Page 20 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
“Of course, of course,” Celeste answers, fussing with her hands as she ushers us towards the table where the others are sitting. “I’m just excited, is all.”
I’m introduced to far too many people, and the only names I can really remember are Celeste, Dorian, and Galant—Elder Morrone. Cody, Rex’s beta, is there as well, sitting at the next table with some younger people.
I try to follow the conversation, but I just end up nodding and smiling at everything they say. I’m tired and emotionally drained, and I have absolutely no idea how this pack works.
Uncle is always talking about power and control. These guys are discussing guild meetings and bake sales. I feel like I’ve been transported to another planet!
Rex wraps up the meeting after one drink, and we head out to his place. The manor is a modest two-story house set in a pretty, overgrown garden. It’s built of dark gray stone, and creepers of vine sneak slyly from the unkempt bushes to spread across one corner of the building.
As I get out of the car, Rex notices me looking at the garden.
“Mother likes it like that,” he says. “She likes spiders and caterpillars. She has tons of butterflies in the spring because she takes care of the small bugs.”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking it was untidy,” I answer. “I was actually admiring the disorder of it.”
“You aren’t scared of spiders?” Rex asks.
“Not really,” I answer. “Some of them are really pretty.”
And a spider has never hurt me… unlike people, who hurt me a lot.
“So, where is your mom, then?” I ask, suddenly afraid that she lives here and I’m about to have my first meeting with my mother-in-law thrust upon me.
“She went away after Dad died,” Rex answers, unlocking the front door. “When she comes back, she’ll take the small cottage across the block. She wants us to have the big house, but she’ll stay close enough to tend to her garden.”
“Okay,” I answer as we go inside.
I’m not crazy about having my mother-in-law so close, but at least she’s not here right now. I don’t think I could take it.
Rex takes us to the kitchen. I make some sandwiches for Jarrod, and the boys start talking again, making conversation as if they’ve known each other their whole lives. I sit quietly, staring into my cup of tea, wondering how the two of them haven’t guessed the truth yet.
Because it’s too impossible. People are really good at denying facts that are right in front of their faces… or refusing to see something that is really traumatic.
After all of us have had a light dinner, I get Jarrod in a bath and set up his room for him. Cases of clothes have been left for both of us, the beds are made with fresh linen, and there are even some toys and art supplies for Jarrod.
“This is all really thoughtful,” I say to Rex, laying out some clothes for Jarrod. “Did you set this up?”
“No,” he chuckles. “I detect the fine hand of Celeste, and possibly my sister, Rebecca.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you had a sister.”
The words are out of my mouth before I have a chance to think about them, and I almost laugh out loud.
I know absolute fuck-all about this man!
“It’s okay,” Rex says. “I’ll introduce you to everyone. I want you to feel at home here.”
I don’t reply. I just go and get Jarrod out of the bath so I can put him in his pajamas and then tuck him into bed. I go back to the master bedroom for my own pajamas and choose some soft sweats.
“Okay, where’s my room?” I ask.
Rex gives me a funny look. “You’re sleeping in here. With me.”
I blink at him. “What?”
“Hey,” he says, annoyed. “You told us we had to sleep in the same bed last night. How is this different?”
“Because we were in a public inn, and any of my pack could have seen or overheard,” I grit out. “Now that we’re in our own house, we can do what we want!”
