Page 38 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
Calm down. It’s probably women’s business; I wouldn’t even want to know.
I keep trying to convince myself of that even as people clear their throats and compose themselves, but my suspicion rises even as I try to fight it.
I have enough to deal with in my new role—as well as getting messages from WS!—to have my own pack members keeping things from me!
“We’re all done out back,” I say. “Are you ready to go, Scarlett?”
“Sure, yeah,” she answers, smiling. “Let me get Jarrod, and we’re on our way.”
“How was the meeting?” Mary asks. “Did you set a date for the next fair?”
“I don’t—I mean, yes. Of course we did. I just can’t remember.”
Mary chuckles. “I’m not surprised that a little thing like our market fair isn’t the most important task on your list. I’ll talk to Celeste this evening.”
“Thanks, Mary,” I say. “I thought being pack alpha would be more about tactics and defense than bake sales.”
“It’s not a bake sale!” Ana says with exasperation. “She just wins so often, people forget about the other stalls.”
“People gotta eat,” Mary laughs, shrugging.
“Dad!” Jarrod suddenly shouts, charging at me. “Check out what I made!”
He lifts a large sheet of cardboard, and I’m stunned to see a complex drawing with delicately layered colors portraying the horizon and skyline visible from the café window.
“You did this?” I ask.
Jarrod nods, smiling proudly.
“With crayons?” I say in disbelief. “Kids, crayons, and a crappy old cardboard base?”
“Do you like it?” Jarrod asks, his eyes shining with emotion.
“I love it!” I exclaim, unable to keep my excitement in check.
I’d love it if all he did was make a few squiggly lines, but this is a work of genius!
“He is talented,” Scarlett says, smiling. “We were trying to get him into an art program at home.”
“Well, he’s in one now,” I answer. “Don’t worry about that for even a second. I can’t wait to see what you can do with canvas and oil paint, Jarrod.”
“I’ve never used oil paint!” Jarrod says, jumping along beside me as we head for the door. “Can you teach me?”
“Not my forte, kiddo, but Mrs. Florence will have all the information you need. We’ll get you set up at the school soon.”
“That sounds great!”
As Jarrod and I head out the front door, I hear Scarlett saying goodbye to the other women. Even though I’m still a bitworried about what they were talking about, I’m also happy that she seems to be fitting in.
Maybe they can help her feel more secure here, and she’ll be able to open up to me. Our relationship can’t progress with all these secrets between us.
As I open the car for Jarrod to get in, I realize that statement also applies to me, and if I want the situation to improve, I’ll have to share my secrets, too.
I’m keeping secrets from the entire pack. What if Scarlett tells the others? What if she rejects me? What if the pack rejects me?
My stomach bubbles a little with anxiety as that idea takes hold. It’s not something I’d ever considered, but it has happened before. An alpha deemed unworthy of leadership can be expelled from the pack entirely.
If I tell Scarlett and she spreads the information, I’ll be known as a rogue Shadow. I’d have to go underground to protect myself, and if the pack decided they couldn’t trust me, I’d have no safety here, either.
