Chapter 8: Alpha Rising

"You'd actually leave Draven Falls?" Josh Rayburn asked as he lifted his beer to his lips. As soon as the two left the paper mill, they headed back to Josh's place, avoiding Shades and prying ears, as Dimitri told his friend about the meeting he sat through last night with the Paranormal Council. "That would definitely put your father in a tizzy."

Dimitri nodded, sitting in Josh's recliner, his hands dangling off the arms. "It would at that, but the opportunity is awesome. They want me to run the whole community, protecting the people who live there from outside threats."

Josh cocked an eyebrow at him as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "Does the town get a lot of outside threats?"

Dimitri shrugged as he crossed his legs, right ankle resting on his left knee. "I don't know to be honest. From what the Council told me, the small community is a safe haven for people wanting to get out of the public eye. They've either been hurt or used somehow by people who didn't particularly care for their secrets. A fox runs the town now, but according to Jed, he's allowed his affections for a coyote to trump his role as alpha. The witches already abandoned the community, fed up with the hypocrisy and politics. I don't think that set too well with Agatha Rochester."

Josh chuckled as he stared over at his friend. "Not a woman I'd want to cross."

"Me, either," Dimitri said. "The vampires have stayed in the background, refusing to get involved, and the humans feel bullied and ignored. The other shifters just go about their business. The Council wants the small town to feel more like a family than an isolated country club. They've tried to tell this Neal guy to change the way he runs things, but the man is obviously thinking with the wrong head."

"Don't most men?" With eyebrows raised, Josh took another swig of his beer. When he finished, he asked, "When do you need to give them an answer?"

"By week's end," Dimitri answered. "The one thing that holds me back is Lainie. I can't leave her here unprotected. You know my father and his manipulations. He's already picked out a husband for her and is planning on using her just as he used Fitz. I can't leave her to that fate."

Josh shrugged. "So, let's take her with us. She already said you'd better not leave her behind, right? Seems like she's already given you her answer."

"Us?" Dimitri gave his friend a puzzled look. "When did this become a team effort?"

"The minute the Council asked you to move to some hole-in-the-wall town," Josh told him. "You'll need someone you know and trust to help you kick the other guy out and get you settled among the locals, someone to watch your back while you're watching the backs of the community. Who better than your best friend?" Josh gave him a look like Dimitri should have already known he wasn't going alone.

Dimitri laughed as he gave a slow shake of his head. "Who indeed?" However, Dimitri had to admit having Josh with him would make the trip a lot easier. Having no one in Bull Creek he knew to help had unsettled him when the Council offered him the position, especially since there was already a feeling of unrest in the community, but he wasn't about to ask Josh to uproot his life, as well. Now, Dimitri didn't have to ask, and he felt better about his decision. Still, that left Lainie, and Dimitri didn't trust their father to abide by her wishes and leave her out of his matchmaking manipulations. Once Daniel Everest set his sights on something, he barged through until he got it, no matter who he trampled in the process. Fitz was a prime example of that. Dimitri refused to allow his sister to become roadkill along their father's travels to prosperity. "I'll talk to Lainie," he said. "Hopefully, she wasn't just mouthing off because of her anger and meant what she said. We already know Fitz won't protect her. Hell, he couldn't even protect himself."

"You know what you'll be giving up if you do leave, right?" Josh asked. "Papa will be pissed, and you and I both know he'll retaliate."

Dimitri nodded, knowing Josh was right. Daniel Everest wasn't a man to suffer disobedience. "Oh, I'm sure he'll try something, but the worst he can do is cut me out of his will." He shrugged. "Fitz made the ultimate sacrifice, so I'm fine if he gets it all. I prefer living my life on my terms, and my father's money won't sway me to deviate from that. He won't force me into a marriage against my will. Nothing is worth that." Their tribe arranged marriages all the time with very few exceptions, even before the curse. Dimitri had every intention of being one of those exceptions, as did Lainie.

"Just so long as you go into this with all the facts, prepared to deal with the consequences, and we both know there will be consequences." Josh took another swig of his beer as he stared at his friend.

Dimitri knew Josh was just making sure Dimitri had thought of everything, but as far as he was concerned, his father had already decided for him. "Trust me, the consequences of staying far outweigh those of leaving." He cocked his head a little as he eyed his friend. "And what about you? Are you really all right with leaving Draven Falls and your family?" Dimitri wanted Josh to go with him, but couldn't ask the man to leave his parents. Or his home, for that matter. Dimitri would suffer if he stayed, but Josh may very well suffer if he left.

Josh laughed. "We're not being run out of town or sneaking away," he said. "Well, you might be once dear ol' Dad gets wind you're no longer under his thumb. I, on the other hand, can always come and go, visit my parents, and they can visit me. Don't all old people go to Florida at some point?" He shrugged. "People move all the time. No big deal. Mom will pout, I'm sure, but they'll both be fine with my decision, especially given the circumstances. You're like another son to them, and you know it. Better, actually, since you don't borrow money." They both laughed. Then, Josh shrugged again. "Besides, I may just find my destined mate out there; who knows?"

Dimitri laughed again as he shook his head. Then he lifted his beer bottle in the air toward his friend. "Then, it's settled once I talk to Lainie. Here's to new adventures."

They clinked bottles and drank, Dimitri still debating whether or not he made the right decision, but also knowing he wouldn't back out now. He had no clue what awaited him in Bull Creek, but now, he was excited to find out. The idea of helping people thrilled him, especially people who were dumped on by the world and people they trusted. He knew all about that now.

The cold beer felt good on his throat as he swallowed. He was already thinking of how to remove the current alpha of the community and take over without too much hassle. Of course, the Council would probably inform Neal of the change, taking that headache away from him. Life wouldn't get easier—it may even be harder—but at least, it was his to live and not his father's. That alone was worth the move. And whatever cost he had to pay.

When he left his friend's house, Dimitri punched his sister's name into his cell phone.

"If you're drunk, I'm not coming to pick you up," she said in way of a greeting.

Dimitri laughed into the phone. "Not drunk, but it's good to know you'd abandon me in my time of need. I may just leave you here to deal with Father on your own, instead of taking you with me."

"Taking me with you? And just where the hell do you think you're going?"

"A small town in Florida called Bull Creek," he told her. "Meet me at the house, and I'll tell you all about it. I need you to make a decision, and I need you to make it soon."