Page 33 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

I blinked, looked at her cute outfit of black jeans, an orange crop top, and a denim jacket, and then winced. I had forgotten it was Maya and her twin brother Levi’s birthday party today.

“You forgot,” she said, dropping her hands to her sides. “Why am I not surprised?” she sighed in exasperation.

She gripped my shoulders and marched me in the direction of our shared bathroom. “You get in there and shower that ballerina sweat off of you. I’ll worry about your outfit.”

“But—”

“No buts, Havie! I swear, you live with your head in the fucking clouds half the time…”

She continued muttering under her breath as she slammed the door shut behind her. I wasted no time starting the shower and jumping in before it was even warm. I did not want to be on the receiving end of Maya Russo’s temper today.

Before I knew it, the two of us sat in the front seats of her old Jeep Cherokee, my damp, curly hair drying in the breeze from the cracked window as Maya drove. Maya had the music blasting as she wound up the roads higher into the mountains.

I stole a glance at her as she bobbed her head along to the song, and I couldn’t help but smile at her energy. She seemed to have an endless amount of it, and the long, grueling hours spent working on costumes for the company never seemed to diminish that spark.

I didn’t understand where all that energy came from, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous. I imagined all the extra training, stretching, and practice I’d be able to do if I had the same amount of energy as she did—I’d become a principal in no time.

As it was, though, I had already seen a positive change in myself since moving here. I didn’t know if it was the weather, the elevation, the endless redwood trees, or something else entirely, but I wouldn’t deny that moving to California had been the best decision for both my career and my mental health.

Maya’s car turned right and bounced down a gravel road, and I perked up. I had lived with her for several months, but I had yet to see the small town where she had grown up, although she spoke of it often and with fondness.

I gaped in shock as we rounded the bend, and the town came into view. It was cozy and homey, and yet also fancy at the same time. In the middle of the various sized homes and shops was an expansive mansion designed to resemble an incredibly large log cabin. It backed up to an enormous lake surrounded by redwoods.

It was all breathtaking and natural, and I felt instantly at home.

“Who lives here?” I asked as we drove to the parking lot in front of the large house.

“The mayor,” she said as she glanced around for a place to park. “Well, him and his family. The wife and the youngest two, at least. His oldest son moved out a few years ago when he graduated from college. And they actually only live on the very top floor. The rest of it is… a clubhouse.”

“Like a country club?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she muttered as she parked. “Follow me, and don’t forget your jacket,” she added as she hopped out of the car.

I swallowed down my tension and did as I was told, even though being ordered around grated on my nerves. I grabbed my black leather jacket and tucked it over my crossed arms as I followed her through the parking lot at the clubhouse and down a path blocked by a small garden gate.

As soon as we reached the lawn behind the house, the noises from the party greeted us. I gave a nervous smile at a few people who glanced my way, although none of them said anything to me. Most of them just stared for a second and then turned back to their conversations.

“Levi!” Maya squealed, and she threw herself at a tall, dark-skinned male.

He laughed and hugged her back, the curls in his hair bouncing just as Maya’s did. I knew right away he was her brother, even without her shouting his name. They didn’t look exactly alike, but the resemblance was in the shape of their eyes and their height and long legs.

“You must be Haven,” he said in a deep voice as he let Maya go and walked up to me with his hand outstretched.

I shook it, and he cocked his head at me as he looked down at me, studying me.

“That I am,” I replied, trying not to blush under his gaze.

I couldn’t help but notice how I didn’t quite fit in with most of the young women in attendance at this party. While I wasn’t short—five-foot-five—most of the females here had to be five-foot-eight, minimum. They were all almost flawlessly beautiful, with perfectly sized curves on top and bottom, while I was flat as a board, and my bright red hair stood out like a flame amongst the brunettes and blondes around me.

I hid my obvious discomfort as I made my way to the buffet table, weighed down by deep pit pork, rice pilaf, green beans with bacon, salad, and dinner rolls. There was enough food to feed a small army, but one glance around at the tall females and muscular men was enough to understand why there was this much food.

“Hey!”

I glanced to my right as I finished grabbing my plastic fork and spoon and met the blue eyes of a young teenaged girl.

“Hi,” I managed with a smile.

“Do I know you?” she asked, cocking her head to the side like Levi had done.

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