Page 54 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

“What about Scott? Tiffany?” I asked.

“They live close enough to drive and visit,” Jack told me with a smile.

I looked back over to where Shirley stood, Seb and Maya behind her, and I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“I’m not the one you need to thank,” he replied with a shrug. “We’ll let the three of you catch up,” he said, then grabbed Maya’s hand and pulled her towards what I could only guess was the kitchen.

Shirley moved to sit on my other side and took one of my hands in hers.

“This is so crazy,” I said breathlessly. “I mean… I move here to join a ballet company, and—“

“I told you she’d go far!” Jack shouted in triumph, and Shirley shushed him.

I smiled and continued, looking between the two of them. “I just can’t believe it. First, seeing Wesley, and then the two of you. I…” I shook my head.

There was so much running through my head as we sat and talked and caught up with each other. It was beyond wild that they were in California. In the same town as the ballet company I joined. In the same area that Wesley and his family lived in. It was almost too much to be a coincidence. If I’d believed in a higher power, I would have thought someone had orchestrated the entire situation.

But it wasn’t divine intervention, and it wasn’t coincidence. It was just Wesley, just because he couldn’t help me, so he did the next best thing and helped Jack and Shirley.

My parents.

We had been talking for a long while when a knock sounded on the door, and it swung open immediately after. As if summoned by my thoughts, Wesley stood in the frame, his eyes widening as he saw me sitting on the couch with Jack and Shirley.

He closed the door behind him, his eyes locked on me, watching me for my reaction.

“I’m sorry, I-I didn’t know you’d be here, I swear. I come here every Wednesday at this time and—“

His eyes moved to my right, and I looked over to where Sebastian stood, grinning like the cat who got the cream. Wesley glared at him and then looked at me again.

“I swear I didn’t put him up to this Haven,” he explained, his voice desperate, begging me to believe him.

I wanted to still be mad at him. I wanted him to be the villain of my heartbreaking story. It would be easier that way.

But I knew he was telling the truth. I didn’t think twice about what I did next.

I jumped up from my spot between Jack and Shirley and strode to him with one singular goal. His face looked worried when I reached him, but I didn’t pause. I just threw my arms around him, holding on to him as tight as I could.

He hesitated for just a moment, then his arms wrapped around me, holding me close and with care. His muscular arms felt too good as they tightened around my body, and his large hands rubbed my back as we hugged. The gentle caresses were unexpected from such a strong, intimidating-looking man. I closed my eyes for a second as I took in a deep, calming breath.

I pulled back before I could let myself get drunk on the feel of his hands on my body, not wanting anyone, least of all him, to know how his touch affected me. Then I looked at him and muttered, “Did you still want to get coffee?”

CHAPTER 20

WESLEY

After exchanging phone numbers with Shirley and Jack and getting her bag from Seb’s old beat-up truck and many, many,manyhugs, Haven and I settled ourselves into my big black truck and headed back into town towards Brewed Awakenings.

Neither of us said anything as I drove to the cafe. I think she was still in shock from the whole thing. I was just happy that I seemed to be forgiven and too afraid to say something to put me back in the wolf house.

I gripped the steering wheel hard, trying to keep my focus on the road instead of letting it wander over to her. My lycan kept trying to get me to look at her, and her jasmine scent filled up the cab fast, making him roll around on his back in my mind.

She seemed much more relaxed than the day I showed up at her apartment. Her hands rested in her lap, and she stared out the window as we drove through town.

There was so much I wanted to ask her, so much I wanted to know, but I wasn’t sure where to start, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her. Especially not after she had just seen Jack and Shirley. So, I was going to let her take the lead on the conversation. For now, anyway.

“Where do you work?” she asked me as I turned down the street that led into town.

“What?” I asked.

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