Summer's Alpha(13)

"Break any land speed records Dad?" I really shouldn't smart off to him but it was too tempting. It's been five and a half hours; it's a wonder that you are alive. Do you know that?" He smirks.

"It's been six hours and twenty minutes Summer, math was never your best subject. Where is Kelly?" His eyes flash.

"I'll never tell. Kelly is busy with her new mate." I smirk stupidly. He might smack me for that.

"Her union    has to be approved by her alpha. Since Frank is dead, her mating is up to me." My head is already shaking in defiance.

"No, her mating is up to the female alpha of her new pack, the pack that she is a member of, the pack that she wanted to be in and the pack that will protect her, her mate and her pup. Her alpha female has not only approved her living with him, her new union    was approved." He snarls at me. "Dad, is this really about Kelly, or is it more about saving face? You've lost control of all of your daughters and you think that hauling Kelly back home will let you save face with the pack. Kelly was always a good girl. She did whatever you asked. She went with Frank and let him beat her for God's sake, because you wanted her to. Can't you let her be happy? Can't you let all of us be happy? Ever since Mom died, it's like you've been mad at us, you've taken it out on us and Dad, we're sick of it." I growl at him. I just growled at my father, my alpha father, my alpha father who can beat the crap right out of me. He stands there ramrod straight. Jackson has said nothing but I hear a low rumble coming from him. He's ready to defend me. I love him so much right now. Dad takes a breath and sucks his teeth. He knows that I'm right and he's deciding what to say to turn it around so he's right. "Don't try it Dad. We all love you but we are grown ups, we are people. We have the right to be happy. You are our alpha. As our alpha, you should be happy that your pack members, daughters or not, are prepared enough and educated enough to strike out on their own." I see Shirley walking silently up behind him.                       
       
           



       

"You should be proud of Summer. She's come here, alone and she's not only made it on her own but she's the alpha of a pack that she joined just a few days ago. You've raised a strong and smart wolf Brandt." Brandt? She just called my dad by his first name! No female did that unless she was brave. "I think she has done so well. She's brought a dying pack back to life. The members are so happy and so looking forward to her and Jackson's leadership. They have already arranged for new members."

"They haven't arranged for new members, they are stealing members from my pack. Half of the damned young people are asking for permission to leave. So she has done nothing but trade your pack's problem and shifted it onto my pack."

"Perhaps there's a reason that they all want to leave." Shirley says softly gazing up at him. "Perhaps, they've been controlled harshly for so long that their spirits ache for some freedom." Oh, shit. Shirley is human and she is walking a slippery slope, I may have to defend her if she takes this much farther with my dad. He looks like he's about to go nuclear. "You have to govern your pack Brandt, not rule it. Wolves are free creatures and they need to express themselves. Today's young wolves aren't the same as they were in our day. They have computers and cell phones. They can reach out and connect in milliseconds. They can come together faster than ever. It's our duty to let it flourish, let it develop and see where it takes us. The wolves in your pack are only doing what we would've done when we were young. They want to try something new because they feel confined living as they are. It will only be good for the race to see that through."

"What the hell do you know? You aren't wolf." His eyes are full of fire.

"No, I'm not, but my husband was and all of my relatives are. I may not be wolf, but I have been caring for and protecting them for a lifetime." She says calmly. I have to hand it to Shirley; she is handling him like a professional alpha tamer. "Summer and Jackson have an opportunity to really do something here. And aren't you the best of all the alphas, you raised two, that are a team and are the youngest ruling alphas in over one hundred years." He perked up at that. She'd hit a nerve. "Your daughter has broken a record. You must be one hell of an alpha and one hell of a father, and to think you did it all by yourself." He's suddenly gotten taller.

"Well, I've been trying to train them all of their lives, I guess some of it got through." He looks us over. "Maybe they were paying attention." I smile at him and wink at Shirley who grins. "Jackson, show me where I will be staying. I want to visit with my daughters before I go back." Jackson nods and gets Dad's duffle out of the truck. We follow him up the stairs and inside of the house.

"Oh let me, I miss this house." Shirley says. "Follow me." She takes us down a hall and through a door that I haven't used yet. We end up in the wing with the four bedrooms. "These are guest quarters and this," she opens the door, "is the nicest of the rooms. You should have the best room Brandt." Then my dad does something that I've never seen him do. He checks her out. My dad just checked Shirley out and she looks like she approves of him doing it. Eww. Too much information, I do not need to witness this.

"Since you are here, will you show us the house? I found the master bedroom and unpacked our clothes but it's a big house." She is still looking at my dad but she nods and turns to face me. Her cheeks are rosy. Well, well, well. Shirley and Dad sitting in a tree … I have to stifle my giggle. Jackson gives me a look and I paste a serious look on my face. Shirley takes my arm and leads me away. We explore the guest rooms, the meeting room, and the main house. She tells me that early on the pack members did in fact live in the main house until they could start building the other houses like Earl's family house. She shows me the dining room table that has several leaves to expand it to seat eighteen. I don't think we will need that many leaves unless Kelly wants to cook for that many. I sure can't and nobody would want to eat it anyway. Shirley shows me the walk in pantry, I hadn't found it yet and the walk in freezer. It's too bad I'm not a chef. This kitchen is a dream for someone who can cook. Shirley stares wistfully around the kitchen.

"You need to go to the store Summer. There is nothing to eat in here. You will be expected to cook for the pack for meetings and such." I make a face. "You can't cook?" I shake my head. "Oh dear."                       
       
           



       

"I mean we won't starve but I'm no chef. Kelly can cook. "She is a whiz in the kitchen. She can do it." Shirley shook her head. "She can teach me?" Shirley nods.

"And she can help you. You should always have enough food on hand to feed your pack. That's why the pantry and freezer are so large. You should also be prepared to store any game that your pack brings in for them if they don't have the space." I nod. I'm soaking this in because Shirley had this job before me. My dad never stored anything for anyone and we never fed the pack either. New pack, new rules, I guess. "Come, I want to show you the office. It's very important for you and Jackson to be in charge of your finances. The pack operates three businesses. The cabinet business that Gregory runs, several wolves work for him, and they do beautiful work. There is a condominium building that we own and operate. Newton is the superintendent but from time to time everyone has pitched in if something needed done, like painting or small repairs."

"What's the third?" So far, I am not going to be any help, I can't build cabinets. Shirley smiles.

"The East View Book Nook is owned by the pack. I run it and I am paid a salary." I'm still wondering how it stays in business, there are so few customers.

"I know it doesn't seem like much but we do an excellent internet business. You haven't learned that part yet but I will start teaching you soon. You will have to learn to do the store's books and the pack's books." Crap. This I do know. Dad has been teaching Autumn and I this for years because he hates to do it. I'm not a fan and Autumn has the attention span of a gnat. She knows how to do it but she can't sit still long enough to get it done.

"Dad taught us book keeping. I know how to do taxes too but I don't know about doing them for a business." Shirley winks.

"That's what accountants are for dear. Just keep the books. I can show you both sets since I did them for so long. Here we are." Wow. I'm in love. Dad's idea of an office is a plastic sweater box with a calculator, ledger, and pencil that he brings to the kitchen table. This though is beautiful. The bookkeeping may not be so bad if I can sit in this room. The desk is old wood that's glossy, a tilting leather chair, loaded bookcases, and a computer with a huge screen. I'm in love with this room. The carpet is emerald green and the paneling on the walls matches the wood in the shelves and desk. "All of the furniture and paneling in this room was made by Greg and his group. I whisper a ‘wow.' Shirley pats my hand. "This was my favorite room too." She seats me in the leather chair and it conforms to my body. It has to be the most comfortable chair that I've ever sat in. Shirley opens a drawer and pulls out a camera then snaps a picture of me. I can imagine the look on my face because I'm examining the woodwork on the desk and I'm sure it is a look of complete awe. "For posterity."