Page 22 of Cruel Alpha Bully

“Carson?” Bae asks, confused. We both look over to see Carson standing by the curb, watching us.

How long has he been there?

“There’s a meeting of the elders,” Carson says crisply. He looks us both over as if he disapproves of us fighting in the street.

“But—” Bae reaches for me.

“We need you now, alpha,” Carson says softly. “There is important news.”

Bae gives me one last, long, tortured look, then follows Carson. He has to follow his duty—I know that. The pack always has to come first.

I just stand there in the street, my heart trapped in the past. In a prison I’m not sure I’ll ever be free of.

Chapter 8 - Bailey

I turn away from Gina, following Carson back to his car. He must have been on his way to my place, saw us walking, and decided to stop. I hope he didn’t hear too much of the conversation.

“What was going on back there?” Carson asks, his voice a little hard.

“Nothing.” I try to keep my voice light, but I know I’m not managing it.

“So, how is the marriage going? A fated pair should be working as a team from the very beginning.”

“We’re just taking some time to settle in,” I answer, bringing a hard edge to my tone. I want him to back off from this. I know how bad it looks.

“You shouldn’t have been arguing in the street,” Carson says, more gently this time.

I want to protest, but instead, I just shake my head and sigh. “I know.”

We drive in silence for a few seconds. My mind is still reeling from my talk with Gina. I felt like at any moment, we were about to have a breakthrough.

For the first time since the wedding, I thought we were finally connecting.

“Where is the meeting?” I ask, hoping to completely change the subject. There are a few places in town we use as well as cabins out of town, depending on the business we have to conduct.

“Out the back of Shelley’s,” Carson replies.

Shelley’s a wolf-run bar and restaurant with a club room out the back that we often use. It isn’t far from the gym, so I’ll easily be able to pick up my car afterwards.

“What’s it all about? This wasn’t a planned meeting.”

Carson shakes his head. “No, it’s a recent development. We’ve had scouts out, and things are changing, so we need you right now.”

“What’s changed?”

“I don’t know yet. I just got the message myself that the scouts have come in. Didn’t you get the text?”

“No,” I say, pulling my phone out of my pocket. To my dismay, there are several messages I didn’t hear coming through. “I was distracted.” Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“We all understand how important it is to be with your mate. I was nearby, so I thought I’d just stop in on the house or shop to see where you were. All the elders are being called in. It looks like this is important news.”

“Okay,” I mutter, looking out the window. I feel bad that I missed those messages, but it was a conversation with Gina I needed to have.

I should have brought her with me. Maybe being involved as den mother is exactly what she needs.

We cruise into Shelley’s parking lot and go through the bar to the room out back. I see Shelley cleaning glasses at the counter and give her a wave. She smiles and tips her head in response. She’s in her fifties and has been involved in pack business her whole life. Her bar is a haven for us, a place where we don’t have to worry too much about hiding our true natures.

When we get to the back room, I see Dane and Seth, both pack elders. My friends Ben and Cody are here, too, and Jack, my beta.

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