Chapter 3: Alpha’s Bane: Chapter 3

“I heard you’ve been hanging out with the Robson boy.” My mom brings this up casually over dinner, knowing full well it’s going to get my dad’s attention.

He stops chewing his steak and puts his fork down. “Pardon me?”

I roll my eyes and shove a forkful of steak in my mouth. “I hang out with a lot of kids.” Not a lie, but it a pretty cowardly response. Trey means more to me than other wolves. And we’re not just hanging out—he’s my boyfriend.

My friends don’t get it. Trey isn’t alpha material. His mom is basically omega of this pack, and she’s lucky our alpha even let her stay in Wolf Ridge after her drunk of a husband caused all kinds of trouble with the human police.

But I know the truth. Trey may look like a rebel with his pierced lip and multitude of tattoos. He may seem like a thug because he’s quick to jump into fights with his buddy Jared, but he’s not a punk. He’s quiet. And, I’ve learned, thoughtful. And super smart.

Definitely underappreciated.

Maybe I have a penchant for fixing broken things. Maybe I’m just fascinated by the pull of his soulful blue eyes, the ones always watching me. The ones that turn silver under the moonlight.

Or maybe there’s just no explaining the attraction—our wolves like each other and we’re just following along for the ride.

Either way, I know Trey’s the one.

The guy I’m going to give my V-card to.

“I don’t want you spending time with him or kids like him,” my father pronounces, reaching for the bowl of steaming baked potatoes and serving himself two more.

“Why’s that?” My voice comes out colder than I mean it to, which is a mistake.

My dad looks up sharply, reading into it, knowing what it infers. “Because they’re trouble, and you know it. Those kids aren’t going to college. They aren’t going anywhere. And they’re way beneath you.”

“You think every wolf’s beneath me, Dad.”

“Because most are. And you should be focused on college right now. Keeping your grades up and your nose clean.”

I make a show out of looking around the dining room in bewilderment. My little sister, Ruby, snickers. “Have my grades slipped? Am I ever in trouble?”

My dad presses his lips together.

“No,” I answer for him. “My GPA is 4.2, I’m still in the honor society, Varsity math team, editor of the yearbook and—”

“I know,” my dad cuts in. “I just don’t want you to lose your focus. Not when you’re so close.” My parents have a lot riding on my success. My brother used to take the brunt of their ambition. Now it’s all heaped on me.

I glance at my mom for help, but she shakes her head. She doesn’t like the idea of me hanging with Trey either. Both my parents would prefer to see me with the prince of a neighboring pack instead. A royal match.

“It’s my senior year of high school. I’ve already aced the SATs. My college apps are turned in. I think I’m allowed a little fun. You can’t tell me you two didn’t at least try to enjoy your youth before it was over?” They’ve told me enough stories about their high school romance for me to know they had plenty of fun.

My mom glances at my dad from under her lashes and blushes, and I get that sappy sweet warmth in my chest I always do when I see how much they love each other.

“Well, I still don’t want you dating the Robson boy,” my dad grumbles.

This time I can’t betray Trey by denying our relationship. “I think it’s time you trusted me and my own judgment. I’m practically an adult.”

My dad sighs, but I can see I’ve won—for the moment. “I’m counting on you being responsible.”

I flash a saucy grin. “When am I not?”

I’m still breathing hard when I pull into the driveway of the casita I found through Airbnb for this fun little Tucson sojourn. By I mean anything but. I must’ve been crazy to have volunteered for this job.

“Yeah right,” I mutter. Whoever compiles the stupid quote calendar should just try it then: loving hard and getting your heart ripped out. Bypass surgery without anesthesia.

That’s more like it.

My cell rings just as I’m barreling up the front walk, barefoot, broken heels in hand.

“Hello?” I answer, my mind still whirling from the night’s events. Trey Freaking Robson. Still hot. Still handsome. And annoying as heck.

“Sheridan?” My dad’s voice breaks through the angry haze. “Are you there?”

“Hi, Dad. yes, I’m here.”

“How’s Tucson?”

“It’s fine.” I juggle the phone as I dig out my keys. “I went to Fight Club today. Garrett wasn’t there but I talked to one of his guys.”

“Good, good.” My dad sounds a bit distracted. “Emmett is making some calls on his end, but I went ahead and booked two months of the casita. Just in case.”

The first key I shove into the lock fails. I grapple to find another, and drop one of my shoes. “Thanks, Dad. You didn’t have to do that. I do have my own money. I was a VP, you know.”

“Still are a VP,” my dad says firmly. “I told the board you just needed a break. That the pack needed someone to handle this Tucson mess, and you were the one they trusted.”

“Yeah.” I try another key and it jams.

At this rate I’ll be sleeping on the doorstep.

“You’ll get everything there straightened out, and be back before you know it. The department isn’t the same without you. Just don’t take too long.” His voice takes on the hokey singsong that tells me he’s about to make a joke. “I need you back here so I can retire.”

“Ha ha.” I pretend laugh. In forty years as CFO, my father hasn’t deviated from his daily schedule. The same desk, the same meetings, the same daily wisdom quote calendar. The day he retires is the day wolves fly.

I fit another key into the lock. It slides in easily, but the knob won’t turn. With a sigh I set down my purse. Before I turn back to the door, a prickle of warning runs up my spine. I turn to the road.

A sleek black vehicle with tinted windows turns into the cul-de-sac, rolling slowly past. I can’t see who’s driving. At the end of the drive, it seems to pause, and my hackles go up.

“One more thing and I’ll let you go.” My father’s tone turns businesslike. “We don’t know what exactly’s going on with Garrett’s pack, but there are rumors vampires have moved into Tucson. Not one of the friendlies, but an older one who wants to set up a new base of power. If he claims pack territory, it could lead to war. Watch your back.”

“I will,” I whisper. Without a sound, the mystery car starts moving again, and creeps on down the road.

Finally, finally the knob turns when I twist the key to the right. I wrench the door open and enter the stale-smelling rental, stooping to pick up my broken shoe and my purse, nearly dropping the phone.

“Take care. We’re counting on you.” We exchange goodbyes and I lurch into the house, letting everything I’m holding clatter to the floor. I shut the door and flick the deadbolt, my mind scurrying like a mouse. Who was in that black car?

I pick up my phone from the floor, scrolling through my contacts instinctively. Who should I call? Alpha Green has bigger things to deal with. Besides, he expects me to complete this task on my own. That’s why he chose me.

I delete the thought as soon as it comes. I haven’t called Trey since we were in high school. I probably don’t even have his number.

But when I type in his last name, I do.

I remember his twitch whenever I called him by his last name tonight. He hated it. I loved that I can still affect him. If he doesn’t love me, I’ll take his hate.

My finger hovers over the familiar number. Now that I see it, I remember—I knew it by heart. There was a day when he was the first person I spoke to in the morning, the last voice in my ear at night. But I haven’t leaned on Trey in a long, long time.

I hold the phone in my hand and clench it hard enough to hear the plastic crack.

I’m not eighteen, innocent and vulnerable and ready prey for a guy like Trey. It’s not like he can break my heart. Not again.

This time, he won’t get rid of me so easily.