Lessons in Love

Chapter 72: An Injustice Worth Fixing

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

It didn’t take a genius to see how overwhelmed Brian was. He’d had a hot shower, been given clean clothes, and now a gourmet meal. The way he rubbed his forehead and kept his head down as we left the dining hall reminded me of reactions Rick and I had had at one time or another. I closed the door quietly behind us as we left the room.

“You okay?” I asked gently.

“Yes, sir.” He said firmly, but he didn’t make eye contact. I didn’t push him. I led him to the washroom, and he went in. I waited outside for a few minutes, giving him a moment to compose himself, but when five minutes had passed, I went in quietly. The kid was white-knuckling the counter, his head hanging forward, and his eyes squeezed tightly shut. He jumped and looked at me as I came in. His face was red, like he’d been holding his breath and willing himself not to cry, I thought.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just worried about you.”

“Worried I was up to something?” He questioned the way he had back at the cave.

“No. I was worried you’d lied to me about being okay.” I said, leaning my shoulder against the wall near the counter. “It’s okay if you’re scared or overwhelmed. You’ve been out in the cold for a year. That’s a long time, and this all must seem a bit foreign to you.”

Brian took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, sir.” He said, keeping his voice even, his gaze dropping to the sink. “It is a lot.”

“I’ll give you another minute.” I said and started to turn around.

“Sir,” he grabbed my attention. I turned back to see him staring at me. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but the shower, food, and board are exceptionally kind of you, but I don’t understand it. What are you expecting from us?”

“Nothing,” I said. “I don’t want anything from any of you. I know that’s hard to believe, but I know who is running the Rogue outfit around here, and he’s a violent, sadistic monster. If I can protect a few people from him, then I will.” I said, unable to hide the hint of a growl when I spoke about my father. “He needs to be stopped, and it’s this pack’s responsibility to stop him.” I added.

“So, you really want information.” He said, his disappointment as obvious as the nose on his face.

“Information would be great and welcomed, but it’s not as important as getting you kids out of those woods.” I said firmly. “You and your friends can stay here. I have a good relationship with the Alpha at Ridgeline. If you want to continue on to their pack, I’m happy to help. But I’m not letting you four wander back out there alone to face him.” I said firmly.

“You know him personally.” It was a statement.

“Yes,” I said. “He’s from here. His name is George Westlake.” I explained, seeing him make the connection.

“You’re related.”

“My father.” I said dryly.

“Goddess, and I thought mine was bad.” He mumbled as he shook his head.

“We can swap war stories if you decide to stay.” I tried to smile. “Right now, I think we should go eat those steaks before they get too cold.”

Brian gave me a shy smile and nodded. We returned to the dining hall to find a lively conversation as Devin and Chris were recounting the first time they met Brian a month ago. There were jokes and laughter. Whatever Rick and Riley had said to them seemed to put them at ease. Even Abby managed a smile as they told their animated tale.

By the end of dessert, Chris, Abby, and Devin looked like they were about to fall asleep at the table. They excused themselves and headed upstairs, but Brian stayed at the table. “I owe you some information.” He said.

“You owe us nothing.” Rick said before I could open my mouth.

Brian gave him a weak smile. “Maybe not, but I want to share it.”

“You don’t have to right now. You should get some sleep. We can talk in the morning.” I told him.

“I’m not tired, sir.” He said, despite his drooping eyelids.

Rick gave him an understanding look. “Yeah, you are Brian.” He said knowingly. “You should try and get some sleep if you can.”

“Come by my office first thing in the morning. Third floor. First left off the landing. I’ve got some maps we can look at.” I told him.

“Yes, sir.” He said, standing slowly. He was all the way to the door when he turned back. “Chris and Devin have family at Flain River that are going to care that their safe. I don’t know about Abby, but Chris said he thinks she has an older brother there. Would you be able to contact them?”

I smiled reassuringly at him. “We will.” I promised. “What about you? I know you said your father was out of the picture. Any siblings or a mother we can reach out to?”

Brian looked down at the floor and shook his head. “No, sir. I’ve been alone for a while.”

“Not anymore.” I said.

He took a shaky breath and nodded. “Thank you, sir.” His voice stayed level. He turned quickly and hurried out of the room.

“He’s been helping people who didn’t want to join the Rogues.” Riley said. “Chris and Devin stayed with him to help instead of trying to get in at Ridgeline.”

“He’s a tough kid.” I said, still staring at the door.

Rick growled and stood up. “He shouldn’t have to be.” Rick said, starting to pace.

“Maybe we could take up his cause.” I said. “We’ve got housing and jobs that need filling. The extra income from new families would certainly help. Not to mention the obvious,” I added. “But we’d be helping them get around my father. That could help us cut his numbers down.”

“How would we do that safely?” Rick questioned. “We couldn’t advertise it, or George will be sending spies into our pack.”

“Agreed,” I said, mulling over his thought.

“Use Brian,” Riley said.

“We’re not throwing that kid back out there …” Rick snapped at her.

Riley held her hand up. “I’m not suggesting that. I would never suggest that Rick and you know it.” She gave him a stern look.

Rick scrubbed his hands over his face and sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said calmly. “I just can’t believe Owen would throw them out like he did. And what happened to Abby.” He growled anew.

“I know,” Riley said gently. “Brian is a little older than the others. He’s not eligible for school here. He’s aged out. I can help him take the entrance tests for college, but he’d still need money to go. He could work as a warrior. He could help us create a proper pipeline to get people out, just like what he’s been doing, only with an army behind him and a network of packs ready to take in the refugees.”

“We’d have to talk to other Alphas.” I said.

“Just the ones we know will say yes.” Rick said firmly.

“Field Haven? Alpha Edward always liked us.” I suggested.

“Golden Plains,” Rick added. “Alpha Richard and Edward are tight. If Edward says yes, Richard is likely to as well.”

“Tyler,” I said. “He’s already taken in a few of Owen’s strays from the sound of it.”

“They’re not all from Flain River. Chris told me Brian had helped get a woman from Vine Valley and a man from Mount Selene to Ridgeline last month.” Riley said. “Maybe that’s why he was helping. Because they weren’t from Flain River.” She suggested.

“Maybe, but I’ve spoken to him a couple of times now, and he seems like a good guy. I think he’d at least hear us out without betraying us.”

“What about the council?” Rick asked. “What are the legalities of doing this?”

“I honestly don’t know if I care.” I said bluntly. “But you’re right. We need to know what we could get ourselves caught up in. Can we trust Alpha Marcus’s lawyer, or should we source our own?”

“Source our own,” Rick said firmly. “Marcus’s guy is a weasel, and he could be working with George for all we know. We need someone who isn’t associated with our pack. Someone we can work through hypotheticals with and who won’t charge us an arm and a leg.”

“I took a few pack law electives at school. I could reach out to the professor.” Riley shrugged.

“Do it,” I said. “It’s the best option we’ve got right now.”

“We’re really doing this?” Rick said.

I looked at Riley, and she smiled at me. “Yeah,” I said, looking back at Rick with a budding smile of my own. “Yeah, this feels right. You know?”

“Like a cosmic injustice?” Rick quirked an eyebrow.

“Maybe,” Riley said with another shrug. “Lulu might be able to tell us when she arrives tomorrow. Even if it isn’t our cosmic injustice, it’s an injustice that needs to be dealt with.”

Rick smiled at her. “Then let’s get started.”

“In the morning,” I said firmly. “You should take your own advice.”

Rick twisted up his face at me. “I’m going to go get Emma.” He said and left my mate and I sitting there.

“Do you think this could be our thing?”

“It will hurt your father’s cause, and I definitely think he’s our thing to destroy. This helps us do that.” She said nonchalantly. I kissed her lips gently, and we headed upstairs to our suite.