Page 16 of Alpha Scorned

“That’s the best I can offer. In the meantime, we’ll need to take a look around Shane’s house. And it's a few years since we’ve been here, so a look around the town would be good as well. This place was a temporary camp the last time I was here, and now it looks like some construction company came in and whipped up a whole community.”

She chuckled, her eyes sparkling at my comment. “They did. At least, Drake Alexander did. He built this town for us, along with a water and sewage system, an airport with an armoured control tower, and installed a whole new bank of solar powered electricity generators. We have satellite access, internet and an S.O.S system. We owe him everything.”

“You sound smitten,” I commented dryly, though Drake’s involvement wasn’t news to me.

She shrugged. “That male deserves it. He didn’t have to help us, he wanted to. Along with our Prime, they both helped Shane and Selina build this place up and make it into the safe haven it is now: for wolves with no pack, those that are unwanted or abused, and not just females, either. Males come here too. They’re mainly male omegas but not all of them. Abuse happens in all sorts of guises.”

I rubbed my face, feeling jet lag hit me even with the nap I’d taken on the plane. “That’s true.” Selina's past was never far from my mind now that Em had reminded me that I’d never taken the time or been brave enough to ask her about it, and the refuge this pack offered was a stark reminder. I stood up, guilt dragging at my chest. It was too late now.

“Let’s go.”

Robin stood too. “Sure. Where to first? Shane has a host of lovers who might have seen him the night before he left.”

My stomach clenched, but I managed to smirk. “Really? Lucky bastard. How many are we talking?” Mother Wolf. Was Selina really forced to share her lover with other women? That thought didn’t sit well with me. At all. Surely, she deserved better than being one of many fighting for Shane's attention? If she was mine, I’d never even look at another female. My fingers curled into fists. She wasn’t mine, though, and Shane wasn’t her mate, either. They weren’t bonded and hadn’t claimed each other. Both of them could fuck whoever they wanted. Knowing Lina could have taken other lovers, too, like the guy who’d jumped in to hold Devon, was a painful thought.

Robin shrugged. “Six that I know of. They share a house next to his.”

Squaring my shoulders, I forced myself to nod. I didn’t relish seeing my Lina in that environment, but I had to start this search somewhere, and that was the most obvious place. “Let’s start there, then. We’ll give ourselves a day to get a feel for the town and meet a few people, while you set up the pack meet.”

Chapter 7

Selina

The clockon my office wall told me it was five minutes to six. “Dammit!” Daycare would close in five minutes, and I still had to get there to pick up Devon. I quickly shut my computer down and grabbed my bag and my jacket. My last client had needed a little longer to talk. Her past was a shaky one, and the arrival of five powerful males, all of whom were strangers to her, had increased her anxiety ten fold. I knew they’d never hurt her, but she didn’t. I couldn’t insist she leave at five thirty when her session ended. She needed help. But once we’d talked through why she thought they were a danger, it had left me less than ten minutes to get my computer shut down, grab my bag, and get down the street to the daycare. I looked down ruefully at my high heeled ankle boots. Ridiculous as it was, I’d tried to dress a bit smarter today, and now I was paying for it.

My heels clicked down the sidewalk as I ran to get my son. Jade, the manager of the daycare centre, was standing outside the door holding Devon’s hand. He grinned when he saw me. “Momma!” he yelled and ran towards me. My heart flipped. I loved him so, so much. I didn’t care what had happened to me, or how he’d been sired. He was mine, and I loved him with everything I had.

I raised my hand. “Sorry!” I yelled to Jade. She rolled her eyes and disappeared back inside with a disapproving look. “Oh, fuck off,” I muttered under my breath. What the hell did that prissy princess know about struggling as a single mom? Jade had moved to the pack a couple of years ago. She’d come here to be with her sister after the prison had been taken down, and had helped her sister, who still came for therapy sessions with me, set up the children’s daycare centre. I tried to play nice, but she was always shooting me judgemental looks.

“Momma? Can we see Wen?” Devon’s hopeful little face just broke my heart. I hadn’t seen Owen over the past twenty four hours, which had been both a relief and a torture, but despite Owen telling Devon he’d be busy, poor Devon didn’t understand why his hero hadn’t been to see him.

I swung my gorgeous son high in my arms and threw him in the air, catching him again and again until my strength gave out. He giggled loudly. “Maybe we can see him later, sweetheart. We have to go home and get some dinner, then we have to go to a pack meeting. Owen might be there.”

“Yay!” he squealed, clapping his hands.

I quickly backtracked. “Now, you know Owen said he’d be busy, honey. Don’t be upset if he can’t play with you tonight, okay?”

Devon nodded solemnly. “Okie, Momma.” He was quiet until we were almost home. “Am I bad, Momma?” he asked out of nowhere.

I pulled him to a stop at the bottom of our steps. “What? No, of course not! What makes you ask that, love?”

He looked down and kicked the front porch step with his shoe. “Wen not like me anymore. Is it ‘cause I’m a ab..ni..ation?” he said haltingly, tripping up on the unfamiliar word. My son might only be three, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew he was different. He’d heard the names some of the pack called him and his friend, George. And even if he didn’t know what they meant, he knew it meant he and George were different in some way. And now this?

Ah, shit.“No, baby, you are not bad. And don't you ever listen to anyone who says you are. Owen doesn't think you’re bad either. He’s just very busy, honey, that’s all. Shane is in a bit of trouble, and Owen is going to help him.”

Devon puffed his chest out and nodded. “Okay, Momma. I help, O-wen.”

Instead of shaking my head, I smiled. “I’m sure you will, sweetie.”

I’d go to the main cave; it was a call by the current Alpha after all; but I drew the line at eating with people who thought my son was a monster. I unlocked my door and ushered Devon in. Once I’d got him settled with some chicken and vegetables, I gave Becca a call. “Hey you. Are you coming to the pack meet tonight?”

She snorted. “You mean go and ogle those sexy new alphas? Girl, of course I am. I need to get me some new dick to ride.”

My laugh echoed around the kitchen. “Oh, my gods, you horny bitch. Really?”

“Yes, really. Have you seen that hot, dark haired bastard who came with Owen? He looks moody and dangerous as fuck. Just my type.”

My heart dropped a bit. “Becca.” I didn’t want to stamp on my friend’s excitement but the last thing she needed was to find out too late what Zander was. “That’s Zander. He’s the King’s brother. Sweetie, he’s also half-demon, half shadow fae...” My voice trailed off.

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