Page 7 of The Alpha's Bargain
The walkinto my home was filled with a mix of dread and excitement, which was a strange combination. There was almost an eeriness of what I was about to do clouding around me. It was what was best for my family and reminding myself of thathelpedsome.
“What’s up?” Ren called from the couch of the family room as I entered, shutting the door behind me. Eyes came to me, along with smiles from my pack. A rock hit my gut at the thought of not seeing them every day. Not eating meals at the family table. Not having my brothers give me shit on a normalbasis.
“What’s Sage got goin’ on?” my other brother, Marcus, called from the kitchen. He wouldn’t admit it, but he’d had his eye on my best friend for years. She, too, hadn’t gone through her heat cycle; therefore, my brother hadstayedaway.
A female wolf’s heat cycle was the beginning of finding a mate. During that time, our bodies changed and our scent emanated from our pours, calling to our mate. Most female wolves found their mate within a year of going through the cycle. Personally, I felt my brother stayed away from Sage because he didn’t want any fall out when it came to her and I. Why? I hadnoclue.
“I need you, Ren, Stu, Mom, and Dad to meet me in Dad’s officeplease.”
Ren leapt off the couch, and Stu came to me from the kitchen, both their eyes holding concern. Inside, I felt nervous, so I had no idea what I looked like on the outside. Whatever it was sent my brothers in state of alarm, which wasn’t what I hadwanted.
“Are you alright?” Marcus asked, brushing his hand against my arm reassuringly. His nose went up in the air as he sniffed. When his eyes pinched together, I knew he smelled Luca on me. Our sense of smell was very acute. I had already figured having him all over me would help mycause.
“I’m good.” I plastered on a smile, thinking about Luca and what it would be like to have his touch on me. The smile turned genuine, which was what I was going for. “We just need to talk. I have someexcitingnews.”
Ren’s eyes narrowed on me. He and I had always been closer than myself and my other brothers. If anyone, this would be harder for him to take, but I had to make it work. This bargain was for the best and would help my pack. I’d already committed to it, so there was nobackingout.
“Come on; I’ll go get Dad and Stu.” Marcus took off down the hallway while the other wolves in the room looked at me speculatively. Instead of saying anything to them, I followed Ren to our father’soffice.
Not two minutes later, my father, mother, Marcus, and Stu entered the room, their noses instantlyflaring.
Before anyone could say anything, I blurted, “I foundmymate!”
The air in the room turned. While all my brothers had some alpha in them, Marcus and Stu weren’t considered alphas, but with the vibes everyone was giving off, that could beargued.
“No,” my father answered, even though I hadn’t asked a question, more like made astatement.
My mother gasped, placing her hand over her mouth and not hiding the shock inhereyes.
Not being in the heat cycle, I had known how this would be and smoothing it over would be difficult. Nevertheless, I coulddoit.
“Yeah, Dad. You’ll be veryexcited!”
“I highly doubt that,” he responded, running his hand throughhishair.
“Who?” Ren asked, crossing his arms over his chest, still giving off alpha waves that threatened to knock me onmyass.
“Luca.”
My mother moved forward, placing her hands on my arms and looking deeply into my eyes. “This can’t be,Caleigh.”
Giving my mother a bright smile, I said, “Yes, it is. We just discovered it today. I’m gathering my things and moving inwithhim.”
“What?” Ren came up and brushed my hair away from my neck. “He hasn’tmarkedyou.”
Shit, I hadn’t thought about that. I had to think quickly onmytoes.
“We’re saving that until after I tell you. He wanted to show my pack respect. He’s also coming to pick me up inanhour.”
“Darling girl, you haven’t gone through heat. How can you know he’s your mate?” my father asked as my brothers looked at me with expressions ofbafflement.
I gave a shrug, making all this up as I went along. Damn, thissucked.
“Mom, you’ve told me yourself that the heat cycle isn’t a sure-fire way to tell one’s mate. You said that, back in the day, females could detect their mate before the cycle hit. Then, once it did, it was confirmed.” Light flashed in her eyes, and I had no doubt she was regretting sharing that small piece of information with me. “I’vefoundmine.”
“What if you’rewrong?”
That was the million-dollar question, because I was wrong. I’d be done with this in six months and needed to find a safe haven. I’d need to come back to myfamily.
