“You in there, Boss?” Carl’s voice interrupted Foster’s focus on the spreadsheet in front of him. Everybody thought Alpha’s job was glamorous: leading a pack, or, as in his instance, a whole town, rubbing elbows with important people, going to charity events, making important decisions to create a bright future for the community… In Foster’s experience it was mostly listening to numerous people moaning about everything and anything, wanting him to fix all their issues. That, and spreadsheets: Asking for spreadsheets, analysing spreadsheets, creating new spreadsheets… You get the gist. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed at the welcome interruption.

“I’m here, Carl. What do you need?” His lead enforcer and close friend walked in, a complicated expression on his face. Foster immediately focused fully on him. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“We had a call at the station,” the man said as he took a seat opposite Foster. “A law firm was looking to get in contact with a ‘Foster Stoneheart.’ They didn’t have a contact number, but discovered you had worked there a few years ago and hoped that we had some forwarding information. They said it was about a family matter.”

Foster froze. He did indeed do an internship at Fulsham’s police station. It was prior to him taking the position of the Alpha of the local supernatural community. After his transformation into a werewolf Foster was approached by the previous Alpha of Fulsham, who had been looking for an ambitious young wolf from outside the community to train and take over the position. After giving it all due consideration Foster had agreed. He had been on a gap year after college, traveling all over remote places in Europe when he had been bitten. He hadn’t made any specific decisions as to whether he’d go to Uni or find a job prior to his travels, so he hadn’t been tied down. Plus the proposition had sounded like an interesting and prestigious opportunity. It was. Prestigious, demanding, stressful and all-over full-on. After agreeing to Mr. Crowhurst’s offer he had then taken the route suggested by the man. He did several different internships in civil services while also taking Uni classes part time. It had taken longer to get his degrees but it had definitely been worth it. His police internship had been one of the last ones he’d taken, he thought. It was plausible, that a law firm searching for him could have dug the information out. But why would they be searching for him?

“Family matter?” Foster’s stomach churned unpleasantly. The only family he had left was his older sister. They weren’t close and he barely had any contact with her. They had drifted apart after their parents death. That loss had actually been one of the events which had spurred him on to go on that gap year. After his transformation any contact he had still had with Diana continued to fizzle out.

“Yeah, they didn’t say any more than that. It was Gabby who answered the phone. She asked for more details, but they wouldn’t give any. Said it was confidential. They left a phone number in case we did manage to get in contact with you.” Carl watched him closely as he finished. Foster grunted, still deep in thoughts. Carl stood up and bent towards him. He placed a sticky note with the phone number on it in front of Foster. He then turned away and left without a word, seeing Foster’s preoccupation.

Foster kept thinking, twisting the note around in his hands, not really seeing it. What would a law firm need with him? The inheritance they had both gotten after their parents’ death had been divided long ago, and, as far as Foster knew, they were both happy that it was fair division. Besides Diana had married a rich guy. She hardly needed the paltry money Foster had gotten. It had been enough to allow him to go through Uni and his internships without starving, but that was about it. It was long gone. His thoughts spinning, Foster sighed. There was no use mulling over things with so little information. He would get nowhere. Foster’s eyes refocused on the phone number as he pulled out his mobile and punched the number in.

“Hello, this is Foster Stoneheart. I was told your law firm was trying to contact me?” The only way he’d learn what they wanted from him was if he spoke to them.

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*****

Later that week Foster left the on-line meeting and sank back into his chair. He ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair, then tugged on his beard. Saying he was shocked and in turmoil would be an understatement. His sister, Diana, was dead, along with her husband. Despite not being close to her, he was shocked by the amount of grief he felt. She had been the last of his immediate family. Foster mourned the relationship they could have had. Maybe if he had reached out more often, if he hadn’t been so laser-focused on his duties as alpha… Now it was too late. She was gone. Foster clenched his eyes shut. He took a few deep breaths before re-focusing on the other life-altering information the lawyers’ gave him. His nephew.

He did know he had a nephew, of course he did. He had been to the kid’s christening years ago. He had felt as out of place as possible in the posh crowd. Everyone had been so sophisticated and polished at that gathering. Diana had tried to engage him a little bit, but she was in high demand flitting from one group of guests to another. For a celebration that was supposed to be all about the few-months old baby, there had been way too much champagne drinking and business talking while way too little looking after said baby. After some time trying very hard to avoid mingling with all the high and mighty Foster had found refuge in the kid’s room. There had been a nanny looking after him, but she had been more than happy to let Foster have some time with the cute little bugger. That’s where Diana had found him hours later, and they had had one of the few truly meaningful and close moments.

She had told him that he was going to be a good dad someday. He had denied it, reminding her he was gay. Diana had brushed that fact off and cited adoption and surrogacy as perfectly viable options for gay couples. He hadn’t wanted to argue with her, so they had chatted and laughed for a bit after that. He had thought maybe they had a breakthrough in their relationship… Unfortunately, soon after he had begun his Alpha training. Trying to combine internships, Uni classes and learning all he needed to about the supernatural world did not leave him much time for personal life. She had tried to get him to visit more, but he had had to refuse quite often. Then, once Robin was old enough not to need her as much, Diana returned to working the social side of her husband’s business. Making contacts, keeping up the existing relationships and building new ones… Only after he had finished his Alpha training did Foster understand how vital Diana’s role was. They had drifted apart again and now…

Had it truly been nearly ten years since they had last seen each other? Foster got up and went to the cupboard of his home office where he kept his alcohol. He poured himself some whisky before going to grab a few ice cubes from the freezer in the kitchen. The ice clinked in his glass as he swirled the liquid absentmindedly looking out through the patio doors. He didn’t truly see the abundance of nature in his garden as he though back to the main issue. His nephew was now an orphan. Foster didn’t know what he had expected after hearing about Diana and Richard’s deaths. Maybe someone from Richard’s family taking Robbie in? But no, Richard had specifically stated in his will that his side of the family was to never be allowed to look after Robbie. And Diana… she had clearly expected to outlive her husband if her will was anything to go by. And rightly so, there was a thirty year age gap between them after all. That’s why, he suspected, Diana decided to put the stipulation in her will. She entrusted Robbie’s future to Foster. Him, a father figure? Foster was still single, still the Alpha and busy as anything. But he couldn’t deny that the idea tugged at his heartstrings. To have family once more, someone else to share his life. He found he did long for that human connection… Human… Connection…

“Fuck!” he swore loudly and drained the rest of his whisky in one big gulp. What the fuck am I gonna do now?