Page 96 of Alphas Never Hide

That’swhen we foundGretchen.Wefound a few other supes down there too, but none of them had stuck around after being interviewed.Icouldn’t blame them for wanting to put as much distance as possible between themselves andWillowLake.Andif they found it so easy to leave, they weren’t meant to stay.

Thatwas one thing that had become increasingly clear in the short timeI’dbeen alpha.WillowLakechose us as much as we chose her.Andeveryone in this room right now, includingConnyandGretchen, had been invited to stay byWillowLakeherself.

“Hasanyone said anything else?Anythingnew?”

Vangrimaced.

“What?”

“Someonefrom the old pack was still withRobbie,”Vansaid slowly.

Inodded slowly.ThewayVanwas drawing this out was making my skin itch like it was too tight.

“Hewas there when your parents died.HeconfirmedRobbieorchestrated your parents’ deaths.”

Isucked in a breath.Idon’t know whyIwas shocked.I’dknown…I’dfucking known.Buthaving confirmation…

“Apparently,Robbiethought that if he was with your dad when he died that your dad’s alpha power would pass to him.”

Myeyes stung.Wesat in silence for a moment.Ryley’shand slipped into mine.Hesqueezed.Therest of the pub bustled with activity around us.Beingsurrounded by my pack soothed me in a wayI’dnever thought possible.Ilet their energy, acceptance, and love fill me untilIcould breathe normally again.

Jeremybrought a tray filled with drinks and lowered it to the table, pushingPawsaside until he had to jump out of the way.

“Watchwhat you’re doing with that thing,”Pawsgrumbled.

“Grabyour drinks, people,Igotta get back up there,”Jeremysaid.Everyoneswiped a drink.

JakehadAliceandJeremyworking with him behind the bar filling drink orders, whileDakotaandBrodiewere both bustling around in the kitchen prepping food.Mostnights,Dakotasat on a stool and watchedBrodie, but he was scurrying around just as fast asBrodiewas tonight.Likelast night, the doors to the parking lot had been propped open and people were sitting all over the place inside and out.

“Adrian, love, put ‘AnotherOneBitestheDust’ on the jukebox for me,”Jeremyshouted over his shoulder as hereturned to the bar. “Oh, and follow it up withPink.It’stime to get this party started.”

Iswear he said the same thing after the last time we survived facing off with the pack in the hills to the west.

Assoon as the first song blasted over the speakers,Jeremybelted out the lyrics alongsideFreddieMercurywhile strutting behind the bar.Thenothers yelled requests atAdriantoo, everything fromBritneySpearstoTaylorSwifttoLadyGaga.

“Iseveryone inWillowLakegay?”Connyasked.

Hehad a very pregnantGretchentucked under one arm, while his other hand rested on her stomach.SomeofJake’spainting ladies had arrived earlier with armfuls of clothing and other supplies.They’dfussed over her, giving her a manicure and a haircut and who knew what else.Despiteher trials over the last several months,Gretchenlooked radiant and relaxed in a clean, flowery dress that flowed over her baby bump.Iknew those smiles hid trauma, though, soAshhad already hooked her up with the same therapist thatBrodieandDakotawent to.

She’dalso been to seeDocRoberts.Unsurprisingly, the doctor encouraged her to rest.Iswear he said the same thing to everyone.Butshe’d refused, saying she was tired of being alone and that it made her feel safe to be with other people.Connywas fussing over her like, well, an expectant father who’d almost lost his mate and their baby.

AtConny’squestion, everyone at the table laughed exceptRyley.

Ifelt him move, his foot swinging past mine to kickConnyunder the table.

“Hey, don’t be a bigoted asshole,”Ryleysaid.

Connyshook his head.Hisgaze darted over the group as if he thought they’d attack him. “No,Ididn’t mean it like that.”

“Thereare a lot of us,”Ashagreed with a grin. “That’sone of the many awesome things about this place.Noone cares who you love, or what kind of supe you are, or how strong your magic is.”

“It’sa bit like theFederation,”Ryleymused with a nod.

“Yes,”Gretchensaid, pointing atRyley. “That’sexactly it.”

Theygrinned at one another.Theyhad more in common thanI’dexpected, andIwas glad thatRyleywas getting on well with her.It’dgo a long way to repairing the awkward relationship he had with his brother.

“WhatFederation?”Connyasked. “IthoughtWillowLakewas part of theSupernaturalCouncil, like the herd was.”