The Alpha’s Companion - Chapter 88

Lacey’s heart fell when she walked in and saw Wyatt standing there alone in the grand foyer of The Shadow Pack.

“Hello, Wyatt,” she said, and then turned to Julien. “I’m sure you remember my mate, Julien. Julien, this is Wyatt.”

A crease formed between Julien’s eyes, but he nodded and stepped forward, extending his hand, being a gentleman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Wyatt nodded once, not taking his eyes from Lacey. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Just then, Calla walked up and looked between them, obviously sensing the tension in the air. Then she looked over at Lacey and smiled warmly, extending her hand. “Lacey. It’s good to see you again.”

Lacey nodded once. “Before we leave, I’d like to talk to you both about why you left the Silver Pack. But right now, I plan to spend the time with family.” Then she gave them both a warm smile. “It’s good to see you both here.” Then she took Julien’s arm. “Ready?”

Julien nodded, placing his hand atop hers. “Yes.”

Arkin looked over at Wyatt and Cala and frowned. “Don’t you two have somewhere else to be?”

Wyatt clenched his jaw. “Yes. Excuse us.” Then he took Calla’s hand and they both headed outside. Calla gave Lacey one last look over her shoulder before following Wyatt.

“Julien, your men are welcome to join my pack in the dining hall if they like,” Arkin sighed, plastering a smile on his face. Between the last visit and now this one, it was clear that Arkin preferred to entertain family alone.

Victor, Misty, and Sawyer glanced over at Julien and he nodded. Then they headed in the direction that Arkin had said.

When they were on their way, Arkin turned to everyone. “Well… shall we?”

Julien smiled as if nothing were amiss. “Yes, of course.” Then he looked down at Lacey and frowned. Of course, public appearances meant everything to him. But she was glad that she had told Julien before they came. This way, she hoped there would be no misunderstanding.

But as he led her into the same intimate dining hall where they had taken her last time she had come, she wondered why Wyatt was acting that way. Before she left The Silver Pack, Wyatt had been friendly, but had kept his distance, not really even wanting to be friends after he had married Calla. Now suddenly, he was showing her interest? But it was too little too late. Besides, she was in love with Julien. Whether or not they were an actual a Mated Pair, it would break Lacey’s heart to lose Julien now.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty to order us a nice brunch,” Arkin said, holding a chair next to his for Lacey’s mother. “And we can discuss Pack Business while we’re eating, if you like.”

“Thank you,” Julien said, holding Lacey’s chair for her while she sat. “That would be nice.” Then he sat next to Lacey and held her hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. When she looked up, he smiled down at her warmly.

Yes, she was very glad she had told Julien about Wyatt before they came. He did not share and protected what was his. But from the look on his face and the hand squeeze, it was apparent that he understood that Wyatt’s attitude had nothing to do with her.

“Arkin, thank you so much for letting my mother and members of The Silver Pack to stay with you like this,” Lacey said. “It was very kind of you.”

Arkin looked over at Calla and smiled. “I was happy to do it.” Then he turned back to Lacey, his eyes filled with concern. “Lacey, I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Although it’s been a lot, I’m no worse for wear.”

Arkin smiled. “I hope you don’t hold it against me, but I was going to wait until you were feeling better to pay you a visit. I’m sorry I didn’t visit before now.” Then a broad smile spread across his face. “But I’m glad you decided to come here instead.”

“Don’t worry about coming before.” Lacey smiled, glad that they had come. “I just started feeling better today, and Julien asked me if I’d like to come.”

“Of course,” Julien said, smiling. “I’m just glad she’s starting to feel better now.”

“Well, shall we eat?” Arkin asked and everyone agreed.

Then he nodded toward his staff, who immediately started bringing in plates of food and pouring wine in glasses. From the look of the food, Lacey was glad that she hadn’t eaten anything yet.

“Arkin, you made enough for an army!” Lacey chuckled. “Everything looks delicious.”

Arkin nodded, and then held up his wine glass. “Well, it’s not every day that my daughter and her new husband come to visit.”

Lacey was glad that, even though it was a business visit as well as social, Arkin was treating them like it was purely a social visit.

Within minutes, the table was filled with delicacies and luscious food that one could only imagine. And the wine kept flowing.

After everyone’s plates were filled, Arkin lifted his glass of wine and took a sip. “Julien, what was it that you wanted to discuss with me?”

Julien sighed. “Well, I was wanting to organize with you, and I wanted to run something else by you, too.”

Arkin nodded, his face serious as he slid another stuffed baked potato onto his plate. “Okay. Please continue.”

Julien looked over at Camari. “Mrs. Taregan, what I say must stay here.”

Camari nodded, then took a sip of her wine but said nothing.

Then Julien looked over at Arkin. “Instead of waiting around for the Wildclaws to attack the castle, I was thinking of attacking them.”

Camari nearly choked on her wine, and then got to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me, I don’t feel this conversation is for me, since Thorn has been giving aid to Rex, the leader of the Wildclaws. Please forgive me, but I cannot plan an attack on The Silver Pack. My children are there.”

“But it may not be the Silver Pack,” Julien said, bringing her to a stop. “Camari, do you happen to know if the Wildclaws have another base… or have been staying elsewhere?”

Camari shook her head. “I have no such knowledge. Now. If you’ll excuse me.”

Everyone looked at each other, but Lacey wasn’t surprised.

“You must forgive my mother.” Lacey sighed. “I’m sure she just can’t condone an attack, since innocents will be hurt along with the guilty.”

“Then what about you? About our pack?” Julien demanded. “You didn’t ask to be kidnapped, and the young shifters at the castle sure didn’t ask to be attacked, either.”

“I completely agree.” Lacey nodded. “I just wish we knew where the Wildclaws had a home base. This is like trying to plan an attack on terrorists.”

Arkin folded his hands atop the table. “The only thing I’m thinking of is this: What would we do if we did attack The Silver Pack compound, and the Wildclaws aren’t there?” He sighed. “I hate to say this, but I think the best thing to do is to wait them out.”

I nodded. “Agreed.”

Julien looked over at Arkin. “Then when can we expect you?”

Arkin sighed. “I was going to wait and come when I heard of the attack. But even if we’re running, the castle may already be devastated by the time we got there.”

“Julien,” Lacey said, capturing his attention. “Why don’t we host The Shadow Pack this week? This way, we can train and strategize while we wait, but we can also have some fun.”

Julien nodded as his lips curled into a smile. “That sounds good.” Then his eyes met Arkin’s. “Would that be an inconvenience for you?”

“For my pack to come to you?” Arkin laughed. “I’m for it, but we’ll bring some supplies along with us.”

“Not a chance,” Julien replied without hesitation. “If you can have us here, then we can have you at the castle.”

Arkin lifted an eyebrow. “But hosting a whole pack is a bit different than hosting a small family gathering.”

“Not from the look of it,” Julien teased, looking down the length of the table at all the food piled on it.

Everyone laughed.

“Well, I think it would be a good opportunity to develop camaraderie between our packs,” Chris said, holding up his glass of wine. “To the collaboration of our packs!”

“to the collaboration!” Everyone clanked glasses, looking as happy as ever.. Lacey just hoped that this wasn’t a mistake.