Chapter 2

LUCAS

"Luke, they have crossed our territory and its boundaries several times this past week. We have found paw prints in the wet soil surrounding the creek. If that weak Matherson family can't keep their paws away from our settlement, I don't know what options we have at our disposal other than to punish them. They won't take our threats seriously unless we retaliate and attack." He stares at me as if he wants me to give in. "This time, you have to understand, Luke, that this is serious, and the stakes are beyond what you have thought of, what with the Summer Moon Festival coming on and all that."

"So, you want to violate the peace treaty with the Mathersons? What's next, Eli? Do you want to attack the Spiropoulous family afterwards you've done attacking all the rival packs in the area and have them cast a death spell on our kin?"

Eli shifts from one foot to another. He doesn't like my answer, and I'm glad my words get under his skin. His gaze falls on a distant object in my room as he rethinks what he wants to say next, and I patiently wait for his words so I can gauge how far his vendetta has taken him. Since the day the rival pack denied him slumming it together with Audra, he's been relentless in his attempts to disrupt the peace with the Mathersons. He's incessant and has a one-track mind about hurting the Mathersons because he thinks it will somehow qualm the pain he's been feeling.

That never really works.

Does it?

Revenge doesn't feel good unless it comes with some sort of redemption from the people who hurt you. Eli has always been a smart kid, but he should have known from the beginning that it's never a good idea to rest in the arms of the enemy.

"Get off my back, Luke." I smile when I hear him say it. Eli paces through the room and settles on the leather couch next to the giant window that overlooks the oak tree on our property. "Pete might take your criticisms easily and let it slide off his back, but I ain't cut from the same cloth. And I will never believe every word you say because I know you're doing this for you rather than me."

"Oh, I wish you were open to receiving constructive criticism, bud." I rummage through some papers on my desk and find one that needs immediate attention. "You need to get over whatever is bothering you," I pass the document towards him, "and shift your attention to this as soon as possible so it gets resolved in time."

"Another bar business you want to overtake, big guy?"

Shaking my head, I ignore his snarky comment.

Somehow I knew it was not a good idea to let my best friend become the second-in-command to me or hand him the power to handle my pack. He knows he has power and can use it against my will to navigate whatever personal ambitions he has, but I made the mistake of believing in his innocence as I took the role of the alpha of our pack. When we were young, Eli used to be more level-headed than he is now. And no one else fits the bill I wanted my beta to be.

Eli was a choice made with much contemplation and surrounded with distrust of the rest of the pack family. At least with him, I know the kind of betrayal I would get in return for my trust. With others, I can hardly tell.

"I want to franchise a bunch of liquor lounge businesses on the Fairmont line all the way to Oklahoma, and I know this acquisition will also help the local businesses to get the capital they need to thrive." Putting my hands in my pants pocket, I smirk. "It's a win-win situation for all of us."

Eli nods as he accepts the file in his hands.

"Like I said, you're self-centred, man. And the only person you're looking out for is you."

"Look out for what you are saying, Eli." I lick my lips. "One of these days, I will fire you."

Eli chuckles as if the thought tickles him.

"I know you better than you do, Luke." He heads for the door. "You won't do such a thing."

As he steps out of the room with a sceptical look on his face, he closes the door behind him. I rest my palms on my office desk, huffing under my breath. It annoys me because I know he's right.

I would never fire my best friend as the beta in my pack or as my business manager.

There's simply too much at stake.

And I can't afford to lose him right now.

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