Territorial Alphas
1351 Words
The next few days changed everything.
After Elaine had brought up the possibility that the three women could already be pregnant, the Carter brothers became impossible.
Not dangerous.
Not controlling.
Just…
Extremely protective.
There was one new rule.
Remi, Rae, and Del weren’t allowed to leave the pack house alone.
If they wanted to go anywhere, one of their mates went with them.
Rae hated it.
“This is ridiculous.”
Trey leaned against the kitchen counter.
“You’re staying here.”
“I have a business.”
“You have a mate.”
“I have both.”
Trey smiled.
“And I’m coming with you.”
Rae rolled her eyes.
“Of course you are.”
Across the room, Del laughed.
“You’re lucky.”
Rae pointed at her.
“Don’t encourage him.”
Del shrugged.
“I didn’t say I liked it.”
Elijah raised an eyebrow.
“You’re not complaining.”
Del looked at him.
“Because you’re less annoying than Trey.”
Trey looked offended.
“Excuse me?”
Rae grinned.
“She’s right.”
Trey pointed at both women.
“I’m surrounded.”
Remi laughed.
Will looked at her.
“You think this is funny?”
“A little.”
Will shook his head.
“You’re staying close to me too.”
Remi’s smile faded.
“You know I have to work.”
“I know.”
“I can’t exactly stop being a trauma surgeon.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
Will sighed.
“Because every time you walk into that hospital, I remember someone was watching you.”
Remi softened.
“Will…”
“I know you’re capable.”
He reached for her hand.
“I know you can protect yourself.”
His thumb brushed across her knuckles.
“But if there is even a chance you’re carrying my child…”
His voice dropped.
“I can’t stop worrying.”
Remi looked into his eyes.
“You’re going to have to learn.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“But I’m still going to work.”
Will sighed.
“I know.”
⸻
The first morning Remi left for her shift, Will walked her all the way to her car.
He checked the surroundings.
Then checked them again.
Remi crossed her arms.
“You’ve checked the same parking lot three times.”
“Four.”
She laughed.
“Four?”
“Yes.”
“Will.”
He looked at her.
“I’ll be back after your shift.”
“You don’t have to wait.”
“I know.”
“But you’re going to anyway.”
“Yes.”
Remi shook her head.
“You’re impossible.”
Will smiled.
“Probably.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“See you later, Alpha.”
His wolf practically purred.
Mate.
Will watched her drive away.
Only when her car disappeared did he finally turn around.
Luke was standing behind him.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the pavement.”
Will glared at him.
“She’s carrying my possible child.”
Luke nodded.
“I know.”
“And Nightshade is still out there.”
“I know.”
Will looked toward the road.
“Then I’m going to worry.”
Luke smiled.
“Fair enough.”
⸻
While Will worried about Remi at the hospital, Rae was buried in the war room.
Multiple monitors surrounded her.
Maps covered the table.
Reports filled the screens.
Trey walked in carrying coffee.
Rae didn’t even look up.
“You’re late.”
Trey raised an eyebrow.
“I was gone for five minutes.”
“Exactly.”
He handed her the coffee.
She immediately smiled.
“You may live.”
Trey laughed.
“What did you find?”
Rae’s expression changed.
“I’ve been tracking reports from neighboring territories.”
Trey stepped closer.
“And?”
“It’s not just Bayou Falls.”
She turned one of the monitors toward him.
“Three packs within a few hours of us reported attacks involving wolfsbane.”
Trey’s smile disappeared.
“Three?”
“So far.”
She tapped the screen.
“One attack in the north.”
Another.
“One near Bayou Claret.”
Another.
“And another territory farther east.”
Trey studied the map.
“Same pattern?”
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“Wolfsbane. Unknown attackers. No pack markings.”
Trey looked toward the door.
“We need Will and Elijah.”
Rae nodded.
“Already called them.”
⸻
By evening, all three brothers were back at the pack house.
Rae stood in the war room with Del beside her.
“We need to assume this is coordinated until proven otherwise.”
Will nodded.
“Agreed.”
Elijah studied the map.
“Nightshade could be testing multiple territories.”
“Exactly,” Rae said.
Del pointed toward the northern territory.
“Then why attack different packs?”
Rae shrugged.
“Testing defenses. Gathering information. Weakening alliances.”
Trey looked at her.
“You’re thinking bigger.”
“I am.”
Rae’s eyes moved across the map.
“And that’s what scares me.”
⸻
The following afternoon, the six of them finally took a walk.
It was the first time Remi, Rae, and Del had been outside the pack house together since the new rules began.
Rae stretched her arms.
“Freedom.”
Trey laughed.
“You’re walking twenty feet from me.”
“Still freedom.”
Del smiled.
“This is nice.”
Elijah looked at her.
“It is.”
Remi walked beside Will.
For the first time in days, she felt normal.
Almost.
They reached the training grounds.
Several warriors were practicing nearby.
At first, nobody paid attention.
Then one of the younger warriors looked toward Remi.
His eyes lingered.
Will immediately noticed.
His expression hardened.
The warrior looked away.
Another warrior glanced toward Rae.
Trey’s wolf growled.
Rae stopped walking.
“Oh, boy.”
Trey stepped closer.
“What?”
“You’re doing the Alpha thing.”
“What Alpha thing?”
“The territorial thing.”
Trey’s jaw tightened.
“He was staring at you.”
Rae sighed.
“He has eyes.”
“He needs to use them somewhere else.”
Del started laughing.
Elijah looked at another warrior who had glanced toward her.
His expression became just as dangerous.
“Apparently we’re all doing it.”
Will stepped closer to Remi.
His arm wrapped securely around her waist.
The message was unmistakable.
Mine.
Trey moved beside Rae.
His hand settled around her waist.
Elijah did the same with Del.
The three women exchanged looks.
Rae whispered,
“They’re showing off.”
Del nodded.
“Absolutely.”
Remi smiled.
“Let them.”
One of the warriors walked past and immediately lowered his gaze.
Another muttered,
“Congratulations, Alpha.”
Trey smirked.
“Thank you.”
Rae rolled her eyes.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Maybe.”
Will looked at Remi.
“Very much.”
Elijah leaned closer to Del.
“Any complaints?”
Del smiled.
“Not currently.”
Rae crossed her arms.
“You three are ridiculous.”
Trey pulled her closer.
“And you’re mine.”
Rae’s expression softened.
She whispered,
“I know.”
The three Alpha wolves settled.
Their mates were beside them.
Safe.
Protected.
Claimed.
But the peaceful moment didn’t last.
Rae suddenly stopped.
Her eyes unfocused.
Trey immediately noticed.
“Rae?”
She didn’t answer.
A strange shimmer appeared around her fingers.
Remi looked at her.
“What is it?”
Rae blinked.
Then looked toward the distant tree line.
Her expression changed.
“I think…”
She swallowed.
“I just saw another attack.”
Will’s posture instantly changed.
“Where?”
Rae looked at the map on her phone.
Then toward the horizon.
“I’m not sure yet.”
Trey’s wolf growled.
Elijah stepped closer to Del.
Will tightened his arm around Remi.
The peaceful walk was over.
Because whatever Nightshade was planning…
It wasn’t finished.
And Rae had just seen the next move.
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