I’ve got a lot of experience doing that.
CHAPTER 4
BAD TWIN
It shouldn’t come as any surprise by now that I’m not so good at the whole ‘obey the Alpha’ thing the packs have going on.
Can’t help it. It’s not ingrained into me like it is the other wolves, and I only stop from needling Lucas because he’s Fallon’s mate. After what happened with her last boyfriend—and the way he tried to come onto me, getting me to cheat with him on her—she deserves a loyal, devoted male like the Alpha.
So devoted, in fact, that when Fallon mentions that she’s heading over to Bordeaux Manor—the Coven House—to meet with some of the higher-up witches, Lucas’s immediate response is to correct her and say ‘we’ are going.
“Yeah, of course, Luc. That’s our deal, right? If I’m leaving pack territory, you’re coming with.”
There goes his thumb again. As if the big guy needs to remind himself that he bonded feisty Fallon Witt to him, he strokes her neck.
I try not to snarl into my breakfast.
“Just until we can trust the witches, sucre,” rumbles Lucas.
Fallon laughs, patting the top of his hand. “So, never?”
He shrugs. “If that’s how long it takes.”
Don’t roll your eyes, Jeannie. Just because your mate rejected you, it doesn’t mean you have to shit on Fallon’s newfound happiness.
“What about you?” she asks, glancing over the table at me. “You’re up early. Any plans today?”
“With you two gone, it’s just me, right? Right,” I say, not giving either of them the chance mention the large elephant conveniently missing from the room. If Tristan was here… “Don’t worry. I’ll find something to occupy myself.”
“Just don’t leave pack territory,” Lucas warns.
I set my fork and knife down. “I’m sorry. Are you the Luna?”
“No. What kind of… no. Of course not.”
“See? Now, that’s what I thought. But then you tried to tell me what to do… and only the Luna gets to do that.”
“Jeannie…” cuts in Fallon. She waits until I look over at her to give her head a small shake. “Cool it, ‘kay? Luc’s just looking out for you.”
No. He’s being an Alpha. I know that. So does he. But Fallon… it’d be fucking hysterical if it wasn’t so sad. For years, my twin had to act the part of the peacekeeper between Fallon and me whenever we’d get into another one of our squabbles. Now it’s Fallon standing between me and her new packmates.
Who’s the common denominator there, Jeannie, huh?
“I know. And if I get homesick for a little human company, I’ll let you know if I’m heading out to scout the town square before I go. Fair enough?”
I’ve been meaning to do that. It’s the one part of Winter Creek that’s one hundred percent neutral. The town square is where the humans live and congregate, with the, like, two restaurants the small sanctuary town has, plus the handful of stores where I can get my shop on.
And, who knows? Maybe I might find someone to distract me…
The big Alpha pulls his hand back, dropping it into his lap as his gold-colored eyes train on me. “The human males are off-limits.”
I lift my eyebrows as I meet his stare. “Are they?”
Lucas sets his jaw. Poor Alpha. He’s not used to shifters looking at him dead in the eye unless it’s a challenge, and even after three months, he’s not so sure about me. For Fallon’s sake, he deals with it, but that doesn’t stop him from still thinking he can tell me what to do.
Which he does.
“To you, yes.”