Page 86 of The Alpha

“Someone was thirsty,” Melvale commented then frowned. “Have you been thirsty all this time? You must tell me…”

“I’m fine,” she interjected and set the glass down. “I didn’t realize I was so thirsty until now.” She gave him a tiny smile then looked around the kitchen. “So, what is this place again?”

“Home,” Polly said. “Or it looks like home.”

“What do you mean, looks like?” Had they been abducted by Melvale’s people?! Oh no…

“It’s a long story, dearie,” Mary said. “One I’m guessing we don’t have time to tell right now. Is that right, Melvale?”

“You are correct.” He reached for another slice of bread. “This is wonderful. Irene will be jealous.”

“Who is Irene?” Pari asked.

“Our friend,” Mary said. “She and her husband Wilfred own the mercantile in town.”

Pari looked at the women, then Melvale. “Do a lot of people live here?”

“A fair number of us,” Polly said. “Twelve to be exact.”

“Thirteen if you count Maida,” Mary added.

Polly smiled. “Fourteen with Markhel.”

Mary shook her head. “But they don’t actually live here.”

Polly wagged a finger at her. “They might as well…”

“Where is he?” A gruff voice barked from the dining room.

Pari watched the kitchen’s swinging door open. A short, plump woman, also in western garb, stormed into the kitchen. She scrunched up her face at Melvale, whipped a cast iron ladle from out of nowhere, and waved it at him. “Here you are!”

A low growl escaped him, and Pari caught the change in his eyes as she spun to face the newcomer. Oh no!

The short, plump woman looked him up and down. “What’s the matter with your eyes? Why are they blue?”

“Don’t move,” Pari warned. “Bondrah?”

Melvale straightened to his full height as he stared down the woman. “Kahtala Miah…”His voice was much deeper.

Pari swallowed hard. “I’m all right,” she soothed. She’d observed enough over the last few hours to know that when his eyes turned blue, he was unpredictable. Protective, yeah, but…

“Well, answer me,” the woman spat.

“Irene, calm down,” Mary scolded. “Have a slice of bread. I just took it out of the oven.”

“I will not have any bread,” the woman shot back. “I want to know why his eyes are blue!”

Melvale growled low in his throat. Pari left her chair and hurried around the table. “Melvale!Bondrah!“

“Bondrah?” Irene asked with raised eyebrows. “What’s that?”

Pari ignored her and wedged herself between them. “It’s all right.” She put a hand on his chest. “Everything’s all right.”

He looked at her, the blue of his eyes growing in intensity.

“Shhh,” she hummed and put her other hand on his chest.

“Oh,” Irene huffed. “So that’s what this is, eh? Well, why didn’t somebody tell me?” She reached for Pari.

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