The Pack's Doctor novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Quirin.

Harold.

"What are you expecting to find when we get there?" Farrah asks me as we drive to Quinton's old pack. She and I are taking it very slow, mostly for her but also partly because of Henry. I want him to accept Farrah, not as a replacement for his mother, but as a mother figure in his life.

It's something he hasn't had but has desperately needed. I've done my best, but there's a reason that an Alpha needs a Luna.

I'd noticed that Henry had accepted Farrah's touch when we'd watched Warren execute Simon. I'd seen his shock at the state that Simon was in when they brought him out. I was glad that Warren had spoken to him ahead of time, letting him know that this isn't the norm for his pack.

Farrah's instinct, the instinct of a Luna and a mother, had been to help support him while he watched. My heart had soared with my pride in both of them, at her offer of support and his acceptance of it. Now that Farrah has accepted me as her Alpha, she'd felt the emotions in me. I don't close my mind to her, wanting her to feel everything that I'm feeling so she understands me and learns to trust me. Her eyes had come to mine and I'd seen the hint of a smile.

Slow means that I get to hold her hand while I drive. It makes both of us feel calmer. And while we were in Warren's pack, she agreed to sleep in the same room with me, which had ended up being the same bed.

Nothing happened, but being able to sleep wrapped around my mate felt amazing. And based on how well she slept and with no nightmares, I think it did wonders for her too.

"I know the pack is gone. Beta Charlie attacked them while Quinton was attacking Warren's pack. Since we also know that Simon was there, and Warren's warriors indicated that there were dead bodies littering the ground, I'm going to assume that they haven't had a chance to burn their dead yet. We should all be prepared for the stench of rotting bodies when we arrive. That's going to be first. Then, I'd expect that Quirin will fight leaving. I'm not sure about Luna Yasmin, but I'm guessing after Simon's assault, she must realize how exposed she and her son are out here by themselves. I'm counting on both of you to help me get through to them. Farrah, you can speak to Yasmin, woman to woman, and Henry, you can speak to Quirin, Alpha heir to Alpha heir."

"Is he still considered an Alpha heir, Dad?" my son asks.

"He is the son of an Alpha. His pack may no longer exist, but knowing Quinton, he owned those pack lands which means that when Quirin comes of age, he could start his own pack again."

I look in the rearview mirror and watch my son as he thinks through what I've said. "What if he ends up trying to steal some of our pack members?"

"Well, what I would say to you is this. Al Alphas are different.

Sometimes, people choose one pack over another because they prefer the way a certain Alpha leads versus another. And that's okay.

However, I would also say that if it's more than that, if it's more than a simple preferen ce, you, as an Alpha should consider what you aren't doing or giving to your pack members that has them wanting to leave your pack. As a leader, your pack comes first, or at least a close second to your family and your mate," I say smiling at Farrah. I love that blushes when I say things like that.

"If your pack members start to leave, you need to think about what you, as their leader, aren't giving them. Why are they leaving? What do they need that you aren't providing for them? You can only be a leader and an Alpha if you have a pack to lead. It's not always just about being strong and protecting the pack. Just like you need more than a father who is strong, your pack will too. If I were the type of father that made sure you were safe, fed, and educated, but I never gave you any of my time, you wouldn't like it, would you?"

He thinks about that. "No, I wouldn't. I enjoy our time together."

"Exactly. The pack is exactly the same. Even if you protect them, it wouldn't be enough because you aren't fulfilling their emotional needs, and maybe not even all of their physical needs. Does that make sense, Henry?"

"Yes, it makes sense," he says, turning back to the window. I know my son enough to know that he'll think through what I've said and if he has questions, he'll come back and ask me about them later.

When I refocus on the road, I feel Farrah looking at me.

"What?" I ask her.

She smiles, shaking her head. "You're a good Alpha."

"I try. I don't know that I always succeed, but I do try."

She smiles and looks out the window. While I keep my mind open to her, she doesn't always do the same for me. It's times like these that I'm practically desperate to know what she's thinking. But I don't push. I want her to come to m e on her own terms.

I'm not sure if she feels what I'm thinking or not, but she turns to look at me, opening her mind to me. What I feel has my heart soaring. She's wondering how she can resist a man who is such a good Alpha, who she knows is a good mate, because she knew me when my mate was alive and she knows that I was always true and kind to her.

She glances back at Henry, who is still deep in thought. 'I don't know that I'm ready to be physical yet, Harold, but I think I'm willing to accept you as my mate, she says in the mind link.

I pull her hand to my mouth, kissing it. T'll take as long as you need. I know you've been through a lot. I will never rush you.'

I see my son turn his head, seeing our silent interaction. He smiles and turns back to looking outside. He's already noticing little things that go on around him, just like a good Alpha should.

'Maybe. maybe when we get back, I could move into your room,' she says, still speaking in the mind link.

'I would love that.'

My heart is full of love as we pull onto Quinton's pack lands. Even from here, the smell of rotting flesh is strong.

"UGH!" Henry says, covering his mouth. "How can they live here? It's awful."

"They may not feel like they have another choice, which is why we're here," I tell him.

As we drive, we begin to pass bodies in various stages of decomposition.

"I'd like to offer to help them burn their dead. Even if they don't want to come with us, this wil attract predators and could put them into a dangerous situation."

As we approach the packhouse, I see Luna Yasmin with a shirt tied around her mouth and nose. She's attempting to drag some of the bodies into a pile. She stops when she sees us, moving back to the packhouse and calling out to someone. Quirin comes running around the side of the packhouse to stand beside his mother.

I step out of the car, as do Farrah and Henry.

"Alpha Quirin, Luna Yasmin. I am Alpha Harold. This is my mate, Farrah, and my son, Henry. We've come to talk to you and to offer our assistance in cleaning up your pack lands."

"What do you want to talk about?" Quirin asks.