John’s made no secret of the fact that he doesn’t like me, and the only decision I’ve made since becoming Alpha that hehasn’tcomplained about is the fact that I named Macy as my second. He’d prefer I took his daughter as a mate, but she and I have been friends since we were kids, and she confided in me a long time ago that she didn’t want a mate. It’s simply something she’s not interested in at all.
Naming her as my second not only got her out of her parents’ house and away from her father’s fists, but it solidified our friendship and gave me at least one person in this pack I can depend on. She might not be as physically imposing as most seconds, but she’s fast and can easily hold her own against anyone else in the pack.
Plus, her brains more than make up for her lack of brawn. If circumstances were different, she'd be my procurator, a kind of diplomatic agent for the pack and me as the Alpha, but I needed a second more. The Sweet Water pack doesn’t really have much need for diplomats at the moment.
I drop my duffel bag to the floor next to Macy’s chair and Linda turns around, smiling brightly. “Good morning, Alpha. Would you like me to prepare you some breakfast?”
“I’ll just make myself some toast or something,” I reply, forcing myself to return the older woman’s smile. “I’m not that hungry.”
Linda frowns, but doesn’t argue, instead reaching up for a mug and pouring me a cup of coffee, something she knows I definitely won’t turn down.
Since Randall had no mate—and was an absolute slob—Linda acted as his housekeeper for decades and has taken it upon herself to run my household until I, in her words, “find a suitable mate to do these sorts of things.”
I hate to break it to her, but that’s not happening any time soon. I have enough on my plate that I don't need to be worrying about finding a mate. In fact, that might be the last thing I need.
Sure, I envy the connection Keir and Julien share, but I saw a lot of the hell they went through to be together. As soon as they met, their lives became one drama after another after another, which is why I understand very well why Keir has no interest in researching our possibly shared past.
My cousin has had enough upheaval in his life to last a lifetime.
I don't need that kind of stress. Not now, not when my control of the pack is still so new and I’m not entirely sure how the pack feels about me as Alpha. Plus, I’m not so anxious to find out what kind of mate John and his cronies would approve of—the pickings are sure to be slim on that front.
And it’s not an issue I’m willing to press.
Yet.
I damn sure don’t plan to spend the rest of my life alone, but although I haven’t had much opportunity to explore my sexuality—almost none, actually—I know it will take more time before the pack will be willing to accept the fact that I’d prefer a male mate.
Humans don’t exactly have a monopoly on homophobia.
Linda places the now full mug on the table, then pulls out a loaf of bread and moves toward the toaster. She’s basically ignoring what I said about making toast for myself, but I can’t exactly shove her out of the way without turning this into a huge issue.
I sit down and sip at the coffee, and a few minutes later, Linda sets a plate in front of me. Macy catches my gaze and rolls her eyes. I shrug as Linda refills my mug then moves to stand next to the counter, looking at me as if waiting for a new command.
“Mom, why don’t you take the morning off?” asks Macy. “I think Luke and I can handle putting a couple plates and cups in the dishwasher.”
“But I still have some dusting to do,” she replies. “I didn’t get to the guest bedroom yesterday.”
I open my mouth to argue that’s not necessary, but immediately shut it again. Linda has flinched enough times in my presence that I don’t like to come across like I’m angry with her. I mostly just let her do her thing, which is probably how I ended up in this rather awkward situation where she spends more time at my house than her own.
“Thank you, Linda,” I say.
She beams at me, and Macy chuckles under her breath, nudging me with her elbow. “Big bad Alpha can’t tell my mom no.”
“Shut up.”
After Macy and I chug down a couple cups of coffee, and I somehow end up with a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon to go along with the toast I didn’t really want, the two of us make our way outside.
Macy leans against the one decent vehicle that belongs to the pack, a dark gray SUV, and crosses her arms over her chest. “Now, how about you tell me what the hell is going on and whyyou texted mebefore five a.m.telling me to pack a bag and get down here?”
I chuckle. “Let’s load up and I’ll explain once we’re moving.”
“Fine,” she says with an exaggerated sigh. She jumps into the driver’s seat, and I walk around to the passenger seat. Making a quick three-point turn, she takes us out of the pack compound, and once we hit the main road, she glances at me from the corner of her eye. “Okay, explain.”
I give her a quick rundown of where we’re headed and what’s going on.
“That… sounds complicated,” she says, brow furrowing.
“Yeah,” I say. “Tell me about it.”
