Page 149 of The Alpha

Archer took another bite of ice cream. “There’s a lot of work going on at the building right next door. I’ll see what I can find out. I don’t think any of the apartments are rented.”

“Ask if the building is for sale,” Dallan suggested.

“Good idea,” Kwaku said. “Buy it. If it is not for sale, make dem an offer.”

“We’ll be Pari’s neighbors,” Kitty said with a smile.

“Yes, and herfriends,” Kwaku drawled.

Dallan nodded. “Genuine friends. This isna for show.”

“Of course,” Shona said. “She is Melvale’s mate. Naturally we want to be friends with her.”

“She will try to push you away,” Zara said solemnly. “Be patient with her.”

Kitty nodded. “Gotcha.”

Shona nodded too. “We understand.” She sighed and looked at the table. “I used to do the same thing at one time.”

Kwaku smiled at them. “You two will make good friends for her. Maida too.”

Kitty smiled. “This will be fun.” Her smile broadened. “And I have an idea to bring us all together.”

“What idea is that?” Shona asked.

Kitty grinned. “You’ll see. And Melvale will love it!”

47

When Pari woke up it was dark outside. She sighed, stretched, and realized she was alone. “Melvale?” She sat up, looked around and didn’t see him in the dim light shining through the windows. She looked at where he’d been and put a hand to the sheets. They were still warm.

Pari hugged her blanket and sighed again. She shouldn’t have asked him to join her on the bed. Wasn’t that the sort of mistake she’d always made? Too much too soon? But it wasn’t like anything happened, and she craved the closeness. But how was she to keep him at arm’s length if she kept making such bad decisions?

Pari set her jaw and tried not to beat herself up over it, but it was hard. What she needed was a distraction. She could do with some coffee, but did she really want to be up half the night?

Pari swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat, still trying to get her bearings. She was home, Melvale was here, along with others of his kind. Were they still downstairs in Uncle Al’s apartment? Was Uncle Leo there now?

A knock sounded at the door in the next room. Pari was saying “Come in,” before she meant to, but it was too late now.

Kitty opened the door and poked her head in. “Hi.”

Pari studied her in the dim light before she stood, pulled a string to the one light in the room, then sat on the edge of the bed again. “Hi.” She didn’t know what to think of the woman so didn’t say anything more. In truth, she wanted to be alone so she could stare try to make sense of everything that had happened to her over the last week or so. How long ago was she kidnapped? Had it only been seven or eight days?

“I came to check on you,” Kitty said and crossed the other room into hers. “Melvale is downstairs speaking with Kwaku and King Jaireth.” She approached the bed but didn’t sit. “Are you hungry?”

Pari’s stomach growled at the mention of food. “Yeah, I guess I am.” She studied Kitty. She was more than pretty with her nearly black hair and light hazel eyes. She also had a great figure and a creamy complexion. Why hadn’t Melvale gone for her?

She batted the jealous feelings down and looked away.

“We can heat the food that was brought up,” Kitty said. She crossed to the bench by the bay window and sat. “We also wanted to know, that is, Shona and I, if you wanted to help us with something.”

Pari gave her a wary look. “What?”

Kitty smiled. “Well, we know you and Melvale have been through a lot, and we wanted to, you know, sort of cheer the both of you up?”

“How long have you two been friends?” she asked without thinking.

“Me and Melvale?” Kitty smiled. “Seems like forever. Like I said, he’s been through a lot, and… well, we wanted to throw a Christmas in July party.”

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