Page 17 of Her Grumpy Alpha

James, his brow furrowed with frustration, said in a low and commanding voice, “Brian, you’re testing my patience. This is your clan leader speaking. I suggest you think twice before you challenge me. You keep doing this, and I can assure you that it won’t end well.”

As tension filled the air, the two wolves, both alphas in their own right, locked eyes. The challenge was clear, and the only way to resolve this was through dominance. With a sudden, ferocious burst of energy, they both burst free from their human skin into wolves.

James’ transformation was striking. He became a sleek and lean wolf, his fur a storm cloud gray that seemed to ripple with power. His eyes, still filled with the same intensity, were now a deep, piercing gray. But what caught my attention the most were the black ‘socks’ on his feet.

Brian’s transformation was a stark contrast. He turned into a black wolf, his fur as dark as the night with eyes that were eerily black, devoid of any familiar light or color. It was a sight that sent shivers down my spine.

The daycare’s surroundings transformed into an arena, the scent of the earth mixing with the musk of the wolves. I watched with a mix of fear and awe as the two powerful creatures circled each other, muscles rippling beneath their fur. The fight was on.

Brian lunged first, his teeth bared and a fierce glint in his eyes. He was a formidable opponent, but James was no pushover either. They clashed in a storm of growls, bites, and snapping jaws. Each bite, each strike, was a battle of wills, a test of strength and dominance.

I couldn’t bear to watch but couldn’t look away either. The spectacle was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. It was clear that James was not just fighting for me, but also for the integrity of his clan.

In the end, it was James’ unyielding determination and leadership that won the day. With a final, decisive move, he pinned Brian to the ground, his powerful jaws inches from Brian’s throat. He growled, a deep, menacing sound that left no room for doubt.

Brian, defeated and humiliated, submitted. He whined softly, acknowledging James’ superiority. Reluctantly, he shifted back to his human form, his eyes filled with frustration and bitterness.

James, with a final, unrelenting stare, warned, “This is your last chance, Brian. Stay away from Sadie and the daycare, too.”

Brian, begrudgingly admitting defeat, nodded, and turned to leave. As he walked away, the tension in the air slowly dissipated.

I stood in awe of James’ strength and resolve, my heart swelling with a mixture of admiration and affection. I knew in that moment that James would always protect me and those I loved, no matter the cost.

James and I stood there, catching our breath after the intense confrontation with Brian. The tension had lifted, but now there was a different weight on our shoulders, one that had been looming for a while.

James turned to me, his gaze still filled with the remnants of the earlier battle. “We need to talk, Sadie,” he said, his voice soft yet serious. “I have been thinking a lot about what you said before. About not being with someone else in a decade. I want to talk about what that means… for Gregory.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. It was a conversation that had been delayed for far too long, and I couldn’t put it off any further. When I made that comment, I never thought about James working everything out. But maybe that was for the best. It was out there now, in the open. I had to just deal with it. “You’re right, James,” I admitted, my voice tinged with regret. “I’m sorry for not bringing it up sooner. It’s just… I didn’t know how to start.”

He reached out and gently took my hand, his touch comforting. “I understand, Sadie. It’s not an easy topic, but we need to address it.”

I met his eyes, and there was a vulnerability in his gaze that I hadn’t seen before. “I know it’s time to talk about Gregory,” I said, my voice shaky. “I should have told you a long time ago, but I was scared. Scared of how you would react.”

James squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Sadie, you can trust me. We’ll figure this out together.”

I let out a sigh, relieved that he wasn’t angry or upset with me for keeping this secret. “Thank you, James. I’ll tell you everything, I promise.”

As we stood there, hand in hand, I knew that this was a turning point in our relationship. The truth about Gregory had been a heavy burden on my shoulders for too long, and I was ready to share it with James, the man I was falling in love with all over again.

TEN

JAMES

The weight of the day’s events and the revelation about Gregory pressed down on me as Sadie and I walked back to my motorcycle. The confrontation with Brian, the fight, and then the need to discuss something as significant as Gregory’s parentage had all taken their toll.

As I straddled the motorcycle, my thoughts were a whirlwind. The anger I had initially felt about not being told sooner that I was Gregory’s father was still there, but it had started to ebb. Sadie had admitted she’d kept it a secret out of fear, not just of my reaction, but for the well-being of all of us.

I couldn’t help but admire her strength and the sacrifices she’d made for her child and for me. It wasn’t an easy thing for her to do, to keep such a monumental truth hidden out of concern for the potential chaos it might create. Her worry about our happiness and stability was evident.

“James,” Sadie’s voice broke through my reverie, her hand gently resting on my shoulder, “I understand if you’re angry or upset. I should have told you sooner. I should have told you as soon as I saw you again, but I didn’t because I wasn’t sure how we would get along. I didn’t know if you would even want to know me again after Cancun. And I didn’t know what your life was like either, or if you’d even have room for a child.”

I turned to her, meeting her gaze. “Sadie, I won’t deny that I was initially angry about not knowing sooner,” I confessed. “But now, I see why you made that choice. I understand your concerns, not just for yourself but for all of us. You did what you thought was best. I get it. We did only know one another for a night basically, in Cancun, and you obviously didn’t come here looking for me, so I get that it wasn’t easy. And the more intertwined we became, the harder it became, I’m sure.”

She gave me a small, grateful smile, her eyes reflecting relief. “Thank you for being understanding, James. I was scared of what this might do to us. I hope you understand that I did want you to know right away, but I didn’t have any way of communicating with you.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. “I know. We left things on weird terms after our holiday, and I’m sure, like me, you didn’t think our paths would ever cross again. But now they have, and I think there’s a reason behind that. We’ll figure this out, Sadie. Together. One step at a time, okay?”

Sadie nodded, a grateful smile spreading across her face. “Thank you for understanding, James. Thank you for everything.”

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