Page 62 of Fated to the Alpha

“He might have called you first. I don’t know. I know Dominic called you because he told me so. Cole probably told him you were out of town after I told him.”

Shane’s nose wrinkled, and she genuinely worried that Shane would crush the phone in his hand with the way it shook against his ear.

“That was pack information. You don’t have any right to go telling the whole fucking town my business.”

“Watch it, kid. I had to tell them so they could locate you. It’s not my fault you wouldn’t answer your phone right away before—”

Shane didn’t let him finish that reprimand. He ended the call and gripped the phone like he was ready to throw it against a nearby tree. Every muscle in his body tightened. The air became thick, and she sensed aimless, wild dominance spread like rolling mist around him. He seemed on the verge of exploding, golden eyes glaring at the ground with unadulterated anger.

Kimberly tried to breathe, but her lungs froze, and fear prickled across her skin. She didn’t think that he would harm her, but something about this moment made her feel like a potential casualty. She had to flee, had to leave the scene before it became true. Yet, her legs wouldn’t respond and all she could do was grip the rough towel between her trembling hands and watch Shane with round eyes.

She felt like prey in the woods, despite being part wolf. If she made one move, the predator would find her and her life would be over. Only, this wasn’t a matter of life and death, and she wasn’t the object of his hate. That was reserved for whatever it was he fought inside his own head in that unbearably tense moment.

Seconds passed and the dominance slowly dissipated. His muscles relaxed and he blinked away the wolf. In one slow motion, he tossed his phone toward the bag, not even bothering to check the unread notifications.

Her lungs expanded again, but only at half capacity, still afraid to disturb the moment.

Now composed, Shane held out his hand to her, a request for the towel. Kimberly quickly obliged, understanding that all flirting and plans to help her shift were behind them. They were bound for Tolstone again.

Kimberly had no words. She couldn’t possibly understand the stress this caused him. One of his pack had committed a crime and behaved in such a way that called his sanity into question. What was worse, all the important men in the town seemed to know it before Shane did. Andy, whoever he was, broke the rules. What did this mean for the rest of his pack and their place in Tolstone?

He dried off and yanked on his jeans and shirt from the bag. “Let’s go.”

His voice was disarmingly soft, but she knew better that he was still pissed. Kimberly jumped to her feet and trailed behind, giving him space.

They walked in absolute silence, save for their footsteps crunching through the summer grass, before Shane slowed and turned to face her. Before the alpha, she instinctively kept her gaze down and willed herself to appear even smaller than she already was. Her father taught her the proper etiquette long ago, and it all snapped back into place.

“Don’t do that,” he quietly begged. “Not to me.” He came closer and tipped her chin with his fingers so their gazes locked. “Never submit to me like that. It’s beneath you. You’re mine. Don’t forget that.”

She didn’t quite understand what that meant, but she allowed herself to straighten, gaining a couple of inches.

The kiss he then gave her was bereft of heat and passion but laden with the warmth and sincerity of an apologetic lover. She let herself sink into it, even if it was short-lived.

When he pulled away, she wanted to ask him so many questions. She wanted him to open up, to tell her what all of that was about, but she couldn’t find her voice after that kiss, or after what she saw by the creek.

Shane moved his hand to the small of her back and pushed her onward down the path. Now, they walked side by side rather than in a line with the alpha in the lead and the subordinate trailing behind. Her place was beside him now.

Chapter Fourteen

This was not how Shane wanted to spend Sunday night. He had hoped he could have called out from work, booked another night at the hotel, and made the excuse that he needed to see more of Oakfield. It would be, of course, so that he could spend more time with Kimberly. But, that would have been irresponsible as an alpha anyway. He could still dream, right?

Instead, he had to post bail for Andy and drag his ass to a private meeting in Larson Caves Park. He thought of calling all of his pack together to put it to a vote about what needed to be done about Andy. But Shane wasn’t in the mood to make this a democratic decision.

Paul’s phone call sent Shane into a downward spiral. Any progress he had made in blotting out the last of his father’s programming was gone. A once speckled and lightly stained psyche was dunked in a vat of dye and irrevocably changed.

So many thoughts bombarded him when he ended that call.

Andy disrespected you and Tolstone.

You should have never let him follow you from Warrington.

Now, Cole and Dominic, and likely Gage, all know you’re an incompetent alpha willing to let his pack run wild and commit crimes.

You’re no better than Wyatt, the guy who let one of his own pack assault Kimberly.

You’re weak. You can’t control your pack. They only followed you because you’re soft.

Kimberly doesn’t deserve a shifter who can’t keep a tight rein on his pack.