Reckless Regrets
Chapter 25

Morgan

“I tried to wait a respectable amount of time, but this was the best I could do. Was that Marisol and Cameron I saw behind him? What is going on?” I asked.

“Yes, that was them, but I don’t know what’s going on yet. All I know is that all of the men are aware of what the situation is, Tyson seems oddly calm about it, and they’ve even got their dads here for some secret meeting.”

“Dads? Whose dad?”

“Xander, Kade, and Matt’s. Our fathers-in-law are upstairs locked in the office, and it’s on Alaia and me to keep Marisol and Cameron busy in the meantime.”

I let out a deep breath and prepared myself to ask the question I’d been dreading. Well, it wasn’t the question but the answer I’d been avoiding.

“What is she like? I remember him saying she was psycho. Does she seem like she’s good to him? Treats him the way he deserves to be treated? The way I treated him?”

“Honestly? She seems okay; I haven’t seen any psycho yet. And the little boy is adorable. Super sweet, smart, and very handsome.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from a child of his. What do I do, Tay?”

“Do what we’re all doing; you wait. I hate to admit it, but our guys haven’t let us down before, and I don’t see them starting now, especially when it’s something so significant on the line. We have to trust them. Not saying that we have to accept being cut out of the loop, Matt and Tyson will have their sexy asses handed to them for this s**t, but trust them to figure it all out.”

“I’m kind of on a time crunch. If I wait too long, it will be too late.”

“I understand your position, but it will never be too late. This is your journey, sweetie; live it and grow from it.”

I didn’t want to go down the baby rabbit hole again, not right now. As it stood, I’d made a promise to Kade and had stopped actively researching termination, but it was still in the back of my mind.

And the thoughts made me sadder than anything I’d ever experienced. But that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t go through with it. I would. I would! I just needed to keep telling myself; then I’d eventually believe it.

“Do you think he likes her?” I asked.

“He’s friendly, but that’s Kade. I don’t think there’s any attraction, though. Do you remember how he was when Aires first showed up? Still 100 % in love with you, but he flirted shamelessly with her. I don’t see any of that here. And he says he’s trying to fix this, and I believe him.”

“Fine! I just want it on the record that this is bullshit, and I hate every second of it.”

“Noted. Go have some fun in the shower and relax. When we have an update, you’ll have an update. I promise.”

A nap sounded better actually, and I would leave Mitchell’s showerhead alone tonight, but I made no promises for tomorrow.

“Just keep an eye out for him, okay? If she’s up to something and she hurts them, I won’t be able to control myself when the time for revenge comes.”

“I don’t see that happening, but I’ll try and fill her out. Now I’ve gotta go, I’ve been gone way too long, and it’s going to be obvious that I was talking s**t. Love you!”

I hung up and spent a few minutes speculating over what could be going on. I knew that the guys asked their dads to help them on occasion, there was no problem that years of experience couldn’t help solving, but I’d never know of them needing all three.

Damn it! Why did I have to leave? If I could just be there now, I know I could figure out what was up and not feel like my life was in limbo. I absolutely hated this.

***

Kade

I was nervous walking to Xander’s office, and it wasn’t because of my dad or anyone else being there, but because of what Morgan has seen and the fact that I couldn’t fully explain. I just hoped Taylor or Tyson could step in where I couldn’t. When I pushed all that aside and stepped inside the office, I felt a major blast from the past.

Xavier was sitting behind the desk with his feet propped on the corner, while my dad and Matt’s were lounging side by side on the couch. As a child, I would see these three in these exact spots, and besides a few more gray hairs and wrinkles, they looked exactly the same.

Matt, Alexi, and Tyson were standing along the wall, which I found interesting. They were the current pack leaders, and technically should be seated, but they didn’t seem to feel the need to push the issue.

Xander was different.

“Come on, Dad. Get your feet off my desk; that thing is expensive,” he stated as he walked in.

“I don’t know what was wrong with the mahogany desk I left in this office when I stepped down. It worked for the last three Alphas Blue Moon had before you and would have lasted for at least another three.”

“Nothing was wrong with it; I just didn’t want it. If our next alpha wants it, Xayden can have it. Now feet off and move.”

I stood next to Matt and watched the interaction go down.

“Are you asking me to move, or telling me?”

“Old man, I don’t have time for your s**t today. A lot is going on right now, so let me get to it. I respect you too much to command you, but if you keep pushing my buttons, I’ll do just that.”

“Old? You guys hear this? Our boys think we’re old now?” Uncle Xavier turned to the couch and laughed.

Xander pushed his feet off the desk then pulled him to a standing position before taking his spot behind the desk.

“Goddess, I don’t know how Mom deals with you. Anyway, we need to know everything you three know about Canyon Woods and Alpha Thorne.”

“Thorne? Why are you dealing with him? He’s been obsessed with our pack for years, but I never gave him the time of day when I was Alpha.”

“You’re really living under a rock these days, Xav. Blue Moon isn’t dealing with Thorne; Kade is. He’s also the father to Thorne’s only grandson and Canyon Woods future alpha, isn’t that right, son?”

Clearly, Dad was in his feelings today. Perfect.

“That’s the story, but that doesn’t make it true,” I replied.

“Then please enlighten us ‘Old guys’; what the f**k is going on? Xander, if you’ve allowed this pack to sink into some s**t because you couldn’t properly lead, I swear I’ll petition to have you removed. My pack is too strong to crumble because of reckless decisions, regardless of which one of you is making them,” Xavier firmly stated while pointing to Xander and the rest of us.

Welp, that was all it took to have respectable and calm Xander out the window.

“First of all, this is my pack, and it will remain my pack until Xayden takes over. Your time is up, so don’t ever threaten me with removal again. Absolutely everything connected to Blue Moon, be it the membership numbers, quality of life in the village, financial assets, or the three companies I run, have prospered under my leadership, and you f*****g know it.

So, think about your next words carefully because you’re not only disrespecting me by making these accusations, you’re also disrespecting my team, and that’s where I draw the line. Now, can you sit the hell down and help us figure this s**t out, or do you need to leave? Frankly, I don’t care either way; I’m sure James and Peter can fill us in.”

Uncle Xavier quickly deflated then took the final spot on the couch.

“I apologize, Xander. That pack has just always been a headache, and I never expected to have to deal with them again. I’m listening, and I’ll help. However I can.”

“Wow, Uncle Xavier. I’ve never seen you submit to anyone. It was beautiful,” I joked.

“You are not my alpha, so you can get your a*s kicked with no problem. Don’t test me, kid, I’d bet my house that whatever this mess is, it’s your d**k that got you into it,” he quickly replied.

“It was absolutely his d**k,” my dad added.

“Sounds like Luca. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a few kids out there I don’t know about,” James said, referring to Matt’s younger brother.

“We’re getting off track. Kade, explain everything from the beginning, and we’ll take it from there. We’re not leaving this room until we’ve got this figured out, so everyone, get comfortable,” Xander commanded.

***

It took an hour to fully explain the entire situation, especially with all the interruptions, but when it was said and done, I was relieved and ready to see what we needed to do to be through with it all.

“Are you sure that Canyon Woods was behind your mother’s death? Without a doubt?” my dad asked.

“That’s what Marisol says. She hasn’t provided us with any proof yet; the plan is to start collecting all of that when we return tomorrow.”

“You’re going back there?! Are you insane? Alpha, this is a terrible idea. He needs to be attacked immediately and killed, that’s the only plan that makes sense,” Dad boomed.

“We will take him out, but not before we know everything. We need to know what his obsession is, and we need to collect evidence,” Xander replied.

“I’m sorry, but why? You don’t need proof; you have your suspicions, and that’s good enough. This packs reputation is solid; we wouldn’t have to justify anything.”

“Because I don’t plan just to kill Thorne. I plan to take over Canyon Woods and absorb them. For that, I need evidence of all that’s been going on. I’m looking to make our pack stronger and provide the wolves of Canyon Woods a decent life, one that they’re currently not getting. I’m an Alpha, and a damn good one, it’s what we do.”

Dad seemed to accept the answer when he saw Xavier nodding silently beside him.

“I promise you we will get justice for Aunt Vanessa. With the eight of us working together, there is no way in hell Thorne will get away with this.”

“Kade, you’d better be careful. I do want to know why I lost your mother, but if I lose you in the process, nether Lily, Rose, or I will ever recover. Nor will that beautiful Morgan. You find what you need to find, and then you boys make him wish he was never born; make him regret the day he ever crossed Blue Moon.”

“Abso-f*****g-lutely, Dad. This is what we do.”