Page 13 of Torn By The Alpha

“Oh, really. You did?” she asked.

“I did. Zac told me that you and Sean are also wolf shifters and are his pack mates. He said that you two are awesome people.”

“I’m glad that he thinks so. We think the world of him, too. He is a great leader,” Jade said.

“What do you mean?” Olivia asked.

“Ah, I see. He forgot to mention that he’s our alpha. Ian is his second in command,” Jade said.

“He might have skipped that piece of trivia,” Olivia said.

“You really should think about going out with him. He is truly a great guy and is well thought of by everyone in the pack,” Jade said.

So was Declan, and he’s trying to find me and kill me, Olivia thought.

Jade must have read her mind because she said, “What are you really hiding from?”

Olivia wasn’t sure how much to tell her because it all sounded so farfetched.

“Out with it,” Jade insisted.

“I was supposed to marry the alpha of my pack from the time I was a kid. His name is Declan and he’s not the nicest guy in the world. Every bride of the alpha is supposed to get her fortune told by an old witch, that is revealed at the mating ceremony. The witch said that I was going to start a war between our pack and another pack. Declan, obviously, called off the mating ceremony and sentenced me to death,” Olivia said.

“Wow. No wonder you ran,” Jade said.

“Yeah. I know it sounds stupid. Prophecies are so stupid, anyway. If they do come true, they are self-fulfilling. When the Oracle told Oedipus’ parents that he would kill his father and marry his mother, they ordered him killed. But a shepherd took pity on him and took him to the king and queen of Corinth. He heard of the prophecy, left them, and went to Thebes. Along the way, he killed Laius, not knowing that was his father. He got into town, after solving the sphinx’s riddle. He married the newly widowed queen, Jocasta, and they had four children. That never would have happened, if they hadn’t been scared of the prophecy and thrown Oedipus out to be killed in the first place,” Olivia said.

“I remember reading that play in high school. You are so right. I’m sure you’ll be safe here. No one will ever think of looking for you in Angel’s Creek. Besides, how in the world could you start a war between your pack and another?”

“I don’t know. You guys are the first people from another pack that I’ve ever met, so I’m not sure how I would have started one to begin with,” Olivia said. “As far as I know, there isn’t another wolf pack close to my family’s anywhere close by there.”

“Well, I know it isn’t us. I don’t plan on fighting anyone,” Jade said. “And, I don’t know where you’re from, but I’m guessing it’s not close, and I have no intention of going on any long road trips. The furthest I go is to Colorado Springs, about five hours to see some friends.”

“Please don’t say anything to anyone. The whole thing sounds stupid,” Olivia said. “I’m embarrassed to even tell you about it. It makes me sound like the really sad heroine of an exaggerated melodrama.”

“Okay,” Jade said. “My lips are sealed.”

“Thank you.”

“As for Zac, though, he is nothing like this Declan character. Like all warriors, he is capable of great violence if it was needed to protect the pack. However, unless that was the case, Zac wouldn’t ever intentionally hurt anyone. He is a genuinely nice guy,” Jade said.

“I’m sure that he is a nice guy. I like him, and he’s definitely easy on the eyes. However, I don’t really want to become involved with anyone. I think that eventually Declan will find someone else to torture and will give up looking for me when he realizes how stupid it is. But until then, I don’t intend on staying in one place very long. It would make it too easy to find me, and he wouldn’t think twice about hurting people he thought were in his way. I know it sounds exaggerated and stupid, but Declan is not a nice man.”

Jade nodded. “I can see your point about not wanting to get involved in a relationship like that.” She paused for a moment and then said, “So now that you know that I’m a shifter, and vice versa, perhaps we could go on the mountain together. It’s always more fun with friends. I think that a regular friendship would be safe enough.”

“I would like that,” Olivia said.

About that time, a huge group of people wandered in to Howlers. Olivia sauntered over, greeted them, and started taking their orders. They were in a great mood and teased Olivia. She laughed at their jokes, and they thought that it was great when she teased them back.

She blushed when Zac and Ian came in and took their regular table. Images of Zac’s naked body flooded her mind and once again, a warmth coursed through her. She wondered if she was going to have that reaction every single time the man walked into the bar.

Jade pinched her arm and said, “Earth to Olivia,” after Jade told her twice that the drinks for one of her tables were ready. “You may as well give in, girl.”

Olivia grinned at her and shook her head.

Disappointed that they weren’t in her section, she dropped by anyway to say hello. Zac was so adorable with a little bit of barbecue sauce on his cheek.

The night was busy. She was only able to say a few words to Zac. The thought occurred to her that maybe she should go on a date with him just to get it out of her system. However, she knew that it wouldn’t end there. There was something about him that was like a magnet.

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