The Alpha & Beta's Regret
The Alpha & Beta’s Regret – Chapter 56

Rafe POV

Noel stared right up at him as he told her what he wanted to do, to have her clear out the Forest Creek house, as it was known to the pack. To allow Luci and the boys to move into it permanently. She was just staring at him, didn’t look all that happy right this minute, and he knew why. It was likely to be booked solid for months in advance.

He sat down and said “Show me the damage, Noel.”

She’d sighed heavily, understood that it was going to happen regardless of what anyone here in the pack wanted. Or who had booked out that house for the foreseeable future. Noel was their accommodation and holiday reservations manager.

She had two others assisting her at all times. They were a large pack and she didn’t just deal with inhouse accommodations. Any pack member could come to Noel or her team and request that she help with booking them on a family holiday or cruise or wherever a pack member wanted to go.

Noel was in charge of this office, it was her department and he left her to run it pretty much as she saw fit. She had a hospitality and management degree behind her, and was good at her job.

“Alpha, it is booked solid for the next six months, all in advance.” She told him “every weekend and some of the days during the weeks as well. It is the most popular house to go to, to celebrate in luxury.”

“I’m aware of that, Noel.” He told her and he was, it was why he was here himself to discuss it.

“Wouldn’t Luci and the twins be better off inside the packhouse? A nice suite up there somewhere on one of the top two floors. I can bring up all the available suites for you and Jack to check out.”

“Luci doesn’t want to be inside the packhouse.” He stated simply.

“Oh!” he saw her frown, then sigh a little on the heavy side a moment later, “I see.” She stated quietly with a nod. Seemed to understand after a moment’s thought as to why.

“I want something that is fitting for her status. She is Alpha-blooded.”

“And the twins are the Heir’s.” Noel nodded, “I haven’t seen them yet but I heard they look just like you and Jack, cute as buttons.” She smiled at him.

“They do and they are.” He smiled at her. “So, the Forest Creek House is suitable for all of them. It is our most luxurious house within the pack. That is not in the packs central town. She’d like to be away from the packhouse and the pack centre, from what I can tell.”

“I can see why she would want that.” Noel commented quietly, with a slight nod, then she took a breath in and pulled her blond curly hair up into a ponytail, rubbed her hands together “Let’s see who all our guests are, some I think will be more than open to relinquishing their time in the house for Luci and the boys, more so than others. Some will be annoyed. You know this, right?” she looked at him.

“I do, but it is my pack and those ten houses. I had them built for the purpose of keeping pack members happy, so that they could have a bit of real luxury inside the pack. So they didn’t have to leave the pack to get away if they didn’t want to. There are nine other homes they can use, are there not!”

“There are.” She nodded as she started looking into it for him.

“I will also be offering compensation to all those who need it. Perhaps a trip or accommodation at a human resort for them and their families.”

“That is a good compromise, they will like that. Though they do like to stay here, that’s why you built those houses in the first place. For those that don’t like leaving the pack unnecessarily.”

“I’m aware.” He nodded.

“Do you want me to print the list out for you, or do you want me to start working on those pack members, making the needed mind-links to start sorting this nightmare out for you?”

“Print me the list, along with the reason why they want the house. If it’s there, I’ll sit down with Jack and we’ll try and figure out a good compromise for each family using the place.”

“When do you want it cleared out by?” she asked, though the look on her face told him she already figured she wasn’t going to like the answer.

“Tomorrow. So you might want to send whoever is using it to my office right away, if they’re unhappy. Just ask them to come and see me. I’ll explain it to them myself. Try to keep the irate yelling away from you, huh! But then it’s up to you to try and see if all others will use one of the other homes. If not, or you get a really unhappy ticked off wolf. Shut them down, direct them to make an appointment with their Alpha and Beta. Tell them you’re sorry, it’s an order from myself as the Alpha to the Pack, any further questions they can take up with Jack or myself.”

“Alright, but you’re going to be very busy, just so you know.”

“To be expected.” Rafe nodded. He watched as she worked, then handed him a printout, saw her highlight a few wolves and knew why they would be the unhappy ones about not being able to use the house. Smiled at her and headed out of her office, stopped at the door. “Noel, is it in use now, like right this minute?” he could see the printout started from tomorrow.

“No, actually, not till Saturday. You got lucky on that Alpha.”

He smiled “Perhaps our Goddess is on my side today.”

He heard Noel snort with amusement “Won’t be from tomorrow.”

He chuckled to himself, she couldn’t be on everyone’s side all of the time. He was happy though as he walked back to the packhouse. A short walk from her office on the ground floor of the eastern singles apartment building.

Jack was sitting in his chair behind his desk. “Up, let’s go look at the house, it’s empty right this very minute.”

“Is Luci coming?” Jack asked him.

“No, I want to look at it first. It’s been awhile since I’ve been down there, and I want to see what needs changing for Luci and the boys, get that done asap. Show her we want her to be comfortable and that we are trying to accommodate all of their needs, not just ours.”

They got in their car and headed out to the Forest Creek House. It was a lovely split-level home that could house four couples, had four king-sized bedrooms on the upper level, each with its own ensuite. Downstairs had everything; a full kitchen, a formal dining room with a beautiful crystal chandelier, a large lounging room, a massive u-shaped lounge that would seat eight easily.

A projector TV that when turned on, made anything you watched feel like you were at the movies. There was an outdoor spa that seated eight and there was a nice, paved area with an inbuilt firepit and an outdoor barbeque area, and there were sandstone stairs that made their way down to the creek for swimming.

The entire creek side of the house, was all glass, giving a beautiful view of the creek and forest beyond. It was an amazing sight at times. In the winter with all the snow, and in the summer, sometimes out here, the fireflies in the woods made it magical to look out on.

Luci had not been here when any of these houses were built. So it would be a nice surprise for her to. The place was kitted out with the latest technology, the best appliances. To keep this as the most luxurious house in the pack.

The entire house had heated flooring and plush deep pile rugs, beautiful artwork on the walls and a gas fireplace in every bedroom. Each bedroom faced the creek and got those amazing views, though the windows were tinted so you couldn’t look in from the outside, giving those inside full privacy.

Even the dishes and glassware in this house were of the best bone China and cut crystal. It was like a little mini packhouse, he thought to himself, there was no gaming room. But if Luci and the boys wanted one, he could turn a bedroom upstairs into a small gaming room. If Addison was to stay here full time she’d need a room as well and he knew she’d be wherever Luci was.

He walked around inside one of the bedrooms. They were all designed for adults, not children, were very plush and mature. “I think perhaps the bedrooms need to be more child-friendly.”

“Likely so.” Jack nodded.

“Might have to sit Luci and the boys down, to do some online shopping and get some furniture that suits them.”

“Wise.”

“What is it, Jack?” Rafe asked,

“She hasn’t seen it yet, Rafe. You’re planning before she agrees.”

“Yes.” He nodded “I know that, but this is the most suitable house.”

“Yes, that is what we, you and I think. They might have other ideas. How about we just take one step at a time. Let them look at it.”

“Of course I’m going to.” He frowned at Jack. “You were on board just an hour ago, what changed?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged “I was happy. I am happy you chose this house. It is our best house. You just have to stop planning, they might not like it.”

Rafe glared at him, what was not to like the place was pure luxury.

“Don’t be like that. Your need to be in charge of her is going to be the biggest obstacle. You and Alari are going to butt heads, I’m just trying to stop that.” Jack put a hand on his shoulder. “Take a tiny step back, show her the house, let them walk through it and keep your mouth firmly closed until they say yes, or no. Is all I’m saying. If it’s a yes, then ask about sitting and shopping.”

“You’re bloody annoying of late, do you know that?”

Jack laughed right at him. “Yes, but you really love it deep down.”

Rafe shook his head, it was Jack’s Alpha tendencies showing, he was more laidback, whereas Rafe himself was dominant and controlling when he wanted something. They actually evened each other out most of the time. He heard Solar chortle at Rafe’s annoyance, mostly because he did actually love it deep down. When Jack was all Alpha Male, they usually only saw it in the bedroom when they shared a girl between them. Hadn’t gotten to see him like that in a very long time.

Looked right at the man and saw him smirking “Now who’s thinking naughty thoughts?”

Rafe laughed himself, the man probably had no idea about the thought that was lingering, he was still thinking about Marking him to raise him to an Alpha status. Couldn’t do it without Melissa’s permission and she was never going to give that and he knew it.

“Come on.” He smiled “before Solar tries to hump you and assert our dominance over you.”

Jack burst out laughing and shook his head. Their wolves had never humped each other before. “I’d like to see him try.”

“Don’t tempt him Jacki boy.” Rafe chuckled at the man’s comment. Then put him right in a headlock. “You never know, you’re wolf might just like it.”

“Might get yourself bit.” Jack jabbed him in the ribs and it was suddenly a fight between them, right there in the living room, both of them trying to out muscle the other as they tried to take each other down. It was a good bit of rolling around and wrestling on the floor, until Rafe finally had him pinned to the ground underneath him.

“I’ll always win.” He teased Jack.

“Huh, perhaps I just let you win.” Jack teased right back, sounded fully amused to Rafe. He got up off of him and leaned back on the lounge. They’d not rough housed like that inside this pack in years, it felt really good. Jack sat up next to him and smiled, “Didn’t hump me, I see.”

Rafe looked right at him. “Want me to?”

Jack shook his head but was still smiling.

“Better not, both our Mates would feel that.”

“Hm.” was Jacks’ only response.

“Not back yet.” Rafe shook his head and wondered just when they would come back.

“Nope,” Jack shook his head once more, “I think that Titan is having an effect on whatever they are doing out there.”

“What do you think it is, that they are up to, Jack?” Rafe asked him.

“I don’t know exactly.” The man shrugged it off.

“But you suspect something?”

“Yes,” Jack told him and got up and looked around “We’d better right this place. It was neat and tidy before we came along.”

Rafe looked around himself, they’d knocked over a table and broken the lamp on it, the rug was all wrinkled and out of place, and part of the lounge was now not in line with the rest of it. He chuckled “We’d better send a new lamp over as well.”

“Noel, is going to pitch a fit.” Jack chuckled.

She didn’t, but when he mind-linked to her to have the lamp replaced, she simply sighed and muttered “you’ve been in that house all of 30 minutes.”

‘Ah, what can I say?’ Rafe had chuckled right back. “Jack and I got to rough housing.’

‘Bloody boys.’ She huffed and cut the mind-link.

He just smiled as they headed back to the packhouse, his bond to Jack was feeling stronger again, their old ways shining through, were making him feel more connected to Jack and he actually felt like he was getting stronger for it.

Looked at his phone and raised an eyebrow at it, then showed it to Jack. It was Melissa. That would be a first ever, her calling him. He was surprised she even had his phone number, didn’t think she’d ever once called him on the phone in the entire time they had been mated to each other.

“You’re in trouble.” Jack snorted at him and gave him a little shove.

He hit the answer button, “Melissa?”

“What the hell are you doing?” she shot right down the phone at him.

“Nothing currently why?”

“You were touching someone.” She snarled right at him.

“I was not. Just rough housing with Jack was all.” He told her truthfully.

“Well stop it. I don’t like it and you know that.”

“How did you even know?” he asked curiously. He didn’t think she’d felt it. She’d never brought it up before, when they rough housed in other packs.

“I felt it.” she practically yelled at him.

“Unlikely.” Rafe commented as he and Jack headed into the packhouse. He didn’t believe her, if she felt that she’d feel it when he really hugged Jack when they were off pack territory, especially after a battle and he really needed to hug him with all he had, all his emotions and their bond intact.

“I did.”

“It was no different to training,” he commented, “the same in fact. Just laughing involved. You didn’t feel anything. So why are you calling me?”

The line closed and he looked at his phone, she’d hung up on him.

“Oh, you’re in so much trouble,” Jack laughed.

“She didn’t feel anything,” he knew it. If she did, so would Maria and she’d also be calling Jack to demand to know what the hell was going on. She didn’t call.

He wondered himself now just what those two were up to out there in their father’s pack.

He called her back “What?” she snapped right at him.

“When are you coming home?” he asked casually.

“When I want to.” She stated coldly and hung up once more.

He sighed, it was alright for her to ask him questions, but not him to her.