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I frown. The distinction is lost on me, but it gives me a little warm feeling inside. I am an Alpha. I survived in a city of cutthroat miserable bastards and made it to the big leagues. It’s one little delivery, and really, I don’t know how to turn down this woman. She’s got the saddest smile I've ever seen.
“All right.” I groan out.
She hugs me tight, and I freeze. I gently pat her back as I try to control the emotions raging through me. When was the last time someone hugged me? Touched me in affection?
“Come on, I’ve got the car ready. It’s going to be such fun. You can tell me all about the city.”
I hesitate. “Give me a minute.” I rush into the house and quickly change into a tight black t-shirt and skin-tight jeans, adding a pair of boots to the ensemble.
I sit in the passenger side of her truck, clinging to the handle while she talks my ear off, spending more time looking at me than the road. My heart can’t take this. I think I’d rather walk.
“We have five stops on this side of town. The manor. You remember Old Thomas?”
I nod. He was famous back in the day for his cattle dogs. We used to sneak up there to play with the pups when he was out.
“After his wife died, he moved out to the woods and built himself a cabin. The Wisterfields live next door to him, and the Coolages are a newer family. They live about five minutes from each other. And of course, Mr Path.”
I listen to her gossip about the town. So much has changed and yet so little. We deliver the food to the first four houses easily, and I try not to drown in the memories that rush up, sneaking past my barriers. But at last, she heads up to the manor, taking the winding forest road and leading us to a higher elevation. I see the road to my cottage and wonder if I could jump out, but she seems to sense my impulse to bail and presses her foot down on the accelerator.
My trepidation grows. I sit quieter, lower, scanning the surrounding forest for them. Or more specifically, him.
“What did you mean by I’m your alpha?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“You’re ours. You’ll always be ours. We all remember you, wild as sin with that stepbrother of yours, running feral with good ole Kay. She kept us updated about you kids, right until she died. She said to me just before she passed, ‘Annie, those two rats will come back. They’ll come to remember who they are, and they’ll come home. You’ll be there to welcome ‘em, don't let them forget who they are.’ And she was right. You’re here. You’ll always have a home in June Haven, Scarlet. No matter how far life takes you from here, this will be home.”
I swallow several times and keep my eyes on the road. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She gets quiet and seems to hunch in on herself as we approach. I want to ask her why, but she doesn’t seem like she could tell me right now, so I hold my peace.
It’s as beautiful as I remember, with its large pillars and the white plantation style home. However, I do scowl at the huge security fence. She talks into it quickly. But I don’t pay attention.
Why do they need such high fences out here?
It must have cost a fortune to install. But it makes little sense. It’s unnecessary out in the middle of nowhere, where the only trespassers are the people who are your neighbours. I think I spot someone walking along the fence line, but when I squint harder, trying to see, I realise I’m mistaken, it’s just a tree.
The gates slide open, and Annie tensely drives us down the driveway and parks behind the house. I get out and raise an eyebrow at her.
“Where do you want these?”
I unload the truck with quick movements.
“Hey, Annie?” I get no answer, so I turn around and find her frozen.
A man is standing not far from us, a huge bear of a man. I walk stiffly and stand in front of Annie, raising my chin. It’s the alpha from the other morning, I’m sure of it. There’s an intensity to him that holds an aura of grief, something deep and intriguing. Because of that, he appears nervous. I smile, trying to be friendly, because I can’t possibly understand why an alpha of his size would fear me.
I can’t tell for certain, but I think this just amuses him. He shakes his head and disappears into the trees.
“Hurry, hurry.” Annie says and trembles.
“Annie, chill. I won’t let them be mean to you. Are they really this bad?” I ask and glare over my shoulder at the treeline.
“No. I mean, they’ve never come to the car before…”
Oh. I look up when I see two men stalk out of the house. One I recognise, the other I don’t.
“I see you’re staying for dinner.” Jet says and bites his lower lip. He winks and gives me a sultry smile that makes me grin back despite myself.
