Chapter Twelve
Alpha Duties

[ Braxton ]

"Alpha, a word please?"

I looked up to find Ryder standing just outside of the office, I picked up on his formal use of 'Alpha' so I knew whatever he had to talk about was serious.

"Yeah man come on in and shut the door." He did as instructed before I motioned for him to grab a seat, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah..."

I could pick up his hesitations and knew this instantly that whatever he had to discuss wasn't something fun for him. So I tried to ease him into it with small talk.

"So how're things going with Harper's sister Valerie?"

He nodded, "Valerie is a good study partner, and I'm just glad she was serious when she came into the study sessions...not at all like the girl I remember from a couple of the sorotity parties i'd seen her at."

"That's good, so...seriously man, what's up?"

He sat there for a moment almost trying to find his words, "um, I have to go out of town this weekend...it's my dad...he um, he's not doing too good...I mean, from the way Trace was talking...it's...it's really not good."

"Ryder, I'm sorry to hear that...and of course you can go." I said feeling like shit, I knew the history of Ryder and his family, but even if he resented his father....at the end of the day that is still his father. "If you don't mind, I'll go with you."

"Braxton, you don't have to." He tried to protest.

"Nonsense, both your brother and your dad came down when my dad passed... the least I can do is pay my respects to your old man while he's still with us right...I'll get Vance and Patrick to take care of things while we're out."

"You sure man...and what about the Luna to be?"

I nodded, "I sure dude, and Harper wouldn't mind me going...I'll just let Harper know I'm going out of town for business and I'll be back as soon as I can."

He thanked me (not that he needed to) and didn't stick around long after that.

But I was concerned for him.

I watched as he left and sighed, I knew things had always been sort of strained for Ryder and his Dad. And truth be told Ryder never liked the idea of his Dad not committing to his mom after his original Luna died...it was a complicated history, but one that Ryder seemed to always hold onto...and maybe that's why he was feeling so down now, like he'd never get that chance to fix things with his Dad.

I hurt for my best friend.

My pack is the Everest Ridge Pack. And Ryder's mother, Emily Crain, is a pack member through birth. But Ms. Crain has family in the Garnet Hills Pack, His Father's pack... and I suppose that's how his parents met.

From what I know Ryder's lived here with his mother his whole life, but I met Ryder when we were 5, both starting Kindergarten class and we've been like brothers every since.

And growing up it didn't make Ryder like his father any more when he was forced to go and visit him every other weekend growing up...but luckily when Ryder shifted he had control of his own actions after that and didn't have to go visit anyone he didn't want to, and therefore he hadn't been to his Father's pack in years...which is one of the reasons if not the main reason I am going.

As my best friend, I would be there for him no matter what, just like I know he's been there for me throughout all my shit.

I let out a sigh as Isuddenly remembered all of what I was suppose to have accomplished this weekend; introducing Harper to my grandmother, getting her started on training, and maybe even marking and introducing her to the council to get them off of my back.

All of that was out of the window now.

I pulled out my phone and text Harper.

[Braxton: Hey gorgeous, got any plans tonight?]

I was thiking about cooking her dinner and maybe even try and convince her stay the night with me, it know we'd discussed telling the council we'd mark her on the weekend, but technically Harper had given me the go ahead to mark her once her heat was officially gone...and it's gone, so maybe I could ease her into the marking a little sooner than she may be anticipating.

[Harper: I actually do, I'm swamped with crap...dinner with Val tonight and a huge project for school that I'm going to be working on the rest of the week as well as my other assignments.]

[Harper: Not to mention that my two best friends have planned a girls weekend, sorry love, but I don't think I'll be able to do much of anything unless it's gonna be on Sunday night.]

I had to admit that I was more than a little irritated, lately it seemed like Harper was putting me on the back burner, like everything was coming before me while I was trying my hardest to put her first.

[Braxton: About this weekend...it's no good for me, I have business out of town I'll texxt you when I get back.]

[Harper: Okay... any other info you'd like to share like what's going on and how long you'll be gone?]

[Braxton: Alpha business, and I'll text you when I get back.]

Truth was I didn't want to disrespect Ryder by telling his business, sure he may not care that I tell her, but as he is my pack member he disclosed that in confidence, and I wouldn't break that confidence.

And to be honest, who knows how long I would be at the Garnet Hills Pack with Ryder and his family, depending on his health if worst comes to worst and he dies...I'll have to stick around for the council to appoint and notarize the new Alpha...but something tells me they are going to have a long time with the process considering Ryder's dad, Alpha Johnson had a total 5 kids with various women.

Three sons and two daughters.

His first two children were twins; a son name Maxwell and a daughter named Yvonne...but Maxwell passed away.

Then he married and his Luna had Trace, unfortunately his Luna died in childbirth.

Next came Ryder and Last is their baby sister Morgan.

And thats where everything starts getting a little muddy... you see with Maxwell passed, Yvonne is the oldest, so some say she's the rightful Alpha replacment, but others say Trace because for one he is a male (and their pack only has male Alphas) but more importantly, his mother was the actual Luna.

Of course that is just worse case scenario...for all we know Alpha Johnson may very well recouperate and be fine.

Harper never text me back and I sighed, I wondered if I had offended her in my last text, I re-read it and found how it could be taken as me being short or curt with her. So I text her back really quick.

[Braxton: you know I love you right...just got hit with a ton of stuff all of a sudden.]

And upon my wolf's urging I went ahead and told her the truth...I'd have to apologize to Ryder later, once again I'm sure he wouldn't mind in the first place, but you never know.

[Braxton: Truth be told Ryder is having some family issues and I'm going out of town to support him, I'm not sure how long it will take but I will text and call you every chance I get.]

I waited for her response but didn't get one. I began to panic a little, I hope I hadn't really upset her.

I put my phone down and decided to go for a run.

__________

After the run I remember the most arduous task of all.

I was suppose to introduce my mate to my grandmother...it has to be done weather I do it or not as I knew the council want her to be the person who trains Harper in the ways of the Luna. My mom has never been the biggest fan of my grandmother's prejudices but I know she'd help with this.

The council said my grandma had to be the one to train Harper, not that anyone couldn't sit in and monitor the training.

I pulled my phone out and called up my mother and then Elise, I let them know what was going on and they both agreed to help when and if they could. Because there was no way I was going to leave my mate and future Luna to be disrespected by anyone, especially my own Grandmother.