Chapter 474


    Chapter 474


    Zane


    I’d spent much of my adult life in this house, and as much as I’d enjoyed living among the wonders


    of Brightsky, I had to admit that it felt good to be home. Really, really good to have my own space, a


    ce for my belongings. Room to stretch out and breathe that did not include three other adults.


    “You good?” Xander asked with a rap of his knuckles on the doorway to the small office I’d imed


    as mine. “I’m taking my brother out and about to check out the pds. Figure we’ll be gone for a


    few hours, thene back in time for the afternoon meetings. You sure you don’t want toe


    along with us?”


    “Dude. No.” Iughed at his sour expression. “I want to sit on my ass and read a book with a ss


    of whiskey and a cigar, and I want to do it in this little room, and I want to do it all on my lonesome.


    I’ll be ready for the afternoon meetings by the time you get back. Right now, all I want is the sound


    of my own breathing.”


    His lip curled, and he let out a growl, but it wasn’t a serious one. “That sounds fucking amazing. No


    lie.”


    “I’m sure it will be. As soon as you get your ass out of here.” I grinned at him, enjoying the chance


    to rib him a little bit.


    All of this felt good. The ability to take a break. Tough. Yeah, we had a shit-ton of work ahead of


    us as the pack adjusted to all the changes we’d be bringing, but hard work was a lot different than


    running for our lives. In fact, I weed the hard work, since during the time we’d been in Brightsky


    I’d ended up feeling mostly like I didn’t have anything important to do.


    Back here in Constantine, I had a good, solid ce. Responsibilities. A job.


    And for now…I had a book, a cigar, and a ss of whiskey.


    Well, at least I had the book, the cigar, and the ss. As it turned out, my decanter was empty.


    Considering I hadn’t been using my office for months or longer, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but


    I was annoyed. I could’ve rang for someone to bring me more, but I figured I could get to my


    rxing much faster if I did it myself.


    Not much had changed in the mansion while we were gone. New staff faces, but it wasn’t as hard to


    get around as it had been in Brightsky. I made my way to the storage room without a problem,


    grabbed a bottle of The Macan from one of the shelves and took a long minute to admire it with a


    wide, satisfied grin.


    “By the Moon,” I said out loud. “It’s really good to be home.”


    “Oh… Sorry.” A soft female voice had me turn. “I didn’t realize you were in here.”


    I didn’t recognize the young blonde woman standing in the doorway. “No problem. I was just


    grabbing a bottle of whiskey.”


    “I came to get a bottle of…wine?” She sounded hesitant, then got a more confident look on her face


    and took a step closer. “If that’s okay. The woman in the kitchen said that the…uh…the Alpha was


    um…well, it’s a wee gift? I’m new.”


    “I’m Zane. The Constantine Beta.” I looked her over curiously. “I hadn’t heard anything about


    Xander offering neers ess to the liquor storage. But wee. What brought you to


    Constantine?”


    “I heard it’s going to be a sanctuary for anyone without another ce. So long as we abide by the


    rules and are useful and kind.” The girl lifted her chin. “My name is Elleah Whitehaven. I’m a


    rogue…but I’d like to be part of the pack.”


    “Wee to Pack Constantine, Elleah.” I nodded, still studying her. I stepped aside. “What kind of


    wine were you looking for?”


    “Oh. Red.”


    Iughed. “Well, we have Cabe Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot…you name it, we probably have


    it. Orion really loved his alcohol.”


    “I hadn’t thought much about it. What’s the best?” She paused, looking embarrassed. “I don’t mean


    the most expensive. Just, like…the best tasting.”


    “You don’t drink much, huh?”


    She shook her head and bit her lower lip. “Not really.”


    I plucked a bottle of a red blend from one of the alcoves on the shelf and handed it to her. “This is a


    nice one. Fruity, not too sweet.”


    “Thanks.” She hesitated. “It was really nice to meet you, sir. I look forward to being a part of the


    pack, and I promise to do my best to fit in.”


    “Great to meet you, too, Elleah.” I watched her walk away down the hall.


    Then I took my whiskey and returned to my office where I could enjoy my rxation. I made a


    mental note to ask Xander what we were doing about new arrivals, since if we were going to be


    giving away free bottles of wine to anyone who showed up, his dad’s stash was going to dwindle


    fast. Maybe that could be one of my new duties, I thought with a grin. Official alcohol orderer.


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    I made myselfugh at the thought, and then settled in for a few hours of alone time.


    Life was good.


    I just hoped it stayed that way.