Chapter 30: 30: The Return

SEBASTIAN

I can’t help but feel a surge of pride for my boy. He’s handled this mission like a pro.

Even though we lost two of our warriors, the operation was a success. The part that always gets to me is having to tell the families.

Serena feels it too. She always sticks around to offer support and help with the funeral arrangements.

It takes a toll on her. The losses have been coming too frequently lately.

I hope this is the end of it, at least for a bit. I know we’ll always have enemies, those who want to harm us or bring us down.

That’s just the way it is. Now, it’s time to let the council know that we have Alpha Jason in custody.

Usually, they would hold a hearing and decide his punishment. I’m not sure I want that, considering he might escape the ultimate punishment—death.

There’s a chance they might sentence him to life imprisonment. Maybe that’s what he deserves, a lifetime of suffering.

Eventually, his wolf will go feral and they’ll have no choice but to put him down, like the dog he is. Right now, my main concern is finding homes for nearly two hundred werewolves, including the remaining warriors and the women and children who were in the basement.

Jackson and I are meeting in my office to discuss this as soon as I get back to the pack house. We have a few empty houses and some single rooms for those without families.

I’m not sure if we can accommodate everyone until they arrive and we can get a count and figure out who should be housed together. It’s a shame that Canyon Ranch didn’t have a beta worthy enough to step in and keep them there under our watch.

Their beta was killed in the battle and there are no heirs for the alpha or beta. Maybe the council will have a solution.

We have a lot of work ahead of us.

MELANIE

As I’m heading home from school finals, I get a notification that the war is over. Of course, Max was successful.

I never doubted my brothers’ abilities. They’ve captured that awful alpha, and he’ll soon be in our dungeon.

I’m not usually a violent person, but in his case, I’d love to rip him apart with my claws. I almost died because a disgusting rogue did exactly that to me, on Alpha Jason’s orders.

He doesn’t even deserve the title of alpha. He’s pathetic.

I can’t help but smile as we pull up in front of the pack house and jump out of the car. Maybe now I won’t need to be shadowed by two warriors all the time.

It’s so embarrassing. We go to a school with humans too, and they think I have bodyguards now.

I’m getting a lot of weird looks, even though the warriors wait outside the school for us. I’m grateful that it’s the last day of school.

I was thrilled to find out I scored one hundred percent on all of my exams. I don’t think I could have achieved that without Brock’s help.

He’s surprisingly smart. As we rush into the house and start putting away our school things, my father walks in to tell us that the vans should be arriving shortly.

He’s sending a message to the rest of the pack to stay indoors as much as possible, until he has the prisoner locked up and the Canyon Ranch Pack members settled. This means they must pledge allegiance to him before they’re given housing.

He doesn’t want any of us to be in harm’s way if things go south. We have a few hours until dinner, so Macy, Jaydon, Selene and I grab snacks and settle in for some TV marathons.

We have a few shows we’ve been missing out on and want to catch up. I grab the remote first and turn on season four of Yellowstone.

I love that it’s set here in Montana, and Rip is quite a sight for sore eyes. There’s something about a rugged man with a beard that I find appealing.

MAX

We finally get back to the pack house, tired and hungry. But there’s no time for rest.

We have to meet with the alpha and beta. All these wolves need to swear allegiance to my father and then we have to find them all homes.

It’s a big task. We counted 165, including all the women, children, and elderly.

Some are families, which will help. After we secure Jason in the dungeon, we head to the house.

Brock and I enter through the private entrance, finding my siblings and Macy watching TV and munching on snacks. Jaydon and Selene are in the middle of their usual bickering, throwing popcorn at each other.

“What’s happening here?” I ask as we walk in. Melanie jumps up from the couch, climbs over the back, and throws her arms around me.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” she says, but then pulls back with a wrinkled nose. “You smell like a men’s locker room.”

Everyone in the room, including Brock, laughs at this. “I bet you don’t smell any better,” I retort to Brock.

I walk over, snatch the popcorn bucket from Jaydon’s hand, and start stuffing my face. It’s better than nothing.

Jaydon gives me an annoyed look but doesn’t say anything. He probably doesn’t want to get too close to me, especially after Melanie’s comment.

Turning around, I see Melanie and Brock engaged in a quiet conversation. I’m curious about how they’ve become so friendly.

“What are you two talking about?” I ask. “Oh, nothing. I was just thanking Brock for helping me study for my cellular biology final.

He was a big help and I aced it,” she grins at him and then looks at me. Her smile fades when she sees the look on my face, which I’m sure is one of disgust.

“You helped her study? When did you find time for that?” I ask, gritting my teeth. Brock shrugs.

“It was the other day in the yard. I have a degree in biology, so I thought I’d help her out.

She seemed to have a lot of tough exams coming up.” I must look shocked.

This big Viking has a degree in biology? Who would have thought?

I quickly regain my composure, shaking my head. “Whatever. Let’s go to the alpha’s office.

I need food and a shower.” I walk past him, bumping his shoulder as a signal that it’s time to leave.

I hear him chuckle behind me and Melanie say thank you, followed by his heavy footsteps. What’s with all these men going after my sister?

She just turned eighteen. It’s making me angrier than it should, but I have to protect my sister.

I have to protect both of them, although Selene would rather fight a man than date one. Entering the alpha’s office, I see Beta Jackson and Beck sitting in the chairs in front of my father’s desk.

They’re discussing accommodations for the new pack members. My father looks up and motions for us to sit.

I hope this won’t take long. I’m really hungry and popcorn just didn’t cut it.

“Let’s wrap this up so you guys can grab a bite and hit the hay,” my dad suggests. “This won’t take long.

Jackson’s pretty much sorted out the living arrangements. We just need to figure out what to do with Alpha Jason, then I need to conduct the ceremony for the wolves to pledge their loyalty to me.

You guys don’t need to stick around for that. I’m guessing, Brock, you’re eager to start arranging your men’s return home?”

“Yeah, Alpha, we’ll tackle that tomorrow. They all need a good night’s rest before hopping on those metal birds.

They all despise flying, especially with a bunch of humans. Too many scents—it sends their wolf instincts into overdrive,” Brock jokes, causing us all to chuckle.

“If it’s okay with you, we’d like to stick around a few more days.” My dad gives a nod of approval, while I shoot Brock a puzzled look.

I can’t help but wonder why he’s keen on staying longer than necessary, given he’s been away from his pack for a while. I’m sure his alpha is eager for his return.

“Doesn’t your alpha need you back home?” I ask him softly. Brock brushes off my question with a casual hand wave.

“Nah, he’s got things under control for now.” Then he flashes me a mischievous grin and turns his attention back to my dad.

~Is this guy serious?~ I wonder. I see right through his game.

He’s just trying to buy more time to hang out with my sister. He better keep his paws to himself.

I don’t care if he’s bigger than me. I’m an alpha and I won’t think twice about taking him down.

“If you two are done with your little stare-down, we’ve got work to do. The luna is having some steaks prepared for you both and sending them up to your rooms.

I’m sure you don’t want to eat cold steak, so let’s wrap this up.” Alpha Sebastian continues his discussion with Beta Jackson, shooting me a stern glance.

The council has made their decision, leaving Alpha Jason’s fate in their hands. They’ve given my dad the go-ahead to mete out any punishment he sees fit, as long as it doesn’t involve killing him.

In a few days, they’ll be here, ready to review the evidence and make their final judgment. It could be a death sentence.

Or it could be a life behind bars. Personally, I’d love nothing more than to rip the guy’s heart out, but for a werewolf, prison is the worst kind of hell.

Given his crimes, it’s likely he’ll be subjected to regular rounds of torture, allowed to recover, and then tortured again. They’ll fill him up with wolfsbane to suppress his wolf side, and eventually, he’ll lose his mind.

To me, it sounds like the perfect punishment. I’m practically vibrating with excitement to see what they decide.