A/N: Sorry it's a bit late, actually struggled to finish this one. It's a bit shorter than normal for Simon's POV, but meh. Don't forget to comment, vote, follow, etc. Thanks for the 3k votes so far! Anyways, enjoy! Things should begin to pick up more in the next few chapters.

Chapter 30

Simon's POV

I ended up making pancakes for breakfast with Xavier hovering around me. He had burned them the last time he made it, so I helped show him how. He helped add the toppings he wanted, watching at awe as I flipped it without any troubles. He told me one time it folded in half like an omelette, and since then he had given up on making pancakes.

"Gosh, I really don't know how you do that," he said in between munching the pancakes. "You know one time I messed up a frozen pizza. I accidentally left the cardboard underneath it, and the smoke detector went off. Luckily Dwaine was here, or the kitchen would have been burned down."

I smiled as he continued to scarf down the rest of the pancakes.

He checked his phone before clearing his throat, "Michael wants to speak with you."

I set the dishes in the sink before looking at him. "About yesterday?"

Xavier nodded, before pursing his lips. "Did you want me to come with?"

"I should be alright," I told him. So long as Vince wasn't there, I'd be fine.

"Well, let me know if you need me there. I've gotta set up some things for the RCPP, but I'll be there if you call."

I hummed before finishing up the dishes, Xavier helping to put them back in the drawers and cabinets. It was amusing watching him try to figure out where his own dishes go. Poor guy really had no kitchen skills.

Xavier walked with me to the packhouse, since it was on his way to the RCPP, he'd point out a few things we missed yesterday, explaining a few changes they made to certain things. Sarah had expanded the orphanage program with Xavier, the very one I had volunteered at. The building had gained a few extra rooms and a larger outdoor space for pups to run. Walking past it, a few of the workers had waved at us, some of the older kids yelling at Xavier. He waved back with such a kind smile, even calling out to the workers' and kids' names.

He gave another wave before continuing to walk, going on about some other things, while I stared at the packhouse. It was always a scary building, even when I had been here, I think I only ever went inside twice. It was massive, for starters, but the enormous windows, along with the betas patrolling the perimeter just made it even more intimidating.

With Xavier next to me, they didn't even blink twice as I walked up the steps, heading inside.

Xavier pointed up the grand staircase that led to the office we had been in yesterday. "He's in the conference room on the third floor. Let me know if you need me."

I nodded, giving him a small smile, before looking up the flight of stairs. Even the way the red stair runner matched the decorative pieces next to stairs seemed so elaborate and lavish. I hadn't noticed it yesterday, but everything about the place was so out of my comfort zone. The detailing on the railing, or the different moldings surrounding the walls, or even the little knick-knacks that served no real purpose but to scream expensive. It was worlds apart from the motel we stayed at.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding before walking up those steps.

I had to convince myself to keep walking when I stared at the foreboding mahogany double doors. Just yesterday, it was a complete shitshow there. From what Michael suggested to Aspen dragging us out of there. But I had to believe that Michael wouldn't put me and Vince in a room together, that he was just here to talk to me alone.

And with the remaining courage left, I opened the door slowly, a wave of relief when it was just Michael inside.

"Simon," he greeted, gesturing to one of the chairs. "Please sit."

He pulled out the chair, before going around the table to sit across from me. "I figured I'd discuss things with you first, without Vince, because it would just turn into a yelling fest."

He sighed, before reaching for a file next to him. "I swear, that kid is just like our father."

I watched as he pulled out some photos, some papers, not entirely sure what he was doing. He started laying them out, photos that almost looked like mug shots, some hand-written notes, etc.

When he saw my confused face, he pointed at the notes. "I borrowed these from Chase. He showed these to Vince earlier. Wolves like us. Those who lost their mates, or were separated. Many haven't lived for ten years since their partner's deaths. Some didn't even last a year. I'm sure there are a few that have lived as long as we have, but they were never documented. Chase's father had started keeping track of these cases for maybe twenty years before he died. Chase had been taking over, but the results are all the same."

"What does this have to do with yesterday?" I asked, still confused as ever.

He looked at me with a sad smile. "Sorry about yesterday. I probably should've explained it better before the meeting, but I was still piecing together how I wanted this to work. But I promise you, I won't force you to do anything if you don't want to. Call it shock therapy, but I'm really trying to help both of you. These wolves suffered till they eventually went rogue, insane, and eventually died alone. My brother can be a real dick, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

I was still trying to comprehend everything. Looking at the notes, it was fairly sad. Some were like me, rejected. Others had partners who died in freak accidents.

Michael reached over, grasping my hand in his. "We suffered for so long, Simon. Alone. After David died, I almost thought I'd immediately go rogue, not caring about anything. There were nights I felt like pummeling myself down a cliff, or laying in the snow until I withered away. But things don't have to be like that. Things could be different for you two."

"But forcing us together," I questioned. "I don't think it'll work."

"No," he agreed. "But Vince knows the consequences if you die. And the fact that it's been sixteen years means if he keeps this act up, you could easily wind up like these wolves. And soon he'd be affected. He's gotta change if he doesn't want to end up like our parents."

I blinked, trying to connect some of the dots. "So the alpha role?"

"It's an incentive. Vince idolizes that role like some kid in a candy store. He'd practically do anything for it. He'll probably fight it for a while until he realizes that's the only way I'm giving it to him."

"Oh," was all I could think to say. It was still all so confusing. There were so many questions of what-ifs and questions of how and why. I still doubted that Vince would even agree to things later on. But if there was a chance of even getting close to understanding why Vince had done what he did, Michael's plan was only sounding more intriguing.

"Now, I know it'll be scary," he squeezed my hand. "I don't expect you to immediately warm up to him either. And if Vince seems to be pushing for it and going too fast, you let me know immediately. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything rash. I won't let anything bad happen to you. You take all the time you need, I don't want you to get hurt."

"Thanks," I let out, daring to look up at his face. His eyes immediately softened, his smile growing as he patted my hand.

He glanced at the papers before us before looking back up at me saying, "he doesn't know what he's missing."

It took me second to realize he was talking about me, to which I immediately blushed, pulling my hands out of his grasp.

I stared at the papers again, trying to avoid eye contact when I noticed one of the pictures with David's name underneath it. I pointed at it, before asking, "did you ever find out why Vince, you know?"

Michael sighed, before picking up the photo, looking at it longly. "Sadly, no."

"Oh," I let out, an awkward feeling in the air around us.

"Same with your family, right?" He said softly. I nodded.

He set David's photo down, his hands shaking. I hesitated, but reached out a hand, placing on top of his and giving it a squeeze.

"I think," I whispered before looking up at him. "Maybe we can get the closure we need. If I get him to explain himself, we'll figure out why, finally."

He smiled. "I sure hope so."

We stayed like that for what seemed like a few minutes, before we put the file away, talking about other little things. I realized he had also missed pack life, he was so used to being on the run, living in caves, or motels too. We had quite a bit in common, I realized. He had left the pack the same year I had, and we found the spike of new members and growing houses to be quite overwhelming.

He told me a bit about how becoming the alpha was totally unexpected at first, and how much things he needed to do to make this pack better.

Michael had a few things he needed to do, so we wrapped up, promising to talk soon. As we were about to head out the double doors, Vince's scent had me glued to the floor. He was nearby, which shouldn't have surprised me too much considering this was his home. But after being wrapped up in Michael's conversation, I wasn't sure what to think.

Even though I knew I'd have to face him, it was still so nerve-wracking.

"You alright?" He asked, placing a hand on my upper back. I mouthed Vince's name, almost scared to even whisper it in case Vince could hear it.

He looked down with concern before giving me a kind smile. "I've got you."

He guided me out of the room, walking maybe a few feet when Vince appeared in front of us, having just walked up the stairs. We stared at each other for maybe a second before I looked away, the hairs standing up on my body as a chill went down my spine. Out of instinct, I grasped Michael's shirt sleeve. I felt frozen, scared I'd just crumple right here on the fancy carpet, but Michael's warm hand on my back kept me from falling, guiding me past Vince. I could feel Vince's gaze on us, but I tried to focus on anything but that, Michael's sleeve becoming a crumpled mess.

If just running into him was like this, I feared I wouldn't be able to get that closure I wanted. How could I when I couldn't even look Vince in the eyes.