Page 30 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“Yes… We're here…”I respond reluctantly.

The moment is lost when Cassandra turns toward the mountains. Her wolf ears perk up just as a group of Moon Shine wolves emerge from the woods, led by Jarrod.

“We thought we'd go hunting tonight,”Jarrod suggests, his wolf head dipping in a curt bow.

“Of course… Go ahead,”I reply.“Cassandra and I will stake out over the river.”

Cassandra turns to me. “I think I'm gonna join the others.”

I stare long and hard at Cassandra, those treacherous claws of envy returning in the dark recesses of my mind, threatening to clutch me with envy.

Of course, she'd want to go with Jarrod. I'm nothing to her.

Except, I am the Alpha.

Perhaps it's the slight shatter of my heart that prevents me from exercising my power and commanding her to stay with me.

What would she think, anyway? There's no point in starting a fight with her. What reason would I have for wanting to keep her by my side? Except that it pains me when I nod and watch her following Jarrod to the mountain with his group.

Great!

All I can do is stand here, feeling foolish and out of place. In my own pack!

The audacity!

Snorting through my wolf nostrils, I decide that wallowing in these disgraceful thoughts is no way for an Alpha to behave.

Cassandra Chikara is quite capable of holding her own, even if my inner wolf strangles as if trying to force me to follow her. She doesn't need me. She never did need me.

I turn my head to the ground, inspecting the way the dust I'm kicking forms clouds of earthy particles around my ankles, mimicking the shackles keeping me from going after her.

What I need is a distraction before I lose my mind.

Whimpering to soothe my bruised ego, my ears fold over my face as I transform. I shove human hands into my pockets while a tug in my heart forces me to stare up at the silhouettes of wolves climbing the mountain's incline.

Against the background of the navy sky littered with stars, only one wolf stands out as if her soft tresses of gently billowing ivory fur were painted on a master's canvas.

I gaze at the sky, where the Master floats, wincing at me from Her humble abode. The Moon Goddess sure likes jokes. She carved Cassandra's perfect curves and created me with a will of iron so strong that I don't need a female counterpart.

Muttering under my breath, I fight the pull in my chest and turn on my heel. The polarity of the imaginary magnet tightens, but I fight the urge to turn back to the mountain. With every ounce of resolve I can muster, I trudge ahead to distract alone.

***

“What can I get you, Sir?” the pretty woman behind the counter throws me a sweet smile, flinging a towel over her dainty shoulder.

I shake myself, the residual chokehold of those intrusive thoughts about Cassandra still lingering as a bitter aftertaste long after I’ve found my way to the city.

Needing to extinguish the flames of a fire that shouldn’t be burning inside me, I order their strongest bourbon and rap my fingertips on the table impatiently.

What’s coming over me?

First, I can’t stand the thought of Cassandra being back in Mysthaven after making it abundantly clear nine years ago that she couldn’t care less about the pack.

Then, I can’t fathom the thought of her and my best friend being an item.

The latter shouldn’t bother me at all, but it’s crippling jealousy that gets washed down my throat when I chug the rich drink and ask for a refill.

“Rough night, huh?” the sweet bartender chuckles lightly, and for the first time tonight, I take a good look at her when she passes me a refilled glass.

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