Page 30 of The Wolf's Bullied Mate
“Oliver!” Lisa called out from behind the counter. “And… Oliver’s new wife!”
I smiled. She hadn’t recognized me. “I’m Pauline… Pauline Norton, though we knew each other in high school. I used to be Anderson.”
Lisa clapped her hands, giving me a cheerful smile in return. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again, Pauline. I didn’t know you were the one Oliver married. It all makes so much sense now.”
I arched my eyebrows. “What makes sense?”
Oliver coughed. “How’s the café lately, Lisa?”
Lisa smiled. “At first, when I took over for Aria, I didn’t know if I could keep the cafe running as well as she always did. Aria is excellent at organizing things. I’m a bit more…” she laughed, “…easily distracted.”
I remembered her as a clumsy, starry-eyed teenager who loved to talk about what was on TV and which movie star had eloped with whom. She never paid much attention to her grades and frequently forgot where her classes were being held.
Her smile was much the same, but she seemed much more mature now. Could Lisa have really changed so much over the years? She wouldn’t be the only one. I’d also changed, though I was much less pleased with my transformation. In the past, I had been much more innocent and less jaded.
Alas, life’s plans for me had been very different than I had ever expected, and I just had to live with the consequences.
Oliver, Ray, and I sat down at one of the tables and drank coffee—while Ray drank bubble tea—chatting about the town and its inhabitants. So much had changed. I was most interested in learning what had happened to the late alpha to make Ryder take over the pack so early and bring on Oliver as his beta. Oliver carefully explained the pack’s history to me and the sad fate of the former alpha.
***
In the evening, after I had put Ray to sleep, I came down to the living room to read a book. After a while, Oliver came inside from the garage. He cleaned up and then sat down next to me.
“About your future—you wanted my help with adjusting to life at Moondust Hollow,” Oliver started in a cheerful tone, but his eyes were cautious.
I laid my book aside, realizing this subject seemed important to him. “Yes, do you have any suggestions?”
“Do you want to be a stay-at-home mom?” He asked.
I tapped my fingers on my knee, pondering the question. I had stayed at home for the past week, taking care of Ray. However, Oliver had now found an opening in the kindergarten, and Ray would start school again tomorrow. I wanted Ray to be amongst other children. However, Ray not being home for mostof the day would leave me with little to do. And I… I was living on Oliver’s dime right now.
“You probably want me to go to work to earn my keep…?” I said softly.
Oliver’s eyes widened. “‘Earn your keep’?! Where did you get that idea? You’re my wife, Pauline. You don’t need to work. I’m the beta of the pack, I can provide for you.”
That explanation cleared that matter up. “Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have my own money.”
“We can agree on me giving you an allowance of sorts for anything you want to buy for yourself. I will cover all life expenses, including Ray’s, which is non-negotiable,” Oliver frowned. His look was firm. There was no place for discussion here. This was the alpha look.
I remembered when he had last used the commanding tone on me—during sex. I felt wetness pooling between my legs. I had never considered myself the submissive type, yet here I was, wanting Oliver to once again go all alpha on me.
When had I become such a creature of lust?
I had found it difficult to fall asleep the past few nights, remembering the night we had shared. He was the best lover I’d ever had, and my stupid body wanted him again.
However, I hadn’t yet gotten over the fact that Oliver had instigated my bullying in the past. I still didn’t feel entirely safe around him.
“The only reason I’m asking if you want to go to work is because I’m worried you might be bored sitting in the house all day when neither me nor Ray are around,” Oliver sighed. “You don’t need to work if you don’t want to. I’m asking you what your wishes are, Pauline.”
The way he softly called my name made another pang of desire go through my body. My wolf danced happily in my soul. She, too, wanted Oliver and me to be close.
Focus, Pauline, he asked you a question.
“I…” I said, then I looked down, playing with the hem of my shirt with my hands. I thought about it for a moment. “I would like to work, but I’m afraid of ending up in a bad workplace.”
“If you work, then, of course, you should be at a job you enjoy,” Oliver looked thoughtful. “What was your job in Lone Bite?”
“I was a waitress at a diner,” I said.
