Page 42 of Challenged Mate
“It’s fine,” I answered Debbie.
The pretty redhead smirked. “You use that word a lot. I’m beginning to wonder if you know what it means.”
I grinned sheepishly. Alcohol loosened my tongue, and I admitted, “Okay. You got me. The move hasn’t been easy… but it could be worse, I guess.”
“A ringing endorsement,” Jenny deadpanned.
“Well, can you blame her?” Debbie asked her girlfriend. “I wouldn’t be throwing a party if I were in her shoes. She was supposed to become her pack’s alpha, for Mother’s sake.”
Without warning, moisture gathered in the back of my eyes. Debbie was the first person who didn’t act as if I should be celebrating the dramatic turn my life had taken. She was the first to openly acknowledge what I’d lost by moving to Alaska. I couldn’t deny how nice that felt.
“Thank you,” I managed to say without letting any tears fall. I swallowed thickly and added, “It’s been tough.”
Debbie’s eyes softened. “I’m sure. I know you have Kayla, but if you’re ever in need of more friends to distract you from this shitty mess, you can always call me and Jenny.”
I laughed and dabbed the corner of my eyes. I didn’t want tears to wash away my little makeup. “I might have to take you up on that.”
“Good.” She pulled out her phone and handed it to me. “Type in your number. I’ll text you mine.”
I followed her instructions, then told her I wouldn’t have my phone until tomorrow. Thankfully, none of the girls asked how I broke the device.
“Looks like Chase got roped into dancing.”
I looked up from Debbie’s phone, following Kayla’s gaze until they landed on Chase. He swayed to the upbeat music with a girl pressed firmly into his chest.
A group of females stood around him, pretending to dance on their own, but secretly waiting for any opportunity to replace his partner and grind against him themselves.
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about the girls wanting a piece of him,” I told Debbie.
“I know.” She shuddered. “Thank the Mother I’m a lesbian. Otherwise, I might be as pathetic as his aspiring harem.”
Jenny laughed and threw her arm around her girlfriend. “I thank the Mother for that every day.” She pressed a chaste kiss on Debbie’s cheek.
I smiled at their easy affection, but my eyes were drawn back to the many females vying for Chase’s attention. “I didn’t know Chase was such a hot commodity.”
Kayla shrugged. “You know how it is. Female shifters are drawn to the most powerful mates, and Chase is at the top in our pack.”
“Really?”
“Well, duh. He’s our beta,” Jenny said with a laugh, but it died when she saw the shock ripple across my face.
“Shit,” Jenny breathed. “You didn’t know?”
“No, I didn’t.” I shot an accusing look at Kayla.
She lifted both hands in the air, managing not to spill her wine in the process. “Hey, don’t look at me like that. Chase told me not to tell you.”
I thought back to the Alpha Games, certain Chase had never identified himself as the Wilds Pack’s beta. Why would he keep that a secret?
“But… he’s so young,” I murmured. Shifter hearing meant my words were heard over the loud music.
“He’s older than our alpha,” Jenny remarked.
“By like six months,” Kayla countered.
“Still counts,” Jenny said.
I barely heard them banter.
