Sins of the Father

“Alpha Forester, we weren’t sure if you were going to make it.”

Liam Forester shut the door of the SUV behind him slinging a duffel bag over his shoulder. He looked at the Beta of the Leloup Pack in front of him, not offering an explanation. “Alex already on board?”

Julian Bauer nodded. “They’ll take off as soon as you’re on board.”

Liam stalked towards the steps leading to the private airplane. He hated flying but couldn’t argue the time saving aspect. Driving to the pack lands they were visiting would have taken four times as long. Alexandre Leloup, his traveling companion and Alpha of the Leloup Pack had several planes in his fleet. The French Pack went back centuries had built up wealth over those years. Liam’s own pack lineage wasn't anything to take lightly but the Ossory Pack didn’t boast a direct linage. There had always been a Leloup as Alpha and there would be until Alex decided to retire. With no mate and no offspring, the direct lineage of the pack would die. Fortunately, Alex wasn’t planning on retiring anytime soon which was good because they were in the middle of trying to unify the packs and without Alex’s leadership they would probably be headed towards civil war or worse.

He stepped across the bulkhead, mind on the reason for the short trip they were embarking on, and was almost knocked off his feet. Friends had described the experience but he had never really believed it. The scent that called to him and soothed his very soul. Mate.

He glanced around until his eyes landed on ice blue eyes that stared at him. She looked a little like a deer caught in headlights. Brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, laptop on her lap. He started towards her until his path was blocked. He let out a growl before he realized who was in front of him. “Alex.”

“I was worried you were going to leave me to deal with delivering the councils’ proposal by myself.”

Liam forced himself to focus on Alex. The bulkhead door had closed, it wasn’t like she could escape. “Small problem on the border. It’s been resolved.”

“I would expect nothing less. You’re nothing if not efficient. I think that’s one thing Adelaide has always appreciated about you.”

Pieces clicked into place in Liam’s brain as he glanced over Alex’s shoulder at his mate. “That’s Adelaide? I wasn’t sure I would ever actually meet her. You’ve never brought her to meetings before.”

Alex shrugged. “She’s reviewed all of the land contracts and agreements between the packs. And the ones she didn’t review she wrote. I thought it might be more efficient.” He glanced back at the woman who was now intently focused on her laptop screen. Looking back at Liam he gestured to a seat. “Things are getting tense.”

Liam looked back at her again before sinking into the seat next to Alex. They were already taxiing down the runway. “Tense?”

Alex leaned forward, “Julian is making his move. I didn’t trust leaving her unprotected.”

Liam looked over the seat at her again, every protective instinct he had kicking in. “You think he’d go after her to get to you?”

“He knows what she means to me. If he though it would give him leverage he wouldn’t hesitate.”

Liam growled. “I have never understood why you didn’t put him down.”

Alex sighed. “Things are never black and white. 20 years ago it was the only way to bring the two packs together and avoid further bloodshed. Since then he’s held just enough power within the pack to make it problematic to remove him.”

Liam felt the air equalize as the plane reached cruising altitude. “I hope that doesn’t prove to be a mistake.” He looked back at Alex. “You think she’s in danger.”

Alex shrugged, “It could also just be the worries of an old man.”

Liam pushed himself up from the seat and glanced towards the back. She had moved out of her seat and into the galley. “I trust your instincts.” He looked down at Alex. “Since you’ve never let me meet her, I’m introducing myself.” His wolf was pushing against him, fighting to come to the surface. Tamping it down, he made his way back to her. Stopping behind her, he breathed in her scent which seemed to calm his wolf enough so he could say something other than ‘Mate’. “AJ…nice to meet you in person.” Liam breathed in her scent again realizing he would never tire of it.

Taking a sip from the water bottle, Addie turned around. She knew he had made his way back to her. It was a small plane, unless she grabbed a parachute there was only so far she could run. She found herself staring at his chest. His very large chest. She imagined that everything hidden underneath the black pullover was incredibly well defined. Everything about him screamed dominant Alpha male. She forced her eyes to travel up to his face and she unconsciously sucked in a breath. “I think you’re the only person who has ever called me AJ.” The man had the most annoyingly beautiful green eyes. Logic would have dictated that full blooded Irish had a strong chance of making him a redhead but he wasn’t. Ridiculously dark black hair made those green eyes stand out even more. She felt the edge of the counter against her back and realized she had unconscious backed away from him. She knew that was her human side applying logic to the situation because the wolf instinct inside her wanted to wrap her legs around him and mark him. So far her human logic was winning out but there was only so far she could back away.

Liam reached behind her to grab his own water bottle. The movement brought him even closer to her. “It’s the way you have signed every single email you’ve sent me over the years.” He leaned back and unscrewed the water bottle top. “Would you prefer Adelaide?”

“Addie is fine.”

Liam nodded and took a sip of his water. “I’m realizing maybe I should have made an effort to meet you in person before now.” Finding a mate had never been a priority. When he first took over as Alpha, survival had been the bigger concern. The months had turned into years and survival became a way of life. His own Beta had found his mate last year. Most of his Gamma’s had found theirs as well. Now, he had found his and his wolf was anxious to claim her.

Addie smirked and took another sip of water. “Careful, your wolf is showing.” His green irises has taken on a slightly golden tint.

Liam leaned forward. “What did you expect…” He frowned and looked towards the front of the plane. Reacting on instinct, he pushed her behind the bulkhead wall and covered her body with his as an explosion tore the plane apart.