Page 21 of Remy & the Wildcat

They talked about the towns they’d gone to see already, and the rest that Alpha Jason had given them. Jacob didn’t speak until that point, when he said, “I don’t really see why the pride needs to leave Marin. It’s been in your family for generations, hell your ancestors founded the town and started the pride here.”

“It’s toxic,” she said. “We’ve been over this, Jacob. You know that the pride is falling apart because there’s no good hunting.”

“So we stay here and travel to hunt on the full moons,” he said with a shrug.

“That’s wildly ridiculous,” she said. “And at any rate, it’s mine and Remy’s decision to make when we become alphas during the next full moon. We will be looking for a new town to move the pride to, and if you’re not a fan of that, you can stay here with the dying flowers and trees, the gross chemical smells in the air, and the lack of prey.”

Jacob snarled, his upper lip curling.

Remy responded with a growl that made Jacob’s eye tick, but he stopped snarling.

Liam smiled, looking all too pleased with the interaction. “When you decide on a town, meet with the leaders of the town, figure out housing, and then we’ll bring the family leaders there to explore.”

“We’ll be ready,” Remy said.

They spoke to them for a while longer, Remy talking about his work as a mechanic before he went off looking for a place to start a pack or find a pack already in place that needed a leader.

When they were finished talking, Brilla rose to her feet. “I’d offer to have you join us for dinner, but I have nothing prepared.”

Thyme was thankful, because she hadn’t really wanted to be in their presence any longer than necessary.

“That’s all right, we’re going out for dinner,” Remy said. “Thank you anyway.”

“Keep us posted,” Liam said.

Arlene gave her a hug and whispered, “He’s so handsome! And protective. Your dad would have liked him a lot.”

Thyme smiled, her eyes stinging. “Thank you, and I think so too.”

Liam followed them out to the porch. He leaned on the railing and cleared his throat. “Things have been brewing for a while in the background. It’s not really about you being a wolf, Remy, it’s that there’s a lot at play in the pride right now. Leif wants to be alpha and Brilla and Jacob want that as well, because Leif has promised he won’t move the pride from Marin which is Jacob’s main concern.”

“I’ve never understood why he’s so adamant about keeping the pride here,” Thyme said.

“I’m not sure,” Liam said. “He keeps saying it’s the pride’s heritage, but it has to be more than that. Whatever his reasoning, he’s keeping it close to the vest, and he wants Leif to be alpha to keep the status quo.”

“Well, it’s not up to Jacob,” Thyme said. “We’re following the laws.”

“Exactly,” Liam said. “You know most of the pride is on your side. They love your family and want an Olson to be alpha, and Leif is not an Olson, even though he’s got your father’s genetics.” He sighed. “It would be one thing if Thyme never wanted to lead, but she’s a born alpha female, and now she’s got an alpha male ready to step up. I’ve heard of Angel Mates, but I’ve never met the child of one. I can tell you’re powerful, and the two of you will make an excellent alpha pair.”

“I promise to take good care of her and help her lead the pride.”

Liam smiled and nodded, then walked back into the house.

She took Remy’s hand and they walked back to the truck.

“You want to go out to dinner?” she asked.

“I’d like to take you on a date, if that’s okay, Alpha Thyme?”

She grinned at him as he opened the door for her. “I’d love that, Alpha Remy.”

He shut the door and got behind the wheel. “Let’s go to your house first. We can clean up and find a place to go for our date, and you can try really hard to keep your hands to yourself until after dinner.”

“What?” she demanded.

He laughed. “You heard me. I need to be wined and dined, baby.”

“Okay fine,” she said, joining in the laughter. “I can tell you’re worth the wait.”

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