**Two years later** *Merikh*”Where is he?” I snarl, on my hands and knees, tearing the tablecloth to the side. If Colette finds out he is gone again, I am in deep shit. I find nothing there but a small trail of cookies as I smirk and look to my right. Green eyes beneath a mop of curly brown hair stare up atme with an excited face.”Your brother thinks he is so sneaky, but we got him now, don’t we?” I whisper to her as she grins widely, her chunky cheeks round and adorable.”Did you lose Dylan again?” Colette asks, walking into the room as I sit back on my ankles.I feign a scoff, waving her off, hoping she will just assume this is all a part of a game. I will never admit that this little stinker can outsmart me even at just the wee age of one year and some months. His twin sister, however, is my little shadow, always at my side. “Define the word lose?” I say with a wry smile as her eyes grow wide.”Merikh! Are you serious? You honestly lost our son again?” She squeals, suddenly darting around the kitchen to Dylan’s usual hiding spots.”Dada,” my sweet little Harmony says, popping up to her feet and tottering off.”Oh, no, you don’t,” I chuckle, scooping her into my arms as I jump up and follow the trail of cookie crumbs leading out of the kitchen and around the corner to the front closet.I clear my throat standing outside of the door and gently knock on the thin wood. A tiny little giggle explodes through the door and harmony squeals in delight, squirming in my arms to get down and laugh with her brother.”Dylan,” I call out in a sing-song voice, Colette comes up behind me with a frown on her lips as she crosses her arms over her chest.The little chubby, almost toddler, raps on the door from the inside and babbles incoherently. Harmony giggles as if she can understand his language, and maybe she does. They are twins and I swear they have conversations all the time. “Why does it feel like they are making fun of me?” I say, looking back at Colette, who fights a smile.”Probably because they are.” She says, being no help at all.I exhale before I open the door and squat down, looking at my sweet troublemaker who smiles brightly before he wobbles to me and falls into my arms. Harmony stands in front of her mom, begging with open hands to be picked up, and Colette gives in to her wordless demand.”Are you ready for bed, my little loves?” I ask, cuddling Dylan close and reaching out to rub Harmony’s back as we head to their room.They both snuggle close, their sweet little hugs doing wonders to heal the terrors of the day I had before walking through that front door. Three weeks of nonstop attacks on our pack has begun to weigh heavily on all of us here.If it weren’t for King Zale and Colette’s close ties with her siren family, we would be gone by now. But instead, the majority of the werewolf and lycan population has moved to our pack, more than tripling the population every six months until now.”How bad is it?” Colette asks as we enter their room, flipping on their tiny little bubble night light that displays fish on the wall. A cute gift that her cousin Wade ended up finding in a sea town after the twins were born.”We are running out of time.” I admit, laying my little guy into his crib and tucking him in. It’s hard to look away from him, but I do so I can memorize how both of them sleep so sweetly. “It is so peaceful watching them sleep.””Their innocence is something else,” Colette agrees, a soft smile on her lips. “I wish the world was a better place for them.”I reach out, tugging her by her waist to me as I press my lips to her temple.”The world is as good as we make it for them. I’d rather it be bad now and try to improve it before they have to know it the way we do.” I tell her as she sighs and leans into me.We watch them for a few minutes longer before sneaking out and finding Thatch leaning against the wall across from their room.”Alpha, Luna,” He says, giving a respectful nod.”I hate to say this, Thatch, but every time I see you, it gives me anxiety.” Colette teases and he grins.”Yeah, being the bearer of bad news is annoyingly my thing.” He says, “But it came in the job description, so I suppose I was warned.””What do you have for me?” I ask, a tugging of worry in my gut. Is it possible that the dragons have finally made it through the water defenses?”I have located him.” He says softly and my eyes grow wide in shock.”H-he is alive?” I swallow roughly, my throat dry and my mind spinning.Seven months. That is how long it has been since I have spoken with my brother. He still hates me, blames me for his life that he claims has been so awful since losing Leandra. Hayes never recovered from that loss, and he never opened up to anyone about it. Not even the men who have been with him side by side for almost two years hunting down Ezrah and this damn egg.”Yes,” Thatch clears his throat. “And he is here.”My eyes grow wide as I look over at Colette, who mirrors my shock. Alpha order or not, I hadn’t expected to see my brother alive again since our last falling out. He used to come back every two weeks to see his niece and nephew and Colette until he went dark on us. He is hardened now, darker in spirits and still searching for something, anything, worth living for outside of my order.”Here as in the pack or here as in the pack house?” I ask him and he clears his throat.”He is in your office.” Thatch says. “And he asked to speak with you, if you have the time.”I snort a laugh, knowing full well that he wasn’t nearly as polite as Thatch is letting on.”Right.” I murmur, still a little in shock as I run my hands through my hair and then I look at Colette. “Let’s go see what he has to say.””Actually,” Thatch says, wincing as if he is in pain. I eye him suspiciously as he shakes his head. “Hayes has asked for an audience with only you.”Colette gives me a reassuring smile as she takes a step back.”Well, don’t leave him waiting. Angry with you or not, he is still your baby brother.” She reminds me and I sigh before turning and heading to my office.I push the door open, looking up to find Hayes wandering around the office as if it has changed since he left. But it hasn’t, which makes me hope he is nostalgic for home. He looks over at me for a moment before turning back to wandering around the office and stopping at the window, looking out at the lake where the sun is disappearing.”Good to know you are alive.” I mutter walking over to my desk as he scoffs.”So long as you are happy Alpha, all is dandy, yes?” he says in a mocking tone. I give him a warning glance he pretends not to see as I take a seat and stare at him.”I take it you have news for me or you wouldn’t be here?” I say, trying to give him the exact amount of cold shoulder he is giving me.”Oh what? You don’t think I missed you and your coddling ways?” He snorts, his disfigured side of his face where I can see it best in the light. He gives me a dark smirk, one where his lip ceases half way and he shoves his hands in his pocket.”Enough of the disrespect, Hayes.” I growl at him. “Hate me as a brother all you want, but I am your alpha and I won’t have the blatant disrespect you are laying on so thick. You are still a member of this damn pack.” I snap.He frowns and then shakes his head in understanding.”I apologize alpha,” he mutters, sounding sincere. “It has been a while since I have slept or eaten. I am a little out of sorts. More so than normal.””What have you got for me?” I ask, trying to be more alpha and less annoyed, big brother.”Absolutely nothing.” He exhales. “Every single fucking trail we find, he eludes us. Our tracker has found his second chance mate and so we returned home for him to have a life with her here. There is no life outside of this pack for our kind right now.” Instead of looking angry like he has been, I see a look of concern.”We are losing,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair. “We are losing and I have no fucking clue how to change that.””Get me the best tracker we have and send us back out. We have not lost all hope.” He says.”Well, that is good to hear,” I say, and he grows sad.”I just need a little more time and a better team.” He says. “They have been great, but I need someone with tracking and fighting skills. We need warriors that don’t want to start relationships with each other and cause tension.”I already know who he needs. It hasIbeen something I have thoughtabout a lot since tracking them down and discovering what they have been doing for the past eight years Only one issue, he will not only be surprised but he will very much not be happy about it. And it most certainly causes a shit ton of tension. “We will get you a new team by the end of the week. I want a list of those you want to keep on your hunting party and I will let the others know.” I say, but he narrows his eyes. Hatred or not, he can still read me as if the last two years never happened. “Why do you have that pensive look on your face?” He asks.”I have a thought, but I don’t think you will like it.”He looks confused.””Who is it?”There is a knock at the door just then and Colette peeks her head in and steps through the door, making way for the petite redhead who I rediscovered after her former mate’s pack came to us for protection in our pack lines. She grins widely, her eyes sparkling. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.”Well, you look a sight better than what Alpha Merikh made it seem.” She says, walking into the room further. Hayes blinks and then turns to look at me.”You remember Kyra?” I ask Hayes, who looks back at her as she winces.”My bad. I didn’t see the other side of your face. You look fucking terrible, Hayes.” She says, winking at him as he just gapes at her.”Fuck no.” He hisses. “No, she is not coming. I don’t want her help.””She is very capable, Hayes.” Colette says softly, and he presses his lips together in thought, considering Colette’s words.”It’s been a long time, Kyra.” He finally says, though his eyes clearly showcase how angry he is.”I was hoping for longer, but when the alpha asks, you sort of show up.” She says overly sweet, clearly still pissed off at Hayes for whatever went down between them all those years ago. “At least he asked you,” he mutters.”Well, you two can go and discuss things.” I say, standing and clapping my hands together. “I have a pregnant mate I need to put to bed.”Colette’s eyes grow wide as she looks at Hayes and gives him a nervous chuckle.”We were going to tell you earlier but…””I have been hard to find. It is fine Luna.” He gives her a kind smile before he storms out of the room, Kyra hot on his heels.”Are you sure this is a good idea?” Colette asks me, putting her hand out for me to take.”They were best friends once.” I remind her. “They work well together even if they want to deny it.””What happened between them?” She asks, and I shrug.”I honestly have no clue. But I know I am going to lay you down and then I am going to kiss every part of this perfectly pregnant body.””I am barely pregnant.” She laughs, dragging me out the door.”It doesn’t matter. The hormones do something to me. I can’t help it.” I tease her by lifting her up and wrapping her legs around me.Her eyes soften, and her whole body relaxes into me.”I love you, Merikh.” She murmurs before stealing a kiss. “And I have faith that everything will all work out.””I know it will.” I hum. “Because I love you too and I will end the world before I let anyone hurt what is ours.” THE END (for now)*BOOK TWO: To Love a Broken Beta* will be the next chapter starting tomorrow. It will be Haye’s story.
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