Page 11 of Escalating Alpha

“You’re not calling him to talk about that?” Brian hedged. He sighed at whatever was on my face. “I’m not picking on your relationship or—I’m worried, Sera. I’m asking for you or if you want to talk.”

“Thanks, but it’s weird between us.” I swallowed my annoyance when he seemed hurt. “He’s hiding shit from me again. It’s hard to just pretend that’s not the case.”

“Yeah, that’s fair. I would—that’s valid.”

I was glad when he left it at that. So he just wanted to touch base and see where my head was? Okay, well, that wasn’t painful.

When we arrived back, I ran right through the water stream someone was using to rinse off a car, everyone chuckling, but it was the end of July in Chicago. Even if it was the morning, it was fucking hot.

And my period was going to start tomorrow like clockwork. Just thinking about that had me going over to the table of drinks that was all set up.

“Great job, Ashley,” I praised as I took it all in. “Really, you did great once again.”

“Thank you, Alpha. We also have PayPal and Venmo for the donations if people want,” she replied. “I asked Vinn for a credit card reader since we’re doing farmers markets now for the flowers, but she said they could only be used for the business.”

“She would know best, but it’s not a bad idea to see if people will donate for a real wolf college fund when we do stuff like that. Even the supe outreach events could take donations for a supe education fund through the APA.” I chuckled when her eyes sparkled. “Talk to Vinn. Also, think of what classes you have this semester and if setting that up would be a good project.”

She nodded. “I have a professor that I’ve already had. I’ll talk to Vinn and email him. He might be able to give me an answer and some tidbits so we don’t have to wait for school to start.”

“Have fun.” I went over and kissed her hair.

“So much for not expanding,” Brian teased me, giving me the look that he fully knew how I felt. “Yeah, it’s like working overtime or not through lunch. I told myself every new year or spring I was going to really take lunch for myself and even get outside for a walk. You ever see me really do it?”

“Nope.”

“Nope,” he echoed. “It’s hard not to help when you can.”

It really was. I mean… For us. There were tons of people who didn’t do dick and were fine with that. Others who took and took and gave nothing ever.

That was apparent about ten minutes after we started and I heard the signal that there was a problem. It was a whistle at the level most humans couldn’t hear but would make our animals twitch.

Yeah, yeah, insert dog whistle jokes here and I could flip people off.

“What’s the problem here?” I asked as I joined the group, not happy to find a woman raising her voice at my wolves but mostly that they were the college kids.

She focused on me but then did a double take, disgust all over her face. “That’swhat you wear to an event with CPD?”

I glanced down at my outfit as just about everyone did around me before meeting her gaze like she was nuts. “Did you want a prom dress? We’re washing cars inJulyand we’ll get wet. I finished a three-hour run and just came here.”

Like… Duh? I could get it if I was in sparring clothes—not really, but maybe. But I was in normal running shorts, not even the super short runner ones with the ass hanging out. And a tank top with the bra built in. Full coverage. Thick straps. No open back or… Seriously? It wasn’t low-cut.

Just a normal damn tank top.

One of the female wolves snorted. “Smell the jealousy that she couldn’t wear it.”

Fair enough. I kept the woman’s focus on me when she went to blast the wolf. “What is the problem?”

“Your wolves won’t let us in, Sera,” she snapped.

My wolf, siren, and Iallbristled at that. “Sera? Are we friends? No, I don’t know you. Have we met, Officer…”

“It’s a car wash and you’re being formal,” she drawled.

“You just gave me shit about not dressing better and now I’m a problem for demanding you bepoliteand teaching my people to expect better. Yeah, I don’t think I’m the issue here,” I threw right back with just as much sarcasm.

And I was valid.

“She won’t show a badge or CPD ID,” one of the guys filled me in when I glanced at them. “That’s the rule.”

---