Page 15 of Wolf Trapped
“Thank you,” I say before biting into the food. Angela eyes me warily. “I know. I put him in a mood… again. You don’t need to scold me for it.”
“I know you want to see your family, but is it worth having the alpha angry with you?” She shakes her head and opens the back door that leads to the clearing where pack meetings are held.
The sun is bright and high in the sky, beating down on the forest at the end of the dirt path. I breathe in the crisp air as we walk to the path.
I finish off the sandwich as we stroll down the path. Angela always knows what I need. She has become a good friend and confidant.
“I am not trying to anger him. I just don’t want my family to worry. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to them before he swept me away to the pack. My mom risked angering her alpha when he rejected me. She deserves to know how I am doing here.”
“Not if it’s a threat to your life, Jara. I wouldn’t put anything passed that bastard.” She kicks a rock, and it skips across the ground in front of us.
“It’s probably just a rogue that got lost and doesn’t know what to do.” I hug my arms around my chest. Is it bad when I don’t even believe my own theories?
“You don’t believe that any more than I do.” Angela chuckles, and I stick my tongue out at her.
“So immature, and she’s supposed to be our alpha female?” Rochelle’s voice grates on my ears. Turning, I stare straight into her eyes, my dominance on full display.
“Do you have something to say to me, Rochelle? I know you do not want to challenge me.” I say as she drops her eyes.
“She didn’t mean anything by it, Alpha.” An older woman I haven’t met yet starts pulling the female away. Rochelle resists the woman glaring at me.
“Yes, I did. Watch your back, alpha. You never know when someone might sneak up on you.” She winks and finally lets the woman pull her away.
I’m guessing it’s her mother because her scolding reaches my ears as they hurry down the path.
“That sounded like a threat.” I ball my fists at my sides, stomping down the path.
The female better watch out. If she thinks to challenge me, I will show no mercy. I am the alpha female, and she will lose.
“Why can’t that bitch just back off?” Angela throws her hands up. The nails are claws.
“Uhhh, Angela, you partially shifted.” I point out her lengthened nails with a grin. “She pissed you off that much, and she wasn’t even disrespecting you.”
“That bitch grinds my gears. When will she realize that she was never and will never be strong enough for the Alpha?”
“She’s delusional, but she’s no threat to me.” I shrug.
We stroll down the path to the clearing smiling and making small talk with pack members as we go. Everyone is on edge, but I do my best to ease their worry as we wait for the alpha to speak.
“Jara.” A little voice has me turning to find Libby running up the path with her father, Patrick trailing behind her.
“Hi, Libby. How are you doing today?” I stop crouching in front of her, so I am closer to her height.
“Did they find the humans?” she asks, wringing her hands together. A worried frown pinches her little features.
“Sorry, Alpha Jara. She just got so excited when she saw you.” Patrick catches up to us, breathing heavily.
“It’s not a problem. We are friends.” I grin at the adorable blonde girl, who nods enthusiastically. “But, to answer your question, Libby, no, they weren’t, so it’s not a good idea to run off on your own, okay?”
“Yes, alpha.” She pins her gaze to the ground in front of her.
“I thought we talked about that. We are friends. No need to be all stuffy and formal.” I ruffle the girl's hair.
“C’mon, Libby, we don’t want to make Jara late for the meeting.” Patrick grabs her hand, and they walk away.
The clearing is packed with pack members when we get there, but a few chairs at the front look reserved for us. I smile and wave at a few pack members I have had talks with on my daily walks, and the crowd parts for us to go to the front, where Archer is standing.
I move to sit in one of the chairs in the front row, but Archer shakes his head holding his hand out for me to join him at the front of the pack. Angela nudges my arm, and I grab his hand, letting him guide me to stand next to him, appearing to be a united front.
