Page 2 of Alpha's Choice
“It’s unusual for us to find a human mate who already has children, let alone one who is an adult, but I got permission for you to move with us,” Greg said. “They’ll decide if you can join after you complete a summer program where you will learn more about werewolves. All students in the pack go to it after they finish high school.”
Greg kept talking, but his words went over my head. I was stuck on the idea of moving to a werewolf pack and taking some program with a class full of werewolves. What could I possibly have in common with them?
But no matter how nerve-wracking the idea was, I couldn’t leave my mom to go through this alone. I interrupted Greg. “I’ll go.”
He and Mom looked pleased. “I’m thrilled to hear that, Emma. I know the mate bond must be hard for you to understand, but my wolf and I feel very protective of you, as if you were our own daughter.”
It was hard to believe, but if it was true, it made sense why he had been trying so hard to bond with me since Mom first introduced us. But what I did know was that my world was about to change.
CHAPTER1
Emma
“Welcome to Gray Rock.”
I looked up from my book at my stepfather’s words. If I hadn’t watched him transform into a wolf in front of me only a few days before, I would think we had arrived at a normal, gated community. Instead, I knew it was the home of his werewolf pack.
When Mom introduced me to Greg, I had no idea werewolves even existed. But they did, and my mom was mates with one.
I find the whole mate thing hard to believe, though I have to admit Mom has been happier since meeting him. What I know is I’m glad I’m a human and unlikely to have a mate myself. I much prefer the idea of being whole without a guy.
Greg drove up to the gate and punched in a code. The gate swung open. After a short drive, we reached a second gate, this one manned.
A muscled guy in his early twenties approached the car and greeted Greg. “Welcome back.”
The man peered past Greg into the SUV at my mom and me. He did a double take, likely because Mom and I looked more like sisters, with our long auburn hair and dark blue eyes. “Hello, ladies. I’m going to have to ask you for ID. We can skip the vehicle search since you’re with Greg, but I still have to sign you in as visitors until you officially join the pack.”
I reached into my bag and pulled out my license while my mom did the same. Butterflies danced around in my stomach as I handed it over. Greg had to get special permission for me to come with them. Since Mom was his mate, her approval to join the pack was just a formality, but because I’m an adult as of a week ago, there was no guarantee they would accept me.
I couldn’t help but imagine them changing their mind and not allowing me on pack lands, making it more difficult to see my Mom, who was the only family I had. Mom gave me a quick smile, but I was still nervous.
“Happy belated birthday, miss.” The man handed my license back as he sniffed the air, interrupting my thoughts. “Will you be joining the Summer Wolf Program?”
I nodded. Apparently, I’d learn all about wolves and how to live in a pack this summer. A little different from my original plans to spend the summer having fun with my best friend Gina.
“I’ll tell my sister, Kylie, to keep an eye out for you. She’ll be participating this year, too.”
“That would be great, Roger. This is a big change for Emma, and if anyone can make her feel welcome, Kylie can.” Greg wasn’t subtle in his relief. I knew he worried about me fitting in, but I suspected it had more to do with my mom’s comfort in the pack than with me. Greg claimed he and his wolf saw me as theirs already, something to do with the mate bond, but I found it hard to believe.
Roger waved us through the gate. We turned onto a road surrounded by trees. “It’s about a fifteen-minute drive to the main pack area in the center of the property.”
“Is the whole thing fenced?”
Greg shook his head. “Just the roads that access the property. Wolf patrols run the gaps in between to keep it all secured.”
I wondered why they needed the security. “Secured from what?”
“Mostly to keep humans from wandering onto the property, thinking it’s a good place to hike. There are several no trespassing signs posted, but many people ignore them. Sometimes patrols have to stop rogue wolves from crossing into our territory.”
“But is the property safe?” I could hear the worry in Mom’s voice. It matched my own. I wondered if he left anything out when telling us about pack life.
“Absolutely.” Greg gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Some areas will be off limits as they’re used for training, and for young wolves to learn control, but they mark those areas.”
I wondered if there were wolves in the trees as we drove past. I couldn’t help but feel a frisson of fear at the thought. Before Greg, I’d never seen a wolf in person, and he was massive. I was relieved to learn Mom being mates with Greg didn’t mean she would become a werewolf too. She said werewolves were born, not made. At least something in my life would stay the same.
We drove out of the woods into a clearing with a large four-story building with floor to ceiling windows. The top two floors had wrap-around balconies. There was a wide drive in front with a few visitor parking stalls, and Greg pulled into the furthest one, so the trailer we were pulling didn’t block anything.
“This is the packhouse. The pack leaders live on the top two floors, while the main level has pack offices and the dining hall. Everyone is welcome to eat there anytime, though most families only use it for pack dinners. The second floor houses the library.”
