recent pack additions were staying in the manor, but a large portion were since the pack only had access to so much housing in and around the town. Before Rick had become alpha, the town hadn’t seen any real growth in decades, but ever since not only had the pack established new businesses and built community spaces like the recreational center, humans had moved to the area as well, attracted by the expanding town.
Marcus had seen it happen before. When he’d been with the Council, there had been a number of packs that he’d helped observe who had been growing at a fast pace and drawing attention from humans. Even though the humans didn’t know why they were truly drawn to the area, it was because of the alphas. Strong alphas with large prosperous packs would exude a type of magic that drew even more individuals into their pack. Sort of like a magnet—the larger the pack grew, the stronger the pull became, and so on and so on.
McAllister’s pack might have been outside of Rick’s pull, but they’d hated their old alpha so much, many of the new members had agreed to come to Michigan without knowing anything about the pack. Kieran had filled them in on the trip back from New Mexico, but there had still been a lot of apprehension when some of them met Rick for the first time.
It hadn’t taken long for the new members to know whether they would stay or not, and most had chosen to become full-fledged pack. But Marcus knew a handful had moved on. He’d heard the reason was usually that they didn’t like living so close to humans, but a handful had been too nervous of the pack’s powerful coven to stay.
Rick and Kai were still sitting at the table as everyone else began to file out, talking and laughing. Nico was right in front of Marcus, but Rick’s voice stopped them before they exited the dining room.
“Hold up, you two.”
Turning around, he had to work hard not to blush at the way Kai was leaning over Rick, kissing him, and Rick was squeezing the back of one of Kai’s thighs just below his backside. There hadn’t been a lot of open affection in his original pack, nor had he seen much of it when he’d been with the Council, but growing up, his alpha had worked hard to rid Marcus of his telling blush or any other outward reaction.
He’d believed that he could… teach Marcus to control his body’s reactions to things.
He’d mostly been successful.
Kai smiled sweetly at him and Nico on his way out, and Marcus nodded respectfully as Nico fist-bumped him with a “See ya, Kai.”
“Nico,” Rick said, not wasting any time. He stood and approached them, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “Tashmica has three witches coming over the next few months for interviews. She feels they may be a good fit to help rebuild the coven, but we’ll see.” Rick curled a lip up. “One of them isn’t even twenty yet.”
Nico laughed. “Damien and Jess are both pretty young and extremely powerful. Age doesn’t mean much when it comes to witches.”
Rick grunted. Marcus held his tongue since he hadn’t been asked his opinion, but he agreed with Nico. He’d once seen a fourteen-year-old girl destroy half a city block after her parents had died in a car accident. Her grief had completely overwhelmed her, and her powers had erupted out of her like a tornado or something. Cleaning up the aftermath had been tricky since a handful of humans had seen her and survived the destruction.
“Either way,” Rick continued, “none of them will be allowed inside the pack’s territory until they’ve been thoroughly vetted and approved by you and Tash, and then I come and meet with them.”
Marcus jerked his head up, alarm shooting through him. “Alpha, you shouldn’t leave the safety of—”
A strong hand landed on his shoulder and gave a squeeze. “We’ll take precautions, but I won’t hide inside the wards, nor will I let someone into this pack with the power to hurt us.”
Nico made a sort of choking noise that Marcus knew meant he was trying not to laugh. Rick sent him a glare.
“The hunter is human and—”
“He’s a hunter,” Nico needlessly pointed out.
“And he’s retired. I’m not saying we have to trust him, but he saved Kieran’s life, and he’s kept to himself for the most part since moving here. Leave him be.”
Nico held up his hands. “I