The Alpha (The Pack 3)

Trent sent me a frown as Anna hovered there, ready to take off the second I released my grip on her sleeve. I’d seen her twitch when Liam released his hold and grabbed for her to make sure she didn’t take off. She didn’t look pleased but I was in full agreement with Trent on this one.

“Straight back to the motel,” Trent ordered, his gaze sharp as he looked between me and Liam. “I mean it. Anything happens to the two of you….” He didn’t complete the thought but he didn’t need to. He would hold himself responsible and nothing Dom said or did would be worse than that. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath, spinning a sucker between his fingers. “I don’t like it, but I don’t see another option.” He nodded to Anna. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

They exited the restaurant and Liam eyed Trent’s abandoned plate. I set it on the seat next to me, and watched him gobble it up.

“It’s always an adventure with you,” Leah joked, chewing on a breadstick.

I sighed, “I could do with a little less adventure,” I replied, squeezing two of my fingers together to show how much less and she laughed. We finished up our food and paid, as I tried not to choke on the bill to feed three wolves, two of whom didn’t even stick around to eat. Liam stayed alert as we walked through the parking lot, and I thought it was cute how seriously he was taking his job.

I opened the back door so he could jump in before getting in the passenger seat. “Okay, manis and pedis next?” Leah asked, her eyes glinting with amusement.

“Oh, yeah,” I cried enthusiastically, holding up my hands. “Have you seen my nails?”

“To the nail salon,” Leah stated, starting the car and Liam barked, the sound distinctly panicked.

No stops! He shouted in my head, using the link I’d created earlier. Trent will kill me.

I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, I replied as I glanced back at him.

Dom will, Liam answered his eyes huge and I gave a put upon sigh.

“No manicure today, Leah, apparently I need to go home,” I told her, smiling mischievously.

“Gosh darn it,” she said, snapping her fingers. “And I thought we could go lingerie shopping afterwards.”

This is so not fair! Liam howled and I burst out laughing, gasping as I told Leah, who proceeded to laugh until tears ran down her face. You were joking, Liam said sheepishly after we finally stopped laughing.

Yes, Liam, I replied, wiping my face.

That wasn’t funny, he grumbled, turning around in a circle before lying down on the seat.

It was, I disagreed, and put on my seatbelt as Leah backed out of the parking space. She turned on to the highway, cranking up the radio as we sang along.

A couple miles from the motel a car came flying up around us and swerved into our lane, cutting Leah off. She jerked the wheel to try and avoid getting hit. The tires bumped over the shoulder as her car left the road as we went airborne.

We’re going to hit the trees, was my last panicked thought before everything went dark.

Chapter Seventeen

Dom

We padded back to where we’d left our clothes, our sides heaving from the run through the forest. After shifting back and changing, I grabbed some water bottles from the room I now shared with Jess.

“Fully mated, huh?” Caleb said, nodding his appreciation as he took the bottle. “How’s that?”

“Surprising,” I answered. “The connection is more than I ever dreamed.”

Caleb nodded. “I’d like to have that,” he said, glancing at me. “One day,” he added with a laugh. “I don’t think I’m ready for it right now.”

“It’s not easy,” I agreed, tapping the mark on my chest. “She’s everything to me now. I would do anything for her.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Caleb replied, downing his water. “I remember my dad talking about Payne’s mom like that.” He glanced down at the empty water bottle in his hands, crushing it. “Might be why my mom left.” I nodded in sympathy. We all knew that’s exactly why Caleb’s mom left the Navarre Pack when Caleb was only six years old. She couldn’t compete with a ghost and got tired of trying. She’d left Caleb with his dad because he wouldn’t let her take Caleb with her.

“You ever talk to your mom?” I asked, wishing I could introduce Jess to my own mom. Caleb shook his head. “You should try contacting her, now that –” I cut myself off but Caleb just grinned wryly.

“Now that my dad is dead?” He finished, glancing up at me, a sandy lock of hair falling over his forehead, the sight reminding me how young he still was.

“Yeah,” I muttered.

“I’ve thought about it, but really what do you say? She left, didn’t look back,” Caleb shrugged. “Sometimes I think she should have fought harder for me. Other times, I know she did what she could. He wouldn’t have let me go.”