Alpha Desmond novel Chapter 4

“Was he really thinking about trying to attack with that measly group?”

I looked over the vampire sitting in my kitchen. He was frozen in time in his early thirties. The man was dressed to impress and didn’t have a wrinkle on him. Victor was head of the Northwest division of vampires and oversaw all vampire covens in the area. It even stretched into Canada and he took a lot of the fey under his wing as well.

There was a race issue between the supernatural beings. Most werewolves hated all fey and vampires. Vampires usually tolerated fey to the point where as long as they didn’t get in their way, there were no issues. Too often then, packs would make a play for territory that was deemed vampire or fey protected areas. That’s where Victor and I stepped in. I was a traitor to my own kind. I housed fey in my pack, made friends with vampires, and outwardly showed my disgust for the Alpha King’s rule.

“Honestly, I don’t think he puts much thought into anything.” I leaned back against the counter, drink in hand.

We had attacked Alpha James’ main city center. They had some warriors waiting for us but it was a measly amount compared to the force Victor brought and who I had sent down with Scott.

“Why do they think we are easy picking? Do they think we don’t have lives? Children to protect? Families?” Victor ran a hand through his hair.

I shrugged. “Frankly, I don’t give a rat’s ass what the man does in his own territory but he can keep his territory where it is.”

“Speaking of territory, the local covens want to make the vampire road through the northwest into a paved two-lane highway.”

Looking at Victor with a raised eyebrow, he put his hands up in defeat. I shook my head and looked down. My legs were crossed as I stared down at my shoes.

“I can’t allow that. The road goes straight through the forest.”

He nodded. “That’s what I told them but they still wanted me to ask.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, thinking over the territory in the north. “If I push my border more north, up to the bottom of the Peak Pass, you could build the road along the rocky part just below the mountain. It’s already big enough to have a two-lane highway without needing to disturb the forest.”

“Can you do that?”

Shrugging, I looked at him. “I have to submit the documentation. There aren’t any contentions with the land, considering it is still within your territory. So if you also submit the documentation, we should be fine.”

Victor nodded, smiling. “Sounds good, Desmond. We will do that then.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “According to my Gamma though, there is a human moving into the territory on the north side. Just as a heads up, if you could warn your boys to stay away. I don’t really want a death of a human on my territory to deal with right now.”

He nodded again but gave me an interested look. “Thought you didn’t allow humans to buy property in your territory?”

“It’s the old Magis house. None of my pack is gonna move there and there is too much residual magic for the fey. They start to get antsy. So if I need to not just let the property cost us money, a human is the only one who can live there. Plus, they paid asking price.”

Victor chuckled. “Ever the businessman.”

We lapsed into silence. Drinking, lost in our own thoughts over our territories. Victor had been a good friend and someone I trusted if I needed advice on how to handle a situation. One that wouldn’t be so closely tied to the pack.

“The wife is throwing a birthday party. I would be remiss not to invite one of my oldest allies to attend.”

“Open bar?”

I nodded and he laughed.

“I wouldn’t miss it. What number will this be?”

I grumbled. “Forty.”

He laughed. “Getting up there Alpha. When are you turning your empire over?”

“I don’t know.” I frowned.

“Don’t you have a son?” I looked at Victor and his eyes went wide for a second. “Right, the whole Luna thing. Sorry. Your’re family drama, while fascinating, gets lost in the hundreds of years of baggage I carry.” Victor winked at me.

“Speaking of baggage, where is Bianca? I thought she was attached to you at the hip?”

He looked down at his glass. “Being within any pack territories are not really her scene.”

I nodded this time. She had some bad experiences within some packs on the east side. It made her very wary of any territories. I wished it wasn’t the story for most vampires or fey but I would be lying to myself.

“I’ll give you the details of when for the party. The wife is still deciding on the time, I think.”

Victor stood and I walked around the counter, clasping hands with him. “Thanks for the assist on this one.”

“Anytime, my friend.”

Scott walked into the room just as Victor was leaving. He shook hands with Victor and then his eyes lit up.