“Hell yeah, I do. I’ve been meaning to catch up with that man,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.
“We’ll wait for you at the diner,” I promised before we said a quick goodbye.
Jack flagged down the waitress. “Can we get a black coffee and the house special? We have someone joining us.”
“Of course,” our waitress promised, jotting something down before hurrying off to put in Cole’s order.
I snuggled in closer to Jack’s side as he texted North an update, enjoying a few minutes with just this alpha before my time was divided. I wanted them each to feel just as special as they made me feel. Even though my relationship with Cole was different and started earlier, they all mattered.
Jack let out a happy sigh that did funny things to my heart.
My original plan was to spend Christmas alone, and now sitting here next to an alpha that quickly broke through all of my defenses, I was already having the best holiday of my life. I wasn’t sure how anything could top it, but I had a feeling that my pack was going to try.
Aspen
The Pine Ridge Gazette office was like something out of an old movie. There was an old worn-in desk in the front that I assumed was Grady’s, behind it were several smaller ones. They were clean, but well used.
Rows of metal shelves were lined with file boxes dated by year and a few by big events. I felt my fingers twitch, ready to open them up and learn all of their secrets.
Issues that must’ve been important to the Gazette’s history were framed and hanging on the wall.
Among them were plaques outlining past employees and their own accomplishments, like a proud papa displaying artwork on a fridge. Grady took pride in his people and it showed.
Cole’s name caught my attention, and I hurried over, my fingers ghosting over the plaque.
“You won a state award for your work?” I asked. Cole, who is never shaken by anything, ducked his head a little in embarrassment.
“Oh, my boy here knew how to write a good article,” Grady said, clapping my alpha on the shoulder before pulling him in for a hug. “Glad you could come with them. I’ve missed you. I can’t believe it’s been so long, but it takes years to build an empire, right?”
Cole chuckled, shaking his head. “Everyone keeps calling it that, but I still have a hard time believing that Pack & Co. counts as an empire.”
“It’s more than that,” Grady said, serious now. “It’s a legacy, something that will go on long after you and I are both gone from this earth. This is the kind of thing that changes lives.”
“You are teaching generations how to form packs and communicate, giving them examples to look up to. For some, that’s all they get,” Jack said.
Cole was clearly uncomfortable with all the attention he was receiving, but I was glad that someone put into perspective all that my mate had achieved. It meant even more coming from a man that Cole held in such high regard.
While they caught up with old stories I couldn’t help but leaf through a few of the copies of the latest editions they had resting on the front desk. It was incredible that Grady managed to do this all on his own. His writing style stood out among every article and it might’ve been small seeing as it was a one man job, but it had heart. Each page that I flipped through had something that highlighted the town and the people that lived here.
He highlighted a little bit of everything from school events to community outreach projects, each small piece making me love the town a little more.
Amusement had my lips lifting into a smile as I browsed the dating profile section, reading the ads of those desperate forconnection and packs. I understood why they were putting so much effort into finding their matches now that I’d met mine. I couldn’t believe I ever lived without them.
“I see that spark in your eye,” Grady noted as he moved closer.
I was so absorbed in reading that I didn’t notice they’d stopped talking. His eyebrows rose in challenge as I glanced back, expecting the words to be aimed at Cole or something.
“No, I definitely meant you,” he said with a wink. “As much as I try to manage this place, there’s not exactly journalists lining up to work here. We have more than enough budget allocated, thanks to our town treasurer,” Grady said, giving Jack a nod of appreciation. “Unfortunately, there is simply no one here to fill the roles I need them to. I haven’t had an intern since Cole left and I hired a journalist temporarily, but they moved onto what they said we’re bigger and better things.”
I snorted. “There’s definitely more glamor living in the city. Going out for the nightlife, writing pieces about art galleries and influencers. It’s just not really the life that calls to me,” I admitted quietly.
“Does Cole know this?” he asked. This man held nothing back, even just meeting me.
“I think he knows some, just not the depths of it.”
He nods. “Well, I’ll leave that up to you two to discuss, but I’d love to talk more about this. Maybe you could share something you wrote and something you will write?”
“Really?” I questioned, hope lighting inside of me.
