36
King
I slid into a parkingspot near Lucy’s store and took a deep breath. Even though I told myself that shit happens and Lucy probably hadn’t even noticed I didn’t attend craft night, guilt clawed at my insides. Yesterday, it had seemed so important to make Blackthorne Ventures squirm. My parents had drilled into me the importance of never showing weakness, and leaving that meeting would have been weak. But when I’d driven past her dark store on my way home last night, I wondered why I was holding on to their values when they had been three of the most unhappy alphas I knew. I’d been so desperate to win their love and attention that I’d spent my entire life doing what I thought would make them happy—including leaving a career I loved. And where had that left me?
Lucy made me happy. The unsettled feeling I’d carried with me for years vanished when she smiled at me.
And I had let her down.
I got out of the car and stopped abruptly when I saw a huge alpha standing in front of Lucy’s shop, his arms crossed. His hair was tied up in a bun and he wore work pants and a long-sleeved black shirt. I pulled myself to my full height as I approached. What the fuck was he doing outside Lucy’s shop? Was he bothering her?
As I got closer, I realized the sign on the door readClosed.
I ignored the alpha as I peered through the window. The shop was supposed to open at nine, but there was no sign of movement inside.
I turned to find the alpha scowling at me. My jaw ticked. “Are you waiting for Lucy?”
He lifted his chin in affirmation but said nothing.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Do you know when she opens?” I could get her coffee and breakfast while I waited. In my experience, gifts were the way to earn a woman’s forgiveness.
Before he could answer, Leo emerged from his shop, a massive bouquet in his arms. He stopped short when he saw us, his eyes flicking to the sign on Lucy’s door.
“Lucy isn’t in?”
“Apparently not. How long have you been here?” I addressed my question at the mountain of an alpha.
“Twenty minutes.” His voice was rough, like he didn’t use it very often.
“Oh,” was Leo’s only response. “It’s Wilder, right?”
He lifted his chin.
“This is King.” Leo nodded at me.
I didn’t give a fuck about introductions. “Did she order flowers?” I asked Leo.
“Um, no.”
The three of us stood awkwardly, avoiding eye contact, until the beta spoke.
“Are you two courting Lucy?” There was a fierceness to his tone that set me on edge.
“So what if I am?” I said at the same time the other alpha grunted. Seriously, did this guy know how to form words?
Leo’s grip tightened on the flowers, but he didn’t back down. “Well, I’m courting her, too.”
My alpha bristled, but I also found his assertiveness attractive.
“Were you at craft night?” I asked.
Leo looked unsure for the first time. “Ah, no. I couldn’t make it. You?”
“I had work,” I muttered.
We both looked at Wilder. I swear if he just grunted…
“Something came up,” he said.
