MAX
The Summit is right around the corner, and we all decide to give the Winter Festival a miss this year. Itâs a big deal, a tradition where many hope to find their mates.
Melanie and I, both twenty-one, harbor secret wishes about who our mates might be. Itâs a risky game, but thatâs the way things are.
Weâre swamped with Summit preparations. Melanie is knee-deep in her exams, finishing up her winter semester of med school.
Sheâs so close to the finish lineâjust six months and one internship away from being a doctor. Iâm thrilled for her, proud of her intelligence and determination.
Despite the intense focus her finals demand, sheâs still pitching in wherever she can. I have some tough news for Melanie, and Iâm dreading the conversation.
I decide to wait until her exams are over. She needs to focus.
Earlier in the week, Iâd spoken with the alpha of the Abilene Pack. Heâd told me his beta wouldnât be attending the Summit.
His father had been seriously injured, and heâd flown back to Ireland to help his mother while his father recovered. The details were sparse, and I donât think Brock had told Melanie anything, knowing she was in the middle of finals.
Sheâs going to be disappointed. This would have been their first time seeing each other since Melanie turned twenty-one.
She was hoping to find out if they were mates. It seems that would have to wait.
The alpha did mention that Brock was devastated and almost didnât go to Ireland, but he couldnât refuse his motherâs plea. Brock would join the necessary meetings via video call.
He wasnât the only one. Sometimes, packs couldnât send both of their leaders, especially if they were dealing with rogue issues or financial constraints.
Life happens, and sometimes thereâs nothing you can do about it. My Dad and I are in his office, planning the meetings and training sessions for the Summit.
Heâd managed to convince the king to attend this year, to brief the pack leaders on global politics. This is a big deal for the North American Packs.
Itâs an honor and a rarity. We have to book an entire hotel on the outskirts of Billings.
We pick one near the base of our mountain, for easy access for us and those staying on our pack lands instead of the hotel. We also need the conference rooms.
Luckily, the hotel owner is a werewolf too, so he understands the need for discretion. The luna and the betaâs mate are currently at the hotel, sorting out the details of the dinners and the conference room setups.
Theyâre also checking the presidential suite, to ensure itâs suitable for the king and his queen. My father and I know the kingâs lifestyle, and he isnât a man who demands luxury because of his title.
Heâd probably be content in one of our guest suites, but he is the king. We have to show our appreciation and respect for his visit.
âDo you think we could avoid inviting the Canada Pack where Grandpaâs ex-mate lives? It might be awkward, having her son here. What do you think?â I ask my father, hoping to keep the drama to a minimum.
My father furrows his brow and shakes his head. âNo, Max. Being an alpha and running a pack means being diplomatic, even if you donât like the alpha of another pack.
It happens. Take the alpha and luna of Half Moon Pack, for example.
Your mother didnât speak to either of them for nearly five years, and that was personal. She didnât stop me from dealing with them, she just chose not to participate.
Eventually, she let it go and she and her Amara became friends again. We have to show weâre not spiteful.
Honestly, I donât think Alpha Cade would bring Lara anyway. Heâs retiring after this Summit and his son will take over.
I think he plans to bring just him and his heir. Itâll be fine.â
âI see your point. Are there any packs not sending representatives?â I ask.
My father scans the list in front of him before answering. âYes. A small pack in Georgia.
Theyâll video conference in. And that pack in New York that your sister rescued your friend from.
The alpha said he didnât feel comfortable bringing his beta here after what happened.â Iâm puzzled.
âHis beta?â
âYes. Gingerâs stepfather.
He thought it might cause trouble since his son and Ginger didnât marry. It caused some issues with his heir, who sounds like a real piece of work.
Iâm glad theyâre not coming. We donât need that drama.
The alpha will video conference and his beta wonât participate this year.â
âSo, they still made him beta, even after their agreement fell apart?â
âIt seems so. Letâs move on, Max.
We have some betas whoâve asked to stay here in the bunkhouses. These are the unmated ones who arenât bringing family.
I think there are seven. Can we accommodate them, but make it a bit more comfortable?
I want you to work on that with Jackson.â My father is giving me tasks usually handled by the beta.
Itâs important to understand every leaderâs responsibilities. âSure. We can include Beck too.
He needs to start learning more for when he takes over his fatherâs duties.â
âThat sounds like a good plan.â
Most of our plans are in motion. This is going to be a big deal, with hundreds of attendees when you count the lunas and the betasâ spouses.
Iâm nervous but excited. This is a big deal, and there are alphas who never get to host such a large event.
MELANIE
Iâm sitting on my bed, legs crossed in my lap. I think my jaw hits the floor as I stare at Max in disbelief.
I take a deep breath and swallow. âSo, heâs in Ireland and he didnât even call me to tell me?â
âMelanie, it was very last minute, and he was hoping to return before the Summit. Iâm sure heâll call you when he can.
The time difference can be tricky. Trust me.â
I look up at Max, fiddling with a loose thread on my jeans. Heâs right, I know he is.
I shouldnât be so upset. I have no claim on Brock.
Iâm just disappointed that I wonât see him for a while. Maybe itâs for the best.
I have a lot on my plate right now. I canât let the possibility of a mate interfere with my plans.
Just like Max when he went away for training, he wasnât looking to find his mate because it might interfere with his training. I should do the same.
âOkay. It all makes sense.â I sigh heavily and then ask the question that had been nagging at me.
âDo I have to attend any part of this Summit?â Max laughs.
âOf course you do. Youâre the alphaâs daughter.
We all have to make an appearance, especially with the king here. Iâd think youâd want to make a good impression on his majesty and the queen.â
âOf course. I totally forgot about that.â
Max gives my leg a comforting pat before rising from the bed. âThink of it this way, you still get to wear that dress I know you bought for the Ball.â
My cheeks heat up instantly. Iâd totally spaced on the dress.
The dress I picked out with Brock in mind. Itâs probably the most daring thing Iâve ever worn, and now Iâm wearing it to a ball I donât even want to go to because Iâm flying solo.
âRight. The dress.â I offer Max a smile that Iâm sure he can tell is fake.
His frown deepens before he heads for the door. âOkay Melanie, Iâve got to run and meet with Dad about some things.
Mom asked me to tell you that she wants you to join her and Amanda on a trip to Billings this afternoon, so you might want to change into something a little moreâ¦uh, presentable.â
I glance down at my worn-out jeans and the sweatshirt Iâd tossed on this morning. Theyâre my go-to clothes for messing around outside, because I donât mind if they get dirty.
Iâd planned to meet up with my friend Madison for a hike today, but it seems like Iâll be swapping my jeans for a pair of dress pants instead. Max leaves, and I drag myself up to find my mom.
I suppose I need to figure out whatâs going on and when weâre leaving so I can mentally prepare. Iâm pretty sure this is all about prepping for the Summit, something Iâve lost all enthusiasm for.
I try to shake off the disappointment of Brockâs no-show and decide to make the most of the situation. Just like Max said, Iâve got a killer dress that deserves to be seen.
I decide to view this as my social event for the year, considering we missed the Winter Festival. ~Keep your head high,~ I tell myself.
Thereâs work to be done.