Page 51 of Destined Bear
I hand her a tote and slam the trunk closed. Together we head up the walkway, and I hesitate, hoping Mom won't make a stink about Alessa coming inside.
She's already asleep in her chair when we enter, so it proves to be a moot point.
I put the boxes I am carrying down.
I gesture for Alessa to put the tote down by the door and whisper, "Millie is going back to Stonecrest tomorrow."
"No shit." Alessa doesn't bother to keep her voice down. She thrusts the garment bag that contains my dress at me.
I grimace. "I'm not staying here. I'm still living at the ranch."
"Living in sin?" Alessa chortles and slaps her leg characteristically.
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling. "Give me the dress. I'll put it in the SUV."
"That's more like it!"
We walk back outside. I unlock the SUV and put the dress inside.
Then another SUV honks from the road. I groan to see Heath pulling up behind Alessa's car. "What the hell is happening today?"
The Beta hops out of the driver's side and pops the trunk, reappearing a moment later with several bags of groceries. "Alpha's orders. He wants your mom's fridge fully stocked."
My heart soars at the thoughtful gesture. "You went shopping for us?"
"No, Emeric went shopping. I'm just delivering. He's stuck at the packhouse rebuild."
"Thank you, Heath." Suddenly, I'm ashamed of myself for being so irritable. "I don't know what I'd do without you and Alessa."
Alessa gives me a wink.
"Are you going with Emeric tomorrow?" Heath's question puts me on guard as I take a bag from him.
"No." I look in the bag to see what groceries are there. "I don't think it's a good idea. Do you think I should go?"
Heath shrugs. "I think we all trust your judgment. And Emeric can handle this without you."
I avoid Heath's eyes. "I'm still too angry."
"Are you?"
I bite my lower lip. "Yes."
"Then you made the right choice," Heath tells me matter-of-factly.
I pivot up the walkway with the groceries. "Thanks again for stopping by."
Alessa and Heath wave before they leave in their respective cars, and I'm left alone with my mother, who remains fast asleep in her armchair.
The quiet settles around us, and my thoughts drift to tomorrow's exchange.
During Heath's interrogation, Millie had broken down completely, sobbing that Seline told her she was helping Alpha Roman strengthen his territory.
"She said it was official pack business," Millie had whispered through her tears. "That weakening the neighboring elders would make Stonecrest more powerful. I thought I was serving my Alpha."
The memory still turns my stomach. Millie had been a pawn in Seline's twisted obsession, but that doesn't change what she did to my mother.
Good intentions don't erase attempted murder.
