Page 177 of The Alpha

“Well, actually,” Kitty drawled. “That’s a very good price for that.” She turned to Dallan. “You really ought to buy that for your wife.” She winked at Shona before she grabbed Archer’s hand again and gave it a yank. He almost fell over as she dragged him off to another section in the sea of handbags they were in.

Dallan chuckled. “Poor Archer. He hasna any idea what he’s getting into.”

Shona smacked him again. “Oh, let Kitty have her fun.” She glanced at Kitty and Archer’s joined hands. “You don’t think…”

“Absolutely not,” Dallan said. “He’s no her type as yer so fond of saying.” He kept his eyes on Melvale and Pari as they made their way toward them. They were holding hands too. Good.

“Time Master Dallan,” Melvale said in a low voice. “Isn’t this wonderful? I want to go to Sak’s and Bloomingdale’s and… ”

“Nay, this is dangerous enough. Ye dinna want to put yer lass at risk.”

Melvale’s face fell. “No, of course not.”

“Then let me do my job while we’re here and watch over ye,” Dallan said. “Enjoy yerselves, buy her some things, have fun. But dinna draw attention to yerself.” His eyes scanned the passersby. They were all staring at Melvale, not to mention him, like they were celebrities. “Okay, try not to draw any more attention to yerself than ye already are.”

Melvale smiled. “I’ll do my best.” He glanced at Pari who had stepped a couple of feet away, her eyes glued to a handbag.

“What is it with women and these bags?” Dallan groused in a low voice.

Melvale smiled again. “Oh, Time Master. You have so much to learn.” He let go of Pari. “Go on, Kitten. Shop.” He waved her away with both hands.

She blushed a deep red, smiled, and slowly gravitated to the bag she had her eye on.

Dallan sighed. “Weel, there’s no help for it. I need some cash.”

Melvale laughed. “Very well.” He reached for the wallet in his back pocket. “How are my eyes?”

“Gray. Normal. Let us hope they stay that way.” Dallan scanned their surroundings again as Melvale handed him the money.

“You’ll be surprised how fast that goes,” Melvale said.

Dallan looked at it. “How much is this?”

“Two thousand.”

Dallan’s eyes widened. “How much did ye bring, man?”

“Ten.”

His jaw dropped. “Och, are ye mad?”

“No, I’m in Manhattan.” He gave Dallan a slight bow, turned to Pari, and joined her.

Dallan stuffed the money into his pocket and let out a breath. This world was a far cry from the Muiraran’s—that didn’t use money that he knew of—or the one he’d left behind. He turned, spied Shona and Kitty laughing about something as Archer slung a handbag across one arm and began prancing about like a woman.

Dallan shook his head. There were far worse things he could be tasked with. Melvale was holding together well, all things considered. Pari was warming up to him slowly, but at least warming up. And there had been no other signs of danger. Nothing showed up in the news or papers about bodies turning up in Pari’s neighborhood either. Unfortunately, Melvale still couldn’t remember the details of that night, but they would come to him soon enough according to Kwaku. There was no reconciling the fact that his Alpha side would do what wasnecessary to protect Pari and eventually the rest of them. Melvale just had to wrap his head around it.

“What about this one?” Shona held up a black handbag.

Dallan looked at it until something drew his attention. Kitty was several feet behind Shona giving him the thumbs up sign.

“Er, it’s… nice, Flower.” He narrowed his eyes slightly at Kitty, who stuck her tongue out at him.

“You really think so?” She went to the pink bag she’d been looking at earlier.

Dallan stood in the middle of the handbags and crossed his arms over his broad chest. A group of women walked by and ogled him. Then another group, and a few men! Dallan backed deeper into the displays of goods and found Shona. He put his arm around her. “Kiss me.”

“What? Now you’re getting amorous? Are you hungry?”

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