Page 9 of Her Grumpy Alpha

Abraham, ever perceptive, seemed to notice my quiet contemplation. He leaned in closer and spoke in a hushed tone, “James, I can see that this bothers you. You envy the easy friendships within our pack, don’t you? I can see you want the same closeness with them all.”

I sighed, grateful for his understanding. “It’s true, Abraham. I sometimes wish I could be as carefree and unburdened as they are, but my role as a leader demands a different approach.”

Abraham nodded sympathetically. “It’s a heavy responsibility, no doubt, but remember, they respect you for who you are. Your leadership is necessary, and they understand the sacrifices you make for the clan. Besides, even leaders need a moment to relax and enjoy the company of friends. I’ve been telling you to lighten up a little, and you could start here.”

I took his words to heart, understanding that while duty was essential, it was equally crucial to find moments of respite and camaraderie with my pack. As we continued our meal, I resolved to strike a better balance between my responsibilities as a leader and my longing for a genuine connection with those I led.

Eventually, and expectedly I supposed, the conversation turned to Brian and the drama that he was causing at the moment.

“What are we going to do?” one of the guys asked, throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

I took a deep breath and began, my voice steady, “I know that Brian’s actions have shaken us all, but we have to consider our options carefully. We can’t simply eliminate him, as that would go against our principles. We can’t just kick him out and make him a rogue wolf because, as we all know, that can create a whirlwind of problems all on its own.”

Nadja, one of our most respected pack members, spoke up, her eyes showing her concern. “James, we can’t let him continue to threaten our clan. We need to find a way to neutralize the threat he poses. What if he keeps getting worse?”

Others nodded in agreement, and I could see the fear and determination in their eyes. Brian’s actions had tested our unity, and it was clear that we needed to act decisively.

One of the younger Pack members, David, raised a valid concern. “But how do we neutralize him without looking weak to the other packs? We don’t want the World Walkers and Crescent Moon thinking we can’t keep our shit together, or they might turn on us. They might use that as a chance to break the treaty and to overtake all the land we have.”

Urgh, God, I didn’t want to even think of that. It sucked. Being a leader was getting increasingly difficult by the second. I didn’t know how to balance everything and how to hold it all together without missing something else falling apart. I was juggling so much, holding so much in the air that it was hard not to drop something.

It didn’t help that I couldn’t even focus on what was going on around me because my mind kept drifting off and thinking about Sadie. She had all but consumed me. While my pack talked, my thoughts were filled with memories of her and how much I had enjoyed our time together, in spite of myself. It was hard for me to think of anything else. No one had ever gotten under my skin in the way Sadie had over the last six years or even before.

There was something special about her, and I guessed there always had been.

The memory of a beach party we had attended together came to the forefront of my thoughts. It had been a day filled with warmth, the gentle caress of the sun on our skin, and the soothing sound of waves lapping at the shore. It was a memory that stood out as a bright spot in my vacation.

Sadie and I had spent that day drinking and dancing, surrounded by strangers who were enjoying themselves in the same way. The air was filled with the infectious rhythm of music, and the sand beneath our feet had been cool and comforting.

As I thought back on that memory, I couldn’t help but smile at the carefree happiness that had enveloped us. We had taken the time to get to know each other on a deeper level, our conversations flowing easily as we shared our stories, dreams, and aspirations.

The image of Sadie, her laughter filling the air, was etched in my mind. Her presence had been a source of joy, and her bouncy curls danced in the breeze as she twirled on the beach, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Was she going to be that same version of herself here? Or would I get to know a new version of Sadie in Maple Creek? It was super exciting to find out. Yes, I still had all of this drama resting on my plate and I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to handle it all, but the idea of my upcoming date was thrilling. Even if it ended up just being a coffee and nothing more, it was going to be a good time, I was sure of it.

FIVE

SADIE

The coffee date with James was brimming over with banter. It was as if no time had passed since our encounter in Cancun. We subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, locked horns in different ways, the familiar spark between us reigniting once more.

As we sat across from each other, the playful exchange flowed effortlessly. James was as gruff and serious as ever, while I continued to hold my ground, refusing to defer to anyone without a good reason. It was fun and made me realize how much I’d missed him. I even missed this back and forth. The first time it happened, I was worried and upset. I thought that I had done something wrong. But now I knew that we had more time–all the time in the world it seemed, since we lived in the same town–and I was enjoying it.

“You know, Sadie,” James remarked with a raised eyebrow, “I’ve always found it best to have a clear plan and stick to it. Life’s too unpredictable to be whimsical.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, not missing the chance to tease him back. “Oh, James, but where’s the fun in that? Spontaneity adds a little spice to life.”

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine. My heartbeat sped up as I stared at him, wondering what was next. “Spice, huh? Well, sometimes, spice can lead to chaos.”

I grinned, not willing to back down. “But isn’t chaos where the best stories come from? Who wants a life that’s too structured and predictable?”

The banter continued, each of us throwing playful jabs while, underneath it all, the attraction was undeniable. I could tell I wasn’t the only one still interested. The chemistry between us was as potent as ever, making it difficult to concentrate on the actual words we were exchanging.

As the laughter and banter carried on, I couldn’t help but wonder if, just maybe, this time around things might turn out differently. The arguing might become something exciting and new, something that kept the pair of us on our toes.

James leaned in, his gaze lingering on mine. “You don’t like any kind of structure then? Anything at all? Must be hard to run a business like that.”

I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Well, life is too short to be dull, don’t you think? For business, sure. It’s great to be structured at work, but for the rest of my life, I want to have a good time. I don’t want to be dull. I want to have a good work and life balance.”

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