At this, Erica squeaked, “Thirty-three?”
“By next week or so. I don’t know how their alpha is doing on the transfer.” And just like that, he realized he was getting ahead of himself. “It’s way less complicated than it sounds.”
Erica’s mouth gaped for a moment, and then soon found the words. “Do you want to uncomplicate it for me?”
If he thought she was calm enough to approach, he would have taken the seat across from her. Instead, he stood firm by the coffee maker, open and exposed for her to study, now that she knew. Perhaps that distance between them would make her more at ease.
“Wolf shifters… werewolves… often stay together in packs. Each pack has an alpha and a beta, just like in a wild wolf pack. The alpha protects the pack while the beta’s job is to enforce the rules laid down by the alpha.”
“And you’re a beta?”
Oh, he could have busted out laughing. “No, I’m not. I’m… a little outside of the pack structure, but still important.”
“An omega?”
She seemed to know some things, which encouraged him. He shook his head. “No, I’m not that either. The larger packs have omegas, but the packs here in Tolstone don’t. You see…” He searched for the right words that would succinctly explain their unique situation while not confusing her. “Tolstone is different. Most towns or counties only have one pack. We have anywhere from three to six at a time. Since the town was founded, we’ve been a kind of sanctuary for shifters. Packs who have been pushed out of their territory or have been threatened in some way come here to… rehabilitate, I guess. Some packs lose their leadership and have to select a new alpha. Others need a chance to recover from some disaster and find a new home. They come here because this is a safe place to do what they need to do without risk of exposure or danger.”
“Switzerland,” Erica stated with a nod.
Dominic could have kissed her for being so intelligent. “Exactly.”
“And your family …”
“My ancestors were the ones who set down the rules for shifters who came to Tolstone. The first alpha of my family, Louis Beaumont, became the Prime Alpha. He was alpha over his pack, as well as all the refugee packs in Tolstone. Ever since, it’s always been the firstborn son who inherits the title and dominance of Prime Alpha. It’s their job to keep the packs from fighting and keep them safe while they’re here.”
Understanding dawned in her pretty hazel eyes. “And you’re the Prime Alpha. That’s why you’re always on call and why everyone knows you.”
“Yes.” He felt the balloon in his chest finally deflate.
Never in his wildest dreams did Dominic think it would be so easy to explain everything to her. Maybe it was the bond they shared, or maybe it was something she read in those articles, but it didn’t matter. He’d never had to tell a human what he was or how Tolstone operated. Everyone who met him was either kept in the dark, or they knew because they were part of the packs he vetted before they moved here. Putting this all into words for anyone to understand was difficult enough, but Erica had received the news beautifully… so far.
Erica’s gaze lowered to the linoleum floor, once more pensive. Dominic didn’t dare disturb the stillness, not while she processed everything he had just said. His wolf wanted him to whine, to beg her to speak again.
“Is Gwen …”
“No,” he replied quickly. “No, she’s not. But… Jaime is.”
Erica slowly closed her eyes. “And Madison?”
Dominic understood where her mind went. “It’s not uncommon that a mixed pair would produce a shifter child. Madison turned for the first time the night before you arrived in town.”
A sardonic smile twitched on her lips. “That explains so much. She seemed so nervous at the festival.”
He wished that Gwen hadn’t dragged her to Erica’s booth, no matter how much she wanted her daughter to meet the photographer. “Madison is going through a big transition right now. She’s not even going to school until she can learn how to block out the sensory overload.”
At this, Erica looked up. “So, you can hear and smell things really well?”
Dominic felt more and more at ease the longer they talked about it. “Yes. And we have incredible strength and speed. I’m sure most of the articles mentioned that.” He gestured to herlaptop, which was still open on the table. “But you shouldn’t believe everything on there.”
“What’s true then? Do you kill people?”
He fiercely denied it. “We never kill unless in self-defense. That’s one of the most important laws of the shifters. All those stories about eating children were from a time when we didn’t have the kind of system we have now. Rogue shifters are dealt with and punished or completely taken out if they step out of line. We don’t tolerate violence toward humans or other shifters.”
At the wordhuman, Erica cringed a little, and he realized his blunder.
“That’s going to take a little getting used to,” she said. “This whole thing is. Like, how many people have I met who were actually shifters and I never knew it?”
The truth would have been too startling. Shifters were everywhere, and if she had gone to visit the businesses in Tolstone, she would have met a few. Dominic wouldn’t tell her that. She had to be fed a little at a time, like a child, but he didn’t want to treat her like a child. She was a strong, capable woman who could handle the truth. Still, he would determine his pace by her alone.
