(Jax)

“Get me something to wrap him in,” said Max. “The whole mess has the press being hypervigilant. I already have a dead werewolf and rumors about a human uprising to deal with. I don’t need…” He scanned me. “This doesn’t need to be the pack’s first impression.”

The brown werewolf eyed the next alpha, drumming his fingers on the tablet.

“It’s decided, alright. It’s done.”

“Okay,” breathed Clark. “Once it’s posted, it’ll be hard to undo it.”

Max shrugged. “When does anyone mate for love nowadays? Not at my rank. It’s all about the bloodline. The next alpha. The next dominant. I can’t take any risks.”

The woman from before offered him a blanket. “This is all I could find. Do you want me to keep looking, sir?”

“This is enough.” Max put it around my shoulders. 

He lifted me and maneuvered it around my legs. I froze at how easily he lifted me. I felt like a rag doll that he could just toss around. He propped me against his shoulder and yanked the blanket over my head. 

“Alright,” breathed Max. “Tell the alpha we’re on our way.”

Clark sighed. “Yes, sir.”

***

I peeked out from the side of the blanket as we walked down a stone hallway. This was the Capitol. It was very different than back home. The ceiling was high above our heads, and the tapping of claws echoed around us. The line of tall windows had designs around the frames. This was far better than any of the overseers’ homes.

“The alpha is waiting,” announced a voice.

A door was opened, and I was taken inside. 

“Max! Let me see, let me see!”

I felt a hand touch my arm, and the blanket was yanked down. I stared up at the brown werewolf with a red marking on his face that dripped onto his chest. This was the man I had seen on television during the yearly address—the Alpha of Midfield.

“He’s not bad looking,” said the alpha with a grin. “Tiny for a human.”

He wore a dark purple floor-length coat that was loosely tied. A similarly colored shirt was around his waist, secured with a thick, elaborately decorated belt. I had seen enough werewolves on TV to know some of them wore clothes. The overseers never bothered, but it might have to do with how hot it was. 

“Wait until you see his legs.” Max took me to a couch and set me down. He unwrapped the blanket. 

“Oh.” The alpha lifted his chin. “That’ll have to be fixed.”

Max rolled his eyes. “I’m aware.”

“Can you walk?” The alpha arched a brow.

I shook my head. “My legs are too weak.”

“Have you ever walked?”

I nodded. “When I was younger, sir.”

He turned to his nephew with a grin. “Muscle memory. He’ll be up and going before we know it. So!” The alpha went to his desk. “When can we schedule the first appearance?” He checked his computer. “The next full moon… let’s see. Ah, two weeks. First moon, and then his debut to the pack.” The alpha began to type. “You should probably mate with him sooner rather than later.”

I swallowed hard. The thought of having sex was a little intimidating. 

“His health isn’t great from what I’m seeing.” The alpha sat and swiveled side to side. “We can’t risk anything happening. My god, these are great results.” He shook his head. “I need to send crews out to double-check that we’re not missing any other hidden gems.”

Max took a deep breath, looking annoyed. “Can we slow this down for five seconds?” He dropped into the couch across from me. “Are you even well enough to have sex?”

Bowing my head, I felt my face heat up. “Yes. I—I can do it. Just umm… I, if you’re—”

“He’s asking you to be nice, Maxy. Gentle, considerate, do you think you can handle that?” asked the alpha with a smirk. “You have the family’s temper, so it might be too much for you.”

Max glared at his uncle. “I’m not a wild animal.”

“Not according to your instructors,” said the alpha in an airy voice.

Max rolled his eyes. “We’ll be fine. You have no reason to be concerned.” He turned to me. “I don’t dare mark you.”

“Good idea,” added the alpha.

“I can do it,” I said. “I can.”

The alpha gave me an approving nod. “Love the determination.”

“We made a deal, Andreas,” muttered Max. “I can’t allow my in-laws to be executed.”

“Hmm….”

“The deal didn’t include the one brother.”

“Ah, good,” said the alpha, staring at this monitor. “I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. We are still trying to locate him.”

Max rested his arm along the back of the couch. “I’ll send Clark to find his family a house within the human community.”

“Whichever one you want is fine by me. We can move people around if needed—those humans will do anything for the alpha family.” His eyes flicked to me. “Jax.”

I sat still and peeked at him.

“Jax and Max,” chuckled the alpha.

“Fuck off,” muttered the black and red werewolf.

“My full name is Jaxson,” I said softly. “No one calls me that, but if you want…” I gripped my knees. I was sweating way too much just sitting there. I almost felt a little faint.

“Or Max, you could go by your full name—Maximous.” He grinned at his nephew. “Maximous and Jaxson don’t have the same ring to it.”

“Do our full name in the announcement, please.” Max rubbed his brow. 

“Oh, come on, the press will love it. It’ll make you feel more normal and less like a terrifying dominant.”

“This coming from you,” Max muttered. “Alpha.”

“Precisely, Successor,” the brown and red werewolf replied. “So you’d better start listening to me. This will be your job one day.”

“He’ll be a sub.” He motioned to me. “That will give them plenty. They love subs. They’re still obsessed with Jesse even after all of these years.”

The alpha shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with that. The subs make the family more approachable. We’ll have to wait until Jax’s first moon. Who knows, you might get a middle rank.”

“He’s a sub,” stated Max. “I’m pretty sure about it.”

“I’ll be surprised if he’s not as well. Alright.” He clicked on something. “I approve. A bloodline like this should result in a worthy successor of your own. We need some human blood to help freshen up the gene pool. You shouldn’t struggle with producing pups.”

Max shifted in his seat.

“Don’t worry about Sunny,” said the alpha. “She came to terms with it. I wasn’t destined to be a father. I’ve accepted that as well. I got a nephew, and that is good enough. Will do better in the next generation.”

Letting out a sigh, Max rose to his feet.

“I expected more than one pup.” He eyed his nephew. “The pack can finally take human mates again, so don’t waste it. Better yet, Jesse and Daven can be your example.”

“No,” stated Max. “I can’t handle that many.”

“More than one,” stated the alpha. “Take him home and call your parents. I sent your mother a text. She is waiting for your call.” He rose from his seat and walked around his desk. “The beta line is getting stronger,” said the alpha. “It wouldn’t be unheard of for them to overtake us. The two branches have to maintain appearances and lead this pack.” He clasped his nephew’s shoulder. “You will be alpha, but the future isn’t set. You will lead this pack after me, but who will lead after you is still unknown. And you”—he pointed at me—“Jaxson, you will stand beside him as his mate. That’s a big responsibility. Hector will be very critical.” He turned to Max. “You will have to teach him how to be a werewolf, so my father has less to complain about. We can’t afford a soft alpha. Bloodhound or Northern Ridge will use anything to look down on us, and that’s something I can’t allow. This pack is too important to me.” 

“I understand,” stated Max. He picked me up and adjusted the blanket.

The alpha moved closer. “The color is nice.” He touched my hair. “If it sticks, he’ll fit right in. It might be more of a strawberry blonde, but a sub with a little red is a rare find.” He took a deep breath. “Welcome to the family, Jax. It won’t be easy, but we’ll help you adjust.”

I nodded. “Yes, Alpha,” I whispered.

“Andreas is fine.” He smiled. “The pack already views me as some scary figurehead. If they hear you calling me alpha all the time, it’ll only reinforce that.” Andreas turned to Max. “Still alpha to you.”

Max scoffed. “Sure, Alpha.”

“Take him home, clean him up, and put him to bed.” He looked me over. “The poor things look exhausted.”

***

(Jed)

I skidded down an embankment. I stumbled into the desert and slumped forward. My lungs were on fire. Closing my eyes, I arched backward, trying to make it easier to breathe. I put my arms on top of my head and glanced behind me. I’d heard a howl. It was faint, but I heard it. I continued on. I had no idea where the hell I was going, but I had to be getting close to the human territory border. 

A howl sounded in the distance. I turned back and listened. Another faint one followed. They had to be talking to each other. Unfortunately, I didn’t speak mutant dog. 

“Shit.” I started to jog. 

I was finally free, and it was going to be short-lived. I’d die free. 

The sun was beginning to set. I wasn’t sure if the cover of night was better for them or me. They could see better in the dark, but I might be able to hide. It wouldn’t help if they already had my scent. I was pretty sure they did. Knowing those fucking mut, they sent the best trackers to kill me.

The howls were getting closer. I scanned the horizon and noticed a small hill that overlooked an open area in the distance. If I were going to die tonight, I had a few bullets left. I might as well try to take a few of them with me.