Page 17 of Cruel Mate

And though she was more than a little grateful for the way he barreled into the wolf on top of her, a part of her couldn’t help but think, why did it have to be him?

Chapter 7 - Zander

Nightstar was a small town, and that was one of the reasons Zander and his other packmates had chosen it to make their home, but today, it felt too small. He could feel the eyes of almost every member of the pack on him as he went about his business.

Those who had not witnessed his and Layla’s confrontation for themselves had clearly heard about it through the grapevine. Old Mrs. Locke at the general store was even brave enough to make comment as he tried to pay for the bottle of water and mints he’d only purchased as an excuse to get off the street for a little while.

“When will you young'uns realize life is too short to play hard to get?” she muttered, clucking her tongue against her teeth as she rang him up at the counter.

“Excuse me?” Zander blurted. She was the first to have actually said anything to his face, and he couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps he might have imagined it.

The way the elderly she-wolf looked at him from beneath her hooded eyes said she had entirely meant to speak her mind.

“You’ll learn one day,” she commented without explanation. Shaking her head, she added, “I only hope it's not too late.”

“Uh…thanks.”

Zander awkwardly took his bottle and mints and the slightly cryptic advice. Mrs. Locke was the eldest wolf in town. Nobody seemed to know just how old she was, but by the looks of her, she had to be well into her hundreds. Living to that age afforded her respect even when she was offering unwanted commentary about his business.

“Take care, dear,” she croaked after him as he left. “And once again, thank you.”

Those final words warmed his heart even if she had annoyed him a little. Each time he went in, she thanked him for having liberated Nightstar from their previous alpha. He had given up long ago trying to pass off the credit to Jack. The entirety of the old pack was grateful to all its new members. It had left them something of celebrities in town. Yet another reason Zander couldn’t understand Layla’s attitude towards him. Most of the she-wolves in town were still throwing themselves at him and his original packmates, but not Layla.

“You’re welcome, again, Mrs. Locke,” he said, offering a wave as he left the store. Maybe it was time to head back to the manor. Everything seemed quiet in town save for the looks he was getting. What he’d expected to find on his walk, he didn’t know, but he and the others had remained on high alert since taking over, even if they didn’t let on to the rest of the pack.

Their black ops training had made them wary over the years. And he had hoped a quick patrol about town would clear his mind.

It hadn’t.

And so he began the trek back up the hill to the manor, swigging from the bottle of water he’d purchased from Mrs. L and chewing on mints until his tongue was sore.

No sooner had he walked into the manor yard than Eddie appeared in the doorway. Throwing his arms wide, he chuckled, “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour.”

Zander bared his teeth and growled angrily. It appeared even his friends weren’t about to give him a break.

He dashed his empty water bottle at Eddie and snapped, “Fuck off, would you?”

“What’s the matter, heartthrob? Can’t handle being rejected?” Eddie taunted, and Zander stopped dead in his tracks.

“I did not get rejected!” he blurted, his cheeks growing red-hot. He had responded too quickly, too emotionally. He saw it in the way Eddie’s lips twitched upwards with laughter.

“Sounds like you hit a nerve, Ed,” Will yelled from somewhere in the house.

Zander’s hands tightened into fists. Nowhere was free of taunting and prying eyes today.

“At least I got some kind of action last night,” Zander taunted back. “Proves how little the two of you got, if I’m all you’ve got to talk about.”

“Actually, my date just left,” Eddie shrugged his shoulders.

“And mine!” Kane said, appearing around the door frame with the most infuriating grin on his face.

“Mine’s coming back after work,” Will called from inside again.

“Good for you all!” Zander growled, and with that he turned and started off into the woods. If he couldn’t get any peace in town, he’d have to find it elsewhere.

“Zand, come back! There’s no need to be so touchy!” Eddie yelled after him.

“Yeah, we’re only playing!” Kane added. Zander could feel them watching him and he knew if he stayed it would be a matter of minutes before they started tormenting again.

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