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“I never said they were going to be exciting plans, for you.” I can’t help but smile at them.
“There are so many of us hooked on that damn app. If the Alpha hadn’t suggested we all try it out, we would have a bigger group to go out tonight and a hell of a lot more fun. Oh well. I guess more ladies for us. I heard a bachelorette group rented one of the huge cottages on the lake. We’re hoping they will be out to take a look at the local hotties.” He winks at me, and I snort because he's always looking for a woman to get with. Mind you, I wasn’t so different a few weeks ago.
Before I matched with someone on the mail-order app, I wasn’t thinking about long-term relationships. I enjoyed the company of a woman, but it never went past that. No one can really compare to the girl I fell in love with at twelve years old. Seems a bit naive, I’m sure, but she was the perfect person for me, and I screwed it all up. After what happened to her and the things I said…I never felt like I deserved to find love. So I've spent the last several years sleeping around, but I was always up front. I wasn't looking to date, and for the most part, it all worked out, except that one time when some chick tried stalking me.
Joining the mail-order app wasn't on my to-do list. I only joined the app because the Alpha said to, since that was how he met his mate and he wanted the pack to be able to find their counterparts—I think he might be a hopeless romantic. So I found myself filling out the questionnaire one night and joined; I mean, what the hell, right? What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t match with anyone? Well, I did, and she is funny, witty, and confident. I’m still not sure if I deserve love, but she has my undivided attention, and I can’t wait to talk to her later.
I wave to the guys and head to the pack house. The single warriors live in a building beside the main pack house; it’s easier for us to be there, anyway, just in case something happens. There also really isn’t any need for us all to have property until we mate anyway, so most of us are happy to be there and eat in the pack house kitchen. We’re pack-minded anyway, so it’s no big deal living so close to one another. The house isn’t too far from the obstacle course, so the walk isn’t that long. Just as I am getting closer to the building, I hear the sound of the sweetest little girl’s voice. Turning, I see the Alpha’s daughter running at me. It’s become a bit of a routine that any time we see each other, she runs to me, and I get ready to catch her.
“Uncle Liam!” Her bright, happy smile lights up my own face. Man, I love this girl. In her puffy pink coat, she runs as fast as her little legs can carry her, but I run faster just to get to her.
“MADDIE!” I pick her up and swing her around; her giggles echo in the air. She loves flying through the air like this. It is so refreshing to see and hear happy children. That wasn’t really how it was with my old pack. After spinning her around for a while, I put her on my hip and walk over to her parents.
“Alpha Eli, Luna Quinn.” I tip my head out of respect for their positions.
“None of that, Liam. We aren’t so formal in this pack, you know that.” Eli walks over hand in hand with his mate.
“Of course, Eli. Force of habit.” He gives me an understanding look. I just appreciate that it’s not pitying. Those are the looks I can’t stand.
“How’s the new obstacle course working out?” Quinn asks as she snuggles up to Eli’s side.
“Well, It’s kicking some of the guy’s asses, but I think it’s good for us overall.”
“ASS!” Shit! I forgot I was holding a child parrot in my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Quinn.” I’m utterly embarrassed. I really gotta watch what I say around her. Quinn just laughs and rubs her belly.
“Don’t worry about it. My best friend has said worse around her, and Eli doesn’t exactly keep his language clean, either.” She raises her eyebrow at her mate, but he just shrugs.
“How are you feeling, Quinn?” Changing the subject is the best course of action. She rubs her belly again, and a smile breaks out across her face.
“A lot better. I’m in the second trimester, so no more throwing up. However, this baby has a serious aversion to ketchup. Which sucks, because Maddie is putting it on EVERYTHING.” I can’t help tickling Maddie’s side then.
“Are you eating lots of ketchup, missy, and making Mommy feel sick?”
She just giggles and says yes.
“I’m glad I saw you, Liam. The council is coming tomorrow to talk about the rogue Clearwater wolves. I want you to join in on the meetings.” Eli reaches out to grab Maddie at that.
“Of course, Eli. Do you need warriors to show force?” It’s odd that he would ask me to join this meeting. I’m not even in the upper ranks of the pack. I’m just muscle, essentially. Not that I care—I actually prefer it that way. My old pack put too much pressure on everyone to be the strongest and rise in the ranks. I just wanted to find a pack that worked together and built each other up, not tear each other down like my old pack did. At my question, Quinn grabs Maddie and heads back into the pack house.
“Look, I know you’ve never wanted to be in a leadership position, but you’re a strong wolf respected by the pack. You would do well in a leadership role. You’ve been with us for eight years, and you’ve worked hard. I reward those who are loyal and work hard. I’m not expecting you to step into a new role right away; I just want to start involving you in stuff like this.”
I contemplate his words for a moment before sharply nodding. It’s not that I don’t want to help the pack in this way. It’s just for many years growing up, I was told to work hard to get to the top of the pack, and if I didn’t work hard enough, well, let’s just say it took me a while to recover.
“I’ll think about what you said, Eli, and I’ll be there for the meetings. Oh, and by the way, I was wondering if I could head up to the city on Friday. I’m going to meet my match then.”
The smirk that comes over his face tells me all I need to know.
“Yeah. We don’t need you then.”
“Thanks.” Before he can say something, I head to my room to grab my stuff and take a much-needed shower.
After my shower and grabbing some food I settle in to chat with my match. I know she normally works till four or five, but I like to be the first one to message. Damn, I have never been this eager for a woman’s attention before—well, except my childhood sweetheart, but that was years ago.
Sexywolf: Hello, sunshine. How was your day?
She responds quickly today, so she must have gotten home earlier.
