Page 22 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“On it,” Jarrod concedes with a curt nod. “And…” he glances at his watch. “... We should head back home. Tonight's the full-moon gathering at—”

“The gathering's tonight?” I interject with raised brows. I'd been so occupied with this Goddess-forsaken threat of the rogues and the Alpha Council meeting that tonight's gathering had slipped my mind.

“Yeah…”

“Fuck…” I murmur, wanting to get back to Mysthaven as quickly as I can.

All because of Cassandra.

She'd made it clear that she'd be attending the gathering. All because—

“Why the fuck did you invite Cassandra to the gathering?” I throw abruptly at Jarrod, who becomes stunned as he frowns at me.

“She's a member of the pack, isn't she?”

My nostrils flare as I exhale a heated breath of contempt. Jarrod stares at me with confusion, furrowing his brows, and I open my mouth to say something, but then quickly snap it shut.

I can't let him know how I truly feel about him inviting Cassandra. Yes, she is a member of the Moon Shine Pack. That's not the real problem here, and it pains me to admit it to myself.

The Beta can't know my weakness. A weakness that I haven't been able to accept myself. A weakness that sends blood rushing to my core when all I'm supposed to do is bear in mind that Cassandra abandoned the pack.

It's easier said than done. It's a fact that I blatantly forgot about last night when I found her outside her little cottage, about to go Goddess-knows-where, looking like a temptress.

And boy! Was I tempted…

I can't get the image of her in that black dress out of my mind. It's been carved in the stone of my memory, as intricately detailed as every dip and curve of her body is carved by the Moon Goddess Herself.

If I, as the Alpha and head of the pack, could so easily be swayed by a she-wolf with no loyalty to the pack, the other males are easy targets.

I have to keep an eye on her. Something's off. Why did she suddenly decide to stay when she'd been gone for almost a decade? What is she up to?

She's up to something.

Fists coiling at my sides, my breathing becomes shallower.

“You know what? Never mind. Let's go,” I command, my voice hoarse with brooding suspicions. “I don't wanna be late.”

***

Pacing the meadow barefooted does little to ease my agitation; the drying grass beneath my soles only amplifies the disorientation of my soul.

With the bonfire crackling in the center and wooden benches set up for tonight's full-moon ritual, the Moon Shine Pack members slowly begin making their way to the gathering, greeting me with curt bows as they take their seats.

I barely pay attention to them, unnerved as I wait around for a particular she-wolf to arrive. There's so much on my plate, yet here I am, awaiting the arrival of a she-wolf who wasn't even in this pack a few days ago.

What has gotten into me?

“Alpha,” Jarrod comes over, the disruption to my thoughts throwing me for a loop as I'm forced to drag my eyes from the ingress of the woods that serves as an entryway to the meadow where the pack den stands.

“What?”

“Want me to lead prayers tonight? With everything that's been—”

I turn fiery eyes on the Beta. “Are you crazy? What makes you think I can't handle this?”

The threat to my presentation of power in the pack ruffled feathers I didn't even know I had. Glowering at my best friend, he lifts his hands in a show of surrender.

“Sorry, bro,” he apologizes ruefully. “I didn't mean to step on your toes. I just wanted to help take the weight off, that's all.”

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