Aiden
They waited for the metal gate to open and then he guided the truck up the driveway to a house that looked very familiar.
It should, considering he’d lived there for nine years until the past few weeks.
“You got this.”
He glanced over at Willow and flashed her a smile. She was right. He was ready for this. He’d been ready for it for a long, long time now. Until recently though, he hadn’t known it, hadn’t believed it. Nor had he had the person in his life to wake him up enough to make the changes necessary for him to be able to achieve it.
Now he had it all, and he couldn’t be happier. Even if Mack decided he didn’t like the idea, Aiden knew he had to make the attempt.
The white pickup courtesy of Stephen’s estate pulled to a halt and he emerged.
Mack was waiting for him.
“You’re cutting it close,” he remarked, glancing at his wrist. There was no watch there.
“I didn’t want to rush my decision,” he returned as Willow came around the front of the truck to stand at his side.
“So you’ve made one then?”
He nodded. “I have.”
“So, are you going to come rejoin the pack?”
Aiden steeled himself, taking in a breath, and shook his head. “No.”
Mack’s eyebrows lifted noticeably. He hadn’t been expecting that answer. “I see. So, you’re going to head out then?”
“Actually, I have another idea.”
Beside him Willow squeezed his hand and gave him a minute nod. It was all the support he needed.
“I want my own pack.”
Mack frowned. “You can’t. Not here.”
“Why not?”
“Because we already have enough packs in the city, Aiden. We don’t have room for ano—Oh.”
The sudden look of understanding that spread across Mack’s face was priceless. Aiden wished he had a recording of it. Birthday parties and regional meetings would never be the same again.
“You want Stephen’s territory.”
“Yes,” he said bluntly. “I can do it, and you need somebody there you can trust.”
“True,” Mack said slowly, his eyes looking away as he thought the idea over.
“I can do this, Mack. I can do it better than Stephen ever did, and bring unity to the city.”
“Where will you get your pack from?”
Aiden smiled. Mack had already moved past any issues he had with Aiden, and was checking to see if he’d thought everything through.
“Well, I happen to know where several dozen shifters are currently recovering after spending a long time drugged and drained of their blood. Once they recover, I suspect some of them will want to stick around and help make amends in the community. They weren’t responsible for the problems their blood caused with the humans, but that doesn’t mean they won’t help.”
“Interesting.”
“I’m going to show them that there is the possibility to change yourself. I’ll take them and any other castoffs. I’ll turn them into decent members, or I’ll deal with it as necessary.” Aiden’s voice grew harder, more confident as he spoke. “I’m living proof that you can overcome yourself, Mack. There are others out there who deserve that last chance as well. I want to provide it to them.”
Mack was looking at him intently as he made his impassioned speech. Nothing in his gaze gave away his feelings. Aiden began to grow nervous. He’d thought he had all the answers. Both he and Willow had spent the past eight hours planning everything out, trying to come up with any problems Mack might have with it and address that ahead of time.
“This was your idea, wasn’t it?”
Aiden opened his mouth to reply when he realized the question had been directed at Willow.
“Aiden isn’t meant to be a second, even to an Alpha like you, Mack. He’s an Alpha, and he deserves to have a pack. He saved me. Now let him do the same to some others.”
Mack’s gaze swung back over to Aiden. “That’s quite some high praise. Do you think you can live up to it?”
Aiden nodded. “Yes. And if I falter, she’ll be there to smack me around until I do. With her by my side, I can’t fail.”
His former Alpha started to chuckle. “You know what, that might be the most convincing thing you’ve said. Okay Aiden, with the powers granted to me as the residing regional Alpha, it’s yours. I’ll have all of Stephens assets transferred over to you. With the rest of them in jail for a rather lengthy stay, they won’t need any of it, even if they hadn’t forfeited it all with their actions. Stay here for the night, and we’ll take care of the paperwork in the morning.”
“We haven’t eaten yet,” he began. They’d never intended to stay, regardless of the decision. Now though, it appeared they were going to eat with Mack and his pack tonight.
“Good. Dinner should be just about ready. Chicken and scalloped potatoes tonight. Sound okay?”
“Sounds heavenly,” he replied, sighing in relief that there was no mention of vegetables.
An elbow hit him in the ribs.
“Is anyone making any vegetables? I think we should have a salad or something with dinner. I could go grab a bunch of kale if you’d like?”
Both Mack and Aiden groaned good-naturedly.
“She’s going to get along with Maggie better than I think I’m comfortable with,” Mack complained as they headed inside.
Willow looked back and forth between them. “Who’s Maggie?”
“His mate,” Aiden replied. “She’s always harping on him to eat more vegetables.”
“Ooh, I like her already!” Willow said, clapping her hands together.
Aiden and Mack spoke together. “I was afraid of that.”
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This concludes Furred Lines. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.