Ezra POV

"Blackmore." The voice that calls my name is deep and brooding, and there is only one person who could've said it.

The King, Alpha Veiler.

I look sideways at him, still in the middle of pouring the cool milk over my bowl of cereal standing in a t-shirt and boxers. I was just about to eat my breakfast for Goddess sake. What does he want from me this early? I'm clearly busy.

But he is the King. Damn. I hate that I have to submit to him. He is the boss though.

"Yes?" I ask, now nervous. What does he want with me? Am I in trouble? I almost laugh at the thought. I feel like a child, scared of being punished.

The larger than life Alpha Veiler observes me for a few seconds before bothering to reply to my question. Why am I so anxious to hear his reply? He's the one that started the conversation, and now he stands there intimidating me without a word.

"I need to talk to you. Follow me." He turns, stalking away heavily on his thick boots. I want to call out to him, want to demand he wait. Instead I stare sadly at my bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. What a waste of a perfectly good breakfast. I take one bite for the road, chewing as I walk.

I follow after Alpha Veiler. He's heading upstairs, to his room. My mind races once more as I stalk up the stairs. It seems worse than I thought if I have to be trapped in his room with him. I can only hope we won't be alone.

My pride surges to life then. I am a lycan warrior, damn it! I shouldn't be afraid of anything. I'm not afraid of most things, but I have to admit I am afraid of Alpha Veiler.

Everyone is. You'd be crazy not to be.

As soon I'm in the door, I relax a bit. Savannah is at the far end of the room. Her round, exotic face is somewhat sceptical and disapproving.

To sum it up, she doesn't look happy.

Her slims arms remain crossed over her chest, her chin poking out as her jaw works. Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

The door closes behind me, and I uneasily slide my gaze to Veiler in his dark clothes and dark expression.

"What's going on?" I ask, trying not to stare at Alpha Veiler's gruesome scars, shadows playing against the harsh red lines. His appearance is always somewhat scruffy with his permanent 6 o'clock shadow, and that messy black hair.

"About 6 months ago, the Gamma of our pack was killed by the Red Alpha." Savannah supplies, and when I look at her with a shocked glance she turns away for a moment. Her face points at the ground like it's the most interesting thing in the room.

She's trying to hide her sorrow from me, I know this without a doubt. I know because I've been there. Many times.

"We need a new third in command." My head whips around to Alpha Veiler when he speaks, "I feel you're the male for the job." He says simply.

I sober at the offer, staring at the King as if he might disappear at any second. He can't be serious, can he? He has to be joking.

My mind goes to Klepto straight away, wishing she could be by my side.

It isn't a surprise that she's visiting her brothers for awhile this morning. She left hours ago. She does that a lot, and I only allowed it because Ace went with her today. I usually go with her instead, but I have a lot on my mind lately.

The thing that is bugging me the most these past few days has been my Mother and the dream that took control of my life. Her screams still pierce my soul as they echo through my body like a warning, a bad omen.

I haven't had a single dream since then, and I don't know whether to be grateful or disappointed.

"Of course you don't have to accept right away. This is something you should think about. It is a big decision." Savannah is quick to pipe up, and I can tell she doesn't exactly want me to join their pack as the new Gamma.

It's clear as day she's not over the death of their last Gamma quit yet. Apparently they were close. My heart goes out to her.

Veiler, however, is ready to move on.

"I don't really know a lot about your pack." I say absently, flicking my glance to Alpha Veiler nervously, gauging his reaction.

I don't know exactly what I was expecting. He is always glaring or completely aloof, and today is no different.

"Well, there are reasons behind that. We don't want pack information widely spread." He chews on the inside of his cheek in thought. "What do you already know?"

The question makes sense, he wants to know what information an outsider has on his pack. I can't blame him for asking.

But his commanding Alpha tone has me a bit unsettled.

"Your pack is in Montana, right?" It's weak, but it's literally all I know.

His eyebrows pull together and he crosses his enormous arms over his chest while he watches me in silence for a fleeting moment.

"That's it?" Savannah asks.

"That's it." I confirm.

Savannah nods, she seems very pleased with this answer and smiles, grinning over at her Alpha like she just won the lottery.

"That's great. It seems we've done a good job, eh Cedric?" It's strange hearing the King's first name spoken out loud. I've heard he doesn't like to be addressed by it.

"Yes. It would seem so." He supplies, sounding bored. He isn't as happy as his Beta about my lack of knowledge. I don't know if he's ever happy.

If he is, he could've fooled me.

"We'll only let you know more if you show actual interest in joining, as in you're considering it. Strongly considering it." Savannah insists quickly, her condescending tone noted by me.

I thought she was a nice female, but apparently I'm not good enough for her pack. It puts a bad taste in my mouth.

"Believe it or not, I am considering joining your pack. Strongly considering." I narrow my eyes, moving my head back and forth. "Of course I'll have to talk to Klepto about it first, and my team. Reid is obviously leaving the Guard as well now that he has Stacey. And if we did join, Klepto and I would bring her little brothers. That's a deal breaker."

Veiler nods, having no problem with what I've demanded. I let out a deep sigh of relief.

That was easier than I thought.

"This is the first time we've allowed werewolves into our pack. Stacey and Klepto will be the first." He says slowly, measuring each of the words before speaking them.

I'm shocked at the idea of an all lycan pack. Lycans are rare, there aren't many of us. The majority live around the world in secluded areas, and some work for the Guard.

There are rarely more than a few lycans in a pack, but a pack made up of only lycans? They would be unstoppable, especially with King Veiler at the head. It's kind of a terrifying thought, but I know they can take down any army or threat without much thought or difficulty.

"How large is your pack?" I ask reproachfully.

They know I'm interested, but just how much information would they give away about their precious pack? I don't want to overstep my boundaries.

The silence spans out for several minutes, all three of us completely quiet until Veiler decides to speak up.

"Less that 30." He states cooly, trying to be cryptic and mysterious like always.

It is a small pack, but the fact that they are all lycans makes up for the low number.

"I'll definitely think about it. It's a big thing to decide." I reply, feeling dumb since I really don't have anything more to say on the subject. "Thank you for considering, it's an honor."

Alpha Veiler narrows his eyes in amusement and tilts his head, giving me one, curt nod as he observes me with eyes the color of garnet.

Knowing how ancient the lycan before me is, I can't help but wonder all that his eyes have witnessed in their time.

"Don't thank me yet, you can join with the assumption you'll be alive after this Red Alpha business is resolved, or any of us for that matter." While he speaks, Savannah rolls her eyes, a bit of a smile on her lips.

"You think he's really out there?" The look that the King gives me shows that he doesn't need to ask who I'm referring to.

"Yes." He says, "I know he's out there. I can feel it. I only hope I'm the one to take the bastard down, it's my right."

I pick up on a flicker of something in his stare that I've felt many times throughout the course of the last few months of knowing Klepto.

The feeling of hopelessness.

I don't know how the all powerful, ancient Lycan King can feel helpless, but it is there on some level. It's the first time that I can actually relate to him at all.

He is actually a person. A terrifying, seemingly emotionless person, but a person all the same.

Strange.

After our chilling conversation, we finally head back downstairs where everyone else is chatting. As soon as I'm downstairs, the scent of my mate takes over my senses and I go to her, finding her on the couch between Miranda and Ace.

One single glare has Ace scooting over with a shake of his head and a sly grin. I collapse on the cushions with a sigh as I relax, my arm winding around my mates shoulders. All the things happening in my life are catching up with me. How different things were just a few months ago.

When I look down at my girl snuggling up to my chest with a warm smile, I know I wouldn't change a thing.

"We're heading out." I glance up at Reid, his fingers intertwined with Stacey's who's impatient eyes flicker around the room like a bomb is about to go off.

"Where are you going?" Savannah asks, raising a suspicious brow at Stacey.

"The car needs gas, and I want a bag of Funyuns, so we're going to a gas station." Stacey says, and I feel Klepto perk up.

"Car?" She asks, and Miranda nods, looking confused.

"Yeah... I mean we had to get here somehow, right?" A few people laugh around the room and I wish I could punch every last one of them for teasing Klepto. I hold myself back.

"Well I've never even been in a car before, or seen one in person, let alone drive one." A few gasps fill the room, but there's also a laugh. A dainty, lulling chuckle from the female vampire, Ailsa.

We are all staring at her now. She sits in her mate's lap, her long legs crossed in front of her while she continues to giggle relentlessly. She snuggles with her mate, Fraser, his thick beard lifting as he gives her an amused look.

It's clear they've been together a very, very long time.

"I remember when they created the car. I was so excited to see one for myself. It does seem silly now, doesn't it?" Ailsa reminisces, a smile still on her full lips.

Klepto watches the vampires with suspicion, still not completely comfortable around them. I pull her closer to reassure her, she relaxes a bit, but not fully. Her gaze is glued to the fanged figures.

"Of course, I remember as well, but only because you dragged me across the ocean to get a glimpse of one as soon as possible." Fraser's thick brogue rumbles, his hand reaching around his mate to tickle her. She rolls and bucks as she cackles, trying to escape his attack.

I go from watching with interest to looking away. Their relationship is sweet, and this moment seems too intimate even if they aren't doing anything sexual. Because they are so close that they appear to be in their own little world, and no one else can bother them.

My mind wanders to my mate beside me. I grab for her hand, pulling it into my lap and playing with her pale fingers. She leans her head on my shoulder.

I still can't believe I've won her over even after everything I've done. It's hard to accept because I have yet to feel that I deserve her in any way.

When I picture out future, I have hope we will end up like Fraser and Ailsa, so close that our relationship is as easy as breathing. Deep down I know that that no relationship is perfect, but it's a nice thought to focus on for now.

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If you're reading this, I love you:)

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