“Oh!”
It’s unexpected, but it might be the best hug... maybe the only hug... I’ve ever received from someone who wasn’t arogue. It’s certainly the first from a pack wolf. She smells of expensive perfume. The sweet, flowery scent wafts through my nose.
Jemma withdraws to check me out the same as she did Caleb. “My goddess, you’re gorgeous.”
Another first.I’ve been called many things but never gorgeous. She peers back at Caleb. “Caleb, isn’t she gorgeous?”
“Yes.”
My inner critic tells me Caleb is just trying to not appear like an asshole in front of Jemma, which is why he’s so agreeable. But thedelusionalpart of me thinks he could mean it. I choose delusion.
Caleb’s gaze lingers on me before he shakes his head and clears his throat. “Uh... We better be going if we don’t want to be late.”
“We’ll talk on the way there.” Jemma pats my arm.
On the walk to the church, I learn a lot about Jemma. She’s the kind, old neighbor who listens to the birds chirp while drinking her morning coffee on her front porch. She lives a simple life cooking, baking and tending to her garden. Yet she’s active enough but still grunts when she stands up from squatting or sitting too long.
Overall, I was right. She isfarfrom hateable.
Of course Jemma and Caleb know everyone... and I can’t remember a single name. To my surprise, almost everyone is kind and welcoming. Some are good at faking it, but I can be civil.
The church is small, old, white and nothing impressive from the outside. But on the inside, it’s spacious with high ceilings and stained-glass windows. A beautiful warm interior with exposed wood finished, sanded and smoothed to perfection. The pews were lined perfectly on either side of the aisle with a deep red carpet.
We sit together in the front pew.
The pastor is dressed in a white cloth that drapes over his shoulders. On the cloth, different phases of the moon are embroidered near his chest. I didn’t really listen to the lesson. I was too busy trying to soak in my surroundings.
You were staring at Caleb,my wolf says.
Maybe.
I could practically feel the daggers some pack members were sending my way for sitting near Caleb. They’re probably all wondering why a rogue is sitting next to their handsome—and single—future alpha.
Don’t worry ladies, I’m just his plaything—a casual hookup to service his needs until he finds someone else.But the diminishing thought bothers me more than I care to admit.
Honestly, church was pretty boring. I can see why someone would carve a dick on the back of this pew.
After church, Jemma, Caleb, and I stand outside chatting about the service.
“What’d you think, Jay?”
Jemma’s question catches me off guard. I wasn’t expecting a pop quiz, or to summarize what I learned. Which is nothing.
“Hm?”
“Of the sermon.”
I open my mouth and quickly close it, causing my jaw to click. I look to Caleb to save me.
Arms crossed, he wears a cheeky, knowing grin. He caught me staring, clearly distracted, but only smiled and shook his head. “Yeah, Jay. What’d you learn?”
Oh, he’ll pay for that.
“You know...” I grasp to think of some bullshit. “I think I was so overwhelmed with how beautiful the church is, it was hard to focus.”
“Oh, I can understand that,” Jemma said, accepting my white lie. “My first time here, the space took my breath away.”
The pastor appears amongst the church patrons, chatting with others. He’s pretty attractive, definitely not what I was expecting. He looks to be in his late thirties, graying in all the right places. A total silver fox with white teeth and a chiseled jaw. It makes me wonder if he has something to do with all the pews being full...
