Page 15 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

I shrug. “The bastard put his hand on me without permission, so he lost the hand.”

He growls before saying, “Good girl.”

A tingle runs down my spine at the praise. Never would I have thought I would like when a man told me “Good girl,” but from this man…it definitely elicits a reaction no other has gotten out of me.

“To answer your question, yes I am done terrorizing the city.”

“Are you headed home then?” he asks.

“No, I need to walk for a bit in order to wind down before returning home…Will you join me?” I don’t know why I add that last bit, but I don’t want to leave him yet and am ever more curious about this werewolf after learning what pack he is alpha to.

A small smile graces his face. “Nothing would make me happier right now, darling.”

Chapter 8

Talia

We walk for a time, slowly moving out of the city, before we arrive at my secret oasis hidden in the forest on the outskirts of the city. It’s a garden with a small waterfall coming off of a cliff wall on one side and a bench that sits under a tree on another side where I can sit when I come here. The perimeter contains various bushes, vines, and trees thick enough to hide any of the garden’s occupants. You have to know or look diligently enough to know where the two entrances are to get in or out, making it perfect to hide from the outside world without being disturbed. Flowers of various colors and types bloom all around, permeating the air with a sweet smell. My favorite part, though, is the open night sky above where I can gaze at the stars without the haze of city lights overshadowing the view. I’ve never brought anyone here, and no one but Danny knows about its existence. It’s completely mine. I don’t know why I brought Jordan here, but my feet led me here with him in tow with no resistance. Maybe since he trusted me with one of his secrets, I feel I can trust him with one of mine.

I glance over at Jordan to see what, if any, reaction he has. He’s looking around taking in the sight of the garden but doesn’t say anything.

“This is my secret hiding spot outside the city,” I whisper.

He looks over at me, and our eyes connect. “It’s beautiful. How did you find it?”

“I created it in a sense,” I say with a proud smile.

“You did all this?”

“I found the empty space and cleaned it up. With the small waterfall and dense foliage around the perimeter, I thought it would be the perfect place for me to seek refuge outside the city when I needed it. I added many of the flowers along with the bench over the years.”

“Never would have pegged you as someone with a green thumb, darling,” he chuckles.

“Well, they provide color and extra beauty. Plus, I find it calming to plant them and tend to them when I can’t sit still. It’s my happy place of sorts. One of them at least. It’s the only one where I can get the view that I wanted too.” I sit on the bench and look up at the sky full of hundreds of sparkling diamonds in an infinite sea of black. I feel Jordan approach, and then the bench groans slightly as he takes a seat beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him tilt his head up to look at the stars along with me.

“So, what got you going on a vigilante spree tonight?” he asks after a few minutes of silence.

“Anger, frustration…and feeling helpless,” I whisper the last bit.

We look at each other, and he nods at me as if he understands.

Wanting to change the subject and avoid becoming angry again, I ask, “So, how did you become the alpha of the most powerful werewolf pack in the city; the one most shrouded in mystery and secrets none the less?”

“Hmmm,” is all he says at first. I swear I can hear him thinking. Probably considering if he should reveal the information to me or not, but eventually I think he decides thereis no harm in talking to me about it as he starts to talk. “My father was friends with the previous alpha. When my father died, the alpha took me under his care and taught me how to be not just an alpha but agoodalpha. He didn’t have children of his own and could see the potential in me to be a great alpha. So, he passed it along to me when he could no longer do the job.”

“No longer do the job?”

“Cancer. He beat it but afterwards, he was tired and not as sharp mentally. He asked me to take on being alpha, and I did. Been in charge of the pack for ten years now.”

“I thought all werewolves became alpha by the previous one dying either naturally or by another challenging them in a fight?”

“Most do. My situation was rare, and I had to prove myself worthy of being alpha twice as hard in the beginning. But eventually, I earned the pack’s trust and respect to where they realized I was worthy of being alpha.”

“They didn’t trust their previous alpha’s judgment in choosing you to take up the mantle?”

He tilts his head to the side in contemplation. “Somewhat, but they hadn’t seen me in the role officially and needed to see that I could handle it along with showing them I could lead them well while taking care of the pack’s wellbeing. Would your coven easily accept you if you were to become their leader without proving yourself?”

“It doesn’t matter since I’m the rightful heir. I’ve proven myself plenty though over the years as my father’s right-hand man and the dirty work I take care of for him and the coven.”

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