Page 11 of Alpha Wolf’s Arranged Bride (Rose Hollow Wolves #1)

I’m relieved when Scarlett gets straight into bed and turns her back to me. I hate that she’s upset, and I wish there was something I could do about it, but at the same time, I can’t take another verbal battle.

I won’t be able to handle much more of this. I’ll crack. Keeping the truth from Scarlett is harder than being tortured for information by a pack of rabid enemy wolves.

I listen to her breathing for a while, and she seems to relax. I can’t be sure she’s asleep, though, and my anxiety doesn’t go away.

We can’t go on like this.

The marriage is supposed to secure an alliance between the two packs. So long as we stay together, there is peace. After the chaotic history our packs have experienced, that should be enough motivation for us to stay together.

Except I know something no one else does.

I know that the Eccles pack is extremely dangerous, so much so that they are under investigation by the secret organization that exists to keep the entire magical community safe.

For Wolf’s Shadow to be interested in them, the threat has to be extreme, and it’s even more unsettling that I was undercover for a year and found out absolutely nothing.

Either they were so paranoid, I had no hope of finding out their plans, or there were none, and it’s all rumors.

The case was still open when I left WS. I was told I’d be informed if any details were relevant to me. Since I’m technically retired, they can’t share mission specifics with me, but I’d be notified of any direct threat from Eccles or military movements from WS.

An even more disturbing feeling teases at my anxiety, stoking it up into actual fear.

What if Scarlett is in on it and always has been? What if she’s playing me?

The thought makes me sit up and look at her. She seems to be asleep, relaxed with her eyes closed, one hand moving a little as she murmurs in her sleep.

I can’t even imagine her keeping secrets from me, living a double life, and working toward some kind of hidden agenda. But I did it all the time, and I know it’s possible.

It seems even more unbelievable that she would expose Jarrod to danger in this way, but I can’t discard that idea, either.

If Eccles have extreme goals, they might go to any lengths to achieve them.

Suddenly, Scarlett twists in her sleep. She mutters something under her breath, and her eyelids flicker as she tosses back and forth.

Watching her, I feel like a creep, but I also know I have to stay on guard and learn everything I can about the situation. As much as it hurts me, I know I probably can’t trust her.

“I can’t…” she mumbles. “Too far. Not him.”

I sit perfectly still, watching my wife, waiting to hear what her dreams might reveal.

“No way,” she whispers. “Must go—”

She turns her face away, and the end of the sentence sounds like a name.

David… or Duncan?

My fears about Scarlett working for some unknown purpose from Eccles vanish as my jealousy rises. No matter what secrets Scarlett might be hiding, to me, the biggest one is still Jarrod’s father.

She acts like it destroyed her when I left, so how did she end up getting pregnant? Were they in love? Did they get married? What happened to him?

I look down at Scarlett again, and her breathing is deep and even. Since she seems to have moved past REM, there isn’t much point in trying to listen to her anymore.

Not that it’s done me much good, anyway.

I turn over and stretch out, letting my mind work through the twisted thoughts I’ve just unearthed in my psyche. There’s no point trying to ignore my fears; that will just make everything worse. I have to face up to all my doubts, assimilate them, and move forward in a way that resolves them.

Military tactics. But I’m not sure it works the same when it’s your wife.

I feel like sleep will be a long time coming, and I’m surprised to see sunlight pouring into the room when I open my eyes.

I must have been exhausted. It feels like all I did was blink all night.

Even though my rest didn’t seem long, I feel refreshed as I get up. Scarlett’s side of the bed is a rumpled mess, and I hear noises in the kitchen that suggest she’s making breakfast.

I hurry to get dressed and join her, hoping that today, I might be able to resolve some of my fears. When I get to the kitchen, Jarrod is already at the table, and his face lights up with a bright grin.

“Morning, Dad!” he says cheerfully.

“Good morning, Jarrod,” I answer.

I cannot look into that sweet face and believe Scarlett would use him like this. I know undercover agents do it, though. Having a child with them is an excellent way of diverting suspicion.

“What did you dream about?” Jarrod asks me. “I had a dream about monster trucks.”

“I don’t remember,” I say, pouring myself a cup of coffee and sitting down with him. “So, tell me about your monster trucks.”

Jarrod happily launches into a detailed explanation of his dream, and I watch Scarlett sit down opposite me. We barely make eye contact, and the tension rises sharply between us.

Jarrod doesn’t notice, happily chattering away. I keep my focus on him, trying to ignore the uncomfortable silence between me and Scarlett.

He’s such a great kid. Any man would be proud to claim him. So where is his dad?

“What are we doing today, Dad?” Jarrod asks, pausing his exuberant ranting for a brief five seconds to take a big bite of pancake.

“I have to see the elders. I believe some of the women have asked your mom to meet them at the café. There will be a few other kids there, so you won’t be bored.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be bored here,” Jarrod grins, taking a sip of milk and leaving a considerable amount on his top lip.

“I’ll get ready,” Scarlett says, getting up from the table without looking at me. The air between us is almost visibly frosty, but thankfully, Jarrod hasn’t noticed.

I chat with him until he finishes his breakfast, then I clean up the kitchen as Scarlett gets him ready. The silence between us stretches out like a taut string, ready to snap and send discordant notes through the entire orchestra.

I’m glad to be spending the day apart. I can’t take much more of this, and I don’t think she can, either.

I park near the café, and all of us go inside. There’s a table full of women in the far corner, and they beckon Scarlett over. Jarrod joins a nearby table of kids who are happily tucking into cookies and cake. I watch Scarlett sit down with the others before I head to a booth out back.

Celeste, Dorian, and Galant are waiting for me. All of them appear relaxed and happy.

“Good morning, Rex,” Celeste says, getting up to kiss my cheek. “How are your first few days of marriage?”

“Great, thanks,” I answer with a smile.

Galant chuckles. “I know that look, boy. You’ve got woman troubles, and it’s keeping you up at night.”

“You got me,” I reply. “It’s taking time for my bride and I to get used to each other.”

“It’s always like that, son,” Dorian says as I sit down. “But early days yet. The two of you will figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

“I had news from your mother,” Celeste says. “She’s in Rio and sent me a few pictures. She’s sad she couldn’t make your wedding, but looking forward to meeting your bride when she gets back.”

“That’s good,” I say. “So long as she’s keeping her mind off Father’s passing.”

A brief, respectful silence falls, and the others bow their heads a little.

“What news from Eccles?” I ask, trying not to seem too eager.

“Commerce and trade,” Dorian says. “I’ve been emailing with a fellow named Franklin and his head of logistics, Danny.”

I know them. They were in charge of resources five years ago, too.

“How’s it going?” I ask.

“Really good,” Dorian answers. “We’ve had a few of our trucks go in, and we’ve been well-compensated. The goods they’ve sent to us are of high quality.”

“That’s excellent news,” I reply. “Anything from the alpha?”

“Not directly, no, but an official letter stated they may want to strengthen the alliance with more marriage ties.”

“That can only be a good thing,” I consider.

The others go on to talk a little about the goods from Eccles, and I only loosely keep track of the conversation.

This is how we want pack meetings to go. The more boring it is, the safer we are. No threats, no attacks, and no drama.

So why does it feel so fucking fake?

We talk a little more about general pack business, and Dorian suggests taking down some of our defenses.

“We really should,” he says. “Since we have peace now, we shouldn’t waste resources on having warriors out on the perimeter.”

“No,” I say as gently as possible. “Keep our guard up, at least for now.”

“It could be seen as threatening,” Dorian counters. “As if we don’t trust the treaty.”

“Do they have their guards up?” I ask pointedly.

“Yes,” Dorian admits.

“Then ours stay up, too.”

My phone suddenly buzzes in my pocket, and I drop out of the conversation to check my messages. There is only one, and it’s from the secure number that only a Shadow would use. It’s a code. Something that couldn’t be deciphered if anyone saw it.

“I have to make a call,” I say, stepping towards the back doors. “All of this is good news, so simply carry on as we have been, yeah?”

I turn and hurry out the back without waiting for confirmation. My nerves were already strung tight before this. Now they are on fire and screaming.

I type back the response code and wait. Seconds later, my phone rings with an incoming call from a private number.

“This is Shadow—I mean, Rex.”

The person on the other end gives a rough laugh. “Having trouble letting go of your rank, old buddy?”

“Bradley,” I say, grinning. “You still on the squad?”

“Sure am, boss. It hasn’t been the same without you.”

“I’m sure you didn’t use an encrypted line just to tell me that.”

“True enough. It’s Eccles.”

“What about Eccles?” I ask, feeling my blood turning to ice.

“There’s movement over there. It looks like something big is happening.”

“Do you have clearance for this?” I ask, whispering. “Am I officially being brought in?”

“No. Not yet, at least.”

I try to calm my pounding heart. If I were being called in as a Shadow, I’d have to tell them about Scarlett and Jarrod, and that they might be involved.

“So, what’s happening? Weapons, warriors, what?”

“We aren’t sure,” Brad answers. “Only that the alpha has had a ton of people working in the fields to the north of the town.”

“Doing what?”

“Still no clear answer on that. We thought maybe clearing for crops, but it looks more like excavating.”

“Excavating?” I echo, my head reeling with possibilities.

“Digging for something,” Brad says. “There’s also a woman who seems to go everywhere with Alpha Azarian. Did he have a mate when you were undercover there?”

“No, he didn’t, and we aren’t aware of him having one now.”

“It’s strange. She seems to dictate a lot of his actions. She doesn’t smell like a wolf, either.”

“Well, this is all extremely comforting, Brad,” I say, sighing. “Have you got any more good news?”

“Sadly, no,” Brad chuckles. “How’s life as alpha?”

“Not as exciting as being a Shadow, that’s for sure.”

“Did I hear that you got married?”

I freeze in place, suddenly freaked out.

WS would know Scarlett is from Eccles! What is this call really about?

“Brad, it’s a minefield,” I say very carefully, hoping he takes on my hidden meaning.

“Understood,” Brad replies, leaving the subject alone. “We’ll be in touch. The bosses may want you on this, or at least ask you to consult, considering your connections.”

“Copy that,” I mutter, knowing he’s talking about my undercover work as well as my marriage.

“Keep your eyes open, Shadow,” Brad says. “Over and out.”

I end the call, looking down at the ground but not seeing it. For a few minutes, I just stay still, trying not to think too hard.

Eccles are up to something, and we still don’t know what it is. Even worse, my wife and son might be involved.