Colby watched as the females covered his mom in a white sheet. The Enforcers laying her on a bed made out of firewood. Beta Mac handed his father the burning torch. He bowed and went back to stand in his position.
His dad leaned over and whispered something in his mate's ear. Kissing her cheek before setting the torch against the wood. Ben set his hands on his son's shoulders.
"Now, we get to work", Ben said.
He watched his dad walk back towards their home with his Beta and Enforcers behind him. His uncle set his hand on his shoulder.
"He loves your mom, but this is really hard on him.", he explained.
Colby nodded.
"Can I be in the meetings with them?", Colby asked.
"No, sorry. Maybe when you are a little older. For now, lets train you better", Seth said.
Colby nodded.
After a few weeks, his dad stayed locked up tight with his Beta and Enforcers for hours. He saw him once in the morning and once before bed. He spent his mornings training with his uncle. Running and shifting.
"If I can catch you, you aren't running fast enough. Push yourself Colby, no matter how tired you are", his uncle shouted.
He's shifted many times, but his uncle made him shift from human to wolf in a blink of an eye. His muscles were sore and he was exhausted.
"You have to shift faster than them, you'll need your wolf and your human.", Seth said.
Colby nodded. Kaia approached them.
"If I was about to be mauled by wolves, would you lay there to recover or continue to fight?", she asked Colby.
Seth smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I would continue to fight", Colby answered.
They turned when Ben approached them.
"No matter how much pain you're in. You heal fast, you can fight and heal at the same time. Your body knows too, son. Push through the pain, numb it", his dad said.
Colby nodded. Ben looked at his brother.
"A word", he said.
Seth nodded and followed after Ben. Kaia looked at Colby.
"Come on, lets find you something to eat", she said.
Colby nodded and walked beside Kaia back home. When they walked in, she looked around. The house was a mess and the dishes piled high in the sink and the counter. She shook her head lightly. Walking into the kitchen, Colby sat at the table and watched her. There was no point in telling her there was no food.
There hadn't been food in the fridge for the last two days.
"What have you been eating?", she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
He shrugged.
"Cereal, but that finished last night. Dad and I shared the last of it", he said.
She growled.
"Alright, I can go talk to Andrade and ask for his help. He owes us", Seth said.
Ben nodded.
"Your new family wouldn't want to lend a hand, would they?", Mac asked.
Seth chuckled.
"I think we both know the answer to that", Seth replied.
"If Andrade says no, we are on our own", Mac said.
"Technically, we don't need them. I just think its only fair if they asked for help and we say yes, they should say yes as well. David came after my wife because I took Andrade's side. Now I need him on mine", Ben said.
"And if he says no to me?", Seth asked.
"I've already got a plan set in place.", Ben replied.
"Does it involve killing them?", Seth asked.
Ben smirked.
"No. An Alpha's pride and joy is his position in a pack. Take that away and what do you have?", Ben said.
Mac smirked.
"A bitch with his tail between his legs", Mac said.
Ben laughed.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Kaia will be staying here for the night.", Seth said.
Ben nodded. Seth let the office and went to find his mate. She was washing the dishes while making mac and cheese for Colby. Its all she could find left.
"I know he lost his mate, and he's angry. I would be too, but he still has his son. Look at this, Seth. There is absolutely no more food and he has no clean clothes or dishes to eat on. Really?", she said angry.
Seth sighed.
"I'll handle it", he said.
She turned the water off in the sink and walked past him.
"No. I will", she said, stomping towards Ben's office.
"Shit", Seth mumbled.
"She's going to kill dad", Colby said.
Seth chuckled.
"She just might", he replied, making his way to the office.
They walked in and they looked at the angry female.
"I'm sorry you lost your wife. I can't imagine what you're going through, but you still have your son. He is still a child, who needs his dad. There is no food, no clean clothes, or dishes. No comfort from you, he is hurting too, Alpha. Pushing away or pretending that he's not here, is not healthy for him or you. Love your son, or he just might end up like the Wyatts", she said.
Seth glanced at his brother. Ben had no expression on his face. Mac shifted on his feet.
"Well?", she asked.
Ben looked at Mac.
"Send an Enforcer or two to collect the groceries. Kaia will make you a list. I will handle everything else", Ben said softly.
Mac nodded before leaving the office. Ben looked at Kaia.
"You're right. I've been neglecting my son. Thank you, Kaia for reminding me where my thoughts should be.", Ben said.
Kaia nodded.
"I've finished some of the dishes and put a load of laundry in. I get it, you know. My brother is an Alpha and he helped his mate as much as he could. Its a lot for just you, teach Colby how to wash his own clothes or make a good meal for himself when you can't.", she said.
Ben nodded.
"Elena never let me help. She would get mad if I did", Ben chuckled.
Seth laughed, remembering Elena swatting his brother out of the kitchen when he tried to help.
"And stay out. You do so much already, this is my kitchen, my house. I am Alpha here, you got that", Seth repeated her words.
Ben laughed and nodded.
"Just don't forget about your son", she said softly.
"I won't", Ben replied.
Kaia nodded.
"I'm going to go make a list for the Enforcers.", she said.
Ben nodded. She left and he looked at Seth.
"You've got your hands full with that one", Ben said.
Seth smiled.
"Yeah", he replied.
"But she's good. I like her", Ben said.
Kaia had gone to bed after the Enforcers brought the groceries and she and Colby put them away. The way his mom always did. He watched his dad put a new and final load of clothes into the washer and then one in the dryer.
He was folding the clothes and looked over when he saw his son.
"Hey, come on, join me", he said.
Colby did, jumping onto the washer.
"Fold these", he said to his son, handing him towels.
Colby did as he was told.
"I'm sorry, son. I never meant to ignore you.", he said.
Colby shrugged.
"Its okay, I get it. I want you to catch them too. For mom.", his son said.
"But that doesn't give me the right to stop being your dad. I'm going to try really hard, okay. You gotta help me, remind me", Ben said.
Colby smiled and nodded.
"When I can't be here, I need you to do things for yourself now. I'm going to show you what you need to do", Ben said.
Colby nodded.
"I love you, Colby", Ben said.
"I love you too dad", he replied.
Ben hugged his son and kissed the side of his head.
"When you go after them, can I go with you?", his son asked.
"No", he replied.
"Why not? I can fight", Colby said angry.
"Because I can't lose you too", he said.
Colby nodded.
"Let me train you better and when you're fifteen, we can talk about this again. If I feel like you're ready, then you can join the war", Ben said.
Colby nodded.
"I don't want to lose you either, dad. Don't stay away long, okay", Colby said.
Ben looked at his son, setting a hand against his cheek.
"Promise", he said softly.
"I'm sorry you had to come all this way, but my answer is no", Andrade said.
Seth didn't like that answer.
"Really? My brother was about to start a war, for you. To protect your family. He didn't have too, but he did. Now he is asking for your help, you really want to decline him?", Seth said.
"I'm sorry he lost Elena. She was a good woman, but this isn't my packs fight", Andrade said.
Seth chuckled.
"Not your fight? My sister in law is dead because my brother chose to help you. You owe our pack", Seth growled.
Andrade leaned against his desk.
"Don't threaten me, boy", Andrade said.
"I'm not the one you should be afraid of. When he finds out you declined, after he's done with the Wyatts, you're next.", Seth smirked.
"Looks like you do have some balls after all.", Andrade said.
"Don't ever forget who I am.", Seth said.
Seth turned to leave. There was no point in staying the night and waiting till morning. He gathered the Enforcers he came with.
"We're leaving. Say goodbye to the Alpha, he won't be one for long", Seth said.
The Enforcers smirked as they looked at Andrade. Getting in the suv, they drove off and home.
Ben was outside, drinking whiskey as he looked at the stars. He wasn't surprised to see Seth home.
"I should have known", Ben said.
Seth nodded.
"What do we do now?", Seth asked.
"We take away his position", Ben said, handing a glass of whiskey to his brother.
Seth nodded.
"I'm going to take a guess and say, you already have a person in mind", he said.
Ben nodded.
"You", he said.
Seth laughed.
"No thanks, not for me. I like being, just your brother", Seth said.
"Are you sure?", Ben asked.
Seth nodded.
"Then I'll figure something else out.", Ben said.
"How about August Styles? His family at one point held Alpha position. Give it back to them", Seth said.
Ben nodded.
"Good idea. I'll talk to August in the morning", Ben said.
Seth nodded.