Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Jesus,” Kingsley muttered, and Austin started laughing. “Never a dull moment.”
“No.” Austin put the car in park.
“That guy Drex is something, huh?” Kingsley pushed open the door. “He’s mighty and a good fighter. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders and good control over his pack, even if control over his beast is iffy. He’s got the ear of the original alphas, I’ve heard. He’s a good asset.”
Austin stood from the car. “Have you talked to him directly?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral.
“No. He hasn’t mingled much in the generational pack circles. You seem to have an accord with him, though. Maybe you can introduce us? I’d like to get his take on things. I think we need to erase the lines between generational packs and original packs. It’s like two different factions. It’s been increasingly noticeable as I chat with people.”
“He said you were good at networking.”
Kingsley stiffened. Hardly. “I’m working on it. To have unity with magical people, we first need unity with shifters. I didn’t realize we were so fractured. I’ve been trying to up my game in a way where I can be useful. I can’t be shown up by my little brother.”
Austin snorted, stepping onto Ivy House soil. He felt Jess out back with a large crowd. Her rush of joy and love through the bonds meant she knew he was here.
“Drex needs no introduction, but yes, I can do that,” Austin said.
“I’m sure he knows who I am, but it would be better to chat with him on a more personal level, rather than a professional one.”
“I don’t think it’ll get any more personal for Drex when it comes to you.”
Austin watched Kingsley’s expression hint at confusion. He hadn’t told his brother of the connection, knowing they’d be here together and waiting for just this situation.
“He was a budding alpha when you and your team took down his half-siblings, competing alphas who were tearing the territory apart. They’d already killed their alpha father, some of their other half-siblings, and were fighting against each other for the title. They’d recently identified Drex, the youngest, as a problem. He would’ve been killed before long if you hadn’t come in and set everything to rights. You gave his mom money to reestablish them. He let me into his pack because I’m your brother. He’s a fan, Kingsley, and you’ve earned his praise.”
Kingsley’s eyes went far away. “No shit, huh? I remember that pack. Two or three alphas were left when we showed up. They were powerful. They didn’t have any training, though. We took them down because we were a unit.” He scratched his chin. “I don’t remember him personally. We helped a lot of them. That place was dismal by the time we got there.”
“That’s what he said.” Austin nudged his brother. “And now look. He’s self-taught, but his pack is thriving. He did incredibly well against powerful alphas today. He’ll help you pull it all together. One good turn deserves another.”
“Huh.” Kingsley shook his head subtly. “I wonder why he didn’t introduce himself.”
“What would he say to his hero?”
Kingsley swore and shoved Austin. “Come off it. That’s a little much.”
Austin grinned because his brother wasn’t any better than him at taking praise. But he saw the delighted glimmer in Kingsley’s eyes. It was a special thing to learn how you’d helped someone, and what they’d become, especially when they were thriving.
The rest of the alphas approached, marveling at the large structure before them. Austin and Jess hadn’t planned to show off Ivy House until the day after tomorrow, when most of the challenges were done and everyone knew where they stood in the shifter community. They’d host a dinner in the newly revamped ballroom.
He shouldn’t be surprised in the change of schedule. Nothing ever seemed to go according to plan.
“Everyone’s in the back,” Austin told the others. “We’ll walk through the house to get there. While we walk, there are a few things you need to know…”
He tried to explain as concisely as possible, keeping an eye out for gnomes as they neared the front door. None of them jumped out.
The door opened by itself. Dolls crowded the stairs, looking down at them or through the spaces in the banister as if they were in prison. The wood carving on the landing showed a picture of a tiger being chased through the hallways by dolls. Ivy House was taunting Kingsley.
“Cute,” he said dryly.
“I didn’t see any of those when I visited,” Nina said evenly, bristling.
“Me either,” her sister said, grabbing hold of the third of them. “Yazanth lives with all this?”
“You get used to it.” Austin led them through the center of the house. “Kinda.”
He felt the crowd walking behind him.
“Despite the…animated dolls, this place is gorgeous,” someone said. “My God. I’d never leave if I lived in a place as beautiful as this.”