“I wasn’t in Mesa for long, and I was disappointed that I didn’t get to explore it more. It’s hard to balance being close enough to a city to keep your pack employed and healthy, and yet close enough to the forest to have the room to run and grow, but Mesa seemed to have what it takes. Plus, I mean, how cool would it be to run in the desert and the pine forest on the same day?”
“You really thought about all of that? About what it would be like to live there?”
“Yeah. Not necessarily because it was Arizona. I mean, I have nothing against the state, it was just…somewhere new.”
Cindy seemed eager, but wary. “You’ve been to several new places this year. Have you considered what any of them would be like to live in.”
“All those places were great. I enjoyed running in the different pack lands, meeting the different packs. But none of them…” She hesitated, wanting to get the right feeling across without sounding pretentious. “I think, none of them needed me.”
Cindy smiled. “Us. None of them neededus.”
Myra reached out and Cindy was there, hugging her with a squeal of excitement.
The feeling of peace settled into Myra like she’d just been waiting to hear those words. The way she’d felt off, ever since Arizona had happened. She’d blamed some of that disconnect, that uncertainty, on meeting Adam. Before that, she’d blamed it on needing to find him, on not wanting to leave that loose thread hanging before the end of her term. But now she knew the real reason. Her heart had started to shift its loyalties from the St. Louis pack to a new one.
“Thank god for you,” she said. “I don’t know that I would’ve even realized what it was I was searching for; and now to find it, and know that we’ll be figuring it out together, that’s so huge.”
“I know, I didn’t know if you would think I was crazy but I’ve been doing all this searching online, for Arizona and New Mexico, and looking at every post in the forum written by any of the pack, and even though I love it here, our pack, our families, I’m ready to try something new. And I remembered that I’ve been clever enough to succeed at a career that I can do from anywhere I want. I had no clue you’d consider leaving, and walking away from you as my alpha was going to be tough.”
“I think that’s part of what’s been growing inside of me,” Myra admitted. “The pack is ready for Kendra and Deacon to take over. They didn’t need me at all this year, it’s almost as if I’ve already taken on an advisory role rather than being the true alpha.”
“And you haven’t heard from anyone thinking about offering up to be alpha out there?”
“No one. And I know the current hierarchies. There really isn’t anyone ready to make this kind of move. Except me, because of Kendra and Deacon, and because I’ve been alpha here for a long time, because I started young, but I’m not ready to retire.”
“Do you think Kendra and Deacon were considering it?”
“I’m sure they thought about it, but I don’t think they’d want to leave their families here. The kids are still so young and both of their parents are very active with them. But they must have talked about it, because they’ve been feeling that push to be more, do more. I’m sure of it.”
“It’s meant to be. This calls for a change-up.” Cindy grabbed their empty glasses and marched to the kitchen, Myra at her heals. She put the glasses in the dishwasher and opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of champagne. Myra got them flutes while Cindy popped the bottle open with expertise. She poured with a flourish and they toasted.
“To new adventures and not being fuddy-duddy old ladies,” Cindy said.
“To embarking on our mid-life crises together,” Myra added.
They drank and danced around the kitchen like fools for a good five minutes before Cindy grabbed the bottle and led the way back to the couch.
“So. What does this mean for you and Adam?”
Myra frowned. “Well, like you said, I can’t hold off on planning my life for what might happen with a guy. And if he was going to fall madly in love with me and move to St. Louis, he can fall madly in love with me and move to Arizona or New Mexico. I mean, even if we’d been mates, I wouldn’t have been able to just go lone wolf and live with him in a tiny cabin on someone else’s territory.” She nibbled her lip. “But, bad shit happened to him in Phoenix, maybe he would hate being in that part of the country.”
Cindy nodded her agreement, handing over a cracker and cheese. “Maybe. Maybe not. Will you tell me about him?”
“I think he’s convinced himself he’s a loner, not a team player. But inside, he’s still a high school teacher, I’m sure of it. He was his brother’s best friend, and port in the storm. His instincts are to help, to be involved, even when his brain tells him to walk away.”
She stretched out on the couch, back against the arm, feet bumping Cindy’s thigh. “He’s charming, though I doubt he realizes it. Holds doors open for strangers, super polite to waitstaff, doesn’t start eating until I do, that kind of thing.”
“Okay, he might be good enough for you,” Cindy said with a smile.
“He reads. A lot. A lot a lot.”
“Better and better.”
“I wasn’t exactly paying attention because I was kind of out of my mind at the time, but I’m pretty sure I got at least two orgasms for every one of his.”
“Now we’re talking!” Cindy tipped her glass to Myra, then emptied it in one gulp.
Laughing, Myra continued, “He makes my insides shiver and my lady parts quiver.”
