The Reluctant Alpha

Chapter 5 - Gut Instincts

Luca

"Can you try to act like you want to be here?" my father huffs from beside me.

I don't know when he will finally let this go. I have accepted my fate. Doesn't mean I have to be over the moon about it. Since the moment I told him I would take the spot he has been up my ass non-stop. Training, meetings, calls to every Alpha in the area, and how important all this is being shoved down my throat ad nauseum. I can't shake this feeling in my bones that this isn't for me. I'm supposed to be proud that I'm about to be the leader of the greatest pack in Arizona - if not the entire country. This is supposed to be something I have focused on and wanted the most all my life. I just feel like I'm stepping into something that isn't mine.

I shoot him a tight smile. "I'm just preparing for the meeting. Trying to clear my head". The word meeting is laughable. This pack wants our backing and allegiance. To me, that could be settled in an hour over a table. This sounds like a damn party. It makes me uneasy. Why try so hard to impress us? Are the already in danger? Have they made enemies with the other packs in their area? None of this adds up. Anytime I mention it to my father, he just brushes me off and tells me that I'm just proving how naïve I am when it comes to our pack business. Not to mention that my wolf has been acting strange all day. Pacing and unable to relax. He must feel it too. I tried to reach out to him but he blocked me out. I will have to be on my toes tonight.

The driver slows as we enter the gates of a modest-looking home. A three-story gray brick home looms at the center of the horseshoe driveway. A guard stands on each side of the door but none were manned at the gates. Another thing that cements suspicion of this pack. If they were as desperate for help and protection as they claim, they should have a lot more security around their borders than this. I have more guards on my floor of my own home. Titus starts acting more bizarre. He is pushing to take control. I have to use all my power to keep him at bay. I can't have him coming out without even stepping foot in the house. My dad would kill me.

I finally will him to settle down and take a moment to compose myself. Looking around a little more, I see a few details that had escaped me at first glance. The grounds, though not as massive as ours back home, are well maintained. Beautiful bushes line the entire home with lilac bushels planted between every one of them. It gives it more of a "homey" feel. There are several other smaller houses situated around the main pack house. All of their landscaping matching the main idea, but different colored flowers around each home.

Stepping out of the car, we are greeted with an amazing mixture of smells I can only presume to be coming from inside. Titus stirs again as a man and woman walk down the front steps towards us. The man is a little shorter than my 6'2 stature, but has a solid build. He looks to be in his early 50's with his shoulder-length black hair slicked back making his sharp green eyes stand out. Next to him, with her arm in his, is a beautiful blonde, about the same age, with the kindest gray eyes I have ever seen. She puts me at ease almost instantly. I don't know what it is about her, but it almost feels like a familiar memory in my mind.

"Good evening! Welcome to the Lock Heart pack." the man smiles and extends his hand to my father.

"Thank you for having us. You have a beautiful territory. Luca was just telling me how impressed he is."

"What was that all about? Why are you kissing his ass?" I mind link my father.

"This is how being an alpha works my boy." is the only thing he replies while going to shake the woman's hand as well.

She is giving me a weird vibe. She is smiling at me like she has just found the potion for eternal life and her eyes haven't moved off me since she came outside. I want to say that it is making me uncomfortable. It sure as hell should be, but it isn't unwelcoming or unnerving like it would be from anyone else.

"I'm the Alpha of this pack, Clarence, and this my Luna Marie." My father continues with the introductions while I stand there in a state of confusion. I have met many alphas in my years and I would have never said this man before me was an alpha. He doesn't have the powerful aura flowing from around him. Hell, I wouldn't have even said he was a Delta or Beta. I wish Alex would have tagged along with us this evening so I could have had him dig around. If there is one thing he is good at, he can get information out of anyone...well, any female. He is what most would call a player. His future mate is going to kill him if she ever finds out about all his escapades. While some choose to stay faithful until they meet their fated partner - others like Alex - choose to live it up while they wait. To each their own, I guess.

"Please. Come in and join the festivities. I assume you gentleman have much to discuss." Marie says while ushering us up the walkway.

Titus is almost unbearable now. I may need to stop in by the pack doctor once we return to see if something has happened. I tried to excuse it away as all the stress from the changes coming, but now I have a sick suspicion it is something more.

Oh Moon Goddess, please let me just make it through this night without losing control of him.