Page 5 of Curvy Alpha Bride
“Go where?” I ask, in shock. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m leaving!” He turns around and grabs some bags from the hall. “Like, now. So you better get out of my way.”
I stare at him, unable to believe my eyes. “What the hell happened? This is obviously an emergency. Can I help at all? What did your mom say?”
“My mom isn’t—” Xavier starts, then shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter, okay? Something personal came up, and I’m leaving Cyan Lock.”
“Why?” I cry, pain shredding my chest. “What’s going on?”
“Look, Mabel,” he says, pushing past me to throw his bags in the car. “Some shit I didn’t expect has gone down. I can’t be worrying about you at a time like this. You’ll be fine.”
“But… Xavier!” My voice reaches a high note as tears pour down my cheeks. “After last night, I thought—”
“You thought what?” he asks, glaring at me coldly. His blue eyes look like chips of ice, and the sharp angles of his face make him look incredibly stern and hostile.
“I thought…” I can’t finish the sentence, and tears run hot, stinging trails down my face as I try to hold in my sobs. “Please don’t go!”
“I have to,” he says, pushing me out of the way so he can get into the car. “Bye, Mabel.”
I watch in absolute horror as he reverses down the driveway, pulls onto the road, and heads straight out of town towards the Pass. Pain shocks through me, like shards of broken glass have invaded my blood, shredding every inch of me and completely destroying my heart.
I start to shiver as his car disappears, and slowly, a realization dawns on me through the pain.
I was right. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to the others. I will always trust my instincts from now on. And I will never let this happen to me, ever again.
Chapter 2 - Xavier
As I walk down the main street, the silence of Valentine Creek wraps itself around me like a shroud. It isn’t exactly peaceful or comforting, and ever since I arrived six months ago, that stillness has slowly electrified my blood with anxiety.
It feels like something waiting, a storm about to break over our heads. Or the pause of indrawn breath before someone starts to scream.
I pause and shake myself a little, looking around to get my bearings. The main street is very short, with just a couple of shops and a main hall. Around me, people look happy and relaxed, and I try to reassure myself that everything is fine and my nerves are a result of my own anxiety.
Why wouldn’t I be anxious? Six months ago, I learned that my mom is really my aunt and her twin sister Serra, is acting alpha of Valentine Creek… holding the position for me since my father died.
To say my world changed that day would be the understatement of a lifetime. It was soul-shattering enough to learn that I had a mom and a dad who were dead—but I also had to leave everything I’ve ever known to go to a place I’ve never been, and lead a new pack as alpha.
“Xavier? Are you okay?” a low, sweet voice asks.
I snap myself out of my thoughts and realize I’m still standing in the middle of the pathway like a brain-damaged fool.
“Yeah,” I say. “Ah…”
“Rhiannon,” she answers, saving me from the embarrassment of admitting I’d forgotten her name. “It’s okay,son. We know it will take you some time to settle in here. I saw you standing around, and I wondered if you’d gotten lost.”
“No, not lost,” I reply. “There’s only, like, three streets in the whole town. I’d have to be a real numbskull to get lost here.”
Rhiannon chuckles. “True enough. I’m over at the bakery if you’d like to join us for some cake and tea?”
“No, thanks,” I answer, shaking my head. “I want to get a real handle on these three streets so I don’t get lost again.”
Rhiannon laughs gaily and pats me on the shoulder. “Fair enough. We’re very happy you’re here, Xavier, don’t forget that. We also need to talk further about that other matter brought up by the council, okay?”
“Okay,” I mutter, my sullen feeling returning. “Thank you, Rhiannon.”
To my relief, she heads back to the bakery without further discussion. She’s an elder, and I’m supposed to show her respect, but I’m also the alpha, so I should be able to make decisions on my own.
Especially about my life.
