Page 116 of The Reluctant Alpha

I turned in his arms, studying his face. "Can it just be you and me to visit Mom on Sunday? I don’t want us all going. We know the house is watched, and I don’t know, we can take Simeon or someone?"

Bayer considered that. “Good compromise,” he said. I giggled as I tried to unstick myself, but I was secretly proud. I knew I should have gone to their shifter United Nations. I’d have Torrel eating from my hand soon.

But more than that, my alpha needed me to have his back, and as soon as I'd sorted out what was happening with my mom, it was on.

After we'd dressed, Bayer and I found Phoenix and Emery waiting in the living room. The tension from earlier was still there, but Phoenix's posture had shifted from defensive to something that looked almost...contrite.

"Before you say anything," Phoenix began as we settled onto the couch, "I owe you both an apology."

Bayer tensed beside me, clearly not expecting that opening.

"I was out of line," Phoenix continued, his voice quieter than usual. "Danny, you're not my pack member to command. And Bayer..." He met my mate's eyes directly. "You were right. I have been treating you like a gamma instead of an equal alpha."The admission hung in the air between them. I felt some of the rigidity leave Bayer's shoulders, though wariness remained.

"Phoenix," Bayer started, but the wolf alpha held up a hand.

"Let me finish apologizing first. I've been thinking about what you said, about territory and having a real place for your pack." Phoenix glanced at Emery, who nodded encouragingly. "There's something I want to show you. Both of you."

My curiosity was piqued despite the emotional exhaustion of the day. "Show us what?"

"A solution, maybe." Phoenix stood, extending his hand toward the door. "Will you come with us? It's not far."

Bayer and I exchanged glances. The afternoon sun was still warm, and despite everything that had happened, I found myself curious about what Phoenix had in mind. "Alright," Bayer agreed cautiously. "Lead the way."

We piled into Phoenix's truck, the four of us squeezed into the cab with me pressed against Bayer's side. The familiar comfort of his warmth helped ease some of my lingering anxiety as Phoenix drove us deeper into pack territory than I'd ever been. The road wound through dense forest, climbing steadily until we reached a plateau I hadn't known existed. When Phoenix finally stopped and we climbed out, I had to catch my breath at the view. A wide clearing stretched before us, dotted with several structures that looked like they'd been built but never occupied. Cabins, a larger central building, even what appeared to be a playground area—all of it nestled against a backdrop of towering pines with mountain peaks visible in the distance.

"What is this place?" I asked, turning slowly to take it all in.

"Originally, it was going to be overflow housing for the pack," Emery explained, moving to stand beside me. "Obviously it was never needed, but it’s always been maintained."

Bayer walked toward the nearest cabin, his expression unreadable. "It's been maintained all this time?"

"Solar power, well water, septic systems—everything's functional," Phoenix explained, moving to stand beside me. "My dad always thought we might need it someday."

As Bayer insisted on carrying me toward what looked like the main building, my hand automatically went to my stomach as he climbed the short steps to the porch. The wood was solid, weathered but sturdy. Through the windows, I could make out an open floor plan with a stone fireplace dominating one wall.

"It's perfect," I murmured, turning as Bayer set me down.

"The foundation is solid," Phoenix said, watching Bayer test one of the support beams. "Everything's up to code—I made sure of it."

Bayer's expression remained guarded. "And you're showing us this because...?"Phoenix took a deep breath. "Because I'm offering it to you. To your pack. Not as guests or subordinates, but as allies with your own territory. You would control this side of the forest. How we sort out Colton Construction is up to us."

The words hung in the air between them. I felt my breath catch, watching Bayer's face as he processed what Phoenix was saying.

"This is still wolf land," Bayer said carefully.

"It's disputed territory, technically," Phoenix replied. "Right on the border between traditional wolf and bear claims. There were always questions about boundaries."

Emery stepped forward, his eyes bright with excitement. "Think about it, Danny—your own pack but twenty-five minutes at the worst from the preschool."

My mind raced with possibilities. The clearing was large enough for cubs to play safely. The cabins could house Bayer's scattered bears. The main building could be transformed into a packhouse with room for us and... "The triplets," I whispered, imagining them growing up here, running through the trees, learning both human and bear ways.

Bayer circled one of the cabins, his movements deliberate as he assessed every detail. "Why now?" he finally asked Phoenix. "Why offer this now?"

"Because you were right," Phoenix admitted. "You need your own place. Your own territory. But I don't want to lose what we've built together—this alliance between our packs." He gestured to Emery and me. "Our families are connected now. There's no reason we can't maintain that while giving your bears the home they deserve." I watched Bayer's face, seeing the conflict there—suspicion warring with hope, pride with practicality.

"This isn't charity," Phoenix added, as if reading Bayer's thoughts. "It's strategy. Two strong packs, side by side, are better than one weakened by internal division. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that."

"And what about Torrel?" Bayer asked. "Do you think he'll accept this arrangement?"