CHAPTER FOUR
Sara listened to her grandmother suggest idea after idea to bring Alpha Harley’s pack together but struggled to take any of it in. Sat on the end of the bench seat holding tight to Rachel’s hand, all she wanted to do was close her eyes and bask in the subtle scent of flowers and sea air.
They couldn’t be alone. She accepted that. Well, after her grandmother had told her it was either that or she was going back home. Would she be tempted to bite Rachel if left to their own devices?
Sara ducked her head to hide her smile.
Of course she fucking would.
If it wasn’t for Celia’s iron grip, she’d have raced across the car park and done it when Rachel first stepped out of the car.
Mine.
The thought had pulsed through her whole body, her blood alight with the need to complete their bond. But as Celia had pointed out, that was her wolf wanting to take the opportunity it had been presented with. Biting Rachel would only make her father furious, and who knew what he’d do as a result. Even as selfish as she felt in that moment, Sara wouldn’t risk endangering Rachel’s pack. Their bond would be doomed from the start if they took that course.
They’d find another way; she believed that now.
They just had to wait.
Patience wasn’t one of Sara’s strengths, and for now she pushed that thought to the back of her mind. Rachel was here, and she’d enjoy it for however long it lasted. From the animated discussion going on around her, that could be a while yet.
With a contented sigh, Sara leaned her head on Rachel’s shoulder and tried to pay a bit more attention to what was being said. She was supposed to be there as her grandmother’s assistant.
ALPHA CORNELL SET her pencil down with a triumphant smile. “I think that’s as much as we can do for now. I’ll write all this up in a more professional looking document for you to share with your betas.”
“Thank you.” Cam took a drink of his pint and then smiled. “I’m cautiously optimistic.” He glanced down at her notebook. “I think some of your proposals will help my pack a great deal.”
“I hope so, Alpha Harley. Your pack has had more than its fair share of turmoil lately.” She looked pointedly at Sara, plastered tight to Rachel’s side. “Now for the other business we need to address.”
Sara bristled and lifted her head but didn’t move away.
Celia sighed and looked from Rachel to Sara. “A bond is something to be celebrated, encouraged, and it breaks my heart to see it stifled like this.” She offered Sara a soft smile. “But Alpha Gallen has made his feelings quite clear, and while he is still Sara’s alpha, she must abide by his wishes if she wants to remain a part of his pack.”
“What?” Sara sat bolt upright. “You mean I could leave and be free to bond with Rachel?”
“Technically, yes, but—”
“Dad never put it like that.”
“Well, of course he didn’t, but—”
“He said I had to do as he said, or he’d attack Rachel’s pack. If I’d known I could just up and leave—”
“Sara!”Alpha power infused Celia’s tone, and Sara snapped her mouth closed.
“Thank you.” Celia rolled her eyes and sighed in apparent frustration. “As I was trying to say, yes, technically you could leave your father’s pack, but since you’d be doing it without his consent, you’d have to apply to the alpha council to be officially removed.”
Sara shrugged. “I’m not seeing a drawback here.”
“Of course you’re not because you’re only thinking of yourself, and I’m not saying that to be mean. I understand how strong the pull is, how it takes over everything. I’m not blaming you for not seeing the bigger picture. But even if you leave and find a pack to take you, what about Rachel’s pack?”
“What do you mean?” Sara frowned.
“Even though you would have left the pack, you’re still Alpha Gallen’s daughter. And he is still an alpha. His request of Alpha Tregarrak not to let Rachel see his daughter still holds. If you bond with Rachel, then she and her father are still going against another alpha’s wishes.”
“How?” Sara threw her hands up in the air. “He’d no longer be my alpha, so surely that would be moot?”
“Alpha etiquette is tricky. I wouldn’t put it past your father to blame Tregarrak for all of it.”
