.