That might work.
A small smile appeared and she couldn’t help the laugh that followed. She hadn’t felt this light in days, weeks even. Trying to tamp down the hope building inside her was futile. It might only be Rachel’s temporary alpha she was meeting later, but it was a step closer to Rachel, and her heart leapt at the thought of it. Her wolf, too.
A quick glance at her phone told her only fifteen minutes had passed since she’d escaped to her room. The next few hours were going to be the longest ever.
AT ELEVEN TWENTY-FIVE, Celia appeared in her doorway, car keys in hand. “You look lovely, dear.” She positively beamed as she took Sara in from head to toe, so Sara grinned and gave her a twirl.
Since it was the alpha they were meeting, Sara had gone with a black mini skater dress rather than her usual jeans and T-shirt. She still wore her Doc Martens though; they weren’t going anywhere, alpha or no. Her long dark hair hung loose about her shoulders, and she gave it a quick comb through with her fingers. “You think?”
“Yes. Very you.”
“Thanks.” Sara blew out a breath and smoothed down the front of her dress.
Celia walked over and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Nervous?”
“A little.”
The shadow that past over her grandmother’s face was gone in an instant, but Sara swore she saw it. The fleeting look of uncertainty did nothing to help her nerves.
“Don’t be nervous about meeting Alpha Harley.” Celia gave her a squeeze. Her familial scent added to the comfort, and finally Sara took a deep breath in and let some of the tension go. Celia grinned at her. “As alphas go, he’s one of the nicest.” She laughed at Sara’s slightly shocked expression. “Yes, I’m aware I work with eleven of them, but we can all be a pain in the arse sometimes. And your grandad used to be as stubborn as they come.” She guided Sara out into the hallway towards the front door.
“Used to be?” Sara had spent the last ten years in her grandfather’s pack, and in her mind, he still had a stubborn streak. Although not so much with her. He had a soft spot for Sara.
Laughing, Celia locked up after them, then stopped as they reached her car, turning to Sara. “He used to be a lot worse, trust me. But I whipped him into shape over the years.”
“How come you don’t live with him now?” She bit her lip, wondering if she’d overstepped. For as long as Sara could remember, her grandmother had lived here but visited the pack frequently. She’d always accepted it as something that just was, but now curiosity got the better of her.
Celia met her gaze over the top of the car. “The pack wars took a toll on all shifters, not just the ones heavily involved in the fighting. No one wants to hear of packs tearing each other apart, and the number of casualties was horrific. When I was offered a seat on the council, it was the chance to make a difference. Your grandfather’s pack is a stable one. He might be stubborn, but he’s fair and loyal, and his betas are wonderful. But not all packs are like that, and I wanted to be in a position to work with those that asked for help. You grandfather understood that.” She smiled, her expression softening. “More importantly, he supported me. So now”—she gestured around at the cottage—“I spend half my time here and the rest with your grandfather. But I don’t have a say in the running of his pack. I listen and offer support, but I don’t get involved with politics. He has his betas for that.”
They got in the car as Sara took all that in. “But if he had a dispute with another alpha or one of his pack contacted the council, what then?”
“Most of the alphas on the council are still affiliated with their old packs. We’re not required to sever all ties. But in that situation, we take a step back and let the others deal with it. It’s the only way to retain our impartiality.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Now, if you’ve finished grilling me, we need to get going.”
Sara’s cheeks heated, and she offered a sheepish smile. “Yes, sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m happy to answer any questions you have. I just don’t want to be late.”
Nope, neither did Sara. “I’m done. We can go.”
WITH ITS THATCHED roof and white painted exterior, the pub Celia took them to looked as though it belonged on a postcard. It stood well back from the road, with the forest as a backdrop, and had an almost magical feel to it. A black SUV was the only car parked in the ample car park out front.
Sara swallowed past the lump in her throat. “That’s them, right?”
“I assume so. The pub doesn’t open for another thirty minutes, so I doubt it’s any of the locals.” She put a hand on Sara’s thigh. “Before we go in there—”
The SUV’s doors opened, and everything came to a grinding halt. Celia’s voice faded into the background as Sara’s entire focus narrowed on familiar red hair.
“Rachel.”
