Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
“A very good sign,” Grey agrees.
The kids that walk by don’t look fearfully at any of the Arcana Falls members around the area where yesterday most of those faces were full of fear. Some of them are even smiling.
Grey touches my face to pull my attention to him. “So, we were thinking we need to get everyone stable and then move the sickest folks back to The Falls where we can look after them better. Jase and me were gonna coordinate that back home with Rye and Mase, getting people there patching up the town hall as fast as possible so we could use that since Cat’s clinic isn’t big enough for this many people.”
“Oh?”
“Uh huh.” He lets go of my face and scrubs his jaw with his fingernails, looking pensive.
“All that was said in past tense. Have plans changed?”
“Gonna get people stable here instead. That water tanker is coming this morning, and we’ll see what comes of the water and soil tests, but regardless of that… Brody has other ideas.”
“Other… ideas?”
“He’s thinkin’ about helping the pack here or somewhere else if this place is too polluted. He wants to lead. Feels it like coming here wasn’t just for Addy. Brody feels like this pack is his calling, too. Not surprised. He’s been searching for his place a long time. Always traveling, seeing what’s out there. He says he wants to claim this pack as his and build it to where it’s supposed to be. Plans to hold a town hall meeting with them once everyone’s on the mend to propose it to them. He’s already called and paid the electric bill to get things turned back on here. He’s asked for our blessing in recruiting a dozen betas from Arcana Falls or our waiting list to start. To come with him and help him build this pack into a healthy one. They can decide if they wanna stay after that or come back home.”
“Waiting list?”
“Bailey has a list of folks looking to join our pack. Unless we develop some of the forest surrounding us to build more homes, that’s not happening any time soon unless people decide to leave. We like our forest.”
“I like the forest, too.”
“Some on that wait list might be game to come here instead and carve out their place in a new pack. But gotta tell you this isn’t cut ‘n dried with Brody.”
“No? Why?”
“Cuz Joel called and it’s your pal Malachi back at the village in the holding cell and Joel told us he might be after that role.”
He waits while this sinks in. And he watches me studiously as it does. I don’t like the way his voice sounded when he said, “pal”.
And I’m now paying more attention to the tone and body language of my mate. He’s more than tired. He’s something else, too.
He continues. “This guy is beta, but Joel reads that he has traits that show he could develop into an alpha. Those traits could boost up if he comes back and leads here. Connects with his wolf enough, lives healthier. I mean… if he’s the right man for the job and if this pack wants him as their leader, because we’re not leaving everyone here in just anybody’s care.”
I swallow down a whole lot of emotion as I continue processing this news.
“Though I’m leaning toward Brody because of how strong he feels about it being his calling, it should be up to the people. I sent Joel in to talk to Malachi last night, to give him the details on what’s going on here.”
Grey stops speaking and looks at me expectantly. When I don’t say anything, he goes on, “He finally opened up and talked to Joel this morning who knew who he was from the video footage the night your cousin took Erica. Cut his hair, grew a beard. Once Joel started filling him in about what was going on here, Malachi had other shit to say, too. About you.”
I wince.
Greyson’s expression hardens and accusation, I think, is what hits his eyes.
“Interesting reaction,” he observes.
I fill my cheeks with air and blow out a big breath.
“Um…” I start but when I don’t continue talking, Grey does.
“Says he was supposed to pair up with you, his words, that he was gonna fix things, find a way to dethrone your brother and take over. Told Joel you and him were gonna fix it and make things better here. He saw Rye maul Jimmy from the bushes that first night he was there and ran. Came back here and clearly helped your brother put together that latest plan, determined to come save you from us. Can only guess it was his anger at us, his intentions to take you back here might be what got him lumped with the others by Erica’s magic that ripped the negativity up into the sky. Maybe the fact he isn’t bad is why he survived. Don’t know. Joel says he doesn’t seem like a bad guy. But we might leverage Ronnie’s touch to see what she thinks. Or, I’ll sit there and look him over, see what my gut tells me.”