Page 19 of Her Grumpy Alpha

“I have my own suspicions about the kind of influence Brian may wield, but I cannot act without concrete evidence.” There was a heaviness to his tone which weighed down on me. “It is essential that you investigate this matter thoroughly and discreetly. Ensure that the truth is uncovered, and if Brian poses a threat to the safety and unity of your clan, take the necessary steps to protect your own. See what this man has. See if he has access to some kind of magical artifact, an object that allows him to influence women’s minds.”

A magical artifact. I didn’t know much about that, but pack elders would, and others in my pack might too.

“Thank you, Patron. Your guidance is invaluable. I’ll do everything I can to safeguard my clan and the balance in our community.”

“I have faith in your leadership, James. Keep me updated on your progress, and if you ever need further guidance, do not hesitate to reach out.”

This whole conversation sent a shiver down my spine. The thought of Brian wielding such power was unsettling, and it raised countless questions. How had he acquired this artifact? What were his intentions? I needed to get to the bottom of this. There was only one person I could think of who might be able to help me.

I made my way to the pack’s headquarters, where Helena often worked, and found her hunched over her desk, engrossed in her research. She looked up as I entered, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern.

“James, what brings you here?” she asked.

Taking a deep breath, I began to explain the situation, recounting the events at the sawmill and the Patron’s suggestion that Brian might possess a magical artifact that influenced women’s minds. Helena listened intently, her keen intellect processing the information.

“Brian… influencing women’s minds with some magical artifact?” Helena mused, her brows furrowed. “That’s quite an unusual situation.”

“I know,” I replied, my frustration and worry evident in my voice. “I need to find out more about this potential artifact. We need to understand how it works and how to counter its effects. Before Brian gets too powerful.”

Helena nodded, her determination matching my own. “I’ll start digging into Brian’s background, any connections he might have, and any oddities that might point to this magical item. It won’t be easy, but we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Her dedication and expertise reassured me. We had a task ahead of us, and it was essential to protect our clan and uncover the truth. I watched as Helena immersed herself in her work, confident that her research would lead us to the answers we sought.

ELEVEN

SADIE

The day had been a whirlwind of activity at the daycare, with kids engaged in various games and crafts. I was in the midst of helping the little ones with their art projects when Charlene approached me.

“Sadie,” Charlene said with a concerned expression, “we’re all out of milk for the snacks. I’m not sure how it happened, but we’ll need more soon.”

I looked around at the busy children and nodded. “No problem, Charlene. I can run to the store and grab some milk. We can’t have our little ones going without their snacks.”

Just as I made the offer, my attention was drawn to Gregory, my sweet and spirited boy, who was busy playing with Mookie.

Gregory looked up at me, his eyes filled with enthusiasm. “Mom, can I come with you to get the milk? And can we bring Mookie for a walk?”

I couldn’t help but smile at his request. “Of course, sweetheart. It sounds like a plan. Let’s make it a fun outing.”

We quickly gathered our things, making sure we had Mookie’s leash and Gregory’s little backpack. The three of us were ready for a quick trip to the store to restock our milk supply and enjoy a leisurely walk with our furry friend.

We strolled along the familiar route, with the bustling town around us and the gentle breeze ruffling our hair. It was a moment of tranquility that should have brought comfort, but an eerie sensation began to crawl down my spine.

A strange, prickling sensation, like an egg yolk trickling down my back, sent shivers through me. The paranoia that had haunted me since Brian’s unsettling presence had returned with a vengeance, and now, I was certain it was somehow connected to him.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched or followed, that Brian’s influence was lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. The unease gripped me, and I instinctively grabbed Gregory and pulled him closer to me, as if shielding him from an unseen threat.

Gregory looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes, sensing the tension in the air. He squeezed my hand, a silent gesture of reassurance, and I forced a smile, attempting to dispel the ominous feeling that hung over us. He hadn’t been back to the daycare ever since James warned him not to, but I wouldn’t put it past me to follow me here.

“We should speed up a bit,” I whispered to Gregory. “We don’t want to leave Charlene alone with the children for too long.”

I could feel a pit forming in my stomach, a mix of dread and frustration. What the hell was wrong with me? I couldn’t shake this worry off however hard I tried. I almost wanted to call James, to have him reassure me. But I wasn’t going to if I didn’t need to. He had a lot of his own dramas going on, he was still trying to rebuild everything after the fire at the sawmill, and I didn’t intend to add more drama to his life.

As we continued our walk to the store, the unsettling sensation that had been creeping down my spine refused to fade. The feeling of being watched and the paranoia that Brian’s presence brought hung heavy over me.

And then, as if my worst fears had materialized, I heard it–Brian’s chilling voice. A voice that had haunted my nightmares for so long. He called out to me with an eerie calmness that sent shivers down my spine.

“Sadie,” he said, his words slicing through the air like a knife. “You can’t run from me.”

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