I noted the various buildings surrounding us. Some were homes, while others had store names labeled on them. Off in the distance, houses were built into the sides of the mountains. The commune sat inside a spacious valley, leaving it surrounded by mountains all around. The desert terrain left me wondering how anyone survived there for long periods.
“Do you live out here year round?” I asked as Elsie led me off the main road and onto a dirt path.
“Yes,” she hummed as she looked up at the sky, a whimsical smile playing at her lips. How I had feared this woman even in wolf form seemed silly. She didn’t come across as if she would hurt a fly. The same soft look in her eyes that existed in her human form was there that morning in Chael’s bedroom.
It made sense that she watched over me while I slept.
“I’m sorry I screamed this morning when I saw you.”
A pinch appeared between her eyebrows before her expression opened up. “Oh my goodness, no. Please.” She clasped my hand between both of hers. “That was all my fault. I should’ve known a human would awaken terrified to see my big ol’ wolf licking their paw—er hand.” Her laughter was a soft melody that soothed my frazzled nerves.
I couldn’t help but smile at the tenderness in her smile. It reminded me a little bit of my nana.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” she continued to explain.
I nodded and swallowed the odd emotion that started to well up in me. “Where are we going?” I asked, peering farther down the dirt path to see a couple of people standing around.
“While the children are in school and some of the other families work, a few of us gals like to get together in the field to hang out. Some of the younger girls too.”
I nodded as if I understood. But as we drew closer to the other women, I could hear a few talking about the alpha’s new mate.
“I bet she’s real pretty,” one of the women who looked no older than twenty-something said.
Elsie cleared her throat. “Ladies,” she called.
Six pairs of eyes fell on me.
“Oh my goodness,” one swooned, swaying her brunette tresses back and forth as she clapped. “Alpha Queen.”
I found myself shaking my head. That title didn’t suit me. I still had no idea what all of this was. I scanned the six women, varying in age, race, and appearance.
“It’s so great to meet you finally,” one of them said.
“Alpha has been waiting more than half a century for you,” another added.
My mouth fell open, and I went to ask her what she meant by that, but another woman stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
Almost all of the women introduced themselves, except for one. She was tall, about the same complexion as me, with her hair pulled back into a tight bun. She looked me up and down, her expression cautious. She held a bow and arrow in either hand.
About fifty yards out stood four separate targets hanging on wooden boards.
“Is this target practice?”
One of the younger women giggled. “For Sera, it is.”
The one who hadn’t introduced herself cut her gaze in the woman’s direction and frowned.
“We like to hang out here a little bit to catch up,” another one of the women said.
“And talk about boys.” A younger woman giggled. “Now that Alpha has found his mate, which one of the guys do you think will be next?”
“Oh, it has to be Chance. Now that the alpha is mated, it’s his brother’s turn,” the woman with long, blond hair gushed. I could practically see the stars in her eyes as she swooned.
I couldn’t blame her for drooling over Chance. The man was as gorgeous as his brother, and he had that whole strong, silent type vibe happening. But my heartbeat didn’t speed up in the presence of Chance the way it had when I first met Chael. And my skin didn’t tingle and warm when he held my hand the way it always did whenever Chael got within a few inches of my body.
“So, what’s it like?” one of the women asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I blinked. “What?”
