In the Heat

Tyler Trip

The heat was already unbearable when Rowan clung to me, adding his body heat to my already sweltering space.

I chuckled, patting Rowan on the back and giving him a quick hug before trying to pull away.

Rowan stepped back, his hands gripping my shoulders, a wide grin on his face. “Man, it’s great to see you,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling with sincerity. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

That wasn’t exactly true. I was a completely different person from who I was a year ago.

Back then, I was cocky, self-absorbed, and untouchable. I was the future alpha, mated to a beautiful she-wolf.

I had it all: power, friends, a mate, a future with a guaranteed legacy. I was admired, respected, desired, and loved.

Loved. Loved by Del. Beautiful, sweet Del. She was expressive, funny, open, and loving. She gave her love to me so freely.

I thought I deserved it then. I didn’t. I never came close to deserving her love.

And then she died. And the old me died with her.

“—can’t wait for things to get back to normal,” Rowan was saying. “Everything’s been so upside down, you know?”

I blinked, forcing a smile as I clapped Rowan on the back. “Yeah, normal.”

Rowan pushed his hair out of his eyes, restless.

“Being the acting beta has been strange; cool but not really my thing. I’m just glad you’re back in charge… Or, well, about to be. It’ll be nice to do what I’m meant to.”

I grimaced. I knew my absence had put a strain on the pack. My biggest concern was the impact that strain had caused.

“Don’t worry, buddy, we’ll be okay from here. No more trying to fill someone else’s shoes. I’m back and I’m ready to set things right. Normal.”

“Oh man, I could use a bit of normal right now!” Rowan glanced over his shoulder before turning back to me.

“Ryan’s been getting a bit more aggressive lately. He wants to expand the pack’s territory. He started the process as soon as he heard you were coming back.”

For a moment, I felt like my lungs were trapped in a steel cage. “More aggressive?”

Rowan nodded. “He’s enjoying being alpha more than a beta should.”

I clenched my teeth. “Do you think this could be a problem?”

“Potentially,” Rowan replied.

I smiled and nudged him, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, Rowan,” I said. “I’m going to take care of this pack. I promise.”

Rowan smiled. “I know you will; I can feel it. This is where everything starts to go right.”

“Don’t jinx us!” Ryan called out, approaching us with a confidence that resembled an alpha’s stride. My wolf was getting restless.

Ryan stopped just in front of me, looking me in the eye and extending his hand. “Good to see you, Trip.”

I hoped my smile didn’t look too forced. “You too, Ryan, how are things?”

Ryan smiled, and the scar that ran from his upper lip to his nose twisted his face. “Oh, you know, busy. Well, you don’t know. Not yet.”

I felt Rowan tense beside me and worked hard to hide my surprise. I had been on Mt. Timbre for all of five minutes and I was already being challenged.

“It’s good to know you’ve gotten some experience, Beta. I hope what you’ve learned will be useful to me in the future,” I said, subtly implying that I wasn’t someone to be messed with.

My focus needed to be on rebuilding the pack, not dealing with a challenger. “I also hope my own unique experiences will bring a fresh perspective; get this pack back on track.”

Ryan’s lip twitched, his face reddening beneath his strawberry blond hair. “The pack is on track, Trip. We’ve been doing just fine.”

My smile felt forced. “Oh, I’m sure you have, Ryan. I’m sure you’ve led this pack very well.”

Ryan took a deep breath, puffing out his chest and narrowing his eyes.

Rowan, sensing the tension, stepped in. “There are a few things that need your attention, Tr… Alpha,” he suggested.

Slowly, Ryan turned his glare onto my third.

“We have a few wolves living outside the territory, which is dangerous and gives a bad impression of our pack unity.

“Also, the humans on Mt. Oaks have started to mingle with us in the valley.”

I looked at Ryan. “Not fully on track then?”

“It’s just one family living on the outskirts,” Ryan snapped. “An old lookout who’s no longer involved in pack life.”

“No young wolves?” I asked.

A muscle in Ryan’s jaw twitched as he ground his teeth. “It’s the Ryders.”

I remembered the oldest son, Mick. He had been in our grade at school. I struggled to remember his siblings. A brother? Or did he have a sister?

“And the Ryders are living on their own because?” I asked. I didn’t care that I was digging a hole for Ryan. If it took burying him for me to fix this pack, then I would gladly grab a shovel.

Ryan answered as if each word was being pulled from his mouth with pliers. “The father has distanced himself from pack life and his children have followed suit.

“They don’t socialize much, the girl lost a mate, and that’s all there is to it.”

A sister then.

“They’re not training for any positions?”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “They would be if they showed any aptitude for a role, Alpha.

“Mick Ryder isn’t interested in pack business, his brother is a mess, and the youngest is a nasty little thing with no mate.”

Ryan’s eyes were sharp on my face. “Wolves who lose a mate are unreliable.”

I felt that jab deep in my chest, just above my stomach. It hurt, but it wasn’t fatal.

I moved closer to Ryan, my wolf adding to my presence. “Ryan, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, but your time as alpha is done.

“From what I’ve seen, jealous betas can be…unpredictable. If that happens, I’ll have to find someone else. Do you get what I’m saying?”

“I get it,” Ryan answered, his voice flat and emotionless.

The sound of hundreds of wolves howling pulled my focus and took my breath away.

I stood there, completely surrounded and utterly captivated by the sound. Nothing is as beautiful or as eerily empty as a wolf’s howl.

Rowan put his hand on the back of my neck, grinning. “It’s for you, man. They’re welcoming you back.”

Something warm spread inside my chest and traveled down my limbs, lifting me and pushing me into a shift.

I landed on all fours, standing tall before taking off. Ryan and Rowan shifted too, falling into their places.

It felt good to run again; to be with my pack and do what wolves do naturally. I felt like I belonged, even if it was just for a moment.

We ran past groups of wolves, their heads tipped back in song, each one welcoming me and showing their respect. I ran past, energized by the sound; carried away by it.

The wolf song was lifting me up, building to a peak in my chest.

My wolf wanted to howl back, to answer every call. I pushed him forward, savoring the moment for what it was: a show of love.

I would have my chance to show my pack how much I cared for them. But right now, this moment was for me.

We slowed down as we neared the territory, coming to a gentle stop at a group of howling wolves.

Feeling another presence, I turned my head and locked eyes with a red-haired girl with unusual eyes; all brown except for one bright blue stripe in her right iris.

The moment the girl blinked, I was released from the moment. I shook out my fur before taking off again, letting myself be drawn toward the call of my pack.

After another fifteen minutes of running, we had entered the territory and were quickly approaching the alpha’s house.

I stopped when I saw it, awestruck by its sheer size. The house was massive, modern, clean, commanding. It was the home of a diplomat, a leader, an alpha.

I approached the house, catching no scents. No one had lived here yet and now I was to inhabit its walls. Alone.

A shiver ran through me. I felt like a ghost had traced its fingers down my spine. Her fingers. Del. A soft growl rumbled low in my chest, audible only to me.

When I turned away from the house, I saw the wolves who had sung for me were waiting, their keen eyes blinking, curious about what I would do next. Without a second thought, I shifted and went inside.

The house was noticeably cooler than outside. I took a deep breath, inhaling the stale air, before taking a good look around.

At my feet was a pile of clothes. I pulled on the shorts and t-shirt before exploring.

In front of the main entrance was a grand staircase that curved to the right. The floors were hardwood, covered with a thin layer of dust. The walls were white; the rooms, just four corners.

I walked around the house, ending up in the kitchen and feeling a pang as memories flooded back.

Del, barefoot and smiling in our tent. Her long, honey-colored hair brushed her hips as she stirred soup over the tiny gaslight stove. Her eyes, smiling, with permanent creases in the corners.

“You hungry?”

I blinked and looked around the empty kitchen. Cold. There was nothing in it: no food, no pans, no joy. White walls, freshly sanded cabinets, and a back wall made entirely of windows.

I moved toward the windows, turning my back on the painful reminder of what I’d lost. The kitchen overlooked a large deck, and beyond, the forest.

The trees were sparser higher up the mountain where mostly only the hardy coniferous trees survived the colder, thinner air. I didn’t mind though; pine was one of my favorite scents.

I left the kitchen, taking the steps of the staircase two at a time as I moved on to explore the upper floors of the house.

There were a lot of bedrooms. Probably meant for the alpha pups, no doubt. Another pang echoed inside of me, this time a little different, tinged with the loss of possibility, not a person.

The master bedroom was huge, a bed already in place. White sheets were folded and placed at the end of it, ready if I wanted them.

I peeked my head in the closet, ran the taps in the bathroom, and opened and closed the windows.

When I was satisfied, I closed the bedroom door and headed toward the stairs, stopping halfway down when the front door rattled. A moment later, it opened and wolves poured in.

I held my tongue when I realized who they were. Companions. Friends.

“In the flesh,” Bennie shouted. “Can it be? Alpha Tyler Trip?”

I growled, coming down the stairs and pulling Bennie into a tight hug. “Good to see you, kid.” And it was. Bennie pulled away and smiled charmingly, looking down at me.

Bennie was a beanpole, taller than me at six-foot-five and impossibly thin. His knees and elbows were so prominent that they were almost dangerous.

He smiled goofily at me. He had blond curls, bright eyes, and was clumsy as hell. No wonder he was the kid of the bunch.

“We weren’t sure if you were ever coming back,” Bennie said. “I mean, the war ended like, so long ago!” I didn’t want to touch the subject, so I turned to the next person, smiling widely.

“Don’t smile at me, you idiot,” Sarah growled. “It’s not like I’m happy to see you or anything.” I held my arms out for my lead enforcer. She scowled.

I rolled my eyes. “Can’t you hug me, Sarah?”

Sarah’s usually sharp eyes narrowed to become even sharper. “No.”

Sarah was just about as tough as they came. She was the first female lead enforcer in our pack’s history and always eager to remind everyone why.

I let my hands fall, pretending to be hurt. “Do I have to order you?”

The tiniest smile lifted her face, which was angular and light. “Later,” she teased. “Away from prying eyes.”

“Oh, Sarah,” Jackie scolded, “how many times do I have to tell you that affection does not equal weakness?”

Jackie turned her full attention on me, her smile rounding her cheeks. “Welcome back, Alpha.” Jackie hugged me, her curly hair tickling my neck.

“Thanks, Jackie.”

The peacekeeper flashed a smile, tucking a lock of her dark hair behind her ear. I noticed a caramel streak in her bangs. That was new.

“I don’t need a hug,” Aaron declared, extending his hand instead. “Good to see you again, Trip.”

Seeing Aaron, the pack’s lookout, brought a wide grin to my face. His natural skittishness reminded me of the pranks we used to play on him when we were pups.

“Hey, Aaron, good to see you too,” I responded.

Aaron pulled his hand back, his gaze darting over all of us. “Oh no. No, Trip. I recognize that look. I know that smile. Don’t even think about it.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “I wasn’t thinking anything, buddy.”

Aaron looked suspicious. “Oh, yes, you were!”

Sarah chuckled. “You should have seen the prank I pulled last week. Oh, Trip, it was a riot.”

Aaron blushed, his almond eyes widening in disbelief. “It was not a riot, it was terrifying. I’ll never trust a glove compartment again.” I raised an eyebrow in response.

Jackie sighed. “While I’m sure Trip is curious, I’m certain he’s also feeling overwhelmed.” I blushed, one hand reaching to rub the back of my neck. Jackie was always so perceptive.

I smiled. “I’m okay, really. I actually expected more people. Where’s Theo?”

They all exchanged glances, each wearing the same expression. Dread. Almost immediately, a heavy feeling settled in my gut. “Is Theo…?”

“No,” Bennie quickly reassured. “Goddess, no.”

I exhaled in relief. “So, what’s going on, then?”

Jackie and Sarah shared a long look before Jackie nervously rubbed her brown hands over her jeans. “A lot has changed since you’ve been gone, Alpha.”

That heavy feeling returned to my gut. “Like what?”

“Ryan has…changed.”

I opened my mouth to ask more, but before I could, the door swung open and Ryan walked in, with Rowan trailing just behind him.

Ryan greeted me with a smile as he entered, his mouth slightly twisted from his scar. “How do you like the house, Alpha?”

I stiffened. “It’s okay. Nice. A bit sparse on furniture.”

Ryan laughed, the sound echoing off the bare walls. “I told them to leave it empty. I figured you’d want to start fresh, decorate it yourself. Of course, I assumed you’d have a woman to help you.”

Jackie inhaled sharply. “Ryan,” she warned softly.

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize we weren’t supposed to mention Del.”

The smile on my face was anything but warm and forgiving. “Don’t worry, Jackie. Ryan is right, Del can be mentioned.” Her name tasted like acid on my tongue, corroding my soul. “No problem.”

Ryan held my gaze for a long moment. “Good.”

Sarah’s entire body was rigid, as if she was ready to jump between us, which she probably was.

“The pack will be arriving soon,” Sarah said, trying to diffuse the tension between Ryan and me.

I narrowed my eyes at Ryan. “Where’s Theo? I thought he’d be part of my welcome party. After all, I was the one who got him appointed as scout.”

Ryan tilted his head back slightly, smirking. “I asked him to take care of a few things.”

“Really?” I asked, perking up. “Your errands were more important than my return?”

“I had a few alpha duties to wrap up. You don’t understand yet, but you will.”

Ryan’s words felt like a dagger twisting in my side, tearing through my flesh, shredding my composure.

“Don’t start something unless you intend to finish it,” I warned him, my voice low.

Jackie stepped between us, her face wearing a smile but her eyes blazing. “Let me finish it for you.

“Trip, you’ll need some time to get ready. The pack is almost here and Ryan has a speech to give. So, let’s sort this out later.”

Ryan grinned. I didn’t know what had changed in him. We had been close friends for years. Maybe my departure had created a rift between us that was too wide to bridge.

“You’re right, Jackie, I need to address my pack.”

The room fell silent. Bennie took a half step behind Aaron, who stepped behind Sarah. Jackie’s face flushed as she turned to glare at Ryan.

I remained calm, despite my wolf trying to claw its way out of my body, tearing my control to shreds.

“It’s the last time you’ll address them as such,” I said softly, “because make no mistake, Beta, this pack is mine.” I turned to head up the stairs, swallowing my anger one bitter gulp at a time.

I heard everyone leave my house just as I reached my room. Almost instantly, my wolf let go of its hostility toward Ryan.

Outside the house, my pack had gathered. I moved to the window, pushed the curtain aside, and took a quick look.

The group wasn’t as large as it once was, but the rebuilding was going better than I had dared to hope.

We had taken in a lot of strays after our makeshift territory had been burned down and we’d had to relocate up the mountain. I had marked out a new home but had left before it was furnished.

I heard Ryan’s speech but the distance and walls between us made his words too muffled to understand. I could hear the applause though: a mix of anxious clapping, nervous laughter, and wolf whistles.

I descended the stairs, growing more agitated the longer Ryan spoke to my pack. I heard his taunting voice in my head, saw the way his mouth curved when he saw himself getting under my skin.

I need to address my pack.

I flung the door open, not caring if I was interrupting him or not. If I had my way, Ryan would be out of my inner pack by tomorrow.

Ryan turned as I walked onto the porch, his hands raised in applause but his eyes filled with resentment.

I stepped forward, stopping just as my toes hung off the edge of the porch, hovering above the grand steps.

I scanned the crowd of my pack, trying to memorize as many faces as I could. Some were familiar; most were strangers. I spotted the redhead from earlier, standing next to a tall boy with silver hair.

I cleared my throat and the pack quieted, ready for my speech. A speech that I hadn’t prepared. I sent a silent plea to the Goddess, hoping she would guide my words.

“Uh,” I began, painfully aware of how unimpressive I sounded. “Hi.”

“Welcome back, Alpha!” someone shouted. “We missed you!” another voice echoed.

I smiled, feeling my cheeks and neck flush. “It’s good to be back, I, uh, missed this pack.” Silence fell over the area, pressing down on my windpipe, growing heavier with each passing second.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the silver-haired boy whisper something to the redhead. She laughed and my stomach clenched while my heart pounded in my ears.

I wanted to explain why I’d left. Why I had chosen to fight. I wanted to share my plans for the pack. The goals I wanted to achieve.

I wanted to share all the ideas I had to make us better, stronger, more unified. I wanted to tell them about Del. I wanted to commit myself to them.

But the words never came.

“Thanks for coming,” I said gruffly. “Means a lot.”

The silver-haired boy rolled his eyes and the redhead watched me closely, her head tilted to the side.

My palms started to sweat.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and tensed as Ryan chuckled beside me, smiling out at the pack with ease. “Looks like our alpha is a little tongue-tied!”

The pack laughed and I felt myself fading, slowly blending into the color of the house behind me. Invisible.

I felt Rowan behind me, his presence reassuring me that I was still there. “You okay, man?”

I blinked and Ryan was in front of me, heading down the stairs, approaching the pack. “You’ll have to forgive Trip. While an alpha, he’s still a rookie.”

The pack laughed and Rowan growled low enough for only me to hear.

“So, let’s help him out, shall we?” Ryan turned to me, wearing a smug grin that anyone else would have mistaken for sincerity. “Welcome back, Alpha!”

***

The party that followed was pure torture. I smiled, shook hands, chatted, and listened. The entire pack wanted to talk to me, to share their ideas and hear mine.

Unfortunately, I was no better at talking to them individually than I was to the group as a whole.

Halfway through the party, Jackie approached me, her brown skin glowing in the soft light from the torches set up around the area in front of the alpha’s house; my house.

“Are you okay, Trip? You don’t seem like yourself.”

I swallowed. “I wasn’t expecting…this.”

Jackie’s eyes were a sympathetic brown. “It must be hard, and that jerk Ryan isn’t making it any easier.”

I felt like I’d swallowed shards of glass. “What’s his—?”

“Sorry to interrupt.”

I turned to face the man behind me. He was pleasant-looking, with round features and high cheeks. His hair was shockingly silver and his skin was smooth, barely creased for his age.

“I wanted to introduce myself and my family. I’m Rick Ryder.”

I smiled at the man, extending my hand for him to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

I felt Jackie squeeze my forearm. “I’ll catch up with you later.” She breezed past, leaving me alone with the family.

I looked over the group, my eyes landing on the redhead before I recognized her brother. “Mick,” I blurted out, “how are you?”

Mick beamed, happy to be remembered. He stepped around his father and shook my hand, all the while holding on to a young lady I assumed was his mate. “I’m great, Trip, and you?”

I grimaced. “Good.”

My father sighed. “We are just so pleased you’re back,” he told me. “We’ve been waiting so long to have a real leader.”

My wolf hummed happily. Loyalty was what alphas thrived on. Behind Rick, the boy with silver hair chuckled.

I raised an eyebrow. “Something funny?”

The boy’s dark eyes widened in alarm. He looked at the redhead, then back at me. “What?”

“You laughed,” I said. “Was something funny?”

Before the silver-haired boy could respond, the redhead did. “It was me, I told a joke at the wrong time,” she admitted.

I held her gaze for a moment, intrigued by the uniqueness of her eyes, wondering what she was thinking.

“I like jokes,” I told her.

“You won’t like this one.”

“Caroline,” Rick scolded, giving me her name without asking.

I smiled at Rick. “It’s okay, it’s natural for your children to be cautious.”

I looked at the silver-haired boy and then at his sister. “I know the idea of me leading this pack after leaving it seems ridiculous. You’re not the first ones to think so.”

Just in front of me, Rick paled. “It’s my job to convince you otherwise.”

The silver-haired boy smirked, clearly skeptical. “Of course, Alpha.”

Caroline, however, seemed intrigued. Her eyes scanned my face, as though she was certain she could predict the future if she looked hard enough.

After a moment, she sighed, and her face relaxed. “You came onto the stage alone,” she said. “Why?”

My smile turned cold. “Because my mate is dead. No luna.”

Rick looked like he might faint, but Caroline didn’t flinch. She didn’t lower her eyes in the way people usually did when they heard about someone else’s tragedy; they didn’t soften or show pity.

She just held my gaze, understanding dawning in her eyes. “You’re alone,” she stated.

“Caroline!” her parents hissed in unison.

I didn’t mind though. For some reason, her saying it was a relief. Finally, I wasn’t avoiding the issue.

I was alone. I would live in that house alone. I would lead this pack alone.

But as I looked at Caroline—at her fiery hair, freckles, and unusual eyes—I wasn’t sure I would always be.