Alpha's Vet

Change of Plans

Lucas POV

“Eric, I want a meeting tomorrow morning with you, Roxy, Liam, Jacqui, Ethan, and Jonathan. It’s about my mate. No mind links. Tell them to be here at 07:00.”

My voice comes out sharper than intended, but I don’t bother softening it. I am stretched too thin—mentally, physically, emotionally.

One more day.

Just one more day of keeping my distance. Of pretending I can behave normally. Of letting someone else watch over her.

Dr V has been keeping an eye on Lara the whole morning for me, and now Eric is waiting to take over once she leaves the clinic. Except… she hasn’t. She’s still there. Busy. Smiling. Always helping someone.

I wish I could be the one guarding her today.

I should be the one guarding her.

The fact that I’m not—

The fact that I’m sitting behind a desk instead of standing next to her—

It’s driving me insane.

I slam my hand into the desk again without meaning to, and the wood caves under the pressure. Great. Another mark to match the others. At this rate I’ll need a new office.

I force myself to breathe.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, my inner circle learns the truth.

And then the real storm begins.

Roxy POV

Today is the day.

Lara is in a good mood—she called me earlier, practically squealing because Dr V said she could finally take the damn dog with her. That alone puts her in a soft, “I-can-be-convinced” state.

Which is perfect.

Lucas is never around. He’ll probably lock himself in his office like he always does, so if I play my cards right, I can finally get her to step foot in the pack house. She’s known me for over three years, but she’s never been here. And honestly, it’s starting to make me feel like a criminal hiding a secret affair.

I already talked to Jacqui and Liam—they’re both excited. Well, Jacqui is excited. Liam is pretending not to be, which means he’s also excited. Now I just have to convince our delicate little hermit.

I dial her number.

“Hi, Roxy.” She sounds breathless. Definitely still at the vet.

“Hi Lar, you still at that damn vet?”

“Yes, yes. I know. I was supposed to leave hours ago, but it’s been one of those days. A stray came in earlier and—”

She’s gone. Once Lara starts talking about animals, it becomes a full lecture with hand gestures, emotional commentary, and unnecessary detail. I adore her, but sometimes I think she loves animals more than actual people.

“So, what’s up, Roxy?” she asks, and I can hear cages clanging in the background.

Time to strike.

“I was thinking…” I start, slow and cautious.

She laughs. “Never a good thing when you start thinking.”

I roll my eyes even though she can’t see it. For someone so small, she intimidates the crap out of me. There’s just something about her—like she’s this big energy wrapped in a small body.

“So,” I push on, “I know we planned a movie night at your place, buuut… I have a few close family friends—just a few, Lar, not an army—and you can bring the dog too, and I was thinking maybe we could have the movie night here?”

At the pack house.

Where over a hundred wolves live.

But she doesn’t need that part yet.

There’s silence on the phone.

The sort of silence where I can hear her brain physically grinding.

Then softly—

“…Okay.”

I freeze.

“…Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

I explode. Jumping around my room like a toddler high on sugar.

“Okay? Okay! You’re coming! Okay!”

She laughs at me, gentle and amused, and then I hang up before she can change her mind.

Lucas won’t be happy, but honestly… he’s never around. And his siblings approved. What’s the worst that can happen?

Lucas POV

I hear Jacqui and Liam whispering outside my office about some movie night tonight, but I shut the door harder than necessary. My wolf is pacing again, restless, irritated, searching for something he refuses to name out loud.

Food. Sleep. Focus. Those are the things I should be doing.

Instead all I can think about is her.

Her smile.

Her scent.

Her laugh.

Her soft aura brushing against mine like a whisper.

Every hour I don’t see her physically hurts. Not emotional pain—actual physical ache in my chest and bones. Lex whines inside my head, demanding we go to her.

I can’t.

If I see her, I won’t be able to walk away again.

And right now, I can’t bring her into this world blind. I can’t drag her into danger without preparing her, without preparing my people.

So I hold the pain.

I swallow it whole.

I’ve survived worse.

…I think.

Lara POV

Why did I agree to this?

Oh, right. Because Roxy caught me while I was in a good mood, holding a freshly fed, sleepy puppy, and she is impossible to say no to when she’s excited.

Lucky is curled up in the little bed I made for him, tiny chest rising and falling gently. He can’t walk yet. Other puppies his age are already tripping over their own paws, but Lucky… he still wheezes sometimes. Still needs extra warmth. Still needs me.

I stroke his head softly.

He’s warm and safe.

I can’t leave him alone.

Which is why he’s coming with me.

Now… what to wear?

If this were just Roxy and Steven, I’d be in pajamas with my hair in a nest on top of my head. But “family friends” will be there, and even though I don’t like people, I’m trying to be… better.

Skinny jeans, red halter top, leather jacket. Comfortable but not sloppy.

Then Lucky’s bag—food, medicine, blankets, spare cloths, bottle, wipes—

I look at the pile and groan.

I’m basically a mom.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m driving toward coordinates I’ve never seen before in my life. The road twists deeper into the forest, and I swear my car is wheezing louder with every incline.

This is a bad idea.

This is a horribly bad idea.

I consider calling Steven to pick me up, but he likes staying late and I like leaving early, so I grit my teeth and keep driving.

The 20-minute trip becomes 45 minutes of fighting gravity and potholes. But I make it.

Barely.

Then I stop in front of a building so massive that my brain short-circuits.

“This… can’t be right,” I whisper.

Roxy bursts out the door, waving like she’s trying to signal a rescue helicopter.

“LAAARRAAAA!!! You’re here! I thought you chickened out!”

She jumps into my arms, yelling straight into my ear. I wince.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to hear the movie after all this shouting,” I tease.

She pouts, glancing judgmentally at my car. I quickly change the subject.

“Roxy… this can’t be your house, right?”

She laughs nervously.

“No, no. My house is down the path to the left. This is our communal home.”

Communal.

In the middle of the woods.

Huge mansion.

Private land.

Definitely weird.

But I stay quiet.

“The house belongs to the Cross family,” she continues. “Jacqui and Liam live here. Their older brother does too, but he never leaves his office.”

Great. A recluse. I can relate.

“So how many people will be here?” I ask, already regretting everything.

“Not that many! Just the Cross’s, me, you, Steven, Eric—and maybe Ethan.”

Too many.

Way too many.

But I’m here.

I have a puppy in my arms.

There’s no escape now.

I take a breath.

Let the nightmare begin.

And hopefully end soon.