Chapter 95
Selene leads me outside. She makes introductions to other females. There are familiar names and faces, but in the long years I’ve been living with Aaron, everyone has moved on. I’m
an outsider to them.
Even as their Alpha, there is a ‘divide’ only it’s born of power
and influence.
I’ll need to earn their trust.
That’s okay.
It should be that way.
But I will carve my legacy and ensure that they’re protected for generations to come. I wasn’t lying about that or up on
that stage spewing empty promises.
There’s a lot of work to be done here.
“You did good, Leah.”
It’s my brother and he’s tipsy, I think. He holds a glass in his hand that has a few inches of amber liquid in it.
“I’m hoping you’ll be able to bring me up to speed. I get the sense there are some financial issues.”
Liam looks away.
“Brother,” I whisper. “Don’t close me out. I’m not good at many things, but this is a place where I can make a difference. And I’m going to.”
He nods curtly.
Marla comes over and lays a kiss on him. A bu nch of kids. surround them making noise and acting raucous. They have ice cream cones and plates of cake. One of them slams into me and smears wh ite icing all over my pantsuit.
“Oh nooo!” the young ones scream.
One of the little girls starts crying.
“Hey now, it’s alright. It’ll wash.”
“I have just the thing,” Marla tells me.
She takes my hand. “This way, Alpha. We’ll have that cleaned up in a jiffy.”
Liam smiles at us fondly and I’m feeling pretty happy too.
If I just stay in the moment, I can enjoy this party. I can feel what it means to truly be part of a pack. The laughter and dancing, kids running around, music blaring.
It’s fun.
It’s one of those moments like a wedding or birthday or holiday where it can feel like a chore or some event to endure, but really, it’s a snapshot of life, a perfect bite-sized memory.
“Thanks Marla.”
“Of course! At least it’s the kid’s fault. I’m so clumsy. I’m constantly spilling stuff on my clothes and I only have me to
blame.”
I giggle and follow her back toward the main house.
The party has mostly moved outside and though Aaron
remains in the living room, he doesn’t interfere when he sees
me running up the staircase. He just smiles fondly.
Marla runs a few steps ahead of me. She’s like a gazelle. In
stilettos.
It’s a bit of a miracle to behold.
I’m not quite as fast, but I’m giggling as we race up to my
room.
We both are breathless and laughing as we round the corner
and though I’m human and shorter, I beat her to the door by a
second.
“You win!” she proclaims.
I snort. “You let me.”
And running in heels isn’t really behavior befitting an Alpha.
But it is ‘me.’ And that’s who I’m determined to be.
head to the trunk of clothes that Aaron had sent over. “I’m
sure there’s something in here. I won’t be but a minute.”
Marla closes the door behind me.
“You’re right,” she says. All traces of humor gone. “This won’t take long, you weak bi tch.”
Then she lunges at me.
