Chapter 34: 34: Leaving Montana

MAX

Brock’s promise holds true. Alpha Jason is now a prisoner in Texas.

The transport arrives at the airport with only one guard, a decision Brock doesn’t agree with. He and another warrior join the guard to ensure Alpha Jason is securely locked up, no chance of escape.

Brock even takes a moment to taunt him before he’s locked away, reminding him of the suffering he’ll endure behind bars. Just as he made others suffer under his pitiful leadership.

Tomorrow, I leave. Everything is packed, ready to go.

My flight is booked, the king knows I’ll be in Italy in two days. It’s a strange feeling, knowing I’m about to step foot in another country.

We’ll have a quiet goodbye with the family in the morning, my father taking me to the airport alone. This will give us a chance to discuss any last-minute training details.

Tonight, we have the barbecue sendoff my mother planned. I’m hoping for a drama-free evening.

This family and pack have seen more than enough drama recently.

I’m sitting at the kitchen counter, making a last-minute checklist when Melanie bounces into the kitchen.

“What’s got you so cheerful?” I ask her.

Melanie pauses, gives me a quick smile, and walks over to the refrigerator to grab a soda.

“Nothing. Just finished talking to Brock.” She shrugs and takes a sip of her soda.

“Seriously? You’re still talking to this guy?” I ask. “What about Beck?”

Melanie shrugs again, “What about him?”

I sigh deeply and give her a look that says, ~You know what I mean~.

She raises her hands in surrender. “Okay, we’re friends. I’m friends with Brock too. The only one who’s making this weird is Beck.

It’s strange. I know he likes me, and maybe there’s a chance we’re mates, but I doubt it.

He’s cute and funny, and I enjoy spending time with him. But I don’t feel the same way he does.

He has a mate out there, Max. He could find her tomorrow.”

She has a point, and I can’t argue with it. It’s strange that Beck is so upset about her talking to Brock.

It seems possessive, and they aren’t even a thing. They went to the dance together, and that was it.

Maybe I should be glad I’m leaving for a while. I won’t have to deal with all this teenage drama.

Of course, Beck is old enough to avoid drama, but he seems to be creating some of it himself.

I get up from the stool and walk over to give my sister a side hug. “You’re right, Melanie.”

“Of course I am,” she replies, winking at me.

I groan and let her go. “I’m really going to miss you. I hope you know that.”

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you scaring off every guy who wants to talk to me, Max,” she giggles as she leaves the kitchen.

“See you in an hour at the barbecue, brother. Don’t be late.”

MAX

I say my goodbyes to my siblings and then hug my mother, who starts crying softly on my shoulder.

“I’m going to be thinking about you every day, Max. Stay safe out there and come home to us whenever you can,” she whispers through her tears.

Seeing my mother cry is hard. She’s strong, and it’s rare to see her cry.

It’s even harder knowing I’m the cause of her tears, even if it’s unavoidable. “I will, I promise. I love you, Mom.”

I pull away and kiss her on the cheek. My father and I get into the Suburban, and I wave as we drive off.

I turn to my father and get straight to the point. “What should I expect in Italy? What do you want me to do when I visit the Venetian pack?”

He chuckles. “Not wasting any time, I see. Italy will be both amazing and stressful.

The king is not someone to mess with. He’s powerful, and his aura alone can bring alphas to their knees.

Stay on his good side. Study hard and do well on the history and any other tasks they give you.

But there’s one thing you should be worried about: being asked to join the Royal Army.”

I turn to my father, shocked. “The Royal Army? You never mentioned this.”

He sighs deeply before answering. “I didn’t want to give you more to worry about. But you should know; it’s a possibility.

Because we have two packs in two countries, the king might not even consider it. But don’t assume that will be the case.

He watches all the alpha heirs train. He observes your combat skills, your critical thinking, and your behavior.

He invites several each year to join the Royal Army. You serve for two years before you’re sent home to take over your pack.

It’s in addition to the training. For me, he initially wanted me, but when he found out I was the only heir, he took the offer back.

He didn’t want to risk taking away the possibility of me running the pack. You can still die in the Royal Army, even if they are the strongest in the world.

You, son, are different. You will likely be considered. Your only hope is to make it clear that we have two packs and one is currently without an alpha.”

My heart pounds in my chest, and my palms are suddenly sweaty. I wish he had warned me earlier.

It would have given me time to process this. I certainly don’t want to serve in the Royal Army.

While it’s an honor to be asked, I have a pack to return to. “What else haven’t you told me?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

“That’s it, Max. Just stay focused, and you’ll be fine. When you visit the Venetian Pack, check to see if it’s running smoothly and if everyone has proper housing and is being taken care of.

I was there a year ago, and things were fine, but a few homes needed work. I approved the requests for repairs.

I want to know if it was done. Talk with the beta, make sure he’s handling the responsibility. If you think I need to make a trip, call me.”

There isn’t much else to say at that point. I know what’s expected of me, and now I have to prove that I’m up to the challenges I’m about to face.

There will be many. The first one will be dealing with Derek. We will be meeting up at the airport in New York City.

I still don’t understand why I was assigned to keep this guy in line. I don’t have a say in it, so I’ve just got to make the most of it and try to control my temper.

Whatever it takes to succeed and impress the king and the Council, I will do it. My father’s reputation is at stake.

We pull up to the Billings airport, and I hop out of the Suburban, grabbing my bag from the trunk.

I make my way to the curb where my dad stands, every inch the alpha he is. I extend my hand for a shake, but he pulls me into a hug instead.

“No formalities, Max. I’m still your dad. We hug, regardless of who’s watching. I love you, kiddo. I know you’ll do us proud.”

He gives me a pat on the back as he releases me, grinning. “You’ve got a flight to catch.”

“Sure do, Dad. I’ll see you all soon. Love you, and give Mom a hug for me.”

He nods in response, and I stride into the airport without a backward glance. There’s no turning back now.

It’s time to step up and become the alpha I’m meant to be. As soon as I get off this airborne metal box.

I approach the ticket counter to check in my bag. “Hi there. Maximus Moon checking in. One bag to check.”

The lady behind the counter chuckles under her breath, muttering something about my last name.

When she lifts her gaze from her computer, her eyes go wide, and her smirk morphs into a look of surprise.

I’m not sure if it’s my size or if she’s embarrassed for laughing out loud. I flash her a wink and a smile, and she blushes, quickly turning back to her screen.

“All right, Mr. Moon. Can I see your ID?” I hand over my driver’s license and passport.

“Okay, I see. Your final destination is Rome, Italy.” She looks up and smiles, returning my documents.

“Do you know when you’ll be coming back, Mr. Moon?”

“Hard to tell,” I shrug. “Could be a few months, could be a few years. Time will tell.”

The woman prints out a luggage tag and tries to attach it to my hefty backpack. She struggles to lift it.

To me, the weight is negligible, but for her—a small human—it’s a bit much. “Can I help you with that?” I offer.

She looks a bit flustered but nods in agreement. I easily lift the bag with one hand and place it on the conveyor belt, catching the surprised look on Rachel’s face, as her name tag reveals.

“May I have my boarding passes, Miss…Rachel?” I ask, making a show of reading her name tag.

She prints out my passes, scribbles something on a scrap of paper, and hands it all to me with a friendly smile.

“Thanks, Miss,” I reply, then head toward the security checkpoint. I glance at the paper in my hand and find her name and a phone number scribbled on it.

A chuckle slips out as I toss the number into a trash bin while making my way up the security ramp.

I’m on a mission to find my mate, and she’s definitely not the one.