Nate and Seth were sitting in Seth’s home office after they’d had breakfast. Hazel had gone to work in the library for a while.
She was trying to look for anything that could tell them about what was happening to her with her new and improved sense of hearing.
Seth wasn’t too pleased with her absence. At the moment, he would prefer to have her at his side at all times—and if not, at least have her where he could see her.
He didn’t want to be away from her or share her presence with anyone else right now.
He had almost gone after his own mother when she had come in the day after they had mated; the wolf instincts in him wanted to protect his mate from intruders.
He had recognized her as family, though, and now she could come and go as she pleased as long as she stayed away from his room.
She was his own blood, which had been the only thing that stopped him from tearing her apart.
It was better now that some time had passed, but he still wasn’t enjoying having Nate, an unmated male, in his home just yet.
“So, how’s mated life?” Nate asked cheerfully as he leaned back in his chair, a casual pose that showed that he was not in beta mode yet.
“It’s fine,” Seth replied, not willing to share much information about his private life or that of his mate.
“Okay, be like that,” Nate said, his mood not faltering.
He was rarely anything but positive and upbeat, quite the opposite from his alpha, but it was a good balance.
“I’m happy for you, man,” he added sincerely.
“Thank you,” Seth replied, giving his friend a small, genuine smile.
“Now what is it you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked, which made Nate sit up straighter in his chair.
“Our neighboring alphas have asked for a meeting—there are talks of forming alliances. In light of all that has happened, I think we might benefit from that if another attack happens,” Nate explained.
“Sounds good. Where will it be hosted?”
“Well, Alpha Byron said he thought it would be easier if it was held here. We have a bigger pack house and it’s the easiest one for everyone to travel to since we’re smack in the middle of everyone.”
“Yes, we can host. I’ll write up invitations and send them this week. Was there anything else?”
Nate looked slightly uncomfortable at the question. He had heard some rumors from one of the other betas and was not too happy to share them, though he knew he had to.
“Yes, one more thing. Jackson—you know, Alpha Caleb’s beta—told me there have been rumors of hunters in the northern packs.
“Nothing close to here yet, but it seems like they might be moving in this direction.”
“Damn it,” Seth growled.
“I do not have time for this shit,” he ground out between clenched teeth.
“We don’t know that they’ll come here, but I think we should be on our guard. We should talk about it at the meeting,” Nate said, his voice calm, trying to not further anger his alpha.
“You’re right,” Seth sighed.
“I’m just worried for the pack. I can’t have hunters come near us. People have just gotten back to normal after the rogues and Kane.”
“I know. I’m sure it’ll be fine. There are threats of hunters all the time. They haven’t been near us since your grandfather was alpha.”
“That’s true.”
The men sat together for a while longer before Nate took his leave. Seth was quick to go find his mate, who was still in the library.
He leaned against the doorframe and looked at her as she flipped through an old book placed in one of the book cradles on the desk in the center of the room.
“Are you going to just stand there and watch me all day?” she asked. Amusement laced her voice, but she didn’t look up from the book.
“I like watching you, wife,” Seth retorted, a smile playing at his lips.
Hazel flipped a page before turning to face Seth.
“How was your meeting with Nate?” she asked.
“You don’t already know?” Seth was pretty sure she had already heard all of it due to her newly acquired sense of hearing. Blocking it out was harder in the beginning.
He remembered how overwhelming it had been when he had gotten his wolf and the heightened senses that came with it.
“I tried not to listen. I focused on reading instead, so I wouldn’t hear your conversation.
“It feels wrong to hear what people in other rooms are saying when the words aren’t really meant for me to hear,” she explained.
He thought that was impressive.
Seth walked over to sit next to Hazel and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“That’s very considerate of you, sweetheart, but I wouldn’t have minded if you heard,” he said.
“The meeting was fine. We will have our neighboring alphas over in a couple of weeks for a meeting. We’re considering forming an alliance.”
“An alliance? What does that entail?” Hazel asked, her expression full of open curiosity.
She was so eager to learn about the new world she had entered. Seth found it absolutely endearing.
“Well, it’s similar to the agreement we had when we fought Kane and the rogues, only it would be permanent. We would vow to help protect each other if necessary, and we will form an alpha council.
“That basically means that us alphas, along with the lunas, betas, thirds, their mates, and the chiefs of guards and pack lawyers, will meet every month.
“We will discuss things pertaining to our packs and surrounding areas,” Seth explained, “and share resources should we need to. We might also train some of our guards and warriors together.”
“Sounds smart,” Hazel said.
“I mean, one can never have too many allies, right? And we worked well together last time.”
“That is why this is being considered now. It worked well, so the others suggested that we should make it permanent,” Seth said as he leaned down to place a kiss on Hazel’s forehead.
He had a hard time not touching her, even more so now than he had before they were fully mated.
He didn’t know how that was even possible, but there wasn’t much he could do about it even if he wanted to—which he didn’t. He didn’t mind wanting to be so close to her.
“Do you want to go down and have some lunch?” he asked her.
“Yes please,” she replied enthusiastically.
Seth chuckled at his mate fondly. He pulled her to her feet and laced their fingers together as they headed down to the kitchen.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” Hazel asked while they were eating lunch.
“I can tell you’re worried about something. Something other than my hearing, which—yes, I know—you’re worried about too.”
Seth sighed before fixing his gaze on his mate.
“You know me too well, sweetheart,” he said.
“I didn’t want to worry you with it, as it’s not confirmed, but I guess you have the right to know since you are the luna of this pack now.”
He bit the inside of his lip before continuing. His expression clearly conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
“Nate heard some worrying rumors from Alpha Caleb’s beta, Jackson. Apparently hunters have been seen in the northern packs.
“We don’t know if it’s even true yet, or if they’ve killed anyone, but we’ll be talking about it at the meeting.”
Hunters. Humans who wanted all supernaturals eradicated. The worried looks on each of their faces were warranted. If this rumor was true, they could all be in real trouble.
“Let’s hope it’s just rumors, then,” Hazel said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. She didn’t think they should worry too much unless there was proof there really was something to worry about.
“Yes, let’s hope so.”
