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Driving up the tree-lined road toward the pack house in East Texas, I’m consumed with feelings I don’t bother to sort out. I’m here for one reason and one reason only. I might have preferred to be on my own for the most part over the years, but I still respect the hierarchy.
Nobody greets me when I park my car in front of the two-story white house. Then again, nobody is expecting me. I take in the pristine siding and admire the two turrets, only one of which I’ve been in to speak with Roman.
I spent most of my time here avoiding being in the pack house. I thought that was just because I’m not much of a people person, but staring out the window, I can admit that trying to be part of their pack only served as a reminder of what I’d lost.
Sure, I’m the one who ran away, but thanks to Thane and his pompous family, not once did my parents ask me to come back once they’d learned what I’d done. I can assume all the reasons for that as I’ve done many times in the past, but I’m doing do that.
Gods, this is possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever done or the smartest. Either way, I’m not backing down. I can’t live withwhat ifs any longer. I refuse.
No more wondering what might have been if Thane had never shown his smug face in my pack. No more wondering what my life would be like if he hadn’t been the world’s biggest douchebag.
Just no more.
I catch my reflection in the rearview mirror before I open the car door. My light-green eyes look tired from all the driving we’ve been doing, but my sleek, chestnut hair shines thanks to the shower in the hotel last night.
A small, white scar at my hairline glints under the sunlight filtering through the window. One of two physical reminders that Thane was ever part of my life. I close my eyes and turn away from the mirror and get out of the car.
If I’m going to move on, I need to get that fucker out of my thoughts and keep him out.
As I step onto the first stair, the front door opens and there stands Dawsyn. I expected Cait, but seeing her daughter is no hardship. She’s just as kind as her mother and equally as understanding. Especially when it comes to me wanting to be on my own. At least she had been. Becoming the official alpha might change that.
“Sophie,” she says with a friendly grin. “You’re the last person I expected to see today.”
I shrug and continue up the steps to shake her hand. “I was in the area.”
“Bullshit.” She chuckles. “Now, get in here and tell me what’s going on.”
My brows raise at her command and I toss a curious glance her way. “Tellyou? Not your parents?”
The way her head rises, strands of dark-brunette hair framing her round face, and her golden eyes briefly glowing, tells me my answer, but it’s the pride in her voice that makes me most happy.
“I’m handling all alpha duties for the pack now.”
Before she’s even finished the sentence, I clasp her shoulder and match the smile on her face. “It’s about damn time.”
She doesn’t boast. Instead, once we’re inside the pack house, she leads the way toward the stairs on the right. “How about we chat in my office?”
I nod and follow behind, noticing a tension that starts to increase in her shoulders.
She’s nervous, my wolf says.
Yeah, I’m seeing that, too. Though there’s no way she could know why I’m here. Suddenly, I’m even more glad I decided to stop at the pack first.
We climb the steep stairwell through the turret and arrive at the small landing that leads only to what used to be Roman’s office. Dawsyn pushes open the door and I blink several times.
The walls have gone from a darker tan to light-cream color. The dark wooden desk I remember from before has been replaced with a sleek, metal one, and the previous hardwood floors are covered in a plush, grey carpet that feels soft even under my boots.
On the wall are colorful abstract paintings, along with a few family photos that I don’t linger on long. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
She sits in the white, leather chair behind her desk and smiles. “Take a seat, Sophie.”
When I do, I set my sights on her. “You weren’t expecting me today, but you have something to tell me.”
Her head shakes lightly and there’s a glint of approval in her bright eyes. “Always so insightful.”
“What happened?” I ask, wondering if it has anything to do with why she’s in the office and I was never notified. Just because I haven’t been in the pack doesn’t mean I’m not still tied to this place and these people.
In fact, I should have felt the change of power. Yet I still don’t have an increased connection to Dawsyn. Not like I felt being around Roman before I left.
