The Free Spirit

Chapter 8

Ronan was just finishing up training when he received a summons from his father. Almost any other day, he wouldn’t have cared about being called to the alpha office. He had spent most of his life on that particular floor of the pack house. The place felt as familiar as his own bedroom.

But today was different. He had tossed and turned most of the night, haunted by brown eyes cut with blue. It was ridiculous that someone with no scent and no aura could still manage to take up so much space in his mind. He wanted to see Sam again. Even if some part of him knew that might be a mistake.

By the time he’d gotten back to the pack, the questions had started piling up. Why did she go live in a werewolf pack? How long was she there? Who was this Veriscent she claimed to have met? How did she meet them?

The questions followed him all the way down the hall until he reached his father’s office. He didn’t bother knocking before stepping inside. His father, the Alpha of New Dawn, sat behind his desk, tapping a pen absently as he stared at his laptop. He looked up when Ronan entered, a broad smile breaking across his face.

Ronan knew he looked remarkably like his father. The only real difference between him and Alpha Jake Hunter was their hair. Ronan had inherited his mother’s black hair, while Jake’s was sandy brown.

“How was training today?” Jake asked, pushing back slightly from his desk.

“Good,” Ronan replied, dropping onto the couch like he’d done a thousand times before.

“Nate at Smithson’s emailed me over the new contract.” Jake gestured toward the laptop. “Everything looks solid.”

Ronan didn’t point out that it was a standard renewal. Smithson’s had been supplying food to the pack house for over a decade. Meetings like that rarely brought surprises.

“I also wanted to check in on how the work at the Moon Clearing is going,” Jake continued.

“I’m heading out there after lunch,” Ronan replied. “Lex said he has a new idea. Something about engineering stones that draw on silver or something like that. Honestly, he might as well have been speaking another language.”

Jake chuckled. “I get it. Don was rambling about purifying stones before he left. Went right over my head.”

“I’m hoping it makes more sense once I see it in person.”

Jake nodded slowly. “Why don’t you take Elias with you?”

Ronan frowned slightly. “He’s aware of what’s going on. Lex and I have both kept him in the loop.”

“You should still take him.”

“He’s been out there plenty of times already.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed just enough that Ronan felt the shift in tone before the words came. “Ronan. Take Elias with you. It’s not a request.”

He bit back a groan, jaw tightening. There it was. Not Dad. Alpha.

“Can I ask why you’re being so insistent?” Ronan asked carefully.

Jake stood and circled the desk, leaning against the front of it with arms folded across his chest. “You need a better bond with your beta.”

Ronan blinked once, surprised.

“You and he don’t spend enough time together,” Jake continued. “Not the kind that builds trust.”

Ronan straightened slightly. “That’s not fair,” he said, voice tightening. “I spend time with him all the time.”

Jake arched an eyebrow. “Work time isn’t the same as trust-building time.”

Ronan exhaled slowly through his nose. He knew what his father was seeing. Knew what everyone saw. The loud, confident future Alpha and the quiet, socially awkward future Beta. People assumed distance where there wasn’t any.

“You’re not insisting I take Scarlett too,” Ronan pointed out. “Even though she’ll be my gamma.”

“Your relationship with Scarlett is solid,” Jake replied easily. “The two of you understand each other.”

“I understand Elias too,” Ronan shot back. “Better than most people do.”

Jake studied him carefully now, the teasing edge gone from his expression. “Then why don’t I see it?”

That question landed harder than Ronan expected. The truth sat right on the edge of his tongue…

Because Elias gets overwhelmed when too many people hover over him.

Because pushing him too hard makes him shut down.

Because he’s already carrying more pressure than anyone realizes.

But saying that out loud would make Elias sound weak. And Elias wasn’t weak. He just… worked differently.

Ronan scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I literally spent most of yesterday with him,” he said instead. “We worked together all day. Even went out to a bar together afterwards.”

Jake snorted. “Right. Like the two of you were focused on bonding and not finding someone to share a bed with for a few hours.”

Ronan’s jaw clenched hard enough that his teeth ached. He knew the stories about his father before he met Mom. But Ronan wasn’t like his father in that regard.

“Not everything is about that,” Ronan said tightly.

Jake’s brows lifted slightly at the tone.

Good. Let him hear it. Let him realize Ronan wasn’t a reckless kid anymore.

Jake studied him for a long moment before speaking again. “You’re going to lead this pack someday,” Jake said evenly. “And Elias will stand at your side. Whether you like it or not, people will judge that partnership. They’ll look for cracks.”

Ronan didn’t respond. Because that part… he understood.

“You don’t have to explain things to me,” Jake continued. “But you do need to stand beside him where people can see it.”

That landed differently. It wasn’t criticism. It was about strategy. About leadership.

Ronan let out a slow breath.

“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll take him.”

Jake nodded once. “Good.”

Silence stretched between them for a moment.

“Don’t mistake me pushing you for doubt,” Jake added quietly. “You’re ready for this role. More ready than I was at your age.”

That surprised him. His father didn’t hand out praise lightly.

“I just want you to start thinking like an Alpha,” Jake continued.

Ronan leaned back slightly, tension easing just a fraction. “I am thinking like an Alpha.”

Jake smirked faintly. “Then prove it.”

Ronan sighed heavily, pushing himself to his feet. “Yes, sir.”